Colloquial but commonly accepted definitions of 'agnostic' notwithstanding.
Agnostics say: "I don't know, and it may not be possible to know, but that does not preclude faith, as it is the nature of faith to believe the unknowable."
Atheists come in two stripes: "I don't believe in God," and, "I believe there is no God." The former statement is labeled 'weak atheism' and the latter is labeled 'strong atheism.'
I'm not an agnostic. I'm an atheist. I do not have faith in the inherently unknowable, and I do not think that it is a good idea to turn over such an important part of my life to that kind of faith. I am not open to considering faith on that basis. I don't believe in God. But I don't try to say definitively that there is no God. I just ask for proof, and insist that such a profound claim be backed with the most rigorous evidence. |
