I apologize, I wasn't aware that reading "between the lines" was required when reading a dictionary, I'm proud that you've devoted your life to attempting to be intellectually superior with your fingers. But, while I'll grant you that some dictionaries will define an atheist as one who denies a doctrine of faith, it is also defined as one who denies the EXISTENCE of god or gods. I can read, and I can think, you aren't the only one. My opinions are mine, your dismissing of my opinions is not very intellectually open (I'm assuming from your posting you see yourself as quite the intellectually open, yet superior type, I could be wrong). If you have a problem with my rationale, by all means critize, but your assumption that you are indeed more intellectually gifted than someone you have never met is, funny.

Thanks for the input.

Of course Atheism exists. It exists just as all other religions exist, as time exists, as science exists, as quantities and equations exist. They all exist as creations of man-kind, a race of beings prone to faults, mistakes and misinterpretations. None can be proved to exist before we concived of them, but since the idea of Atheism came into being it existed, and so did atheists.

I have to say the question posed in this thread makes my list of top ten really fucking stupid things I've seen on a forum.

I would have thought that making decisions based upon the current evidence would be the most prudent approach, from a practical point of view.
On the other hand..
I'm sure a lot of people here know of Pascal's Wager, which basically states you have nothing to lose by believing in God, whether he exists or not, but you're a bit screwed if you don't believe in him and he does exist..

If there is a god of the type that people believe, then finding out more (what do you propose to achieve this?) is surely pointless.
It would be a long and fruitless search to disprove the existence of a god, or prove the existence of an undetectable omnipresent god.

What sort of proof would an agnostic accept that a god exists?
What could it do that would remove all doubt from your mind?

I would say the best position is no position at all. Like in the film War Games, it would seem the only way to win is not to play. If you genuinely do not care then you can avoid engaging in futile discussion that presently cannot be proved either way.

Apart from the existence of athiests, which is true.

Of course Atheists exist; the Bible says so. Doesn't it say, "The fool says in his heart, there is no God"?

stealing my thread arent you!!!!!

i'm an atheist.

Hello everyone, I'm a newcomer to the forum but I hope I'm not too late to hear / see some more on this subject - particularly in respect to current world actvities.

Hehehe... well, it's been more than a year since I started this post, and I must say I 'm surprised to find it floating to the top again.
I haven't contributed anything to this thread for over a year, not that I've really had any new thoughts on it.
I decided to post to let you know that no one has come to "get me", "bitchslap me" or even PM me so I could arange the oportunity for them, even after my generous offer.
Keep adding, you folks are doing a wonderful job!!

Hahaha, prove that athiests exist?

*points to an athiest*

Next!

I'd like to see someone prove that red is actually red.

Perhaps the better question is: What is religion? Since atheism means "being without religion" ("a-" meaning "without", "-theos" meaning "religion," and "-ism" meaning "actively being" (or something similar)), what do we define as religion? Suggested read here: The World's Religions by Houston Smith.

However, as a Christian with atheist friends, atheists can be just as buttholish about atheism being right as Christians can be about Christianity being right (not that anybody here is like that). I just can't stand people (Christian, Atheist, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Shinto, Rastafarian, Taoist, Unitarian, Confucianist, ect. people alike) bashing other people's religion. Show some respect people.

Atheists exist, but have just as much faith that there is no God as Christians do that there is one. While this is an interesting point, the answer to the original question is "yes".

Actually, the original question was phrased like this

"...so thanks for joining me a new kind of twist/tilt.... I want to know if anyone can prove to me atheism exists? And what purpose does it serve?"

But I appreciate your participation regardless.

well OK. Atheists exist. They practice athiesm. Therefore, atheism exists.

so practice of beliefs equals existence?

Finally, I've found another solipsist!

the only way atheists dont exist is if their 'theme' of atheism doesnt exist. per'se by denying God and claiming he does not exist, you accept it but chose to ignore it. Atheist, just like Christian, Muslim, Jewish.. just a title, now if titles didnt exist, nothing would :P

but there ofcource IS a God, if there wasn't then who pops up the next tissue when you take yours out of the box.