@David1955 We are born atheist, you have to learn religion. I doubt we are born hard wired to believe the supernatural.

@David1955 funny because that is what you textually said, but regardless, nobody is wired to believe in anything one doesn't know, all is learned.

@David1955 Yes the root of the word is from classical Greek but the word was not used until much later. There were probably very few non theists before that.

@David1955
atheist (n.)
1570s, "godless person, one who denies the existence of a supreme, intelligent being to whom moral obligation is due," from French athéiste (16c.), from Greek atheos "without god, denying the gods; abandoned of the gods; godless, ungodly," from a- "without" (see a- (3)) + theos "a god" (from PIE root *dhes-, forming words for religious concepts).

Exactly.

@MikeInBatonRouge thank you.

Me too! I identify fully as both parts. Even more, I identify as secular humanist, because that is actually a philosophy and value system, as opposed to a void or negation. But they are all valid.

@David1955 In my opinion, being an Atheist and STATING that one is an Atheist is NOT labelling oneself nor placing a label upon yourself IT is however, showing your PRIDE in your Individuality, your ability/abilities to see Truth where fiction dwells and to be a person and stand on your OWN 2 feet rather than be one of the millions of SHEEPLE.
AND I AM PROUD TO BE AN ATHEIST AND TO STATE TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE THAT I AM AN ATHEIST.

@David1955 I hope you are right, because I agree with your take on the issue. I just didn't see that distinction made by what he actually wrote. I responded, because I have repeatedly heard on this forum the term "agnostic," specifically, bashed over and over as being a cop out, or signifying confused people who want to believe in sky-daddy, or whatever. But that definition is bullshit for many people who call themselves agnostic. As with the term "atheist," there are two or three differing definitions. I get tired of hearing either term dismissed by mischaracterization. It is counter-productive sniping, along the lines of progressives bashing liberals, or vice versa, when there are far more relevant foes trying to destroy us all.

BTW, agnostic and atheist are not at all exclusive labels/identities. Agnostic atheism is "a thing."
[en.m.wikipedia.org]

@Triphid Oh, it's a label, whether you are proud or not. Be PROUD, but realize for many people in many situations, particularly in workplaces, it puts a target on their back, especially in many parts of heavily Republican "'Murika."
BTW, American atheists, voting Republican at this point in our precarious demoracy's history? Really??? I can only assume certain other values you hold are overriding your concern for living free from theocratic rule.

Learn to pronounce la·bel
/ˈlābəl/
noun

#2
a classifying phrase or name applied to a person or thing, especially one that is inaccurate or restrictive.
"my reluctance to stick a label on myself politically"

@MikeInBatonRouge Well, in case it slipped your Southern U.S.A, mind or you just couldn't read/bother to read my profile, I am NOT in the United State of Absurdity, I am an Australian, born, bred and have lived all my life.

@Triphid it did not, but "some" participants on this thread will be viewing it from different national perspectives. The "'Murikan" comment was not for you, Triphid, rather a side thought, as I am aware of some GOP- oriented folks on this site. It is a term we non-Trumpy/non-White-nationalist types use to refer to those other 40-ish percent. Non-Americans may not get that there is a distinction in this deeply polarized country. It is "a thing" here.
...and I am not a Southerner, btw. I just live here now. But thanks for being presumptuous.

@MikeInBatonRouge It is a psychologically know fact that the attitudes, behavioural patterns, etc, etc, can be 'adopted', for need of a simpler term, by someone who , though originating from elsewhere and mostly different, over a period of time.

@Triphid, of course "it can." That certainly does not mean it consistently is. Do you have a point, other than presuming, as you directly implied with your earlier comment, that that applies to me? Because it doesn't in this case. I was far more impacted by my time living in Germany, and by attending university, 6 years for two degrees, and connecting with and coming to identify with the lgbtq community. There are a lot of shitty, small-minded, evangelical-driven bigotry flowing here in the Bible Belt, and yet, I am impressed by how I have met and gotten to know numerous Southern natives also broad-minded, insightful, and also disgusted by fundamentalist fueled bigotry.

I realize my earlier reply to you jumped topic on my own impulse without clearly articulating that I was addressing a particular agnostic.com subset of American politically consertive atheists/secularists on this sight, and NOT that I was considering you one of them, so sorry about that confusion.

Sure is lucky there is no such thing as a conservative, prejudiced Australian! Very reassuring, indeed that those only exist in the American Bible Belt! Yeah.

@David1955 I've stopped feeling bad about it.
I just hope they are culled from the herd sooner rather than later.

For the sake of the argument I never pretend that I am "unsure." Regardless of my background I finally came to the stage of knowing there is no evidence for a god. None! The reason people on shows like The Atheist Experience claim they are unsure and open, but you can produce your evidence is one reason only. If you make a claim that there is no god then the burden of proof falls on you. That brings us back to no evidence again.

Well, I have helped in the Delivery of some 167 and still counting human babies and NEVER ONCE have I seen a baby emerge from the womb via Caesar section or from the Birth Canal praying, holding a bible or wearing a cross or any other religious regalia.
Though I must admit that I have heard many a about to become Mother utter words such as " Fucking Jesus, these contractions are really hurting/pissing me," or, as she glares at her spouse/partner she screams " Jesus Fucking Christ, next time one of us gets pregnant it going to you NOT me."
And to be complete 100% straight forward, I've heard much much worse come from the mouths of the religious Mothers about to be than from the Non-believer Mothers about to be.

@DenoPenno I've heard that argument before.
However, I always disagree.

Saying unicorns are real is ludicrous.
If someone says something exists, it's on them to prove.
If believers can't provide proof of their assertions, it's not on me to prove there's no 'there' there.
There just isn't. I don't have to prove a damned thing.

@KKGator To prove something does not exist, you'd have to be All-Knowing. In other words, to prove that God does not exist, you'd have to be God!

@nicestuff I disagree. If there is no proof of a thing existing, it is not necessary to prove it doesn't exist.

@KKGator I agree - and agreed.