Literary Discussions

I think someone has to be a moron not to question the term "Atheism" as vague and undefined. What, you thing that simply saying there is not such thing as a deity or creator is simple and obvious and well defined. It is great to say no such thing exists but you offer no PROOF. You offer no explanation for the existence of the universe and intelligent life.  Why is there NO problem with the term Atheism but there is something vague about higher power.  The other thing to realize is that the actual terms of the survey or the precision of their definition have no real relevance to the fact that the same questions were presented to a group of scientists and they chose for whatever reasons to respond very differently. Had this group of scientists shared in common some similar "logical" mind then they should have all responded to the survey in the same fashion. What the survey clearly demonstrates if nothing else is that you cannot predict that all scientists will choose Atheism, which is meaningful even if the term "Atheism" is vague and hard to define. Plus, the convictions of an Atheist do require FAITH. I would say only the neutral position of the Agnostic would require no faith. What sort of faith or conviction must one have to say that one simply does not know one way or the other about the God/Higher Power question. 

Come to think of it, the outspoken Atheists that I have encountered in my life have such a big chip on their shoulder and so much bitterness that they are harder to deal with than Catholics or Hindus or Jews or Muslims who just keep religion in their private lives. 

Since one can never prove that no deity or higher exists nor can they prove that something or someone DOES EXIST therefore I feel that every educated and reasonable person regardless of their religious affiliation or lack thereof will simply declare themselves Agnostic and honestly say "I do not know, I am not certain, and the conclusions people draw in these matters are deeply private and should not reflect upon their qualifications to work in science or a university."