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GldnRule, what you have described is an Agnostic, an Agnostic has a belief in a supreme being, whether it be a Creator or some other kind of deity other than the Christian God.
Hueffenhardt: If you don't think we have a difference of opinion, why did you feel it necessary to cut & paste definitions of the terms 'atheist' and 'naturalist'? Of course I know the dictionary definitions, but after all, I said "To me", because I personally think that atheism (in spirit) is a rejection of the supernatural in all its forms. I agree that the strict definition only includes no belief in a god or gods.
Going back to my previous post, you don't think angels & demons are theistic concepts? They are hardly congruent with atheism IMO.
Hueffenhardt: This is the first time I have differed with you. I don't think atheism includes belief in anything supernatural, certainly not angels & demons which are definitely concepts related to theistic religions. It is possible, I suppose, to consider reincarnation part of the natural order of things, but that's really stretching it. I find karma a useful concept, but I don't really "believe" in it; it's simply a good way to look at one's actions (sort of a corollary to the "Golden Rule"). But to me, the atheist world-view has no place for the supernatural.
Besides not having a belief in god, what is the atheist "world-view? Not believing in god does not preclude one from believing in the supernatural. One can be an atheist and believe in ghosts, the afterlife, reincarnation, etc. I have never had a belief in any god, but up until a few years ago, I believed in ghosts/spirits due to an experience that I had. I now realize that I was mistaken about the experience, so I no longer believe, but it is possible to believe in some forms of the supernatural, without believing in any gods.
Hueffenhardt: If you don't think we have a difference of opinion, why did you feel it necessary to cut & paste definitions of the terms 'atheist' and 'naturalist'? Of course I know the dictionary definitions, but after all, I said "To me", because I personally think that atheism (in spirit) is a rejection of the supernatural in all its forms. I agree that the strict definition only includes no belief in a god or gods.
Going back to my previous post, you don't think angels & demons are theistic concepts? They are hardly congruent with atheism IMO.
As long as you know that the dictionary definition of atheism only precludes a belief in god(s), but permits a belief of anything else, then I'm ok with that.
Although the terms "angels" and "demons" are associated with some theistic religions, I knew one person who did not believe there was a god, but was convinced she had a guardian angel. (Needless to say to anyone who frequents these boards, a person's beliefs aren't always congruent or internally consistent). The concept of demons, which are essentially evil spirits, is very old and exists in cultures that have no concept of god.
mythunderstood: Yes, it is possible to believe in other supernatural entities besides gods and still be an atheist. However, I think that doing so goes against the usual atheist reliance on logic, proof and science. To each his own. I'm glad you realized that you were mistaken about your 'experience'.
Hueffenhardt: Wouldn't demons/evil spirits be sorts of demi-gods? They are incorporeal. I suppose it all depends upon how one looks at it. Anyway, I'm OK with your outlook as well. (As if it matters!)
Ok, I'm sorry, I thought people were clear about what these terms mean or would look them up if they weren't. I'll repost this with the definitions added.
To "repost this with the definitions added" would serve no useful purpose. We agree on the basic definitions. We're discussing where the fuzzy edges are.
Since most atheists I've met and talked to arrived at their now-revised world-view after being Christians in their formative years, they embrace skeptical thought, empirical evidence and rational argument.
This tends to debunk most supernatural explanations ("supernatural' meaning absent any reasonable or rational explanation, or requiring of an absolutely irrational explanation, like, for instance, some guy turning water into wine or walking on that water [and absent an alien-supplied but technically possible anti-gravity belt hidden under one's robes, strictly for dramatic purposes you understand]...).
Since religions also embrace set rules, strictures, chants, an established command heirarchy and a strictly enforced penal code for transgressors, I doubt too many true atheists would knowingly join in such an unlikely group. Just my opinion, of course.
Simply put, atheism ends to be anathema to organized religion.
in your opinion. Many others, including its followers, believe it is.
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What are you talking about???
) is a rejection of the supernatural in all its forms. I agree that the strict definition only includes no belief in a god or gods. 
