Plain Agnostics - Do you believe in God or not?

[Desert Snake]

Q. Does a diety(ies) exist?

Atheist: No

Theist: Yes

Agnostic: I don't know

 

[godmachine]

I call myself an agnostic because it seems a more appropriate label for me than theist or atheist.

Do I believe in a god? No.

Do I disbelieve in a god. No.

What would a universe created by a god look like? I suppose it could look like the universe we see. What would a universe that came about in some other way look like? I suppose that universe too could look like the universe we see. So whether we answer yes or no to the question of whether or not a god exists makes no difference. Either way, we see the same universe.

Does a god exist?

Theist: Yes

Atheist: No

Me: I don't care

 

[laffy_taffy]

Q. Does a diety(ies) exist?

Atheist: No

Theist: Yes

Agnostic: I don't know

The question is not "does a deity exist" but do you believe in a deity". Atheism/theism have to do with belief, not knowledge. Most atheists would not answer your question with a "no" since we have no idea whether or not gods actually exist. For all we know, there could be hundreds out there. We simply have not been provided with any evidence which has convinced us to cross over the threshold to belief.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Q. Does a diety(ies) exist?

Atheist: No

Theist: Yes

Agnostic: I don't know

Wow! I never thought about that, thanks so much for reading the OP

 

[Desert Snake]

The question is not "does a deity exist" but do you believe in a deity". Atheism/theism have to do with belief, not knowledge. Most atheists would not answer your question with a "no" since we have no idea whether or not gods actually exist. For all we know, there could be hundreds out there. We simply have not been provided with any evidence which has convinced us to cross over the threshold to belief.

An atheist denies the existence of diety(ies). If someone answers "I don't know" to that question then they are not an atheist, they would be an agnostic.

 

[Desert Snake]

Wow! I never thought about that, thanks so much for reading the OP

A poor attempt at sarcasm, however my comment does answer your question.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

A poor attempt at sarcasm, however my comment does answer your question.

I know what Agnosticism means, I am attempting to show the difference between claiming knowledge and claiming belief.

Many people think of Agnosticism as a theological appoint (atheism, theism, or deism), when actually, it is a claim appoint, between gnosticism and agnosticism.

So an agnostic should have a view on which is at least MORE liklier (atheism or theism), because I've never been in a situation, nor can think of one, in which I was exactly 50/50 unsure.

I was trying to prove that with this thread, but I decided "heh, who cares, nobody will get me".

 

[Desert Snake]

So an agnostic should have a view on which is at least MORE liklier (atheism or theism), because I've never been in a situation, nor can think of one, in which I was exactly 50/50 unsure.

I was trying to prove that with this thread, but I decided "heh, who cares, nobody will get me".

I think the definitions work. Some people use terms such as "weak atheist" etc. however IMO this only confuses the issue more. In those instances then yes, the person would have to explain what they mean by using those terms.

 

[godmachine]

If you do not know then you are by definition an Atheist. That is the default position.

I will decide for myself what label most accurately represents what I believe. What makes atheism the default position anyway?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I think the definitions work. Some people use terms such as "weak atheist" etc. however IMO this only confuses the issue more. In those instances then yes, the person would have to explain what they mean by using those terms.

Yes, I agree, why have labels at all? All you need to the question is a yes or no.

You see, when an agnostic answers, they don't answer based on "belief" as asked, they answer based on what they "know", which isn't what was asked.

It would be like answering "What do you think is in the box?" with "I don't know", absurdity.

 

[godmachine]

Define "god" and I will tell you if I believe in it.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Define "god" and I will tell you if I believe in it.

Ah, well played, Ignostic.

 

[Fraleyight]

I will decide for myself what label most accurately represents what I believe. What makes atheism the default position anyway?

Anyone making a claim to something also holds the responsibility to prove that claim. Atheism is rejecting the claim that there is a god. Until someone proves the existence of a God the default position would be I do not believe in god.

You can give yourself any labels you want to get you through the day. An Atheist is defined as someone who does not believe in a god. If you fall under that category then you are an Atheist.

 

[Desert Snake]

Anyone making a claim to something also holds the responsibility to prove that claim. Atheism is rejecting the claim that there is a god. Until someone proves the existence of a God the default position would be I do not believe in god.

You can give yourself any labels you want to get you through the day. An Atheist is defined as someone who does not believe in a god. If you fall under that category then you are an Atheist.

You still don't seem to get the differences between atheist, theist, and agnostic. That's your problem. However, instead of arguing an issue that you don't even understand, why not go to the atheist DIR and ask them to explain it to you.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

You still don't seem to get the differences between atheist, theist, and agnostic. That's your problem. However, instead of arguing an issue that you don't even understand, why not go to the atheist DIR and ask them to explain it to you.

An agnostic has to be either a theist or an atheist, whether or not he knows god exists or doesn't know, it's whether he thinks god does or not.

Agnosticism, gnosticism is a claim of knowledge.

Atheism, theism is a claim of theological viewpoint.

Therefore, the differences between theism and atheism compared to an agnostic are the differences between the sun and a chair.

 

[Fraleyight]

You still don't seem to get the differences between atheist, theist, and agnostic. That's your problem. However, instead of arguing an issue that you don't even understand, why not go to the atheist DIR and ask them to explain it to you.

There is no "difference" between being an agnostic and a theist/atheist. They are two separate issues.

 

[Desert Snake]

An agnostic has to be either a theist or an atheist,

Wrong.
You obviously haven't understood the responses to your question given in this thread.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Wrong.
You obviously haven't understood the responses to your question given in this thread.

Yes, I agree, why have labels at all? All you need to the question is a yes or no.

You see, when an agnostic answers, they don't answer based on "belief" as asked, they answer based on what they "know", which isn't what was asked.

It would be like answering "What do you think is in the box?" with "I don't know", absurdity.


(there you go)

 

[Desert Snake]

There is no "difference" between being an agnostic and a theist/atheist. They are two separate issues.

No, they are not. You cannot be, for instance, an "agnostic atheist" as I've noticed some people labeling themselves...this is a contradiction in definition.


Did you even understand the post where I stated that an atheist denies the existence of a deity(ies)? That is neither the position of the theist or the agnostic.

You are arguing a point that you don't even understand, like I said, instead of cluttering up this DIR why don't you go ask for someone to explain this to you in the atheist DIR.

 

[Desert Snake]

when an agnostic answers, they don't answer based on "belief" as asked, they answer based on what they "know", which isn't what was asked.

Wrong, the atheist, agnostic, and theist are all answering the same question, based on their belief...