This was a debate I was just having with some lunch-mates. One person posited that you can because agnosticism simply implies lack of sufficient knowledge to make an informed decision about something (in this case the existence of a higher power/God) and that atheism falls under a different umbrella entirely as a non-belief in God. So he says you can believe there is no God and at the same time acknowledge that there is not sufficient evidence to prove he exists and that the two are not irreconcileable.
I on the other hand said you cannot be both atheistic and agnostic because, as an agnostic, while you acknowledge the lack of evidence to prove God exists you must also logically acknowledge that there is not sufficient evidence to prove God does NOT exist. Atheist have made a definite decision on this point where agnostics leave open the possibility for God's existence while never actually saying whether God is real one way or the other. Thoughts?
2007-01-19 05:29:41 · 10 answers · asked by Timmy G 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To ChooseRealityPlease,
How can a person believe in something that they do not know to be true? This seems like a blanket statement to. You could conceivably justify belief in anything, but your beliefs would have no validity.
2007-01-19 06:19:13 · update #1
I am agnostic and some of the atheist points make sense to me so I think you can belive bothe at the same time.
2007-01-19 05:34:28 · answer #1 · answered by Andrew 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One could be an agnostic atheist or an agnostic theist.
Atheism: a lack of belief in a god or gods
Agnosticism: avowed lack of sufficient knowledge
As you can see, the two terms deal with completely different things, atheism deals with belief, and agnosticism deals with knowledge. Agnosticism doesn't only apply to matters of faith or god.
One could just as easily be agnostic about the existence of a Denny's restaurant on Pluto. This is much like the agnostic atheist standpoint. You don't believe that there can be a Denny's on Pluto, but you also recognize that you have never been to Pluto and therefore do not have any knowledge as to weather there is one there or not.
An agnostic atheist does not BELIEVE (atheist) there is a god, but doesn't claim to KNOW (agnostic) that there isn't.
2007-01-19 06:09:53 · answer #2 · answered by ChooseRealityPLEASE 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think the terms are interchangeable or even overlapping - I know people who refer to themselves as agnostic atheists but anyone who has really thought about the bible and god and looked at how ridiculous it all is couldnt honestly say 'this stuff might be real' so I don't think you can be an agnostic atheist. I don't think there's anything dogmatic about not believing in god the same way I dont think its eccentric to believe in gravity and have 'faith' that you'll continue NOT falling up in to the sky.
2007-01-19 05:59:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
You cannot be both at the same time.
Athiest people are 'sure' that there is no God, where Agnostic people say that their can be a God.. but they dont' have enough info to be sure if there is one, or not. You cannot be both... you either believe there is a God, believe there is not a God... or in the middle where you would not claim either and just be neutral on this position.
Kidman
2007-01-19 05:39:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Thats what sucks. Some agnostics always claim to be athiests saying there is no god then change their mind and say there is one. I hate their flip flop nature.
2007-01-19 05:34:29 · answer #5 · answered by Derek 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i guess but it would be a stupid standpoint. because agnostics believe it is impossible to know whether god exists or not. and if your denying his existance while claiming you cannot know either way, why would u proclaim one over the other?
2007-01-19 05:35:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Nononono, Atheists don't believe in anything, us Agnostics believe in something, we just don't know exactly what.
2007-01-19 05:35:17 · answer #7 · answered by gimmenamenow 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i dont think so i think if u look @ it like that then some of the eviodance the person is using to argue being both falls under ignorance
2007-01-20 10:28:41 · answer #8 · answered by flazu 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I classify myself as Athiestic-agnostic. You also have theistic-agnostic.
2007-01-19 05:34:30 · answer #9 · answered by freeballn83 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'd agree with you
but then I'm an atheist.
2007-01-19 05:34:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋