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Since atheism is denial or disbelief in a God or gods, it is important first to identify in ''which god'' the atheist denies or disbelieves.  In ancient times, for example, Christians were accused of being atheists because of their disbelief of the pagan gods, even though they believed in the ''Christian'' God.<ref>Athenagoras, ''A Plea for the Christians, 2d century a.d.[http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/athenagoras-plea.html]</ref>  Socrates was also accused of Atheism, although references to God run throughout his recorded statements.<ref>Plato, Apol., 26,c.</ref>  Also, [[Albert Einstein]] and [[Baruch Spinoza]] professed belief in "God," but they defined "God" as the cosmos as a whole, and without personality.  Therefore, one can be considered an atheist with respect to one god, but a theist with respect to another, and it is important to understand first in ''what God'' the atheist denies or claims to disbelieve.

Since atheism is denial or disbelief in a God or gods, it is important first to identify in ''which god'' the atheist denies or disbelieves.  In ancient times, for example, Christians were accused of being atheists because of their disbelief of the pagan gods, even though they believed in the ''Christian'' God.<ref>Athenagoras, ''A Plea for the Christians, 2d century a.d.[http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/athenagoras-plea.html]</ref>  Socrates was also accused of Atheism, although references to God run throughout his recorded statements.<ref>Plato, Apol., 26,c.</ref>  Also, [[Albert Einstein]] and [[Baruch Spinoza]] professed belief in "God," but they defined "God" as the cosmos as a whole, and without personality.  Therefore, one can be considered an atheist with respect to one god, but a theist with respect to another, and it is important to understand first in ''what God'' the atheist denies or claims to disbelieve.

=== Claims for disbelief ===

=== Why does the atheist state they disbelieve?===

Atheists claim there are two main reasons for their denial of the existence of God or disbelief in God: the conviction that there is positive evidence or argument that God does not exist ([[Strong atheism]]), and their claim that theists bear the burden of proof to show that God exists, that they have failed to do so, and that belief is therefore unwarranted ([[Weak atheism]]).

Atheists claim there are two main reasons for their denial of the existence of God and/or disbelief in God: the conviction that there is positive evidence or argument that God does not exist ([[Strong atheism]]), and their claim that theists bear the burden of proof to show that God exists, that they have failed to do so, and that belief is therefore unwarranted ([[Weak atheism]]).

=== Manifestations ===

=== Manifestations ===