I recently became aware that we are mostly empty space imbued with energy. I always believed we are star stuff. I wonder if our consciousness survives death. What do you think that would be like?

Did you remind him that all of the things that he believes in and mostly unfounded, incorrect, hearsay handed down stories written over many times and embellished to fit and audience. 50 or so books of the Period were destroyed and some are being recovered which is making a big statement. You can also remind him that Science and Astrology have much to weigh in on with more to believe in than his absurd thoughts.

In a spiritual sense, l believe in nothing. I am here now. Someday l won't be here. There are things l know. Love is good. Hate is bad. Wars are stupid. Religion is dangerous. Trump is evil. Donuts are wonderful. ☺

After reading the diversity of comments (thanks everyone for your contribution), I would like to think most of us will agree that a big chunk of the whole discussion is semantics.

Sad not to believe in love, hate or friendship.

Double negative. I am confused. "...cannot say you don't" means you can say you do. So I have no idea what anyone is talking about. Babylon....babble on.

I also don't like when people say they "don't believe" in something especially if there is evidence of that something. Like evolution, or abortion, or global warming... etc.

Saying you don't believe in "anything" IS absurd!

Saying you don't believe in anything without evidence or you don't believe in anything through faith alone...now that is the only way to honestly live your life, in my most humble opinion.

Maybe some of these people confuse "believing" with "wanting to believe".

You believe that there is nothing after we are dead, and that in itself is believing in something. So your acquaintance is wrong.

that correlates with being nobody

For me, it’s not that I don’t believe in anything; I just require evidence for something like that. I believe in the scientific method.

Edit: deleted other copies of my comment. Somehow I submitted it multiple times from my phone lol

Needs a little modification I believe you went to far.

Belief: (noun) - an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists.

You don't need "belief" for negative claims, that's fucking absurd and just a ploy for theists to gain ground in the probability (as opposed to possibility) of . Buying into that you only "believe" that gods do not exist is how begins to claim a 50% chance instead of the . 0 repeating % chance they actually have in existing.

You can absolutely say that you don't believe in anything.

It might be a cultural thing..but if the question arises here I just say straight out "Well actually I'm an Athiest..so I just don't believe."
Nobody really asks me to explain myself of challenges my Athiesm..its usually just left at that..no drama...

I believe in myself. Case closed.

Atheism is not believing in even one god.

It does not prohibit "believing in anything".

Your friend is straw-manning you.

If your acquaintance simply means it's absurd that you don't believe in any god ... that is not absurd at all. The inverse is absurd. Just ask him to evidence his claims about god. He won't be able to. He'll think he can ... because he thinks scripture or personal subjective experience or feelings validates his fabulist claims. But they don't.

You don't need to talk to unintelligent people. They are stuck in religion bc it helps define their purpose, as they are unaware of their human uniqueness

It's a semantics issue too. 'Believe' means several things, not connected with faith.