Agnostic vs. Atheist

[Anonymous]

I think many agnostics eventually resolve their internal discussions and then call themselves atheists.

[Anonymous]

To me, Atheist is someone who is certain there is no God. Just like a religious person is certain there is.

An agnostic person doesn't know for sure whether there is a God.

Both generally live their lives as if there were no God.

[Anonymous]

If someone says "I don't believe an omnipotent god would kill and torture an innocent child, under any reasoning"

Does that make the person atheist, or is there still room for that person to be "agnostic"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To me, Atheist is someone who is certain there is no God. Just like a religious person is certain there is.

An agnostic person doesn't know for sure whether there is a God.

Both generally live their lives as if there were no God.

What do you mean by this? "Living as if there were no God" sounds more like a Christian cliche than anything meaningful. Some of the most caring and thoughtful people I know don't believe in God. I grew up in an Evangelical church, and I am much happier now that I stopped believing I have to "listen to God's voice" all the time to figure out how to best live my life. My integrity and sense of ethics are in some ways more advanced than Biblical teachings, because I not only do to others as I would want them to do to me, I also can authentically love people who are different than me without trying to convert them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To me, Atheist is someone who is certain there is no God. Just like a religious person is certain there is.

An agnostic person doesn't know for sure whether there is a God.

Both generally live their lives as if there were no God.

What do you mean by this? "Living as if there were no God" sounds more like a Christian cliche than anything meaningful. Some of the most caring and thoughtful people I know don't believe in God. I grew up in an Evangelical church, and I am much happier now that I stopped believing I have to "listen to God's voice" all the time to figure out how to best live my life. My integrity and sense of ethics are in some ways more advanced than Biblical teachings, because I not only do to others as I would want them to do to me, I also can authentically love people who are different than me without trying to convert them.

thats what I mean. I live my daily life as if there is no God. THe concept of God doesn't matter. I'm not sure why you took it negatively. Good values aren't the sole domain of believers.

[Anonymous]

How do you agnostics/atheists approach this with your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you agnostics/atheists approach this with your kids?

We told our kids that we don't believe in God or gods and why. They are welcome to consider other opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you agnostics/atheists approach this with your kids?

NP. I like the term agnostic to describe myself, as someone who grew up with no religion BUT ALSO grew up in a home where god(s) were not discussed at all. So the crux is that my parents never said "There is no God."

I stick with agnostic because of the semiotics of terms like "God." To one person, God is just light. To another, gods are nature. Nature and light exist, so if you want to call that God... then maybe your God is real. Since I can't get inside everyone's brains to determine what their god(s) is like, I can't determine if everyone's God doesn't exist. IMO the supernatural stuff and the idea of an interventionist God is a holdover from times past. But depending on how an individual defines god(s), and especially if they are willing to believe in a metaphoric one, I can't really tell them which part is wrong.

My kids are too young to introduce these concepts. However, our family has managed to find other nonbeliever families so when the time comes we can present parts of religions as something that "Some people believe" instead of "Everyone (but us) believes..."

HTH. It's a bit of a crush to be called sinners on the one side and wishy-washy on the other!!

[Anonymous]

We could all be living in a huge computer (?) simulation. No way to know. So, on narrow epistemological grounds, I'm an agnostic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If someone says "I don't believe an omnipotent god would kill and torture an innocent child, under any reasoning"

Does that make the person atheist, or is there still room for that person to be "agnostic"?

I don't get your question.

I am a Christian and I don't believe an (our) omnipotent God (would) kill(s) and torture(s) an innocent child either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If someone says "I don't believe an omnipotent god would kill and torture an innocent child, under any reasoning"

Does that make the person atheist, or is there still room for that person to be "agnostic"?

I don't get your question.

I am a Christian and I don't believe an (our) omnipotent God (would) kill(s) and torture(s) an innocent child either.

Why do children get tirtured and die then? Is the GOd you believe in not truly omnipotent? Maybe this is a semantic issue... Most Christians believe in a PE-ordained plan or no?

[Anonymous]

*PRE

[Anonymous]

I think agnostics, while not believing in the god of organized religions, have no problem with others believing and don't doubt it's their right. Atheists are certain there is no God and think believers are wrong. There is a difference.

[Anonymous]

My mom is very religious but she doesn't believe that God controls the universe like not letting kids get sick, etc. She believes that humans draw inner peace and strength from God in times of great sorrow for which Gid was not directly responsible. I am not religious but just trying to share that many folks don't believe that God is the source of all occurrences on earth, bad or good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you agnostics/atheists approach this with your kids?

We told our kids that we don't believe in God or gods and why. They are welcome to consider other opinions.

+1

We also say "some people believe..." to explain easter, etc.