Does one term apply more to the participants here than the other?
2007-02-02 05:58:44 · 9 answers · asked by NHBaritone 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A skeptic is someone who believes that his or her beliefs should be based on evidence and believes in testing extraordinary claims. An atheist is someone who does not believe in any god/goddess.
That being said, most skeptics are atheists.
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2007-02-02 06:05:43 · answer #1 · answered by Weird Darryl 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The main difference is that a skeptic can believe, but an atheist does not. Many members of the Society of Skeptics are actually magicians, religious members, and conspiracy theorist. A true skeptic takes nothing at face value and thoroughly examines everything and through this examination can actually come to believe in certain theories and beliefs.
Atheism deals more directly with religion. An atheist simply does not believe in any type of god existence. To an atheist, the world is based on science and order. We are an entity amongst ourselves. Atheist, though, can follow the beliefs of a certain religion. There can be Christian, Jewish, Hindu, or Buddhist atheist who simply follow the teachings.
The confusion may come with the idea that neither generally seem to particularly religious. Another point may be the use of skeptic as an adjective which is used to describe many atheist. While the adjective may work, the philosophy does not.
2007-02-02 14:14:16 · answer #2 · answered by Charlie K 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Skepticism is the method; atheism is the result.
A skeptic analyzes information closely, casting doubt onto everything and researching it rigorously before drawing conclusions, rather than accepting claims dogmatically.
An atheist arrives at the conclusion that there is no god using skepticism as a method.
Most of us who are atheists are probably also skeptics, and vice-versa.
2007-02-02 14:21:05 · answer #3 · answered by magistra_linguae 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am a believer and sometimes I am skeptical to some things. I think that the two words are complete different and that atheist or theist can both be skeptical. I don't see your point in this question.
2007-02-02 14:05:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is the disbelief in the existence of any deities.
In religion, skepticism refers to "doubt concerning basic religious principles (as immortality, providence, and revelation)"
2007-02-02 14:07:56 · answer #5 · answered by jonathanzila 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is a simple disbelief in Deity.
Skepticism is the tendency to be hesitant to believe anything without doing further research or given the opportunity to know more.
2007-02-02 14:04:41 · answer #6 · answered by daisyk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Skeptics don't choose to believe, even when they have no evidence to prove one way or the other. They wait for evidence to convince them instead of jumping on a bandwagon.
Atheists have weighed evidence and made up their minds.
I guess one could consider agnostics to be skeptics.
2007-02-02 14:02:53 · answer #7 · answered by ÜFÖ 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Atheism: lack of belief in gods.
Skepticism: questioning the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual; a doubting attitude; even doubting the possibility of real knowledge of any kind.
2007-02-02 14:02:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skepticism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnosticism
2007-02-02 14:09:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋