What's the difference between disbelief and a lack of belief?

More Than Mortal · December 23, 2014, 07:26:18 PM

Apparently there is a distinction between the two, but I honestly don't see it. A disbelief in God is exactly identical to a lack of belief in God, and doesn't necessitate a belief in God's non-existence.

At least, that's how I see it.

Verbatim · December 23, 2014, 07:29:57 PM

Who says there's a distinction?

The way I see it, if I'm super technical about it... "disbelief" implies knowledge of the concept's existence. "Lack of belief" implies... lack of knowledge. So like... a baby lacks belief in God. I disbelieve in God.

Or maybe "disbelief" implies a level of reluctance to believe in something. Like, "I averted my eyes in utter disbelief." But I think the same connotation can be granted to "lack of belief" as well.

More Than Mortal · December 23, 2014, 07:33:13 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 23, 2014, 07:29:57 PM

Who says there's a distinction?

The way I see it, if I'm super technical about it... "disbelief" implies knowledge of the concept's existence. "Lack of belief" implies... lack of knowledge. So like... a baby lacks belief in God. I disbelieve in God.

Or maybe "disbelief" implies a level of reluctance to believe in something. Like, "I averted my eyes in utter disbelief." But I think the same connotation can be granted to "lack of belief" as well.

It seems more like a semantic confusion of the English language than anything else.

I've literally just endured an hour-long debate with a guy about the nature of atheism v. agnosticism because he thought I was claiming "lack of belief" equaled a "belief in the lack of". When actually I was just using the word "disbelief" in exactly the same way he was using "lack of belief".

Mad Max · December 23, 2014, 07:36:34 PM

I feel like there is a subtle but distinct difference, but I can't quite put it into words...

Verbatim · December 23, 2014, 07:51:52 PM

Maybe disbelief implies an active disbelief (like that of a militant atheist) and "lack of" implies passivity.

More Than Mortal · December 23, 2014, 07:53:05 PM

Quote from: Verbatim on December 23, 2014, 07:51:52 PM

Maybe disbelief implies an active disbelief (like that of a militant atheist) and "lack of" implies passivity.

That's essentially the distinction he was applying, but I don't see any linguistic basis for that being "officially" true.

Kinder Graham · December 23, 2014, 08:45:11 PM

Disbelief: Complete uncertainty

Lack of belief: Holding some doubt

That's how I see it

Anonymous (User Deleted) · December 23, 2014, 08:53:38 PM

Quote from: Meta Cognition on December 23, 2014, 07:26:18 PM

Apparently there is a distinction between the two, but I honestly don't see it. A disbelief in God is exactly identical to a lack of belief in God, and doesn't necessitate a belief in God's non-existence.

At least, that's how I see it.

I was going to try to argue against you, but I realized couldn't write a counter-argument without tripping over myself. I've tried to think that there's a difference, but for the life of me I can't justify that idea.

You're right, it's the same, but people are complicated and have opinions and feelings that are complicated and don't always hold up to scrutiny.