GameOver22 said:
No, all those references don't really show anything to prove your point. The second link does not support your claim. "‘Atheism’ means the negation of theism, the denial of the existence of God." This is not a lack of belief. "Agnostic’ is more contextual than is ‘atheist’, as it can be used in a non-theological way, as when a cosmologist might say that she is agnostic about string theory, neither believing nor disbelieving it." This is the way I have always seen the term used. Actually, the first link doesn't really support your claim either. They provide seven different definiitons, among them.... "Agnosticism, as a general term in philosophy, is frequently employed to express any conscious attitude of doubt, denial, or disbelief, towards some, or even all, of man's powers of knowing or objects of knowledge." The problem is, people use the term differently. Its not really right or wrong as you say. It seems there are shades of grey, and philosophers (who are the academics debating these issues) use one definition so they can actually communicate with each other. |
Argh, said I wouldn't reply but really wanted to address this quote:
"Agnostic’ is more contextual than is ‘atheist’, as it can be used in a non-theological way, as when a cosmologist might say that she is agnostic about string theory, neither believing nor disbelieving it."
This is the meaning in non-philosophical terms. The term, confusingly, means something different in that context (which is what the quote is pointing out). In the context of religion however, it means the belief that man cannot know whether or not God exists.