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Can you figure out how I did this?
"Proof is applicable only in the case of a positive belief. To demand proof of the atheist, the
religionist must represent atheism as a positive belief requiring substantiation. When the atheist
is seen as a person who lacks belief in a god, it becomes clear that he is not obligated to 'prove'
anything. The atheist qua atheist does not believe anything requiring demonstration; the
designation of 'atheist' tells us, not what he believes to be true, but what he does not
believe to be true. If others wish for him to accept the existence of a god, it is their responsibility
to argue for the truth of theism--but the atheist is not siimilarly required to argue for the truth
of atheism....
Atheism refers only to the element of nonbelief in a god, and since there is no content here, no
positive beliefs, the demand for proof cannot apply."
G. H. Smith
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