does that make agnostics (those who claim God's existence is unknown) atheists since they lack theistic beliefs?
2007-12-21 12:19:42 · 11 answers · asked by Eleventy 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No; theists claim there is a god; agnostics are undecisive; and atheists actively deny the existence of one
2007-12-21 12:23:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
No. Agnostics can be atheists or theists.
Thomas Henry Huxley coined the term 'agnosticism' to mean the following:
"That it is wrong for a man to say he is certain of the objective truth of a proposition unless he can provide evidence which logically justifies that certainty."
Hence agnosticism is a principle rather than a position. This is quite straightforward - It doesn't mean "God is unknowable" or anything like that, it's just a way of thinking; a method by which we hope to arrive at the right answer, whatever that may be. That's why both theists and atheists can be agnostic.
2007-12-21 12:25:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Agnostics believe that there's no way to provide evidence for or against God's existence. It's possible to believe this and also believe in God, or believe this and disbelieve in God as a result. Agnostics can be theistic or atheistic.
2007-12-21 12:27:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most agnostics (including all the rational ones) are atheists.
A rational person will not believe something without any evidence and since an agnostic doesn't have any evidence for the existence of god any rational agnostic must be an atheist.
2007-12-21 15:19:21 · answer #4 · answered by bestonnet_00 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I thougtht the difference was atheists believe there is no God and agnostics say whether one exists or not is unknown.
in other words- atheist = no God
agnostic= it is a possibility
I am not sure if that's correct or not.
2007-12-23 09:10:04 · answer #5 · answered by psycho_lycious 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you have to specify that you lack belief in gods to be atheist, whereas agnostics haven't even decided that much.
2007-12-21 12:25:12 · answer #6 · answered by Phoenix: Princess of Cupcakes 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, agnostic is an entirely category in itself.
And Atheism is lack of belief in any Creator or powerful being beyond our world,. not just God.
2007-12-21 12:24:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
An atheist believes that there is no God. An agnostic admits that they don't know if there is a God or not. It's pretty strange to have faith that there is no God instead of just saying "I don't think there is a God but since I can't prove He doesn't exist, I could be wrong about it".
2007-12-21 12:24:44 · answer #8 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 5⤋
Technically, yes.
If you lack beliefs in gods, you are an atheist.
If you do not lack beliefs in gods, you are a theist.
No knowledge questionned, just possession of god-beliefs.
2007-12-21 12:25:31 · answer #9 · answered by CC 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah JESUS son of Mary, Allah's messenger They slew him not nor crucified, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture ; they slew him not for certain,
Surah/Chapter 004 - An-Nisâ. Verse 163
2007-12-21 12:27:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋