Rice to Cummins, 3-27-98:
-------------------------
ac> If you believe there is no God, then you hold an affirming
ac> belief.
>Except that atheism is the lack of belief in all of the gods and
>goddesses humanity has created for themselves.  Everyone is born
>an atheist and, as you know, everyone is an atheist after they're
>dead.
According to this concept, an "atheist" would just as soon say,
"Gods may well exist, but I don't believe a word of it".
This is analogous to the position of the modest fideist who says,
"I have faith in God, but cannot, strictly speaking, know Him
because I am only human".
Most people asked about this would normally deny that fideists
are atheists.
But that's okay.
Maybe you're introducing a technical definition of atheism which
you DO intend to be compatible with modest fideism.
One way to resolve this question is to put the issue directly to
you:
Do you DENY that gods exist?
If not, why not?
Bob
---------------