Atheism is simply the absence of belief.

I am not trying to be coy, but you have not defined god or atheism, and for each there are at least 2 significantly differing takes. It has been beaten to death and the information is readily available, so I'll move to my main points: Whatever percentage you attribute to the possibility of a god existing, that percentage must surely be significantly less when you consider the likehood of the god of any particular religion existing. And that's what really matters, the doctrines and dogmas they would impose on us. My 2nd point is that if you really want to play this percentage game, you could do so with every belief imaginable and say that it is impossible to have 100% knowledge of anything. I, for one, feel that's an impractical sinkhole I don't wish to go down. And 3rd, why aren't theists asked what percentage level is their belief in a god?

Atheism just means you are unconvinced by the evidence ( or lack of evidence). There could be leprechauns that exist, but the arguments for leprechauns don't convince me. There could be invisible miniature flying unicorns in my living room but there is no evidence that there are so I remain unconvinced.

Non-belief is not a belief. A belief is something that is at best a guess. For example you can believe that O J killed his wife or you can believe that he didn`t. If you have no opinion whatsoever on the matter and express no belief, then that cannot be described as such. A belief in god is faith based. All empirical proofs fall down. Just as someone who will not walk under a ladder can be described as superstitious. Someone who does cannot be be said to have any belief in this. Would you describe someone who walks on the cracks in the pavement as having a " belief ? "

Back to definitions - many variations and disputes about what atheist means. Many assume that an atheist believes there is no god/s, which is not true.

An atheist (from my perspective) does not believe a god exists. When there is sufficient evidence to believe a god/s exists, then I will no longer be an atheist.

In exactly the same way that when there is evidence that unicorns exist, I will believe in unicorns. Not before.

You can’t really prove a negative, though, can you? I identify as atheist because I have seen no evidence of an all-powerful being. However, if someone were to show me irrefutable proof, then I would believe it.

Yes, this is a dead horse that has been thoroughly beaten. It is difficult to equate a belief with a lack of belief. The same as action does not equal inaction.

I don't know anything for 100%, it's just not possible to be that certain. No matter how compelling the evidence, there is always the remote possibility that I myself am insane, or in a coma, or somesuch. 99+% is certain. I have roughly the same certainty that there is no god (in the common usage of the word) as I do that I'm me. In the same way I don't go around introducing myself as "Don. But maybe not Don, after all", I don't call myself an agnostic. That label should be reserved for those who have actual uncertainty.

If you are 99.99% certain of the existence or non existence of anything but yourself, then you are doing it wrong.

I have pondered this myself .being on the site really has helped me discover exactly what category that I fit in, and I'm still learning. I gravitate towards ignosticism. I find that there are many anti-theists on this site who call themselves atheists. The difference is slight but significant. As an ignostic I'm very aware of what definition of God is being presented. how could anyone be 100% absolutely certain of something that is unknown and may forever be unknown. How do we know what comes after this life on earth without dying. The human animal has a tendency to think that it is the master of its universe and we have the answer to all questions. The truth is the most educated and intelligent people on the planet will literally stand in awe and wonder because they have all the questions but none of the answers.

There are no absolutes. You will always have a level of uncertanty. Nobody knows they weren't created 5 minutes ago with memory of a life that didn't really happen. The mind can only work with what we have accepted as real. And as our minds were evolved from escaping the shaking grass on the plains of Africa, it has problems with or less of a command regarding issues like reality, death, time beyond our natural life span. Absolute knowledge is like the unicorn.

It's all very personal, subjective, dependant on your journey perhaps.
I relate with Atheist, but I understand if someone is hesitant to use that term.
Call it a belief if you want, but I put God(s) in the same category as Santa or the Easter Bunny.
Is it a Belief when I say Santa doesn't exist?
Sure... maybe... in that I don't believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny or God.
I think what's truely important is to be a critical thinker and to be able to question and decide for yourself... and not just about religion.

I would agree. Have you seen the Dawkins Scale? It seems to me that the "strong" beliefs, the extremes on both ends of the spectrum, don't allow room for a change of mind. I consider myself a six.

The god concept is a paradigm of thought many haven't broken free from.
Get past it.

There is no credible, verifiable evidence that any gods have ever existed in reality at any time.
I am 100% convinced there are no gods.
Unless and until there is evidence of the existence of such, I have no doubt that there aren't any.
I call it a fact that no gods exist.

It has been my understanding that atheism is a definitive belief in the non-existence of a god or supreme being. As an Agnostic, I have not seen evidence to convince me of the existence of a god, but not a definite non-existence either.

I'm so bored with this question. Atheism is a belief in the same manner that not collecting stamps is a hobby. Call it a belief if that makes you comfortable. I call it the absence of a belief in gods.

First off, there are plenty of things we know 100% 2+2=4 C=2πr These are facts. Gravity is a Theory but step off a 10 story building and see if it won't be there. The words you use matter. Theism is belief in a god based upon faith. Atheism is disbelief any god because of insufficient evidence.

I stink therefore I am

I agree with you and responded the same way. Here's my go-to explainer:

[city-data.com]

It's no more a belief than being dead is being alive.

I'd say that atheism isn't a belief, it's a theory based on the best available evidence. And isn't that more powerful?

@tnorman1236

Yes, it is a belief...are you improperly co-opting the use of the word?

Yep.