2007-07-27 03:46:14 · 8 answers · asked by maiax 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Your answers so far are right, but don't go far enough.
An atheist may either reject the possibility of God or simply not believe.
An agnostic may say that there is no evidence for or against God for anyone, that there is no WAY of knowing, or even that they are personally unable to know but can respect other people who claim to know. The catch is that other people can't prove God, either.
A heretic is not necessarily a religious concept, but it often is. It is usually found in the context of the Catholic church for one who is religious but holds beliefs contrary to the accepted dogma.
The main problem with the other answers is that they fail to recognize how, strictly speaking, an individual can be an agnostic atheist. Agnosticism is a position in regards to knowledge of God's existence while atheism is a position in regards to God's existence itself. Many simply like to place agnostics and atheists in different categories for ease of communication, a practice so widespread that it is accepted as fact. You may as well just consider atheists to be those who reject God and agnostics to be those who don't know.
Then there's the issue of ignostics, who say that no satisfactory definition of God has been presented such that we can even discuss it.
At any rate, be aware that agnosticism is not a "fence-sitter" stance as some like to call it. It is not about fear, but mostly about how we do not perceive God with any of our five senses; thus, God COULD exist, but they don't know it for certain.
2007-07-27 08:02:15 · answer #1 · answered by Skye 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheists do not believe in any god. Agnostics believe there is not enough evidence to believe nor disbelieve in god, and many are "Searching" for the correct religion, if any. A heretic is unrelated and is someone who is a professed believer, but maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her religion or rejects doctrines prescribed by that religion. Most commonly, a heretic is associated with the Catholic church. An approximate synonym would be "infidel."
Everyone is an atheist to some extent; self-described Atheists just believe in one god fewer than religious people.
2007-07-27 10:51:46 · answer #2 · answered by scottcmu 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An agnostic is not sure about the existence of God.
An atheist denies the existence of God.
A heretic is a person who expresses or acts on opinions considered to be heresy. Heresy is an opinion or doctrine in philosophy, politics, science, art, etc., at variance with those generally accepted as authoritative
2007-07-27 10:49:44 · answer #3 · answered by hopflower 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agnostics believe that there is, or may be a god, but they either don't care or don't know what to do about him, and many believe that if there is a god, he certainly isn't involved in the day-to-day goings on of humanity. Atheists believe that there is no god. Heretics believe in gods but spread false information about him.
2007-07-27 10:52:44 · answer #4 · answered by Steve 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheist=No belief in god whatsoever. Agnostic=The belief that it is impossible to know if there is a god or not. Heretic=Someone who speaks out openly against a religion
2007-07-27 10:49:10 · answer #5 · answered by Mitch M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dictionaries are easy to use, and can be quite fun too. There are even several online.
2007-07-27 10:50:12 · answer #6 · answered by Fred 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheists don't believe in God.
Heretics are just people who go against the Church (is it any Church or just the Catholic Church?).
Agnostics are... idk...
2007-07-27 10:49:46 · answer #7 · answered by Charlie 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I dunno but they all know how to party. :)
2007-07-27 10:50:28 · answer #8 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋