An atheist has no belief in a god. An agnostic is uncertain about the existence of a god.
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An atheist has no belief in a god. An agnostic is uncertain about the existence of a god.
GinandTonic
Saphire w/ Schweps + Lime
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An agnostic asserts they have no knowledge about god. The implications of which statement would vary depending on such scientific vigour or personal choice. An athiest asserts god does not exist.
An athiest makes an equally unprovable statement vis higher beings as a believer. An agnostic asserts such staments are by their very nature unknowable.
Mad Man
Your lord and master
Why is it that people who believe in evolution don't believe in cryptozoology?
GinandTonic
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The question should be considered via the lense of "people who believe in evidence based knowledged".
Thus it would read "why dont people who believe in evidence based knowledge believe in claims with no evidence".
Seen in this way it makes more sense. Clearly apriori we should not refute things any more than we accept them, but... Loch Ness does not have the necessary bio-system to support even one top-level predator the size of Nessie, far less a viable breeding colony. A simple glance at bio-mass will show that perhaps 5% of a Nessie could be sustained, not the 20 or so needed to perpetuate a species. 1/(couple of hundred, perhaps 4 hundred)th of that necessary being available is kind of a big evidence-hill to climb. Therefore the respect for evidential fact that demands scientific acceptance of evoloution also makes the chances of Nessie existing just about nill.
An agnostic doesn't speak English as a first language, is obsessed with philosophy semantics, or has no balls*.
Seriously, I'd say there is no distinction. I hate when people use the above definitions because it is almost never what (the atheists/agnostics) really mean; only a way for a person to try to dismiss either, or simply avoid another argument and go off on a tangent to argue about a word's meaning. Most atheists are technically "agnostic" - I really have not met one who isn't, and I think it's so common in society for both to be referred to in the same way that the distinction is moot.
You've never heard phrases with complaints like "godless agnostics". And religious people almost never refer to themselves as agnostic despite the fact that many are, according to those who obsess over the word's meaning. Basically people use "atheist" to refer to anyone who doesn't believe in a Christian God & not another faith. These words are much like other words that have lost clear distinctions and it goes nowhere for someone to argue stuff like, "Feminism really means men and women are exactly equal and only that." Socially, I'd almost say that it's more likely people referring to themselves as "agnostic" are not even close to agnostic at all-they're more likely to be people who went to church as kids and all and believe in mysticism/spirits/whatever and just don't have any faith. It's stupid to try to peg someone just by using the words atheist/agnostic against each other, just as it is with a lot of political ideologies; like how it's stupid for Europeans and Americans to forever fight about what the word "liberal" means - accept the difference between "official" and "common" uses.
Cryptozoology - first, you don't "believe" in evolution. And cryptozoology is a very fuzzy term - mostly I hear it just refers to crazy beliefs in random monsters, which have no basis in evidence or scientific fact. Evolution does.
Spoiler * :
Annex
Tyranny and Mutation
I think there are atheists who do not believe in a higher power at all.
Mise
isle of lucy
I don't believe in a higher power at all...
GoodGame
Red, White, & Blue, baby!
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Excellent summary G&T!
Yeah, and Bigfoot would need not only a large pool of potential mates but thousands of years of ancestors, at least some of which may have left skeletons.
Shekwan
Kim Chi Quaffing Celt
Do you sit on the actual toilet seat when taking a dump?
Annex
Tyranny and Mutation
salty mud
Deity
Mad Man
Your lord and master
Of course i sit down when taking dump. You don't think I'm going to be squatting over the seat for 15 minutes to an hour depending on what I eat, I'm an American
Shekwan
Kim Chi Quaffing Celt
It takes you guys 15 minutes?!
I never really thought about it today but I realised that I don't sit on the actual seat, I find it unsanitary. I am aware this is irrational.
I never really thought about it today but I realised that I don't sit on the actual seat, I find it unsanitary. I am aware this is irrational.
Annex
Tyranny and Mutation
Usually it is around 10 or 15 minutes yes, maybe more on occasion. I dont like to be rushed there.
Ulyaoth
Emperor
that's one of the reasons I only crap before I take my showers.
GinandTonic
Saphire w/ Schweps + Lime
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If I dont have to rush out to work I like to take a cup of deviantly strong coffee and the lap-top in for my morning dump. First smoke of the day on the crapper. Wide awake by the time I'm done, and there will be no need to revisit the loo. Thoroughly purged no farting all morning too.
Godwynn
March to the Sea
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I can't poo in the morning. Only when I am in the middle of an exam or presentation do I feel the urgent need.
Sashie VII
Balance of Power
I spent quite a few minutes searching for this thread. I need help, very quickly.
What is a b/stop? I know of f/stop, but not b/stop.
What is a b/stop? I know of f/stop, but not b/stop.
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