How do you define atheism?

[nil desperandum]

20. Definitions

I find the argument that one who believes there is no god as equal to one who believes there is a god quite interesting.

I know, which is different than I believe, that there are real physical things in the universe, I know that because I can prove the existence of those things. I see them, I can measure their chemical abilities and I can map their existence. I do not believe there is a gold or iron, there is in fact a gold or iron because I can melt, smelt, and create using them.

There are no fairies or unicorns or easter bunnies because there is no physical record that these things ever existed anywhere at anytime. There are no angels, or demons, or gods because there is not now nor has there ever been any record of any of these things having ever existed anywhere at any time.

If someone wishes to believe in fairy tales that's problematic for me because it brings into question what level of judgment the view the world with on a daily basis.

For me we are a simple accident of cosmic chemistry, an accident of life in a universe devoid of life beyond microbes and building blocks. We evolved into the apex predators after a cataclysmic collision annihilated the previous apex predators and changed the oxygen content of the planet so that those large lifeforms could no longer exist.

Religion to me has always been a mystery, I was asked to leave catechism as a young catholic because I asked to many uncomfortable questions. The same was true when i attend a methodist church after leaving the catholic church. At about 16 it occurred to me that all of that religion was no more than the ramblings of people similar to the ancient celtic shamans making stuff up from whole cloth to control the ignorant masses.

I did get some crap in the military for having "no preference" on my dog tags where preferred religion was supposed to be but it was never a big deal to me.

I am not surprised that the large number of religious believers, science has always been viewed suspiciously throughout our history. Those who would dare investigate their world instead of just accepting the views and laws of the high priests of the time.

If someone wants to believe in god, whatever floats their boat I guess. I'm not here to bust their bubble until they start trying to convince me there is validity to their claims of magic as power.