614
edits
Changes
attributing thedivineconspiracy.org's position, and introducing the cited position of another theist who disagrees, et al.
* Practical atheism: atheism of the life - that is, ''living'' as though God does not exist. <ref>Dr. [[Martin Luther King]] in his sermon ''A letter to American Christians'' spoke of "practical atheism".[http://www.christianitytoday.com/leaders/newsletter/2001/cln10117.html]</ref>
* Practical atheism: atheism of the life - that is, ''living'' as though God does not exist. <ref>Dr. [[Martin Luther King]] in his sermon ''A letter to American Christians'' spoke of "practical atheism".[http://www.christianitytoday.com/leaders/newsletter/2001/cln10117.html]</ref>
==Attempts to Dilute the Definition of Atheism==
==Debate over the Definition of Atheism==
''For a more detailed treatment, see [[Definitions of Atheist and Agnostic]]''
There is some debate over the definition of of atheism, revolving around whether the word should be defined as "positive disaffirmation of the existence of God" or mere "lack of belief in God." The debate revolves around whether the word "atheism" should be broken into "A-theism" (lack of theism) or "Athe-ism" (The belief that there is no God).
=== Atheism as positive disaffirmation ===
According to the website thedivineconspiracy.com, proponents of atheism have been attempting to dilute the [[definition of atheism]] to mean a mere [[agnosticism|lack of belief]] there is a God or gods since 1979.<ref name="DivCon">http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref>
They argue that one of the reasons why some proponents of atheism have been attempting to dilute the definition of the term atheism is to shift the burden of proof regarding the existence of God. <ref name="DivCon" />
This position is not only held by theists. In the article, ''Is Atheism Presumptuous''?, atheist [[Jeffery Jay Lowder]], a founder of [[Internet Infidels]] which is one of the principle websites for atheists, [[agnosticism|agnostics]] and [[Philosophical skepticism|skeptics]] on the internet, states that "I agree [with Copan] that anyone who claims, "God does not exist," must shoulder a burden of proof just as much as anyone who claims, "God exists." <ref name="DivCon" />
In short, people holding this position believe that the attempt to redefine atheism is a merely an attempt to make no assertions so no facts need be offered.<ref name="DivCon" /> They argue that the attempt to redefine atheism is not in accordance with the standard definitions of atheism that encyclopedias of philosophy employ which is that atheism is a denial of the existence of God or gods.<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1998</ref><ref name="DivCon" />
=== Atheism as either "strong" or "weak" ===
Other people, both theist and atheist, believe that there are two different types of atheism: "positive" or "strong" atheism, which is the disaffirmation of the existence of God, and "negative" or "weak" atheism, which is the mere lack of belief of God. For instance, Jacque Maritain, a Catholic Apologist, wrote in 1949 of "positive" and "negative" atheism in a criticism of atheism. <ref>''On the Meaning of Contemporary Atheism'', Jacques Maritain, The Review of Politics, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 267-280, July, 1949[http://www2.nd.edu/Departments/Maritain/jm3303.htm]</ref> Similarly, atheists such as Michael Martin and Anthony Flew distinguish between "positive" atheism and "negative" atheism<ref>Michael Martin, ''Atheism: A Philosophical Justification''.[http://books.google.com/books?id=wXOrZOzFgIkC&pg=PP1&dq=Atheism:+A+Philosophical+Justification&sig=PnFMQaTRPlBGBFgUyPXJIRLNNtU]</ref>
People holding this position argue describing atheism as two different types is useful because it provides a clearer and more accurate way to understand, describe, and/or debate atheists of both types.