Is there a difference between atheists and agnostics?

[Lorenzo]

Is there a difference between atheists and agnostics?

[Lorenzo]

There is definitely a difference between the two. Many people confuse the terms, and some people who are really agnostics mistakenly give themselves the label of atheist.

An agnostic is someone who believes he, or people in general, can never come to know anything about ultimate spiritual matters. His refrain might be, "I don’t know if there is a God."

An atheist, on the other hand, denies emphatically that there is a God. The atheist’s refrain would be, "I know there is no God."



Retrieved from:
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/is-there-a-difference-between-atheists-and-agnostics

[islander]

looks like an agnostic hesitates while an atheist is sure.  the problem with the latter is that one is sure only of one's denial (that there is no god).  blazes.  the fact that one denies the existence of someone could only start from the premise that there is someone that one should deny.  how credible, then, is that denial?  what a trap.

[Lorenzo]

looks like an agnostic hesitates while an atheist is sure.  the problem with the latter is that one is sure only of one's denial (that there is no god).  blazes.  the fact that one denies the existence of someone could only start from the premise that there is someone that one should deny.  how credible, then, is that denial?  what a trap.

You're right, Isles. It is impossible to empirically disprove the existence of God.

[Lorenzo]

I have a colleague at work, a general surgeon intern, who is an agnostic (a teeter totter, i would say). We had a discussion during our break regarding the soul and the existence of God. He stated, "its impossible to prove that there is a god, Lorenzo." I asked him, "what is your reasoning for that?"

"You can't see a god, seeing is believing," he said.

"Well, Jeffrey, let me ask you a question, can you see an atom?"

"No."

"Okay, then. But you and I know it exists right? Atoms exist because all things material are all composed of atoms, which in turn makes up elements, compounds, etc. So just because you cannot see an atom does not necessarily mean it does not exist. Just because you cannot see God does not mean he doesn't exist because all things are made possible through Him."

He smiled at me. We continued our lunch and went back to rounds.

[islander]

hehe, paksit siya.