Atheism has been distinguished from Anti-theism; and the former has been supposed to imply merely the non-recognition of God, while the latter asserts His non-existence.

This distinction is founded on the difference between _unbelief_ and _disbelief_;[15] and its validity is admitted in so far as it discriminates merely between dogmatic and skeptical Atheism.

But Anti-theism is maintained, in the strictest sense of the term, where it is affirmed either that there is no God, or that the existence of the Supreme Being _cannot_ in any circumstances become an object of human knowledge.

In each of these forms, Atheism is dogmatic; it denies the existence of God, or it denies the possibility of His being known.

But there is also a _skeptical_ Atheism, which does not affirm absolutely either that there is no God, or that the knowledge of God is necessarily excluded by the limitations of human reason, but contents itself with saying, "_non-liquet_,"-- _i.e._, with denying the sufficiency of the evidence.