How exactly did you come up with this crap? Do you also have to be 100% sure to say that you believe in quantum mechanics? Who the fuck is 100% sure about anything?
It sounds to me like there is a certain kind of atheist that you dislike, and you've decided for some reason that they are the definition of atheism.
Also, atheism is the belief that there are no deities, not the belief that "there is nothing."
How exactly did
I come up with this crap? It is essentially the social norm as far as the recognition of these terms go.
Yes, technically and strictly by definition, atheism is simply the belief that their is no deity. How strongly that belief is to an individual is irrelevant. Anyone who believes their isn't a God is an atheist.
Also technically, Agnosticism is the belief that the nature of these things is unknowable, and therefore simply admitting to not knowing. Believing that there is not a God, but being uncertain, by definition makes you an atheist, not an agnostic, because you
believe in something that is completely unknowable.
Therefore, socially speaking, most people that claim to be agnostic are people that don't believe that there is a deity, but don't take as strong a stand about it, claiming in the end that they don't know (these people by definition are actually atheists). Atheists, on the other hand, socially speaking, are willing to state that they are certain that there is no deity. If they don't, they are by most social standards considered to be agnostic, even if that isn't correct by literal definition.
As for me "disliking a certain type of atheist, therefore they are my definition of atheism", you are way off. I don't dislike this type of person at all. Have many friends like this. I respect that they are firm in their beliefs, and quite frankly I wish I could write off the belief of a God and afterlife as fairy tales and nonsense too, but I don't quite have that resolve.
Sure, there are spiritual atheists. Just like there are atheists that really hope there is a God and pray sometimes just in case, even though they are pretty sure God doesn't exist. But these people, while atheists by definition, aren't considered "atheists" the way the term is used in today's society. Don't bitch out on me because of it.
Seems no matter what I say, you are going to judge me and make assumptions about me. From the two posts I've made and your responses to them, I guess I must be a debt-ridden atheist hater. You've got me pegged.