2006-09-12 02:54:57 · 19 answers · asked by Charles Darwin 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Agnostic questions the existence of a supreme being
Atheist doesn't believe in a supreme being
2006-09-12 02:57:10 · answer #1 · answered by Quantrill 7 · 9⤊ 0⤋
An atheist is anyone who lacks a belief in gods. Everyone is either an atheist or a theist. You either believe in gods or you don't. There is no middle ground.
There are two common definitions of agnostic. The one I prefer is an agnostic is one who makes the claim that it is impossible to know the fundamental basis of nature.
Some people use the definition that an agnostic is one that doesn't know the fundamental basis of nature, but I find that definition useless since it applies to everyone.
An agnostic can be either an atheist or a theist and of course he must be one or the other.
I am an atheist since I lack god belief. I do not claim to be an agnostic because I do not make the claim that the fundamental basis of nature is unknowable. It may be, but how would I ever know such a thing.
2006-09-12 10:14:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Atheism, in its broadest sense, is a lack of belief in a deity or deities. The opposite of theism, this broad definition encompasses both people who assert that there are no gods and those who make no claim about whether gods exist or not. Narrower definitions of atheism typically include only those who assert the nonexistence of gods, excluding non-believing agnostics and other non-theists.
Although some atheists tend toward skepticism, and toward secular philosophies such as humanism, naturalism and materialism, there is no single system of philosophy which all atheists share, nor does atheism have institutionalized rituals or behaviors.
Agnosticism is the philosophical view that the value of certain claims as truth—particularly theological claims regarding the existence of God, gods, or deities—are unknown, inherently unknowable, or incoherent and thus 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.
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.
2006-09-12 09:57:52 · answer #3 · answered by Smokey 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
They are two different things. Although they don't like to hear it referred to as such, being an Atheist is still a "form" of religion, as is Agnosticism.
Atheists hold no belief in any god, spirit or divine creator, or any place such as a heaven, hell, summerland or underworld.
An Agnostic is someone who knows there is "something" to the belief of a god, spirit or divine creator, but has no idea as to it's identity or whereabouts.
2006-09-12 10:03:56 · answer #4 · answered by Krynne 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Atheist: "There is definately no god."
Agnostic: "You cannot even ask the question, we haven't the tools to answer it. I neither believe nor disbelieve. To ask, 'is there a god' is as meaningless and pointless as asking, 'what is the color of the smell of the otherside of this mobius loop?' It is not that I don't know one way or the other, it is that I CANNOT know."
2006-09-12 10:02:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Atheists don't believe in, and deny the existance of God or any higher power, .
Agnostics don't believe anything in particular, but they don't dispute the existance of God or any higher power.
2006-09-12 10:02:02 · answer #6 · answered by badkitty1969 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Agnostic is someone who is open to the idea of a God but they just don't know if there is one.
An Atheist is one who has had such a hard life and been hurt so much by people that they have shut off to God and refuse to believe that he exists. The mistake coming from comparing God to man instead of man to God.
2006-09-12 10:00:01 · answer #7 · answered by jp 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋
prefix A= without, or against
A-Theist - believes there is no God.
A-Gnostic (greek for knowledge) - beleives we cannot know the existence or the character of God.
The Atheist firmly believes there is no God, the Agnostic firmly believes we cannot know, one way or the other.
2006-09-12 10:08:35 · answer #8 · answered by me 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
atheists have no faith,
agnostics cant make a commitment.
2006-09-12 10:02:54 · answer #9 · answered by rauls ghost 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
an athiest is someone who does not believe in a supreme being or god.
An agnostic is someone who does not believe that humans can achieve knowledge of god.
a gnostic is someone who actively seeks knowledge of god.
Can i be an gnostic athiest?
2006-09-12 09:59:09 · answer #10 · answered by fishpaste 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋