[BMCDA]

But I still don't see how anyone can think they know something that has to be completely divorced from observable experience.

That position is not necessary to be an atheist and I'm sure there aren't many who hold this extreme view. Most of them (including me) are as sure that gods do not exist as many non-atheists are convinced of the nonexistence of leprechauns, IPUs and the like.

[VadeRetro]

That position is not necessary to be an atheist and I'm sure there aren't many who hold this extreme view.

I don't know how extreme it is, but one militant athiest told me he could prove there was no God. I was very interested, but whatever it was seem to dissolve in the telling and he never mentioned it again.