Do some people think atheists and agnostics are the same?

Question

I classify myself as an agnostic. I'd like to believe in a higher power, but I want a little more proof first. I don't know what that proof would be, though--I guess the only way I'd be sure is if he smacked me on the back of the head and said, 'Hey, I'm here," or something to that effect. Unfortunately, I doubt that's going to happen. Not that I know God doesn't exist--it's impossible to disprove something's existence--I just don't think he'd be up to personal appearances.

Answer 1

No, I know they're different. Atheists believe in absence of God, like believers believe in presence of God. They're opposite ends of the spectrum. Agnostics haven't decided one way or the other without proof. You can believe one way or the other, but without proof, neither side can say that God is true or false. Belief doesn't have any proof, though. Agnosticism is a perfectly logical way to approach the subject. Not that I'm agnostic. But I get it.

Answer 2

I think most people know that atheists don't believe in a god, but everyone seems to get confused about what agnostic means. Based upon the Merriam-Webster definition, I'd say you're definitely agnostic. However, I've been labeled agnostic by friends because I definitely believe there is a God, but refuse to commit to a specific religion. Personally, if I were going to label myself, I'd go with that icky "spiritual but not religious" tag. My problem is kind of the opposite of the one you have with people thinking agnostic means no belief in God, but I do think it illustrates the fact that most people just don't know what agnostic means at all. Good luck educating the masses!

Answer 3

From my point of view they are not the same, they quite different the first group reject the existence entirely. The second group are much better because they are always aware of some big power which is the cause for all these creations. And also they have common sense, because nothing can exist without creator. And I am sure when agnostics believe of the existence of God no one can shake them because they get to that believe by their own research not by listening to none sense stories.

Answer 4

Yes some people think atheists and agnostics are the same. And you are right in classifying yourself as an agnostic.

I guess those of us who firmly believe in God do so because we were willing to settle for a spiritual smack on the back of the head instead of a physical one. I prayed every night for two weeks and waited to feel something. I did. I felt peace, to me it was tangible enough to count as empirical evidence.

But I sypathize with your postion as I have a few friends in the same boat. The real question is if God were to appear to you and make himself known what changes would you then have to make in your life? Lots of people sort of want to know if He is there, but really don't want to have to worry about the changes He might ask them to make. It's sort of a catch 22.

Answer 5

The difference between aitheism and agnosticism is that aitheists believes that there is no supreme being including God, Allah, Buddha, Hindu gods, or other gods and goddesses. Agnostics believes in the existence of a supreme deity but they are unsure if a supreme being do exist. So aitheist views that there is no deity and agnostics views that there is existence of supreme beings but has the believes of aitheism and religion together since they are unsure if a deity does exist

Answer 6

i agree (and i'm christian btw) i've heard it defined lke this:
People think that agnosticcs don't know whetetr there is a god or not. but it's not so much that, as they CAN not know. becuase, like you said, there is not enough proof.
So where athiests have made the outright choice to believe there is no god, agnostics can not know. In my opinion, this is a better attitude. But god says he would rather you be hot or cold, and if you're lukwarm he'll spit you out. (Revelation 3:16)

Answer 7

Not the answer you were looking for but here it is anyway. Sometimes seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing. It isn't a blind faith but there is proof God exists. Do you REALLY think we were created from a "Big Bang" (seriously if they could come up with that theory they should have come up with a more intelligent name for
it.) and that we "evolved" from Monkeys? No way. Read Genisis. God has made personal appearances but He won't again until the coming of his son.

Answer 8

Yes, unfortunately it seems some people do think that the words atheist and agnostic are virtually interchangeable, but they aren't and anyone who can use a dictionary would know.

atheist
noun [C]
someone who believes that God or gods do not exist

agnostic

noun [C]
someone who does not know, or believes that it is impossible to know, whether a god exists:

Answer 9

God smacks you on the back of the head my friend, and you will be the first person to see Pluto without a telescope.I think they are the same in the sense that they are both giving God a slap in the face for giving them life.

Answer 10

hello:}
agnostic is looking for answers someone who is searching for knowledge .they believe there is a higher power and an order to this world in a spiritual way .
atheists feel we are simply like animals that we live then die and that is it really ,that they really dont have to believe there is anything more to it .
and your right it is impossible to prove or disprove .
peggy