I can't find any polls asking atheists what type they are so I am creating one. If you are aware of a poll of this nature please link it here.
For the purposes of this poll we wll use the following definitions.
Soft atheist: You have no belief in god(s).
Hard atheist: You belief gods don't exist.
Last edited by BlackSheep; 2nd January 2012 at 06:32 PM. Reason: Made both definitions use belief
The storys been told a million times,
but it's different when it's your life
I'm not sure what you mean by "faith". If "belief" the two statements are the same; if "to trust", the first wouldn't come into my definition of an atheist at all.Blacksheep:Soft atheist: You have no faith in god(s).
Hard atheist: You believe gods don't exist.
I should have been more consistent. Faith and belief would be the same. And no they are not the same, for me to believe in something I would need convincing evidence.Quote by: SoylentGreen
The storys been told a million times,
but it's different when it's your life
Although I find the term slightly demeaning, of those two choices I selected "soft" atheist. In my opinion and based on my understanding of the position of "hard" atheists I don't know of any human who possesses sufficient knowledge to state categorically that a god or god-like entity or anything we might perceive as a god could not under any circumstance exist anywhere in the universe. I find absolute truth claims (there absolutely is a god/gods and its antithesis, there absolutely are no gods) irrational. To make a statement of absolute truth one would need to posses absolute knowledge. I'm not aware that humans can or do posses absolute knowledge and I would challenge those who claim they do.
The Forum Rules
Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
[John F. Kennedy]
The principal value of debate lies in the development of logical thought processes, and the ability to articulate your positions publicly.
[Senator Dick Clark of Iowa]
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.
[Terry Pratchett]
How are they demeaning?
The storys been told a million times,
but it's different when it's your life
"Soft" implies limp or weak. There's nothing about my opinions on theism that I'd otherwise classify as limp or weak.
The Forum Rules
Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
[John F. Kennedy]
The principal value of debate lies in the development of logical thought processes, and the ability to articulate your positions publicly.
[Senator Dick Clark of Iowa]
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.
[Terry Pratchett]
Fair enough :)"Soft" implies limp or weak. There's nothing about my opinions on theism that I'd otherwise classify as limp or weak.
As I understood it these were the more common terms.
The storys been told a million times,
but it's different when it's your life
Perhaps that could imply "weak" but when I read the OP "soft" hit me as a little more open to the possibilities. Emphasis on "a little""Soft" implies limp or weak. There's nothing about my opinions on theism that I'd otherwise classify as limp or weak.
Actually I believe the more common term is "weak atheist", not "soft". I knew something didn't seem right when I saw that phrase.
The Forum Rules
Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
[John F. Kennedy]
The principal value of debate lies in the development of logical thought processes, and the ability to articulate your positions publicly.
[Senator Dick Clark of Iowa]
The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.
[Terry Pratchett]
Yep, you are right. Maybe I should kill this one or do it again.
The storys been told a million times,
but it's different when it's your life
I don't get it. What's the difference? Weak or soft atheist, how does one change what is inferred? Jack's point about his arguments not being weak so he doesn't like the word "soft" is semantics, in that "weak" could have the same connotations. Depending on the beholder. Just saying, judging from the atheists who are voting "soft" why are you guys being so picky about it? I never understood why atheists parse words so much in certain situations.
Logically, "soft atheism" is the only logically defensible position. But I find that the probability of the existence of a god (or gods) is so small that I'm a "hard" atheist all the way. I cannot prove that there is no god/s, but I can't prove that there are no invisible unicorns either.
Richard Dawkins (may praise be upon him) has used a scale of 1-7 to define religious/nonreligious positions. 1 being "there definitely is a god" and 7 being "there definitely is no god".
Turning your sacred cows into steak.
"Reality is for people who can't cope with drugs" - Robin Williams
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