2007-08-21 05:03:36 · 24 answers · asked by rissa 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The primary difference between an atheist and an agnostic is that the agnostic does not believe in gods because they cannot be proven to exist. The atheist conversely may be a weak atheist or strong atheist. The weak atheist may say, “I’m not sure whether gods exist so I don’t worship any. “ The strong atheist comments: “There is no god.”
Some people use the terms of atheist or agnostic interchangeably. How much difference is there, really between a weak atheist and an agnostic? Actually there is some difference. The atheist, whether weak or strong, is not in search of spiritual meaning through finding proof of a god. The agnostic may, on the other hand, be looking for proof, or may be open to the proofs or faith people use to define god. The agnostic does not necessarily rule out that faith might come to him or her at some future point.
The atheist on the other hand, completely discounts the concept of being converted to a belief in god. Even if the atheist is weak, he or she does not choose ever to worship any sort of god. This does not mean that all atheists will stay atheists for life, but many do.
One of the principle arguments for atheism is that a God cannot possibly exist. How could an all powerful being allow for the evils occurring on earth, such as genocide? Why would an all powerful being ignore the many cries for help he or she hears from the faithful?
Most people who believe in God argue that praying does not mean one is guaranteed an answer to one’s prayers. Further, God’s ways are mysterious and above the understanding of humans, thus we cannot fully understand why God would adopt a laissez-faire policy in the world.
The agnostic might ask the same questions as the atheist, but might occasionally evaluate the mysterious ways in which a god or gods might move. The agnostic might also have a tentative belief in an intelligent presence, but believe religions get caught up in doctrine, and have failed to clearly define such a presence. A statement from an agnostic again might be “Sometimes I think there may be something out there, but I’m not sure what it is.”
Thus the main differences between an atheist and an agnostic relates to openness to the question as to whether God exists. The agnostic looks for proof, or a transforming experience of faith. The atheist, on the other hand, refuses to pay homage to any god, either because he or she believes no god exists.
2007-08-21 05:10:13 · answer #1 · answered by llosier9 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Agnostic - derived from the greek "gnosis", meaning knowledge. The word literally means "unknowing". Primarily an agnostic does not profess knowledge of a higher power and makes no qualification for or against it's existence.
Athiest - Definitively does not believe in any higher power, god, etc.
2007-08-29 11:44:27 · answer #2 · answered by Collin O 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agnostic means I know there is no proof one way or the other. I am agnostic deist, I think there is a God.
Atheist do not believe because they know there is no proof that a God exists.
Some people think that agnostics can't make up their mind. Nothing could be further from the truth.
2007-08-21 12:18:06 · answer #3 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Sometimes I think that theists and atheists are more alike than either is like an agnostic. Because they both claim to know. The agnostic has the open mind and examines all possibilities. The agnostic considers philosophies and science to see how it all fits together.
2007-08-21 12:14:51 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. Bodhisattva 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Atheists believe there is nothing after this life, and there is no God or any other Higher Power.
Agnostic thinks there is some kind of Higher Power, but don't know what that means to them. They are not sure if there is anything after this life.
I believe this to be correct. It's how it's been explained to me.
Peace
2007-08-29 10:24:44 · answer #5 · answered by Linda B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
an atheist dismisses god as myth. Communists are great atheists.
an agnostic does not believe in god unless there is sufficient proof of his existence. Astronomers are great agnostics. They prate about the 'mind of god 'but don't believe in his existence.
2007-08-28 16:46:47 · answer #6 · answered by virtrava 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From what I understand...agnostics don't really care either way...and atheists just plain don't believe in God.
2007-08-27 21:27:27 · answer #7 · answered by Deb 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
AGNOSTIC: one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god.
ATHEISM: the doctrine that there is no deity.
2007-08-28 20:15:19 · answer #8 · answered by D.A. S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Athiest don't believe in a God and Agnostic don't deny or agree that there is a God.
2007-08-28 18:21:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's hard to believe so many people got this wrong when it's asked a few dozen times a week.
atheist--Either does not believe in Gods (weak) or believes that Gods do not exist (strong).
agnostic--believes that it is impossible to know God(s)
Deist--Form of agnosticism that believes that God exists, but He/They has/have no direct involvement in the material world.
2007-08-21 12:34:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋