--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Basic atheism is not a belief. It is the…" description: "\"Basic atheism is not a belief. It is the lack of belief. There is a difference between believing there is no god and not believing there is a god - bot..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80a/dan-barker-10701_atheism_basic-atheism-is-not-a-belief-it-is-the_1655509.jpg" --- # Basic atheism is not a belief. It is the lack of belief… ![“Basic atheism is not a belief. It is the lack of belief. There is a difference between believing there is no god and not believing there is a god - both are atheistic, though popular usage has ignored the latter.” quote by Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80a/dan-barker-10701_atheism_basic-atheism-is-not-a-belief-it-is-the_1655509.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80a/dan-barker-10701_atheism_basic-atheism-is-not-a-belief-it-is-the_1655509.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80a/dan-barker-10701_atheism_basic-atheism-is-not-a-belief-it-is-the_1655509.jpg) > “Basic atheism is not a belief. It is the lack of belief. There is a difference between believing there is no god and not believing there is a god - both are atheistic, though popular usage has ignored the latter.” [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Atheism is defined by the absence of belief rather than a positive claim about deity existence. **In simple terms:** Atheism means not believing, not believing something. Key Takeaway Recognize non‑belief as a stance. Themes belief atheism philosophy Mood thoughtful analytical Type explanatory philosophical When to use this quote - debates on religion - personal worldview - academic discussion Key Concepts epistemology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - Do you distinguish between lack of belief and belief in nothing? - How does this affect dialogue with believers? A Different Perspective Atheism can be misunderstood as a belief system itself. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Atheistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheistic/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Positive atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/positive-atheism/) [There is no god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/there-is-no-god/) ## Related quotes > [When I think of God, when I think of him as existent, and when I believe him to be existent, my idea of him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/when-i-think-of-god-when-i-think-of-him-as-existent-and-when-i/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Belief made no difference to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-duane/belief-made-no-difference-to-the-truth/) [Diane Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-duane/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“There is nothing behind the curtains of religions, people put there whatever their imaginations can fathom”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/there-is-nothing-behind-the-curtains-of-religions-people-put-there/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-happiness-of-credulity-is-a-cheap-and-dangerous-quality/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [“Each mind conceives god in its own way. There may be as many variation of the god figure as there are people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/each-mind-conceives-god-in-its-own-way-there-may-be-as-many-variation/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“Atheism is not against god, it is against the religious establishment who use god they have never seen or heard from to establish their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/atheism-is-not-against-god-it-is-against-the-religious-establishment/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“Don't create unbelief or doubt in people's minds. When you do so you ruin their lives and you have nothing to give them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/don-t-create-unbelief-or-doubt-in-people-s-minds-when-you-do-so-you/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the religious ideas of heaven and hell, of future life for individuals, or of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-have-never-seen-the-slightest-scientific-proof-of-the-religious-2/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [The word 'God' is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, and religious scripture a collection of honourable, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-word-god-is-for-me-nothing-more-than-the-expression-and-product-2/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [For good people to do evil things, it takes religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/for-good-people-to-do-evil-things-it-takes-religion/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [“Once you believe that god is not a private property of anybody, you are on your way to becoming a new messiah. Maybe your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/once-you-believe-that-god-is-not-a-private-property-of-anybody-you/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“If you are a pastor there is no way you can lose faith without losing face, you are considered the devil incarnate by your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/if-you-are-a-pastor-there-is-no-way-you-can-lose-faith-without-losing/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-weinberg/with-or-without-religion-you-would-have-good-people-doing-good-things/) [Steven Weinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-weinberg/) > [“All religions are man-made; God has not yet revealed himself beyond doubt to anybody.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/all-religions-are-man-made-god-has-not-yet-revealed-himself-beyond/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) ## More by Dan Barker > [“The next time believers tell you that 'separation of church and state' does not appear in our founding document, tell them to stop using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/the-next-time-believers-tell-you-that-separation-of-church-and-state/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [Some theists, observing that all 'effects' need a cause, assert that God is a cause but not an effect. But no one has ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/some-theists-observing-that-all-effects-need-a-cause-assert-that-god/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [I threw out all the bath water, and there was no baby there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/i-threw-out-all-the-bath-water-and-there-was-no-baby-there/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [You keep accusing me of blasphemy all of the time, but I cannot be convicted of a victimless crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/you-keep-accusing-me-of-blasphemy-all-of-the-time-but-i-cannot-be/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [“Faith is a cop-out. It is intellectual bankruptcy. If the only way you can accept an assertion is by faith, then you are conceding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/faith-is-a-cop-out-it-is-intellectual-bankruptcy-if-the-only-way-you/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [It turns out that the word atheism means much less than I had thought. It is merely the lack of theism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/it-turns-out-that-the-word-atheism-means-much-less-than-i-had-thought/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [I took about a year to fully adjust. Like there's a death at the family or a divorce, you don't just snap your fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/i-took-about-a-year-to-fully-adjust-like-there-s-a-death-at-the/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [Freethought is respectable. Freethought is crucial. Freethought needs to be publicized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/freethought-is-respectable-freethought-is-crucial-freethought-needs/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [Truth does not demand belief...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/truth-does-not-demand-belief/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [I have something to say to the religionist who feels atheists never say anything positive: You are an intelligent human being. Your life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/i-have-something-to-say-to-the-religionist-who-feels-atheists-never/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [Freethinkers reject faith as a valid tool of knowledge. Faith is the opposite of reason because reason imposes very strict limits on what can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/freethinkers-reject-faith-as-a-valid-tool-of-knowledge-faith-is-the/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [There are many gods which Christians reject. I just believe in one less god then they do. The reasons that you might give for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/there-are-many-gods-which-christians-reject-i-just-believe-in-one/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [Not thinking critically, I assumed that the successful prayers were proof that God answers prayer while the failures were proof that there was something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/not-thinking-critically-i-assumed-that-the-successful-prayers-were/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [Faith is not the result of fuzy thinking. It is the cause of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/faith-is-not-the-result-of-fuzy-thinking-it-is-the-cause-of-it/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [For my money, I'll bet on reason and humanistic kindness. Even if I am wrong I will have enjoyed my life, the existence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/for-my-money-i-ll-bet-on-reason-and-humanistic-kindness-even-if-i-am/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) [Explore all 64 Dan Barker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Basic atheism is not a belief. It is the lack of belief. 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