2006-08-21 07:58:15 · 12 answers · asked by Christina 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
An atheist does not believe in god(s).
An agnostic says that it is not possible to know if there are
god(s) or not.
2006-08-21 08:05:00 · answer #1 · answered by Kathryn™ 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
"An agnostic is basically an atheist without any balls." ~ Stephen Colbert
LOL
Consider the following sentence:
I do believe that god does exist.
That sentence can be negated in two ways:
1. I DO NOT believe that god does exist.
2. I believe that god DOES NOT exist.
The first sentence expresses the WEAK atheist position, also known as the agnostic-atheist position. The second sentence represents the STRONG atheist position.
The weak atheist position is characterized by an ABSENSE of belief, brought about by the lack of evidence that would be necessary to bring about or sustain 'belief'. In this sense, the absence of belief in god is equivalent to an absence of belief in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Thor. The weak atheist (agnostic) position bears no burden of proof, since it is not asserting anything to be 'true'.
The STRONG atheist position is arrived at by a CERTAINTY that god DOES NOT exist, and implies that compelling evidence exists to support such a certainty. That being the case, it would seem that the strong atheist position DOES bear a burden of proof, since it is asserting that 'no god' is a 'true' proposition.
Intuitively, it would seem to be reasonable to acknowledge that there could be some variations or nuances between those two positions, but I don't know how to characterize them.
I am more of a 'snotty' atheist... but I think that has more to do with my utter contempt for people who create their world view from the myths, superstitions, fairy tales and fantastical delusions of an ignorant bunch of peripatetic Bronze Age goat herders, with no credible evidence, than it has to do with my lack of 'belief'.
I think that 'belief' itself is the culprit, since it effectively cuts off the mind from the intellectually honest consideration of alternative possibilities.
2006-08-21 08:10:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There isn't really much of a difference, and it also differs person to person. Those words mean different things to different people. I call myself an atheist, some people would call me agnostic. Agnostics, in general, assert that there isn't sufficient proof one way or another, or that if God(s) exist, he/she/it/they are unknowable. The atheist point of view is usually either "I believe that there is no God" or "I do not believe in God". There's a huge difference.
So, basically, not much.
2006-08-21 08:19:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a means against
theist means believer in God
thus, atheist is against a belief in God
gnostic means knowledge
so agnostic is against the knowledge of God
Typically it means doubting the existence of God.
Atheist is more anti God than the agnostic that is more of a doubter than an avowed nonbeliever.
2006-08-21 08:11:11 · answer #4 · answered by rac 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Smart-*** answer: An agnostic is someone who hasn't decided he's an atheist yet.
Real Answer: An Atheist catagorically denies the existance of metaphysical beings, while an Agnostic is one who says the existance of such beings is a possibility, while not committing to any one specific ideal or belief.
2006-08-21 08:06:33 · answer #5 · answered by mike_castaldo 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Atheists don't believe in gods, and agnostics aren't really sure what to believe.
2006-08-21 08:06:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheist = No belief in God(s)
Agnostic = May believe in God(s), unsure what to call self
- 16 yo Pagan
2006-08-21 08:03:50 · answer #7 · answered by Lady Myrkr 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Atheist do not believe in God, and have a historical stereotype of being a Hund. This sterotype.
Agnostic say maybe there is maybe there isn't a God What is important is how you treat people here and now.
2006-08-21 08:30:51 · answer #8 · answered by Mister2-15-2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agnostics dont have the balls to take a side...usually because they are too cowardly to admit they are atheists.
2006-08-21 08:07:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Athiests believe there is no God
Agnostics believe that there is no evidence one way or the other
2006-08-21 08:03:52 · answer #10 · answered by Blackacre 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋