Atheism doesn't have to be disbelief or denial. It can easily just be lack of belief. That's what the word literally means: not theism. You don't have to be a "naturalistic pantheist" to simply say "I don't see any reason to believe in something that could properly be called God"...and indeed, having the word "theist" anywhere in your title in the first place logically prevents you from saying that.
Please present to me another instance of where one is presented an idea and magically does not form a belief.
When presented with the Idea of a GOD -
You either
a. Believe in the idea.
b. disbelieve the idea
c. claim to not have enough knowledge.
Your option of simply lacking belief can only exist in someone who has never even heard the concept of a god. If a person knows the word Atheist, then they have heard of the respective concepts.
Atheism as you decribe it does not exist. What you are decribing is Agnosticism. People who say "I don't know". I'm sorry if you feel it's a dirty word and that people make fun of you for being on the fence. I for one, am proud to say "I don't know", it makes me feel like I am being way more honest than the high number of atheists who are actually agnostics. Those that merely CALL themselves Atheists to piss off Christians.
If a person knows of the word Atheist, then they either actively believe god does not exist (Strong Atheism) or they are weak atheists who are actually agnostics. Allbeit they may be STRONG agnostics such as myself... but they are agnostics nonetheless.
BTW
atheism
One entry found for atheism.
Main Entry: athe·ism
Pronunciation: 'A-thE-"i-z&m
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French athéisme, from athée atheist, from Greek atheos godless, from a- + theos god
1 archaic : UNGODLINESS, WICKEDNESS
2 a : a disbelief in the existence of deity b : the doctrine that there is no deity
theism
One entry found for theism.
Main Entry: the·ism
Pronunciation: 'thE-"i-z&m
Function: noun
: belief in the existence of a god or gods; specifically : belief in the existence of one God viewed as the creative source of the human race and the world who transcends yet is immanent in the world
- the·ist /-ist/ noun or adjective
- the·is·tic /thE-'is-tik/ also the·is·ti·cal /-ti-k&l/ adjective
- the·is·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
If you have been presented with theistic beliefs, and actively REJECTED them, then there is a reason for you to do so. That reason is likely that you lack evidence, or KNOWLEDGE.
Main Entry: 1ag·nos·tic
Pronunciation: ag-'näs-tik, &g-
Function: noun
Etymology: Greek agnOstos unknown, unknowable, from a- + gnOstos known, from gignOskein to know -- more at KNOW
1 : a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable;
broadly : one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god2 : a person unwilling to commit to an opinion about something <political agnostics>
- ag·nos·ti·cism /-t&-"si-z&m/ noun