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lhvinny
Lv 7
lhvinny asked in Society & CultureReligion & Spirituality · 9 years ago

If not "atheist," then what?

Especially among theists, it is a common conception that an atheist must believe that there are no gods. I'm fine with that position. However, it causes a lack of a term for those who are in the "grey" area.

I, for example, do not believe in any gods because I've been given no rational reason to believe. However, I am also not convinced (and thus do not believe) that there are no gods. I hold it as quite possible that there could be beings that one could classify as deities which are simply beyond our ability to observe yet.

So, if I am not an atheist, what is the term for my position with regards to my lack of belief?

Many will say "agnostic." However, this word does not work. gnosticism deals with knowledge, not belief. I am an agnostic, because I lack knowledge of gods. However, one can lack knowledge about gods and believe they exist (some call this an agnostic theist) whereas others, like myself, can lack knowledge and withhold belief until such time as I do have knowledge. So, "agnostic" does not clarify my position with regards to belief, only my position with regards to knowledge. Thus, it does not adequately answer the question.

So, if I am not an atheist, what word best describes my position with regards to my lack of belief?

Update:

@peachy

I do not seek to give myself a label. What I seek is an accurate presentation of the position of "atheist" when questions are addressed to them in forums such as this, or in situations where "atheists" are the topic of discussion. I seek a word to help avoid the unintentional misrepresentation of those who lack belief in gods but do not believe there are no gods. I know I cannot do anything about those who will deliberately misrepresent the atheist position, nor would I try to.

Also, lacking belief in gods does not necessarily mean I am non-religious. There are many examples of recognized religions which have no concept of gods, but instead simply have concepts of a spiritual realm or spiritual existence without deities as part of their dogma. So, the label "non-religious" also does not help.

I do value your answer even if it does not solve the problem.

Update 2:

I agree with 99% of those who have answered that I am an atheist with regards to my current status of belief. I also agree with those who have said a single word cannot accurately describe a person's full position with regards to gods. I do classify myself as an agnostic atheist when forced to do so.

9 Answers

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  • Flying Penguins.
    Lv 6
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Atheism means that you are not a theist and nothing more.

  • Shooter
    Lv 4
    9 years ago

    anything that ends in "ist" is likely to be a lacking description of any person

    I suppose you would consider yourself an agnostic because you believe there is no proof in either direction and in the face of a lack of knowledge you decide nothing.

    The buddhists believe that the ideas of a god or the afterlife are beyond the comprehension of the human mind so they don't even waste energy trying to answer such an unanswerable question. Your probably something along that, which really is agnosticism( which has varying degrees)

    definition

    a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable,

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    An atheist can still be a pantheist. It just means that you don't believe in Gods, it says nothing about any other forms of spiritualism you may believe in.

    However in your case you sound like you could be an agnostic leaning towards polytheism but I'm not sure. Agnosticism probably shouldn't be thought of a particular position, but more of a sliding scale between belief and disbelief:

    (believes Gods exist but are unknownable)

    Theistic Agnostic <----------- pure agnostic -----------> Agnostic Atheist.

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Believes it is impossible to sure there is no God)

    I consider myself an agnostic atheist. I do not believe in God, but neither do I think it possible to be absolutely sure there isn't one. A tiny part of me is always open to the possibility I could be mistaken.

  • More Moral Than God
    Lv 6
    9 years ago

    Theism/atheism deals with your belief in god(s)

    Gnosticism/agnosticism deals with what you claim to know.

    Gnostic theist = Claims knowledge concerning god(s) and believes in god(s)

    Agnostic theist = Does not claim knowledge concerning god(s) and believes in god(s)

    Agnostic atheist = Does not claim knowledge concerning god(s) and does not believe in god(s)

    Gnostic atheist = Claims knowledge concerning god(s) and does not believe in god(s)

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  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    Agnostic. It is defined as "believing in the possibility of a divine deity, without being certain of it" (my own definition not dictionary definition).

  • Soeurette
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    Some on here refer to themselves as agnostic atheists. Perhaps that fits.

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    Why even bother with labeling yourself as any specific non religion? If anybody asks, just say you're non-religious. Simple as that.

  • Maurog IV
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    Sanity.

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    Sounds like open minded

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