Weak atheism

Weak atheism also called negative atheism or implicit atheism is the lack of belief in any god or gods, without a positive denial of the existence of any god or gods. Weak atheism contrasts with strong or explicit atheism, which asserts that no gods exist, and theism, which asserts that there is at least one god. The weak atheist generally gives a broad definition of atheism as "lack or absence of belief in a god or gods", which defines atheism as a range of positions that entail non-belief, disbelief, doubt, or denial of theism. A narrower definition of atheism as "denial of the existence of gods" (synonymous with strong atheism) is also in common use. Those who favor this definition prefer to use other terms, such as agnosticism, for skepticism, though this is semantical and theist can also be agnostics and/or skeptics. It should be noted that a strong atheist also fits the definition of a weak atheist, but that the reverse is not necessarily true: a strong atheist lacks god beliefs, but a weak atheist does not necessarily deny the existence of god(s).

Related Topics:
Belief - God - Gods - Theism - Atheism - Doubt

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Some weak atheists may be familiar with the concept of a god or gods, yet hold no opinion on their existence or non-existence. Others may find arguments on both sides of the question equally compelling. Yet others may doubt or disbelieve the existence of a god or gods, being unconvinced by the evidence or proofs put forward by theists, but hold that it is not currently known whether gods exist. Many more may find themselves unconcerned with the question of rather or not any god or gods exist, and lack belief in what they percieve as an utter absence of objective evidence. Some implicit atheist are dismissive of religious beliefs, while some may be of a non-theistic religion such as Secular Buddhism or Confucianism. Others may have no knowledge or exposure to theism, and therefore cannot hold beliefs.

Related Topics:
Secular Buddhism - Confucianism

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The position that it is not known whether a god or gods exist is called implicit agnosticism or weak agnosticism. A stronger position is explicit agnosticism or strong agnosticism, the view that it is not possible ever to know whether a god or gods exist. Agnosticism, in both strong (explicit) and weak (implicit) forms, is not necessarily an atheist position; it is a position pertaining to knowledge rather than belief. A theist can also take the position that he does not know (and if an explicit agnostic, cannot know) whether a god or gods exist, although he believes it, through faith.

Related Topics:
Weak agnosticism - Strong agnosticism

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Weak atheists often argue that their position is the default one: that every person is born without belief in any god or gods, and must be taught the concept before they can become theistic. Ergo, any person who has never been exposed to theism is by default a weak atheist. Some further argue that it is not known whether gods exist (and if the explicit agnostics are right, can never be known); that neither theists nor strong atheists fulfill their burden of proof, therefore both may rely on faith (though the burden of proof is always on the one making a positive claim, and the claim that "there are no gods" is a negative claim). For these weak atheists, beliefs which cannot be fully justified and which rest on faith are untenable, making both theism and atheism untenable.

Related Topics:
Faith - Burden of proof

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For more on the debate between strong and weak atheism, consult the article on strong atheism. See also the articles on agnosticism, weak agnosticism, strong agnosticism.

Related Topics:
Strong atheism - Agnosticism - Weak agnosticism - Strong agnosticism

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