https://secularhumanism.org/2023/04/letters-april-may-2023/
Published in Free Inquiry magazine
Re: “Lacktheism and the Burden of Proof,” by George Williamson, FI, December 2022/January 2023. I agree with George Williamson that the burden of proof is on the theist to give evidence for claims, not on the atheist to show why there are no gods. While I can’t disagree with him that an atheist lacks a belief in a theistic god, I dislike such terminology. I prefer saying that an atheist is without a belief in any gods. Dictionary definitions of lack include wanting or missing, showing a deficiency, not having something you need, or having less than a desirable quantity of something. I view not believing in any gods as a gain rather than a lack or a loss. I’ve gained freedom from religious superstition.
I also don’t like it when someone tells me I’ve abandoned religion as one abandons a child. I matured and put aside my childhood religious beliefs. Another term I don’t like is nonbeliever. I believe in many things. I just don’t believe in any gods.
Published in Free Inquiry magazine
Re: “Lacktheism and the Burden of Proof,” by George Williamson, FI, December 2022/January 2023. I agree with George Williamson that the burden of proof is on the theist to give evidence for claims, not on the atheist to show why there are no gods. While I can’t disagree with him that an atheist lacks a belief in a theistic god, I dislike such terminology. I prefer saying that an atheist is without a belief in any gods. Dictionary definitions of lack include wanting or missing, showing a deficiency, not having something you need, or having less than a desirable quantity of something. I view not believing in any gods as a gain rather than a lack or a loss. I’ve gained freedom from religious superstition.
I also don’t like it when someone tells me I’ve abandoned religion as one abandons a child. I matured and put aside my childhood religious beliefs. Another term I don’t like is nonbeliever. I believe in many things. I just don’t believe in any gods.
