I AM SO FUCKING DISGUSTED RIGHT NOW.

[Slim]

All you can say is that there is a high probably that he does not exists given all that we know. As such, to pick one side over the other and stick to it no matter what, is extreme.

I don't see how the second sentence follows from the first one. An atheist does not claim to have absolute knowledge that a "god" certainly does not exist; he simply chooses not to believe in one because of, as you said, the high probability that one does not exist given all that we know. He is picking a side, but I see don't how that qualifies as extreme. Presumably, if new evidence were to arise that would make the existence of a "god" seem likely--however unlikely this scenario may be--he would amend his position, not "stick to it no matter what."

[ncba93ivyase]

An atheist does not claim to have absolute knowledge that a "god" certainly does not exist;

many do

maybe you've never talked to jmv

[Nyerp]

what's it called if you don't know or care and don't want to pick sides

[Socks]

An atheist does not claim to have absolute knowledge that a "god" certainly does not exist; he simply chooses not to believe in one because of, as you said, the high probability that one does not exist given all that we know.

You might be taking a slight, but important, liberty on defining atheism. A liberty perhaps Hippo did not have in mind when making that post.

[Det in F♯ Major]

what's it called if you don't know or care and don't want to pick sides

What Hippo and Socks have been saying and are; agnostic.

[Slim]

many do

maybe you've never talked to jmv

Well, different people have different ideas of just how low the probability is. Some may think that it's so low that the entire proposition becomes laughable.

We are talking about a nebulous concept of some kind of abstract creator here, by the way. Recognizing that one can never absolutely disprove that concept says nothing about the credibility of the various gods and doctrines of organized religion.

You might be taking a slight, but important, liberty on defining atheism. A liberty perhaps Hippo did not have in mind when making that post.

Maybe so.
However, I think that the definition that he (and you) seem to have in mind relies more on a caricature of atheism than anything else.

[Socks]

Right, an abstract creator with absolutely no impact on day to day events, here or anywhere else in the universe. Most things tend to work just fine without the need for some dude in sandals.

Now, as for creating a false caricature, perhaps, it's a fair point.

[guff]

what's it called if you don't know or care and don't want to pick sides

fencesitter 

[Slim]

Right, an abstract creator with absolutely no impact on day to day events, here or anywhere else in the universe. Most things tend to work just fine without the need for some dude in sandals.

Now, as for creating a false caricature, perhaps, it's a fair point.

Yes, that's why there really isn't much of a practical difference between a deist and an atheist; it's just a minor philosophical disagreement.

[Socks]

Yes, that's why there really isn't much of a practical difference between a deist and an atheist; it's just a minor philosophical disagreement.

Which in the end pail in comparison to the gaping holes of scripture which you can drive a truck through. 

[Slim]

Which in the end pail in comparison to the gaping holes of scripture which you can drive a truck through. 

It's tough to be infallible when you're a man-made creation.

[Nyerp]

fencesitter 

i like fences :p