Seems to me you saying the same thing two different ways.

If gods don't exist then you believe that God does not exist. If you do not
believe in gods then they do not exist.

Is not the under lying question that even if God/gods exist are they by
default in charge.

But you could, not believe in or recognize his authority and not dispute His
existence. 

John Willis

-----Original Message-----
From: Paleolithic Eating Support List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Ben Liberman
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 01:59 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Questions for Ray

At 6:56 AM -0400 7/11/11, Marilyn Harris wrote:
>>Atheism is not a lack of belief in god but is a specific belief that god
does not exist.
>>
>>PS - The definitions at the link that you provided, and at
http://www.google.com/dictionary?q=atheist, are inaccurate.
>
>Hi Ben:
>
>That was the Oxford dictionary
(http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/atheist?region=us) which defined
it as:
>
>"Atheist
>
>a person who does not believe in the existence of God or gods:"
>
>Which is what you have stated above?

Please correct me if I am misunderstanding your question...

(sorry for the capitalization, it's just an easy way to mark out the text)

There is an significant difference between
	"a person who DOES NOT BELIEVE in the existence of God or gods"
and
	"a person who BELIEVES that god does not exist"

Everyone who is a member of the group of people
	who BELIEVES that god does not exist
will also be a member of the larger group of people
	who DO NOT BELIEVE in the existence of God or gods

BUT

Everyone who is a member of the group of people
	who DO NOT BELIEVE in the existence of God or gods
will not necessarily be a member of the group of people
	who BELIEVES that god does not exist

-- 
------------------------------
 [log in to unmask]      Ben Liberman
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