I'm an atheist in the sense that I don't believe in anything supernatural, including god/gods, religions, mythologies and fairy tales. I'm agnostic in the sense that I acknowledge the unknown. Meaning, I recognize that there are some things out there that I probably can never understand.
I think some people make the mistake of thinking all atheists are nihilistic... I don't think that this is true at all. All "atheist" means is NOT being a theist... that's all.
2007-10-17 17:36:11 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Silver, the definition of agnosticism is:
1. the doctrine or belief of an agnostic.
2. an intellectual doctrine or attitude affirming the uncertainty of all claims to ultimate knowledge.
Ultimate knowledge does not = the monotheistic Abrahamic god.
2007-10-17 17:40:37 · update #1
Many of you are too obsessed with god/gods! I am not even talking about deities. I don't believe in them. I don't believe that a deity or deities created the universe. I just think that there might be a rhyme and a reason to the universe. MIGHT. I am not totally nihilistic in that sense. Why must atheism be so black and white? And I truly think that most people don't even understand what agnosticism is.
2007-10-17 17:51:38 · update #2
by definition no you cant be both-atheists dont believe there is a god--agnostic dont believe there is proof either way-but that is cutting things pretty fine if you want to think of yourself as both go for it-its not that big of a deal----keep smiling and enjoy the night
2007-10-17 17:40:59 · answer #1 · answered by lazaruslong138 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a very interesting question. You get a star from me!
I think that if you follow the strictest definition, being an atheist would preclude you from being agnostic. Atheism involves more of a certainty that there is no deity. Agnosticism tends to involve the belief that there is no way to be certain whether a deity exists or not.
So to say you're both is kind of like saying, "I am certain that there are no deities, but deities might exist."
However...
There is no reason why all of your beliefs have to align perfectly with each other. If you are willing to accept and live within the inherent paradox in being both atheistic and agnostic, I would say that yes, you can be both at the same time simply by embracing both labels.
2007-10-17 17:43:40 · answer #2 · answered by JimmyNeutron85 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Atheism is related to beliefs. You believe in gods or you don't. I think most people lean one way or another; even if one is agnostic you generally have some personal opinion about whether gods exist or not.
Agnosticism is related to knowledge. It is simply saying that it is impossible to ever know whether a god exists or not. It means we lack the knowledge to know for certain...but just because you can't know whethe there are any gods, doesn't mean you can't make a personal judgement and say you disbelieve in them.
Two separate things here.
I see no evidence that causes me to believe in a god, but at the same time I realize that my knowledge of the universe is very, very small...so I can't state that I "know" gods don't exist.
So...yep. I'm an agnostic atheist and probably so are you!
2007-10-17 17:40:51 · answer #3 · answered by Rin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in case you will capitalize Agnostic, making it a college of concept, the easy inadequate awareness place is Agnosticism. in case you're no longer dedicated to a college of concept, in spite of the indisputable fact that it is your opinion, you're an agnostic. you will discover very few atheists who unquestionably declare the certainty that there can not be any form of writer, so they're agnostic atheists. Open mindedness isn't a criterion for atheism. in case you haven't got faith in deities, you're an atheist. If unequivocal information have been attainable that's possibly that atheists may be extra possibly than theists to settle for it, because of the fact the information can not adventure each and every of the contradictory non secular positions. The dictionary and easy usages fluctuate. In cutting-edge English-speaking societies, atheist is in simple terms construed as extra assertive. (The term militant is usually utilized inspite of the absence of armed communities.) What you label your self with is your decision. The be conscious atheist consists of a stigma.
2016-10-04 01:48:59 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An Atheist is either 1) strong - they believe there is no deity, or 2) weak - they lack belief in a deity. Weak atheism and agnosticism are thus compatible.
2007-10-17 17:50:41 · answer #5 · answered by neil s 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By definition, no. An atheist does not believe in deity and is convinced there is none, and an agnostic is unsure.
2007-10-17 17:41:50 · answer #6 · answered by No Shortage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course. Everyone who is honest about their beliefs is agnostic, because no one can have sure, deductive knowledge that God does or does not exist.
However, INDUCTIVELY, the preponderance of evidence has convinced me that the chances of any described God existing are minuscule and any undescribed God is irrelevant. And although this leaves me an agnostic, it allows me to be an atheistic one.
^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^
2007-10-17 17:40:11 · answer #7 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Atheism is a satement of disbelief in gods. Agnosticism is a statement about what is knowable. The two are not the same thing.
2007-10-17 17:38:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are wrong Agnostic is a fence squatter afraid to say yes or no. Atheist dont bealive in any kind of God.
2007-10-17 17:40:19 · answer #9 · answered by Betty Boop Oop A Doop Atheist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are an atheist you cannot be an agnostic.
Recognizing that there are things that you will never understand does not make you an agnostic.
2007-10-17 17:40:18 · answer #10 · answered by October 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋