THE ATHEIST
Atheism in its basic form is not a belief: it is the absence of belief. An atheist is not primarily a person who believes that god does not exist; rather, he does not believe in the existence of a god. Atheism is not a belief as such. It is the lack of belief.1
Everyone starts outs being an atheist. No one is born with belief in anything.2
We are all atheists about most of the gods that societies have ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further.3
Notes:
1. George H. Smith, Atheism: The Case Against God, Prometheus Books, Septmber 1979,
2. Andy Rooney, (1919 -) American humorist and political commentator
3. Richard Dawkins, "The Root of All Evil," UK Television Documentary, Channel 4, Jan 2006