Originally Posted by poincicco

I appreciate the first three responses to my thread here. I think I resonate most with what John76 said ('cause he agrees with me?), but I'm not looking to quarrel or "argue" in the emotional sense. I'm still very much enjoying my relatively new freedom from the kind of dogmatism that sponsors such emotion...the need to defend a position. I think Romansh makes a good point, however, when he/she points out that a lot has to do with definitions...semantics. And Duck, I'm not sure that the "fundamentalists", as you refer to them, are all wrong about atheists being "believers." It seems to me that being an actual atheist IS a position of BELIEF, not DISbelief. I see it as calling for a certain degree of conviction, of certainty that constitutes belief. I, for one, wonder if we can have that kind of certainty when dealing with metaphysics. Anyway, that's what's at the root of my suspicion that atheism is an actual "system" of BELIEF. Maybe some of you out there who consider yourselves atheists would actually be more accurate in calling yourselves agnostics? Just a thought. Input is welcome. Enjoy your weekend. Poincicco