The manner in which most people use the term "atheist" is unfortunate, because such usage suggests a partisan attitude, almost a belief or, worse, an organized belief system. As I understand atheism, it suggests none of those things. Malcolm Forbes, once said of the purpose of education, “The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” I cite that statement, because to me it's that designation of "open mind" that I associate with atheism. Being an atheist is NOT a belief in there being no God. Disbelief is not equivalent to non-belief, and I would be happy to explain that difference to anyone who doesn't readily see the difference. I think of myself as an atheistic humanist, in the following terms: "While atheism is merely the absence of belief, humanism is a positive attitude to the world, centred on human experience, thought, and hopes.

The British Humanist Association and The International Humanist and Ethical Union use similar emblems showing a stylised human figure reaching out to achieve its full potential.

Humanists believe that human experience and rational thinking provide the only source of both knowledge and a moral code to live by.

They reject the idea of knowledge 'revealed' to human beings by gods, or in special books." I would be happy to entertain any responses to this explanation, wth the possible eception of those that are designed to be argukmentative or from those who are interested in converting me to some theistic belief system.