Rational BAC

Have to admit, I get a little confused sometimes----

I was an agnostic for many years, so I understand that viewpoint quite well.

Have no idea what an atheist is. Seem to get different definitions. So what is correct? And how is an atheist distinguishable at all from an agnostic?

Usually, (actually am just being polite--should be honest and say always) when you try to pin an atheist down, he (or she) turns out essentially to be agnostic, just using semantics and a lot of spin to try and show some difference in the positions.

Question #1---------Do any atheists at all believe there is absolutely no possibility of the existence of a Supreme Being?------(I haven't found any yet that do that---but would be quite happy to be wrong in this matter)

Question #2--------If both agnostics and atheists BOTH think that there is even the slightest possibility that there is a Supreme Being--------then what is the difference between the two?

Dianna

An atheist is anyone who has no belief in gods.

Question #1---------Do any atheists at all believe there is absolutely no possibility of the existence of a Supreme Being

Probably.

Question #2--------If both agnostics and atheists BOTH think that there is even the slightest possibility that there is a Supreme Being--------then what is the difference between the two?

Agnosticism as a term was originally coined by Huxley, according to Michael Martin. It was meant as an alternative to the gnostics who claim we can have knowledge of god. Huxley claimed he was agnostic, that no knowledge of a god could be had. I think.

I have always considered agnostics as people who claim that if there is a god, we can't know anything about it. Those who believe in one anyway are agnostic theists and those who don't are agnostic atheists.

But you tell me. What is an agnostic?

Dianna.

Rational BAC

Agnostic?---

That is real simple to define---Just dunno!!

Dianna

Ah, well, I don't know either. So I guess I'm an agnostic too. But...when I look real hard at the question of god, while I don't know, I don't see any evidence that gods are anything but imaginary...so I doubt they exist.

Is that the difference? Do you doubt the existence of gods?


Dianna

Rational BAC

I still cannot argue with the position of agnostics-----there are days when I revert to an agnostic position myself. There is no argument that can be made against an agnostic.

Now an atheist who is absolutely certain that there is no such thing as a Supreme Being, that there is not even the possibility of a Supreme Being--------------then I state that that is an untenable position.

In my mind, and I have nothing against being proven wrong about this, the only true atheist is one who has decided there is not even the slightest possibility of a Supreme Being. ------------Otherwise, I see no real distinction between an atheist and an agnostic.

They are both saying "I dunno"

Dianna

Well, I suppose everyone is entitled to use words in the way he wants. From what I can tell, theist means "believer in god." Atheist means "not believer in god." Seems pretty simple to me.

Do you believe in gods? Can you explain to me (I'm truly interested) how you got your definition of atheist (being: someone who claims there is not the slightest possibility of gods)? I mean, is there some reason you define the term so narrowly that practically no one can call himself atheist? Did you learn it somewhere? Or is it defined in a book that way? Thanks.

Dianna

Rational BAC

Nope---

That is all me----

And the problem I have always had distinguishing between agnostics and athiests.

Both seem like the same thing with some semantic differences----kind of like the difference between a Baptist and a Southern Baptist.

Rational BAC

Nope---

That is all me----I am unique--as we all are

And the problem I have always had distinguishing between agnostics and atheists.

Both seem like the same thing with some semantic differences----kind of like the difference between a Baptist and a Southern Baptist. Or an Episcopalian and a Catholic.

rainbow walking

Hi RB,
There is a distinction made in some circles that makes a case for strong atheism as opposed to weak atheism. I personally see no difference between the weak atheist and the agnostic whereas the strong atheist makes a positive statement that no god or gods exist. As you pointed out, the position is untenable if you're basing it on empirical observations but I think the strong atheist bases his position on logic more than evidence. Just my opinion and I have been known to be wrong more often than right. Welcome to the forum.

Dianna

And many of us, myself included, waver between strong and weak. At times, I'm like you BAC, I just don't know. At other times, I think the idea of gods is completely untenable. But through it all, I lack belief in any gods, so I call myself an atheist.

Dianna
www.geocities.com/atheistview/