Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire What is the difference between Agnostic and Atheist?

Sure, I know the differences as defined by Webster. I am interested in what our members say.

For myself: I suppose there might be now, or might have been at some time in the billions of years since this Universe was spawned, several species out there with vastly more intelligence, wisdom, science, and technology than we have accumulated to this date. But those beings, if they ever existed, most certainly have no interest or effect upon the present day events of this planet. They certainly do not care about, or intervene in my day to day activities

I believe that any species in this Universe is bound by the natural laws of Physics.

I firmly believe that when electrical activity in the brain ceases, all that a man is, was, or ever will be ceases to exist. Thus there can be no Afterlife, no Heaven, and no Hell. I believe that all stories of supernatural events, contrary to the known and unknown laws of science, are matters of coincidence, misinterpretation, and or delusion.

Agnostic or Atheist? Or is there really a difference?

One is humble & intellectually honest enough to admit he may be wrong. The other defied logic by stating that a negative can be proven as fact.

Richard Dawkins lays out a 7 point scale between total belief (1) and total unbelief (7). They system allows for different degrees of belief/agnosticism. Since it's impossible to prove a negative, Dawkins will often describe himself as a 6.5 on this 7 point scale. So although he's technically an agnostic, he's functionally an atheist.

An agnostic isn't sure, so he's hedging his bets.

Agnostics use some emotion in their thinking,Atheists use only the facts.

I would say agnostic.

I would say he's going straight to hell, to smoke a turd.

That is what I have proclaimed since High School.

Some how I simply could never believe in anything I could not see, touch, or feel. Even as a young child, I used to ask "why" or "how" much more than my elders appreciated.

LOL

Yer an atheist...IMO.

Well, actually, not a Hell of a lot.

Agnostics don't know and are open given evidence. Atheists are pretty sure of themselves.

At the age of six I frequently corrected my Sunday School teachers when they were telling us something that was patently untrue. They didn't appreciate facts coming from a little kid.

In 2'nd grade I got a staff infection in one ear and had to avoid any contact with cold air. I spent recess all winter in the classroom reading encyclopedias.

Then I would go home each day and challenge my Mom to answer questions about that which I had read that day. Mom got more than a bit frustrated with me at times.

That probably had great influence on my later perspectives.

My mother was a teacher and we referred to her as " Britannica Breath" one of the smartest individuals I ever met, and not one to be played the fool.

Back to the OP.

Contrary to the typical Atheist, you will never see or hear me criticize another for his/her faith. I have great respect for those who hold their faith dear and honor it.

I am sometimes envious. It would be nice, at times, to believe there was someone out there who could solve all of my, or even the world's problems.

But alas, I can not, without evidence. And we all know evidence is completely contrary to faith.

She sounds like an impressive lady.

I am the same. It must be very comforting to have the answer to every question laid out for you�..but��...

What a man believes has no effect on reality. Anybody can type his beliefs on a forum but does that make what he types the truth?

What about people who were healed of various sicknesses or diseases? I know a woman who suffered for fibro mialga for 7 years after a car wreck. She was instantly healed at a revival in florida. I know her personally and seen the pain she was in for years then I saw her lead a regular life after her experience.

Heres my take on it. You don't know $hit, I don't know $hit, nobody else on the fire really knows $hit, scientists don't know $hit, our leaders don't know $hit and all the smart people who think they know everything really don't know $hit. The more things people present as fact the more stupid they make themselves look. So keep on pushing your agenda like the homos and liberals, cause everybody knows they make themselves look so wise.

Well maybe that was a bit harsh, my apologies. Just seemed at first you were taking a jab at people of faith. But only the last line, I still think none of use knows $hit.

Then there is me, I believe in God, I don't believe in some afterlife, or that He watches and knows everything we think/do. Not much of a believer in the Bible being anything but man made.

I also don't believe in the devil, demons, ghosts etc etc.


That said, I also know I don't know everything and that most anything is possible, with the exception of never having to pay taxes.