The rise of atheism in America

http://news.yahoo.com/rise-atheism-america-110700315.html

Here's any interesting back and forth between a couple of us regarding this article about the rise of atheists and agnostics in the US.


Mattie:
I believe in God I just do not practice a religion so what does that make me?

Real Truth:
A theist.
Jessica,an agnostic is someone kind of right in the middle. The don't believe or disbelieve,simply because there's not enough evidence either way.
If it was proven a creator or god existed,they'd accept it,just as if it was shown they don't,they'd accept that just as easily.
It's a common mistake.;-)
A theist is someone that believes in a 'god',and maybe even God,but doesn't follow any religion associated with it.
A deist is someone that believes in a creator of some kind,but this creator doesn't interact with us,and may not even know we exist.

tallest4eva:
@Real Truth
You described a theist as "..If it was proven a creator or god existed,they'd accept it.."
I think that applies to everybody! Atheists generally believe in science! If god was proved to exist, it wouldn't be religion or faith anymore, it would be in the realm of science! I think all atheists would believe in this proven god. In fact, as soon as god is proven, legions of scientists would wish to delve further: how does this proven god impact his influence? does he/she exist in another spatial dimension we cannot perceive? How come different cultures on Earth perceive and discovered him/her differently? How come he always manifests himself wearing those fruity white robes? =D
But seriously, I think the difference between a theist and an atheist is that atheists have gone through the critical thinking and realized how improbable the existence of a god is, and therefore refuse to belief it without further evidence! The intention is to afford religious beliefs no undue favor, but treat them the same as other equally unproven stories.
If I asked a rational person if they believed pink unicorn-like sentient beings orbited the dwarf planet Pluto, they will not believe it. They do not need to empirically disprove that theory before they choose to disbelief it. In a scientific or social setting, the burden is on the person putting the theory forward to prove the truth of the belief. The only difference with religion is that most theists were born into a world that believed an equally unproven religious doctrine, that is why these beliefs hold a higher validity status.
I can't be a theist just like I can't belief in pink unicorn-like sentient beings orbiting the dwarf planet Pluto without proof! I am not afraid of being wrong of either, because as soon as a telescope grabs the first pictures of pink unicorns around Pluto, I'll believe. Similarly, as soon as god is proved, I'll believe too. In fact, I believe the ensuing burgeoning scientific field of Deitology would be real interesting.