I have always called myself an atheist because according to my definition, an atheist is someone who has no religious beliefs. I do not say that they is definitely no god, but I do not believe in him either. I also do not practice any religion. So what should I call myself?
I'm not really sure what the definition of agnostic is. My wife says I should call myself that, because it is someone who neither believes nor disbelieves. I have heard other definitions of agnostic however that say an Agnostic believes in higher power but does not follow a particular religion.
This is all very confusing. Can you offer your own definitions of Atheist and Agnostic to help me sort this out?
2006-12-01 05:30:02 · 13 answers · asked by Kyleontheweb 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thanks for all the answers, putting this to vote.
~Kyle
2006-12-03 02:04:38 · update #1
Agnostics admit they don't know everything.
2006-12-01 05:32:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Don't feel bad about having some confusion. There are a number of definitions, and while they point in similar directions, there are differences in nuance:
Agnostics are those who acknowledge that they don't KNOW whether there is a god or not. [Greek: "a" (without) + "gnosis" (knowledge)].
Atheists are those who specifically do not BELIEVE that a god exists. [Greek: "a" (without) + "theos" (god)].
There are both soft atheists and hard atheists.
Soft atheists say that the lack of evidence for God's existence and the smattering of evidence against God's existence make it reasonable to assume that God does not exist.
Hard atheists say more positively that they strongly believe no God exists. They are more likely to cite the same evidence but draw a stronger conclusion from it.
Almost all atheists will acknowledge they are, on a knowledge level, agnostic. Many agnostics are happy living with the ambiguity of not knowing, whereas other agnostics find it easier to say they are atheists. There are some agnostics also who integrate themselves with religious people for social reasons, while at the same time retaining their doubts on the existence of God.
2006-12-01 05:41:21 · answer #2 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Agnosticism is the placement that it's not accessible to *recognize* no matter if a deity exists. it isn't a position of perception, or being "uncertain." it isn't atheism's weaker little brother. that is the concept no accessible recognize no matter if a god exists. Atheism is the shortcoming of *perception* in the existence of deities. perception and understanding are not from now on an same ingredient, and so atheism and agnosticism are not from now on an same ingredient. someone will be an agnostic atheist (i'm) or an agnostic theist, a gnostic theist or a gnostic atheist.
2016-10-08 01:33:16 · answer #3 · answered by berceir 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call yourself atheist. Atheism has got to do with belief whereas as agnosticism has got to do with knowledge.
If you don't believe in God, you are an atheist. If you don't know if God exists or not, you are agnostic. As you can see, the two categories are not mutually exclusive.
So that actually makes you an agnostic atheist. If someone claims to know that there is no God, he becomes a Gnostic atheist.(edited for spelling mistake)
Well, thats my take on it anyway.
2006-12-01 05:42:10 · answer #4 · answered by Indianguy 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Agnostic doesn't know. Most likely doesn't care. An atheist did his homework and says "nope, no god, and all prophets are false"
A = No/Not
Gnost = Known
The = God
Not Known vs No God
Jenahfah: Why do the stupidest people never leave a way to be contacted?
2006-12-01 05:34:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I am both.
Agnosticism is the philosophy that one cannot know whether a god or gods exist or not. Note the word, "Know".
An atheist does not believe in a god or gods.
Belief and knowledge are different things.
You can say, "No, I don't "know" for sure."
And you can also say, "But I don't believe either."
Agnostic atheism withholds belief without evidence. And, when it comes down to it, you either believe or you don't.
2006-12-01 05:38:25 · answer #6 · answered by Snark 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I always thought Agnostics came in different types.
Those who believe there's something out there, but it doesn't have to be God.
There may be a God, but religion is bull.
Is almost Atheist, but is open to the idea of there being a God.
2006-12-01 05:33:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
An agnostic is someone who hasn't attached himself to any position with respect to religion and takes an open attitude that allows for any possibility. An atheist is someone who has taken a position -- non-belief in a theistic being. There are also diferent categorizations of atheism.
2006-12-01 05:33:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Agnostics do not beleive in any religion. It's kind of like a "prove it to me" attitude. I am agnositc. They beleive that if there is a "higher power" then there is no way for us to know about it. Atheists do not believe in a higher power in any way whatsoever.
2006-12-01 05:33:10 · answer #9 · answered by Stephanie D 2 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Athiests say there is no God.
Agnostics do not know if there is a God.
2006-12-01 05:37:07 · answer #10 · answered by Mandolyn Monkey Munch 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋