Atheists.., Is it reasonably accurate to say that you don't believe any kind of spirit exists?

I'm undecided. There's more evidence for ghosts and other paranormal phenomena than there is for the existence of a god. Additionally, no one's asking me to base my life and the country's laws on a belief in spirits.

I'm doubtful, but I'm not prepared to say "No way." I'll just say I'm unconvinced by the evidence at this point.

EDIT:

Upon further consideration, I'll say, "You are correct. I do not believe (actively) in the existence of any kind of spirit." Of course, as others have pointed out, I speak only for myself. Some atheists will vehemently deny that spirits exist and others will assert that they do.

The simplest definition of "atheist" is one who does not believe in all and any gods. While generally many atheists tend to develop a rational skepticism about all claims there are those that do not retain their objectivity when regarding claims about spirits, ghosts or other woo.

The real problem is wrapped in the "not true scotsman" fallacy and the problem of really classifying people other than by what they profess to be. For example, there are over 33,000 different denominations of Christianity and most of them believe that they are more right than the others. Also there are many (in western cultures) who are not "religious"or Christian and thus are classified by Christians as atheists, but still believe in some type or concept of a god. Further, many Christians when going through a "crisis of faith" will wrongly claim that they became atheists....

No. Atheism is the lack of belief in gods. It has nothing to do with spirits.

Many atheists are atheist because there's no supporting evidence for gods, so many don't believe in spirits for the same reason. However, not all atheists are the same. Some people are atheist because they hate religion or had a bad experience in religion and aren't skeptical at all. As such, they choose to believe in all kinds of ridiculous things without evidence.

No. Atheism is a disbelief in gods. Apart from that, atheists can believe in anything they like. Many Buddhists do not believe in gods and are, therefore, atheists but Buddhism is a very spiritual religion. Australian indigenous religions have no gods but they all have spirits. Leaving aside godless but spiritual religions, some atheists believe in ghosts and spirits. I don't but being an atheist does not mean anything except that you do not believe in gods.

atheism is pretty broad on subjects like that. in essence all atheists just reject the idea of a super-human controling entity. other such things like ghosts and vampires and aliens and all the weirder little folklores and urban legends are entirely up to individual choice.

heck, I believe there are Aliens existing in far flung reaches of the galaxy and universe. that doesn't take mmuch to imagine though. the universe is preposterously humungous and our long range probe are finding potentially habitable planets everyday (air+water+vegetation=bacteria=life in some form or another).

ghosts and spirits? a little harder to swallow. I had a friend of a friend who lived in an apparently haunted house. every couple of hourse, every single picture-frame down a hallway would tilt. maybe there's a scinetific explination, or it's a jappering spirit realy fond of giving people headaches.

so we're not all closed off to other ideas... and heck, when such things present themselves, we'll be able to list them as facts and that's a statement that includes a god. when it presents itself, it'll be a fact.... not before.

only for the ones who believe that. There are atheistic religions that believe in things that are a lot like spirits. Scientology for example has thetans. Some forms of Buddhism are atheistic. There are lits of new agers who are technically atheists too.

I would say your observation is valid for Skeptics. Lots of atheists are atheists because they are philosophical skeptics. But not for all atheists.

I don't believe in any kind of gods or deities, ghosts, or even human souls. I believe that consciousness is an illusion created by the human brain to maintain a healthy outlook on life. If our minds did not do this, there would be a lot more suicides per day.

It is likely that the vast majority of atheists don't believe in spirits, usually for the same reason they don't believe in gods, but it isn't a necessary condition.

For me that would be an accurate statement, but it does not apply to all atheist as the only idea we all agree on is a disbelief in deities.

I can't speak for all but many like me just don't know what to believe when those that declare they are Christian speak of nothing but hate and ridicule of others and advocate violence and murder of anyone that doesn't believe exactly as they do Just doesn't seem to be the disciples of Christ the bible speaks of