Aren’t belief and non belief two sides of the same coin? One fan believes his sports team will win, and another thinks they’ll lose. One person believes there is a Creator, and another believes there is no creator.
As a non-religious person, I simply have no belief in the concept of a creator, nor any other supposed supernatural concept. I also don't have a belief that there isn't a creator, nor in any sort of "atheist doctrine" or "atheist gospel". I'm a non-believer, in other words.
Religion simply isn't a part of my life or world-view, other than as a mild curiosity and fanciful concept for stories and legend.
What I do do is put my trust in the scientific method and falsifiable proof, which doesn't require belief to work. And I adjust my world-view according to the findings and proof presented, so it's not set in stone. Obviously I don't just do that blindly, it does require convincing proof. Bigger claims need bigger proofs.
What matters is the amount of evidence to justify belief.
And no, belief and non belief are not two sides of the same coin.
Belief is a positive claim, that needs to be proven.
Not belief is just the rejection of such a claim, and doesn't require any supporting evidence.
Here is a quick example: imagine we walk in a park and I tell you that the number of grass blades in this lawn is even. Do you believe me?
Probably not.
Does that mean you think that the number is odd?
No. You're not making any claim. You are just rejecting my claim because I can't support it with evidence.
People with a non belief in god (atheists) are simply rejecting the claim that a god exists. It doesn't necessarily mean they imply that gods don't exist (some do, though, but that's a positive claim that requires evidence).
As a non-religious person, I simply have no belief in the concept of a creator, nor any other supposed supernatural concept. I also don't have a belief that there isn't a creator, nor in any sort of "atheist doctrine" or "atheist gospel". I'm a non-believer, in other words.
Religion simply isn't a part of my life or world-view, other than as a mild curiosity and fanciful concept for stories and legend.
What I do do is put my trust in the scientific method and falsifiable proof, which doesn't require belief to work. And I adjust my world-view according to the findings and proof presented, so it's not set in stone. Obviously I don't just do that blindly, it does require convincing proof. Bigger claims need bigger proofs.