Is MN atheistic or agnostic?

Is methodological naturalism atheistic or agnostic?
Does it say all is a result of "natural" causes, or all may or may not be the result of natural causes.
Which would be more accurate and why?

Hi Judge:As I understand it, methodological naturalism doesn't mention natural causes - whether in the context of "that's all there is", or "may or may not be all there is" - at all. Methodological naturalism merely states that natural phenomena are all that can be discussed in science.Metaphysical naturalism, however, being a philosophical position, does make specific statements: to wit, that nature "is all there is". Metaphysical naturalism can be either atheist or agnostic - depends (like all philosophies ultimately) on the adherent. Metaphysical naturalism is therefore not science, although there are scientists who are also metaphysical naturalists - just like there are scientists who are also religious. Hope that clarifies the distinction.[This message has been edited by Quetzal, 11-11-2002]

There are others (Percy for one) who can discuss "naturalism" much better than me, but I'll take a bit of a stab at it.The hard core definition of "naturalism" seems to be that it is a philosophy that denies the existance of God. It is hard core athesitic.Now, I have problems with being restricted to this definition of "naturalism". Is a "naturalist" a subscriber to the philosophy of "naturalism"? Perhaps, in the hard core sense, yes - But I don't think so in the common usage of the term.In a simular vein, there is two usages of the term "atheist". The first is what I view as being the literal definition - "One without a belief in God."The less literal, but more prevalent usage of "atheist" is more along the lines of "One who believes there is no God". I like to term this as being "hard core atheism".I think that the first ("soft core") difinition can be subdivided into two posibilities:
1) Agnotisism - I don't know if God exists (or perhaps I don't care if God exists).
or
1) "Hard core atheism", as defined above.I think that the naturalistic scientific thought process is one of agnotisism. But once again, I think that the term "naturalism" has aquired a meaning that I don't really like.Enough for now - Call it a "bump", with some actual content, from -Moose------------------
BS degree, geology, '83; Professor, geology, Whatsamatta U; Old Earth evolution - Yes; Godly creation - Maybe
My big page of Creation/Evolution Links[This message has been edited by minnemooseus, 11-12-2002]

My grandfather (Stan) did not choose to believe in a GOD and I suppose he would be at home in Q's definitional seperation. I was confused for sometime claiming he was "atheist" but the family (mine)either remembers wrong or gets this correct claiming "agnotisticsm" for him. It doesnt matter in my case what my living Gradmother believes or doesnt as this thing seems to have occurred for Stan during the reproduction period of his first wife who died in child-birth. Stan went on to get a Phd. in genetics with Surtevants flies in Zeelany's lab, becoming one of if not the, expert field biologist of western NY (till the mid 60s?), and taught evolution to teachers. He died some few years ago.