Why do some people who say they are an Atheist, talk about religion like one who is Agnostic?

Question

Atheist=No possible way there is a God
Agnostic=Might be a God, might not be a God, who cares?

Most "Atheist" I know seem to be open to the idea that there might or might not be a God, but do not really care.

That would therefore make them Agostic, would it not?
Then why claim to be an Atheist?

Answer 1

Atheist actually means "without a belief in god" So, an atheist can be open to future proof of a god and still be an atheist.

Your definition of atheist is commonly called gnostic (strong) atheism....they know there isn't a god and see there being no possible way that something would change their mind.

Most atheists are weak (agnostic) atheists...agnostic meaning without knowledge.

so...to further explain:

gnostic atheists: know there isn't a god and think they can prove it beyond a doubt.

agnostic atheists: don't believe in a god, may claim to know that all current god concepts are false, yet may remain open to a god belief if one ever were to present itself adequately.

Even if I didn't break it down to strong/weak distinctions....atheism isn't necessarily a positive stance that god doesn't exist...just a statement of non-belief

a=without theist = god belief

So basically, agnostic or gnostic...if someone doesn't believe in a god they are an atheist and would be right in calling themselves such.

Answer 2

Agnostic :- Somebody who believes that it is impossible to know whether or not God exists.

Athiest :- Somebody who does not believe in God

I am 99.999999999999999% sure that there is no God. This means that there is a 0.000000000000001% chance that there may be a God. This small chance is there because nobody can 100% prove or disprove the existence of God.

Religous people have faith and that is good enough for them, but it doesn't wash with me.

Alright so I am an Atheist with a very very very small Agnostic view. What is wrong with that.

Deep down all religous people are agnostic, because until proof is shown they have only their faith to rely on, and faith does not equal proof, faith equals a belief, and there's a big difference between believing something and proving something.

Answer 3

Firstly, 'agnostic' is not as common a word a 'atheist', and naturally it is the common words in the English language that are misused. Secondly, many people dont actually know the difference, or believe the two terms are interchangeable. Thirdly, atheists will sometimes call themselves agnostic people atheism is commonly found to be insulting to those who are resolute about their belief in a deity. They therefore use 'agnostic' to limit the degree of offence caused. Lastly, they may not be 100% sure of their own belief systems. They may be switching between beliefs at the time, or indeed throughout their whole lives.

Answer 4

It's because most people don't understand the difference between the two. Most people have heard the word "atheist" and know (or think they know) what it is. Not everyone, though, has heard of agnosticism (or understands the language enough to guess at its meaning based on the structure of the word).

I've had friends argue that they're atheists (heavy metal friends, especially) only to then describe agnostic beliefs (oxymoron?). When I suggested that they were actually agnostic rather than atheist, they told me I was wrong. When I then defined agnosticism vs. atheism, however, they conceded that they were indeed agnostics afterall.

Thus, I think it's just ignorance of the meaning of the word.

Answer 5

“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”
Stephen F Roberts

Agnosticism is the philosophical view that the (truth) values of certain claims—particularly theological claims regarding the existence of God, gods, or deities—are unknown, inherently unknowable, or incoherent, and therefore, (some agnostics may go as far to say) irrelevant to life. The term and the related agnostic were coined by Thomas Henry Huxley in 1869, and are also used to describe those who are unconvinced or noncommittal about the existence of deities as well as other matters of religion. The word agnostic comes from the Greek a (without) and gnosis (knowledge). Agnosticism is not to be confused with a view specifically opposing the doctrine of gnosis and Gnosticism—these are religious concepts that are not generally related to agnosticism.

Agnosticism is distinct from, but compatible with, atheism. It is also compatible with theism. This is because agnosticism is a view about knowledge concerning God, whereas theism and atheism are beliefs (or lack thereof) concerning God. For example, it is possible to believe in God but to believe that knowledge about God is not obtainable.

Agnostics may claim that it is not possible to have absolute or certain spiritual knowledge or, alternatively, that while certainty may be possible, they personally have no such knowledge. Agnosticism in both cases involves some form of skepticism towards religious statements. Some claim that there is nothing distinctive in being an agnostic because even theists do not claim to know God exists, only to believe it, and many even agree there is room for doubt; and atheists in the broader sense do not claim to know there is no God, only not to believe in one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/

Answer 6

Some people are just ignorant to the definition of what an atheist or agnostic truly is.

Myself, I do not believe in religion at all. I personally do not think anything good can come from ANY religion, so I choose not to participate in one. I am not an Atheist, atheism is a religion.

Answer 7

Because of the conflict inside the humans themselves.Atheist believe on science and the existance of God is impossible according to science.On the other hand they see that there is a creater or inventor of every thing in this world, so subconciously the believe of the creator of this universe is in the mind of an athiest, and sometime they behave like an agnostic.

Answer 8

Perhaps it's because that whilst Atheists don't believe there is a god, some are quite happy for other people to have their own beliefs and, so as not to offend, talk about other peoples gods as though they might exist!

Answer 9

We are all agnostics to some extent, as nobody "knows" for certain they just trust their beliefs. My belief is that there is no god - but I can't be 100% certain. So I would consider myself an atheist, but I'm not closed to the other ideas.

Answer 10

I don't know any atheist that thinks their is a god. If they say they are atheist, then they don't think there is a god. If they say there may be a god, they are either messing with you, or trying to be open to others beliefs. Then again, they may be insane and if so, you need new friends.