I think that if you don't actively believe in a personal God concerned with the fate of humans, you are an "atheist," because you *have no belief* in a deity. You can be an atheist without categorically denying the possibility God exists.
2007-09-13 19:12:29 · 10 answers · asked by Nonsense 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Atheists do not claim to be agnostic
an atheist doesn't believe that there is a god in the absence
of reliable convincing proof.
An agnostic believs there may be a god but all the men in funny hats who claim to have a direct line to god and all his
wishes are basically full of cr*p and just looking out for themselves.
2007-09-13 19:25:05 · answer #1 · answered by wise old sage 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
First of all, not all atheists claim to be agnostic. And if there are those who do so, chances are, they do it because it is a perfect middle ground between their belief and the beliefs of others. By saying that they are agnostic, it could possibly mean that they are trying to "not offend" others by saying that they don't believe in the existence of a god. At the same time, this claim also allows them to hold up a portion of their belief.
2007-09-13 21:06:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An atheist is somebody that denies the possibility that god exists. An agnostic is a non religious person who claims to not know either way whether god exists. It is not black and white, there are several levels of belief.
2007-09-13 19:26:20 · answer #3 · answered by Dolly_Madison 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
An true Atheist does not claim to be Agnostic. An Atheist believes we evolved and that all life and powers of our universe and beyond are based upon scientific evolution and that there is no supreme power. No God, No Satan Nor Heaven or Hell. An Atheist does not believe in an after life or of reincarnation or even the existence of the spirit past deaths door.
An Agnostic , usually much more open minded and analytical than the Atheist, acknowledges that there is a universal energy but does not recognize this Power as God because it can not be proven up to be real. An Agnostic basically has to see it to believe it and without the blind faith that someone as myself follows, there is no hands on reality to justify the faith needed in believing for them .
As in the story of "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexander Dumas,
upon his introduction into prison life and of his first beating, Edmond Dantes is bound and strung up to be whipped by the warden of the prison. Edmond cries out to God.
The Warden responds before he commences the whipping.....
"OK, You pray to your God and I will stop when He shows up."
The Warden of course is...
Agnostic.
2007-09-13 20:39:05 · answer #4 · answered by goneblonde 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no truth to that question. I doubt if you can lump all agnostics as being athiests nor can you turn this around and call all athiests as agnostics. Its just too encompassing and simplistic and hard to believe.
One definition of agnostic is--a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience.
Atheism, as a philosophical view, is----the position that either affirms the nonexistence of gods or rejects theism. When defined more broadly, atheism is the absence of belief in deities
2007-09-13 19:31:58 · answer #5 · answered by QuiteNewHere 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am an atheist, and somewhat of an anti-theist as well. I am not agnostic to gods or to fairies or unicorns.
A deist does believe in some being, but not a personal god. The type of god one believes in does not make him a believer or an atheist.
An atheist would admit gods/fairies etc did exist if given adequate proof, but they consider this so remote that they don't waste their time proposing this - so on this I agree with you.
2007-09-13 22:21:17 · answer #6 · answered by nicelyevolve 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
atheism is a belief in the nonexistence of God whereas an agnostic is a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable but chooses to beleive in the existance of a higher power. I consider myself an agnostic as i am very spiritual but do not believe in any specific god whether it be Budda, Christ etc. I do have a belief it just may not be the same as yours.
2007-09-13 19:32:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
A true atheist has faith in the fact that there is no God, just as a Christian, Jew or Muslim has faith in the fact that there IS a God. Agnosticism allows room for doubt - and surely that is healthy. Here is my personal take on agnosticism you may want to read:
http://www.helium.com/tm/518836/story-insomniac-dyslexic-agnostic
2007-09-14 11:12:24 · answer #8 · answered by eat my shorts 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I disagree. An atheist says "there is no god". An agnostic says "there might or migth not be, i don;t know".
They are pretty simple definitions really.
2007-09-13 19:27:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
agnostic=doesn't know
atheist=doesn't believe
You can be both. You can also be an agnostic theist: doesn't know, believes anyway.
2016-07-19 10:16:20 · answer #10 · answered by Dean 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋