I became agnostic based on experiences I've been having lately. I grew up in the Lutheran church and assumed leadership in youth activities but, over the last few years, the people I grew up with have been dying in very terrible ways (brain tumor/cancers/diabetes). Their parents, who are very faithful people, have to stand by and helplessly watch; I think: what good God torments people so? Breaks my heart...

To me being an agnostic is very simple. I don't believe evidence exists for any Divine Creator. If a higher intelligence exists it would be easier to swallow but I don't waste time thinking about subtle differences between atheists and agnostics. As far as leprechauns and fairies you lost me there.

I am an agnostic because there are things in this universe that I do not, and cannot, know. I am an atheist because I do not believe any kind of god exists. I do not see it as equally possible that one does exist as it is that one does not. To me, the probability of their being one, or more, is beyond minuscule; science shows that a self-aware creator is not necessary and that there is no evidence of one. If credible, verifiable, evidence of one should be provided--I will rethink my position. Also, as I have stated before, one can provide evidence that specific gods cannot exist.

I consider myself agnostic. 1) I don't really quibble with labels, and don't really care what other people think of my position, and 2) depending on where you live, it's one of the least cowardly positions to take: to Christians, you're damned, but you're also saying that you are open to being convinced if given the right data/ evidence (which so far nobody has been able to provide). But as a practical matter, it doesn't really matter to me--because IF there is a god, I have a very difficult time believing it is as petty as human religions make it out to be. (And if it is that petty, F-ck 'em.) I mean, it creates the universe and is concerned about the sex lives of 7 billion people? Etc. C'mon. I highly doubt that if there is a god they give a damn about what we do and don't believe. That's why I don't spend much time wondering how I should brand myself. People will believe what they want to...

Technically EVERYONE should be agnostic regarding the existence of god, including all believers. And if there weren't crazy people that think they KNOW god exists, we could all abandon using the word entirely. Unfortunately, that's not the case, and letting people know you're not a crazy believer/nonbeliever is necessary. As much as TheMiddleWay will try to convince you otherwise with flawed explanations, atheist and agnostic answer 2 different questions: what you can know and what you believe. I am an agnostic atheist because I know I can't know for certain whether a god exists but I don't believe in one.

I identify myself as an atheist.

Maybe this will help? [niceguyjim.com]

I have no problem identifying as agnostic, as I have seen no compelling evidence of any omniscient, omnipotent, or omnipresent beings. Present me with compelling evidence, as opposed to wishful thinking, and I will consider it. I identify as a humanist because the responsibility for creating a better world for my grandchildren lies with us, the human family, not with a god or any disembodied benevolent intelligence.

there's another distinction that needs to be made which I never seem to see people identifying.
I'm agnostic with regard to whether there is some sort of completely unknown god, however, with regard to certain gods like the abrahamic one, I'm absolutely certain that one is fictional.

I think making assertions in the absence of evidence is the height of hubris, and unscientific.

But I don't know much, I don't make the rules, and I love to hear well-constructed arguments that challenge mine. My ideas aren't me, so I don't mind when people tear them down.

Welcome and enjoy.

It's not cowardly. Leprechauns and Thor are in a different context.

If you are new welcome to the site. We are all freethinkers. Everyone is different.