I don't believe a god exists vs I believe that no god exists

[Mutcer]

From The Thinking Atheist:
thethinkingatheist.com/forum … m-a-Theist

Question from a Theist
I’d love to hear atheists’ opinions on a question. I’ve heard the following statement numerous times in various different forms from a wide variety of atheists:

It’s not that ‘I believe there is NO God’, it’s just that ‘I do not believe there IS a God’

This is usually given in response to someone claiming that atheism is a religion or belief system, or in response to a request to prove that there is no God. Regardless, I’m sure a number of you have heard something similar, and some of you may even say the same thing.

My question is this:

How is the statement “I believe there is no God” different from the statement “I do not believe there is a God”? How do they vary in a significant way? How are those two not logically equivalent?

There is clearly a difference between “I don’t believe a god exists” and “I do believe that no god exists”. One is a positive statement of a negative while the other is a negative statement of a positive. The net result is the same.

[James_S_Saint]

@Mutcer

From The Thinking Atheist:

Is that like a Unicorn? Or just an oxymoron?

@Mutcer

There is clearly a difference between “I don’t believe a god exists” and “I do believe that no god exists”. One is a positive statement of a negative while the other is a negative statement of a positive. [size=150]The net result is the same[/size].

Clear case in point^^

[Moreno]

@Mutcer

There is clearly a difference between “I don’t believe a god exists” and “I do believe that no god exists”. One is a positive statement of a negative while the other is a negative statement of a positive. The net result is the same.

It depends how the first statement is meant. But in general they are two rather distinct thoughts. The first statement is one an agnostic can make. The second one is not one an agnostic can make.

It’s quite possible that the lives of speakers who made each of these statements would show little difference. However the attitudes, actions and certainly discussions with theists might be radically different, given the potential epistemological differences between the two speakers.