One of the core ideas behind Atheism is that you don't believe in something that cannot be empirically proven. This doesn't mean that Atheists
ignore theories, far from it. Atheism demands investigation of the unknown.
Atheists avoid holding convictions, for the most part anyway. Believing in something that is unproven is something that goes against true scepticism,
and true atheism.
I am an atheist, and proud of it.
In answer to your questions -
1) I am an atheist, and am open to the unknown - not to subliminal suggestion, or the poison of religious intoxication. Exploring the unknown in a
rational manner, means that avoiding the two prior subjects is important.
2) Ghost hunting is very interesting - I wouldn't do it, as I'm busy with others things. But it is a strange phenomenon (whether or not it's real
requires empirical analysis) and as such deserves inspection.
3) There is no such thing as an 'Agnatheist'. You're either agnostic, or an atheist. A dictionary will clear up your confusion on this. An
agnostic doesn't write off the existence of the 'divine', nor do they explicitly believe in them. An atheist explains that it is all hogwash.
4) Atheists do NOT believe in NOTHING. Atheists believe all sorts of strange things - but do not state they are real until proven so. Religious
people do exactly that - state things are real before they are proven. Therein lies the poisonous and disgusting truth behind religion - it's mostly
based on lies and minimal truths. You could say it's all allegorical.
WookieP - May I suggest you read the God Delusion by Richard Dawkins? His book and public musings will help you understand what 'Religion' actually
is. A control mechanism, nothing more.
Good luck in your readings - you're asking questions, which I admire.
Parallex.
P.S. I'd like to add that I believe in 'ghosts'. I don't think they are spirits as such, more like projections through a 'veil'. One day, if
inspected properly, they might be explainable by science. Religion will never examine them properly using science, as such, religious explanations
will never hold a sensible answer.
[edit on 10-1-2010 by Parallex]


Btw tho, I'm not exactly thrilled about "religion" either. I'd ask that you take a glance at a previous
thread here:
: 