A number of terms are bandied about here on R&S and I noticed there’s disagreement as to what each means. This creates alot of misunderstanding. What do these two terms mean to you? Additionally, how would you define a theist, a religionist, and a fundamentalist?
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
theist believe in a higher being
atheist has no belief in a higher being
gnostic is to know (have knowledge) of ones self.
agnostic does not know themselves.
religionist is a person addicted to religion or a religious zealot
fundamentalist is usually religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those principles, and often by intolerance of other views and opposition to secularism.
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
Agnostic: someone who believes that the existence of God is either unknowable, or feels that the ultimate answer will not affect our lives.
Atheist: a person who is convinced there is no God.
Theist: a person who, though believing in the existence of God, nevertheless believes that God can be found through other means besides church.
Religionist: the opposite of a theist.
Fundamentalist: a person who takes everything the Bible says literally.
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
Atheist - no belief in a God or deities
Agnostic - think we will never know if there is a god (one can be an agnostic atheist or agnostic theist)
Theist - believes in a God or deities
Religionist - has a religion
Fundamentalist - an extremist Christian, these are the really rude ones who often reject scientific fact
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
atheists do not believe in any kind of supernatural influence. agnostics believe there is a supernatural or spiritual power , but they do not believe that adherence to any organized religion is essential to recognize this spiritual power.
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
It has always been my understanding that agnostics believe you can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God.
Atheists are certain there is no god.
Not sure what agnostic atheists believe.
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
Atheists have no belief.
Agnostics don’t know.
Theists have belief, religionist have religion and a fundamentalist has gone over board.
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
Probably!
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
Agnostic - Not sure if there is a God or not, and thinks that it is impossible to know for sure if there is.
Atheist - Claims that there is no God.
Theist - Someone who believes in and worships at least one deity.
Religionist - Someone of any religion.
Fundamentalist - Someone who interprets every word of the Bible literally.
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
For starters, they aren’t mutually exclusive terms.
Atheism is lack of belief in deities. Theism is acceptance of the belief in deities. These two terms deal with belief.
Agnostic means “without knowledge”, it refers to uncertainty, just as gnostic labels someone who does assert certainty in their beliefs.
Two different categories, belief and knowledge, describing two different claims.http://wiki.ironchariots.org/index.php?t…
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
Atheists don’t believe in a higher power.
Agnostics believe that a higher power is unknowable.
To be incredibly simplistic.
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
Atheists don’t have splinters in their butt from sitting on the fence.
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
Agnostic-an atheist with no balls
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
I consider myself agnostic but am basically 99.9 percent atheist. I am open to the fact that there are thousands of beliefs and maybe one of them has some validity but probably not. I need proof, and none of given me any so in the end I don’t believe. i’m willing to hear proof if it is can be sensed. Faith is just a way of saying I have no proof.
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
the agnostic doesn’t know, the atheist makes a false claim (is a liar)
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
agnostic - open to the concept of religion but not convinced
atheist - does not believe in any deity; rules religion out.
theist - the opposite. they believe in a deity (e.g God) and so a religion.
religionist…not heard that one before
fundamentalist - someone who takes their belief to the extreme, e.g killing someone because of it.
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
An atheist isn’t into invisible sky critters…
Agnostics?
They know that leprechauns and goblins don’t exist but seem incapable of applying the same methodology to realising invisible sky critters are büllshït too.
Meh..
~
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
Agnostics can lean a little towards a belief without commitments where as atheists are fully non believers of God and Christian are fully believers in God..
Put it like this if an agnostic was bisexual then an atheist would be gay and a Christian would be straight..
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
Hope this helps…
Agnostic: “Maybe theres a GOD, maybe not…”
Athiest: “There is not a GOD!”
by Anonymous, on 09.27.09 @ 4:09 pm
Eric K is right.
Anyone who does not know the difference shouldn’t label themselves.
I am an agnostic atheist.