Are agnostics the most rational, not athiests as many claim.?

Question

This is just a logic question so no one freak out about me denying God or anything.

Religious - God Exists (where's the proof?)
Atheist - God Exists (again, where's the proof?)
Agnostics - We don't know (Sounds most logical to me since there is no proof either way)

Actually, I meant Athiests = God DOES NOT exist

Answer 1

Contrary to popular misconceptions, "atheism" and "agnosticism" are not mutually exclusive.

"Atheism" means "no belief in deity". That does not necessarily mean making the assertive claim that deities do not exist. One could simply be "not a theist". Lack of a belief in something, and asserting that the entity does not exist, are not necessarily the same thing. The former is sometimes referred to as "weak atheism", and the latter "strong atheism".

However, "Agnosticism" (a term coined by Dr. T.H. Huxley in 1876) is the assertive belief that the existence of deity is ultimately unknowable and unprovable one way or another.

And the first term you used shouldn't really be "religious". It should be "theist".

Answer 2

You could argue that.

In reality there is a sliding scale of (dis)belief that non-theists fit onto from the 50/50 chance a god exists to the 0% chance.

I find myself a lot closer to the true atheistic position than what I consider an agnostic position, so people understand where I am coming from a lot better if I use the 'atheist' tag rather than the 'agnostic' one.

Answer 3

The "religious" (deist), the atheist, and the agnostic individuals themselves can ALL be either rational or irrational to varying degrees.

The beliefs/lack of beliefs are another issue. I believe an atheistic viewpoint is the most rational because I believe the concept of a literal god is completely irrational.

I don't, however, believe irrationality is always a bad thing.

Answer 4

Why do agnostics choose to be agnostic ONLY when it comes to the existence of god? Where's the rationale? Why not be agnostic about invisible aliens living in your head, or Santa, or any of countless other things? Why in the world would anyone say it is rational to just sit on the sidelines about anything because they believe there is no evidence for either side, when clearly there is?

Answer 5

Actually the difference between agnostics and atheists usually comes down to which term they prefer, and how you phrase the definition.

I think of atheism as the more intellectually honest and consistent position. When I tell you about my 400 lb purple pet frog that can levitate and move objects by telekinesis, you don't believe me. You may claim that you don't know one way or the other, but that's not true. The fact is, you assume the frog doesn't exist until I can prove otherwise.

Answer 6

agnostics may lean toward theism or atheism.

agnosticism is a rational way of looking at things, but then what is irrational about atheism?

atheists do not believe that a deity exists because there is no evidence. If there were eveidence they would accept it.

Answer 7

No, atheism is the LACK OF BELIEF IN GODS. Many agnostics are also athiests. They aren't sure if gods exist, but they also don't believe in them. (Some are also theists or deists, they believe but have serious doubts as to the nature of deities.)

Atheists acknowledge the possibility that gods could exist, but they do not believe beacuse there is no evidence to support their existence. Much like unicorns or faeries.

Answer 8

Perhaps they are just the most faithless, it takes faith to believe in God, it takes faith to believe there is not God but agnostics 'Don't know' amounts to no faith. As far as logic goes there is a God and he says either you are with him or you are against him as a agnostic in your deciding not to choose, you still have made a choice.

Answer 9

thats right agnostics like me accept the real truth
that no one knows the answers to the universe or its creation
it doesnt get anymore logical than that

Answer 10

I agree.

To me, Atheists seem to have the exact same ideas as Theists.

"Just believe me because I speak the truth, I will show you my proof in this book" The Theist pulls out their holy book and the Atheist pulls out a science book.

EDIT Agnostic does not mean confused! Just as Atheists are not devil worshipers and Christians don't drink poison kool aide.

Answer 11

I qualify as both atheist and agnostic.

I disagree with religions, but I'm not going to make the claim that something that can be perceived as "god" didn't have something to do with the start of everything.