Are you truely agnostic or an athiest in hiding? We havent even fully explored our own planet, yet many claim to have great knowledge. As an astromony fan I know there are more stars than there are grains of sand on every beach on the Earth.
7
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I'm both atheist AND agnostic. They are different terms for different concepts - 'atheist' means you do not believe in GOD, 'agnostic' means you don't believe the matter can be PROVEN.
Analogy:
Do I believe there is a flourescent, pink fairy called Gwendolyne who lives at the bottom of my garden? No - I don't, which makes me a 'Gwendolyne Atheist'. Can I PROVE she's not there? No - I can't, which makes me a 'Gwendolyne Agnostic'.
You can still have a 'personal perception of reality' even if you accept that the reality in question cannot actually be proven.
ToakReon
Level 8
Dec 31, 2019
1
Talk about tired, worn cliches! Purple dragons! Pink fairies in the garden!
I'm gonna start having nightmares about chartreuse trolls under my bed!
I don't play golf, I want a special title for that too!
@SilentRage Indeed - a 'negative title', only necessary because religious belief is assumed, and therefore you need a way to state that assumption doesn't apply to you.
If it was assumed everyone played golf, then a 'non-golf player' term would become valuable in that case too.
I truly detest the "You cannot exclude the possibility..." argument. It's pedantic and shows poor thought processes. Woo pitchers who wax esoteric about the impossible and untestable, like they are deep philosophers and shit.
It is not incumbent upon me to consider to the exclusion of anything - on the other hand, it is completely the job of the asserter to put up or shut up.
Yes, I can completely exclude the possibility of a deity. Period.
I hope that the above is considered the complete opposite of hiding.
LatentumCattus
Level 6
Dec 31, 2019
9
Well Said!
As an atheist since age 13, I am out and proud. Not hiding.
I chose rational thought, not magical beliefs.
LiterateHiker
Level 9
Dec 31, 2019
6
How many continents have you visited?
I am an atheist, but not in hiding. I'm pretty open with it. 
BestWithoutGods
Level 8
Dec 31, 2019
8
And be proud, my comment was poorly written. I do find it interesting so many "Athiests" are on a agnostic site.
@SilentRage Atheists, as well as agnostics, are welcome here.
"In Hiding"? WTF?
AnneWimsey
Level 9
Dec 31, 2019
7
I really don't understand why people feel the need to "hide" their atheism.
Being "out" and challenging others to accept that theirs is not the only
way to be, is the ONLY way to be.
@maturin1919 I DO know, and I have always dared anyone to try that
garbage with me.
That's how they've been able to get away with that bullshit.
I refuse to allow anyone to make me afraid of anything.
When that has been tried with me, and it has, I've always fought back.
If someone kills me over it, that's what happens.
So far, hasn't happened yet.
Know NO fear.
@maturin1919 I live in the bible belt and the deep South. It's happened here, too. It still does, whether others choose to acknowledge that or not.
If I did live in one of those other countries you're referring to, you're probably correct. I probably would be dead already.
Doesn't mean I still wouldn't have stood my ground to the end.
Don't assume you know anything about me, or what I've experienced.
You do not.
It's not "easy" to do the right thing, but it is a necessity for some people.
No matter what the consequences turn out to be.
@maturin1919 You are correct, Georgia isn't Iran. Thank goodness.
My father was intelligent but never out spoken Atheist.
What a strange question to pose on this site. Anyway it’s nonsensical because you can be both agnostic and atheist, and I am both and quite open about it...no hiding anything! There doesn’t seem to be a connection between the two statements you made subsequently, to either the question, or in fact to a disbelief in there being a divine creator.
Marionville
Level 10
Dec 31, 2019
3
I think they are clearly defined.
Truly, I am truly agnostic leaning atheist. Yes, we know a fraction of space, even the ocean, but what does that have to do with religion? It is science. Science grows and changes and expands our knowledge while religion curtailed it. One thing I AM sure about - no Abrahanic religion is real. Nor any with gods that think and act for humanity. Maybe there is some cosmic link - me being agnostic. Until proven, and how would one do so(?), I stick to science and all we currently know. No fairy tales for me.
Beowulfsfriend
Level 9
Dec 31, 2019
6
That must be close to how many different opinions there are on this site! 
Austin-Cambridge
Level 8
Dec 31, 2019
4
Who gives a shit! This is the most tiresome discussion we keep having here. More tribal bullshit.
Sticks48
Level 9
Dec 31, 2019
4
Just to be sure, you're tired of talking about religious beliefs or lack there of on a site that its .com is clearly religious belief based?
@SilentRage NO, l am tired of seeing this same subject come up every two or three months. What exactly are you trying to find out. We are all here pretty much for the same reason. We don't believe in God and most of us really hate religions. That should be enough on this particular subject. Now let's get back to discussing religion and how much it affects our everyday life in this most fucked up country. 
@Sticks48 I like Buddhism, the orginal teaching of Buddha not the organized religion part of it. The rest, well the ones I know I firmly believe the earth would be better off without.
Ah, the tired old Agnostic vs Atheist rhetoric.
,.....Yawn.
TristanNuvo
Level 8
Dec 31, 2019
4
New members.
For me no gods, without the slightest doubt...
Merseyman1
Level 9
Dec 31, 2019
3
In your experience or ever?
@SilentRage EVER, EVER...
Right children can you spell non sequitur?
LenHazell53
Level 9
Dec 31, 2019
3
New members have a right to ask the same old questions. And sometimes yes, they do get so carried away in excitement, that they may ask two questions at once. We have all done it.
I used to be 95% sure there was no god and simply rounded up.
MsDemeanour
Level 8
Jan 1, 2020
1
How many continents have you visited?
@SilentRage 3 but I fail to see your point. You want me to go to Ireland to prove leprechauns don't exist? I trust in scientific research and empirical evidence. It's not perfect but it is the best we have. In every other situation I remain skeptic. Occam's Razer: The simplest explanation is usually the correct one.
None of the above. Dictionary definitions are arbitrary explanations of a current vogue.
Both terms are pointless and just shunt you into a position to declare or defend.
Who needs that nonsense?
Geoffrey51
Level 8
Dec 31, 2019
3
Believe it all your way if you like. I am an agnostic atheist.
DenoPenno
Level 9
Dec 31, 2019
2
Are we arguing about your belief or the definition of both?
@SilentRage We are not arguing and I am simply making a statement. Many people insist on dividing words like agnostic and atheist and going into great detail to try and prove to you what each means. I am not one of those people. I do not have a burden of proof.
I actually have not submitted my atheism for review.
g
genessa
Level 8
Dec 31, 2019
3
You've been reviewed and the Religion police will be knocking on your door shortly! 
@SilentRage they knock in vain. i do not wear clothing in the house and thus never answer the door without prior notice.
g
I'm not sure what you're asking with the question "Are you truly an agnostic in hiding?." Nor do I understand how it relates to your next statement. ... I am truly an atheist, but I am not hiding. And, I acknowledge power and energy in the universe, but it's not something that has thoughts and feelings or that loves me (or anyone else) personally. Also, being a fan of astronomy isn't enough to understand the universe. I'm certainly no astrophysicist but it is an area of great interest to me and what I've learned is that life on this planet wasn't intentional ("Let there be light" ) or accidental (a fluke, or by chance) but inevitable. (Unavoidable.)
JustAskMe
Level 6
Dec 31, 2019
3
The difference is unimportant, I recognize that nothing about the supernatural can ever be proved or disproved, because proof is entirely concerned with natural things, if that even exists at all. That is an Agnostic position, but if some people want to go a step further and say that they are sure there is no supernatural, then so be it.
Because it makes no practical difference, since the existence or none existence of god or the supernatural is meaningless if that god/supernatural has nothing to communicate. Since an invisible silent god makes no dogma, and so has the same effect on the world as a none existent god, exactly none. The important thing is to have rejected dogma. So I always call myself a, board church sceptic.
Fernapple
Level 9
Dec 31, 2019
1
If I understand your point you're implying agnostics are atheists in denial, that theists claim supernatural understanding even though we know so little about this vast reality. Some agnostics may be theists transitioning to atheism, have not fully embraced atheism, however true agnostics believe the existence of god is unknown/unknowable and are not in denial. Also our lack of knowledge of the universe can also be used as a counter argument for the existence of god so not definitive arguments.
MichaelBaribeau
Level 5
Jan 2, 2020
2
I was raised as a Mormon, even baptised. It wasnt until I was 10 and had a choice in the matter. I spent the next 15 years trying to figure out why the beliefs I was raised in made no sense. I've have spent a great deal of time/thought to be where I'm at and fully understand both sides. I had a die hard mormon Mother and a die hard Atheist father. I came to the conclusion both were wrong and had no idea what they were talking about. Agnostic
I am truly an agnostic and an atheist.
I am an unabashed atheist because I absolutely do not believe there is any kind of a god, anywhere, in any possible universe, in any dimension.
But, I am also agnostic because I accept that I cannot "know" that no such being exists. I can only say that since science shows that no god is necessary, and there is no evidence for one, I have no reason to insert one or to believe that one does exist.
Joanne
Level 7
Dec 31, 2019
2
To state the obvious, you are contradicting yourself. If you ABSOLUTELY do not believe, then you KNOW god doesn't exist..
If you do not KNOW, then you cannot absolutely BELIEVE.
And WHAT is it you 'believe in' or 'disbelieve in?'
A 'being?' Who says 'god' has to be a BEING, an entity? It's you ATHEISTS who keep saying that, and refuse to stop.
BUT you only set up your own straw dog and then knock it down.
If you just will LISTEN to what real Agnostics are saying, you will finally understand you are NOT agnostic.
Either that, or you will finally admit you are agnostic, and there are no such thing as 'atheists.' You cannot have it both ways.
(I KNOW you disagree.)
@Storm1752 No, I simply accept that it is an unknown. There might be something out there that we would call a god, that is outside of our ability to detect it, or understand it; but, I simply do not believe that any such being is necessary and see no reason to insert one. If verifiable, scientifically tested evidence is presented that one does exist, or is necessary then belief is no longer necessary, it would be about either rejecting or accepting the evidence.
@Storm1752 Just because you see it differently doesn't mean she is wrong. She explained it well; re-read her post with an attitude of understanding rather than seeking a flaw. I fully concur with Joanne's assessment.
Adam and Eve had the WHOLE Planet Earth to themselves. Crazy.
twill
Level 7
Dec 31, 2019
2
That’s a lot of gardening to do with no hired help available!
Very selfish if you ask me, why couldnt they share?
Who cares
bobwjr
Level 10
Dec 31, 2019
0
The member that asked the question clearly cared enough to ask. I guess the whole point of this agnosticism / athiesm website is to discuss philosophical questions. It's important so that we understand the reasons why some people take a given viewpoint.
I ask myself this often. I think how many humans have asked the same question only to go to their grave with no better understanding.
@SilentRage get tired of same question time after time about philosophical differences
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