EvC Forum: Atheist vs Agnostic

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Topic: Atheist vs Agnostic

Dazy Girl

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Message 78 of 111 (189699)
03-02-2005 9:07 PM

This is how I define atheism and agnosticism.

Atheist: lack of belief in god(s).
Agnostic: lack of knowledge of god(s).

So by that definition I'd be both atheist and agnostic. One could also be theist agnostic (believe, but have no "knowledge"); or plain ol' theist (believe in God and believe they have knowledge of God too.)

I guess the stronger atheist position can be taken as "belief in no god(s)" and a stronger agnostic position can be "belief that knowledge of god(s) is impossible to obtain". I don't subscribe to either of these views, however.

Dazy Girl

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Message 79 of 111 (189700)
03-02-2005 9:13 PM

Reply to: Message 77 by Maxwell's Demon
03-02-2005 8:35 PM

Quoting Maxwell's Demon: "I simply don't want people to associate me with that sort of wishy-washy stance."

That's cute. My so-called "friends" back in high school claimed the agnostic position and when I said I was atheist they treated me like I was some sort of religious bigot because "all they were claiming was they're not sure" while I was supposedly set in my arrogant beliefs.

I'd rather be associated with what most people seem to define as agnosticism ("simply don't know whether God exists or not") but I'm pedantic and it strikes me as a stupid definition because most people aren't sure and wouldn't claim to be certain about their convictions. To define yourself as agnostic that way is to label others as being presumptuous and well, hardheaded (at least in that respect).

smilie edit by PB

This message has been edited by AdminPhat, 03-03-2005 01:32 AM

This message is a reply to:
	Message 77 by Maxwell's Demon, posted 03-02-2005 8:35 PM		Maxwell's Demon has not replied

Dazy Girl

Inactive Member

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Message 92 of 111 (189857)
03-03-2005 5:23 PM

Reply to: Message 91 by Monk
03-03-2005 2:27 PM

MyMonkey writes:

Ooook! writes:

In science the amount of supporting evidence a theory has defines how established it is and how confident we are of basing ideas and actions upon on it

I agree entirely.

Ooook! writes:

I believe the same principle can be applied to faith based actions.

This is where I disagree with you. One simply cannot use the tools of the physical world, (scientific method, etc) to prove the existence of the spiritual world. It’s disheartening to see believers try because they lose the argument every time. I'm sure that for most atheists, the discussion ends here. No physical evidence, then the conversation is pointless.

Ooook! said same principle, not method. I agree with Ooook!'s statements about that and as an atheist, am willing to consider non-physical "evidence"--if it comes anytime soon. Then again, some theists think it's already there and I keep missing the cues. Oh well...

Still waiting.

This message is a reply to:
	Message 91 by Monk, posted 03-03-2005 2:27 PM		Monk has not replied

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