Aren't agnostics just less ardent Atheists?

Question

Definition of Atheism:
"a lack of belief in the existence of God or gods"
You say you can't know. Therefore we can deduce:
1. You can't know if He exists
2. You can't know if He is non-existant
Therefore despite not leaning either way you still fall under the definition of lack of belief in God..

Right?

pick up a dictionary, eh? In case you're WONDERING where I "made up" that definition.
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Answer 1

Atheists can be folks who
1) lack belief ('weak atheism'), or
2) those who don't believe ('strong atheism') -
in God/god/gods.

There are atheists that will claim one or the other. There is a difference.

Agnostics may be weak atheists, or weak thiests, but mainly acknowledge that they just can't know for sure either way. There are all kinds of variants, from weak to strong to apathetic, etc.

There are Agnostic Theists, so the answer to your question is, maybe, maybe not. It depends on the agnostic beliefs of each individual.

Answer 2

kind of, but not really. Agnosticism believes that the existence of any deity is "inherently unknowable." It's semantics. While the dictionary definition of atheism states "a lack of belief," the majority of atheists believe in the conclusive non-existence of any deity. It's the practical application of it, not the actual definition, that differs. I personally claim agnosticism, because I do indeed believe that there's no way to know either way, yay or nay. Period. A friend of mine prefers the term "non-theistic," which is kind of a compromise between the two (i.e. I don't believe now, but I would if I had some proof).

Answer 3

well, I think that knowing/unknowing and believing/not believing are two different things.

the numbered section after your definition of Atheists you "made up ;-)"....

sounds more like an Agnostic. That would be some one who said
I don't KNOW, or am not SURE if God exists, but I TEND to not believe, YET I will not DENY the possiblity.

so, yes! Atheists still fall under the definition of lack of belief in God.. "or gods"

Answer 4

It depends, agnostics can have belief that there is a god, or lack belief that there is a god. Honestly, we are all agnostic in some form or another because agnosticism regards lacking knowledge in absolute terms when it comes to gods existing.

Answer 5

That is not a direct definition of atheism. Atheism is flat out has not belief in any spiritual figure or dogma.

Agnostic is unsure if god exists. Has no proof to believe he does or doesn't. Wants to believe there is something out there.

Answer 6

Regardless of the origin of your definition, the word is MIS-DEFINED... Atheism is A BELIEF that THERE IS NO GOD, it is NOT a LACK of belief. An "-ism" is a belief, not an unbelief.

Agnostic, from the Greek word meaning "ignorant," IS A BELIEF that we CANNOT KNOW ABOUT any deity or deities.

Neither is "a LACK of belief," but a "belief of a lack." ;-)

Technically, there are "agnostic Christians," though I doubt that many people would hang the moniker on themselves. Agnosticism is about KNOWLEDGE, essentially, it demands knowledge, something neither theism nor atheism has.

I notice you chose the second definition from your source:

atheism

noun
1. the doctrine or belief that there is no God [ant: theism]
2. a lack of belief in the existence of God or gods

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.

Notice that the first definition properly considers it a belief or doctrine.

Answer 7

Yes, some agnostics are technically atheists in that they "lack belief". Some are also theists in that they profess belief while maintaining that they cannot know for sure if they are right.

Answer 8

An agnostic believes that there may be a God but does not know . An atheist disbelieves in God entirely. Many " agnostics " believe that there is a God but do not know which religion portrays God accurately.

Answer 9

Stop trying to make something that's very simple, complicated. Atheists don't believe in god, it's that simple.

Answer 10

Maybe more prudent.