Isn't a reasonable answer from an agnostic: "I don't, because I haven't seen any convincing evidence, but I'm open to the possibility."? Is that not substantially different from a simple "No!" from an atheist?

I'm an atheist, but I'm open to the possibility there is a god with any evidence. That's what made me an atheist. The search for evidence.

Agnostic is a claim to not know atheism is a claim to not believe. Two different things. I don't know therefore I will not believe until I see evidence is my take. There's the atheist argument about a teapot that always was and suddenly it started to steam and out spew the universe. You cannot know this didn't happen but it certainly doesn't have to be something you believe. So if you say you don't know but still can believe without clear evidence your a theist who acknowledges he/she is agnostic. Agnostic is not used as it's supposed to be.

@TheMiddleWay I agree with all of what you are saying. If you have no evidence there can be no belief. I think atheism is the term that trips people up. It's not an assertion that there's no god. The term itself is kind of weird because things are not normally classified by what they are not. I'm not a Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Pagan, etc. Therefore I'm an atheist I don't claim to believe in something I can not know, nor do I claim to know it doesn't exist, but I need proof to believe it. A theist goes on faith, belief without proof, so I'm not that. It's really semantics but I don't pray, assume a plan exists, nor expect forces beyond me will work for or against me. Because of all these things I'm not, I do not classify as a theist. A(not)theist. As soon as proof is provided I will believe. But I respect your point and really think we are thinking the same way on the evidence part, just different perspectives on the terminology.

Yep - atheists are arrogant agnostics, since they "know" that god does not exist, whereas agnostics express the humility that they see no evidence

Bring on the flame throwers

I suppose I lean to the agnostic side rather than the atheist. I feel or sense I am a part of a higher energy or force. I will say to people who ask, I am not a religious person and do not go to church or believe. I think there is a god (but in no way the sense religious people mean or think) or rather a creative force BUT it is not a personal god, I am not separate from from this. As a part of this creative energy I too am god/a creator. Right about then I am labled a blaphemer, etc. There is no proof of this energy or force but stuff happens when I adjust my thinking and reasoning along certain lines.

@zanyfish

You use that word, but I don’t think you know what it means.

Atheism is NOT a statement regarding the existence of god(s). It’s a statement of disbelief in such beings.

I am, for instance, an agnostic atheist. I don’t know/can’t prove the existence of deities (agnosticism), but I certainly don’t believe in them (atheist). The terms are not and have never been mutually exclusive.

That said, when it comes to SPECIFIC deities I find myself much more gnostic than agnostic. I can be rather certain, based on the claims of believers and lack of substantive evidence, that specific deities do not exist.

I get the idea that you are playing with semantics. Simple: all gods are man-made and in man's image. Nature is- whether we go back two or three "Big Bangs"- if there have been more than one. Nature has never sent any 'messengers'- if it is cognitive. And if it is cognitive, that would make it a 'creator'. But I do not know the last part- therefore that makes me an agnostic.

@zanyfish KAWHOOOOSH!!! Sittin on the fence are ya?? I don't think atheists are arrogant as you state. We just made a decision based on a lack of any evidence. I would change to a Holy Roller in a heartbeat if the Son suddenly showed up and resurrected one of my dead friends. But really, do you think there is ANY possibility of that happening?

@malkie your " . . . simple "NO!" from an Atheist" is not the answer I (as a strong atheist) or any of my friends or those I follow or read give in response to "Is there a god" Our answer is in line with: "There is insufficient evidence to support the assertion of a god." Yes, this is the answer I give. I have watched hundreds of hours of The Atheist Experience and dozens of other sources, read many books, and, with the exception of a few very young atheists, (7th graders and below) can not remember any atheist answering the " is there a god question with a "No."

@TiberiusGracchus I have noticed that within the tent of atheists there is variety of definitions as to what that means. I appreciate your logically sound version. I totally agree with your thinking, yet I call myself agnostice. Perhaps the difference is that as agnostic I give a nod to the amazing mystery of how anything could exist. For me the big bang theory does not explain what was going on before that to allow the big band to happen. Therefore it remains a mystery. Therefore I am left only to think that somethings very mysterious is (has been) going on out there waaaaaay beyond the comprehension of any human. For me, the word god is just a convenient word to refer to the mysterious goings on. I would not be so presumptious as to assign any motive to it....nor to deny any potential to it. I simply and quite comfortably do not know.

Lacking a belief in a God is not the same as believing in the non-existence of a God. It's a very fine difference, but it is very important. I describe myself as an agnostic atheist, because that represents reality. I will always be open to the idea that a god might exist, because if there was proof that one did exist, I would accept it.

This means I'm an atheist, in that I lack belief in a God, and that I'm also agnostic, because there is always a chance, no matter how small, that one might exist.

He claims that he doesn't know but sounds very confident that there is a god and defends the idea of this. He seems like he believes but he has also admitted that he was raised that way so it could be the only reason why.

Yes, exactly. As someone who loves him I wish I could get him to see the reality of the situation instead of clinging to beliefs that hold no logic. The fact that he can never defend his views in a way that makes any sense makes it even more difficult. But I am trying to help him come to the realization on his own, if he ever does.

He is on his way. A little prodding without argument just may give him the encouragement he needs.

@daddy4pugs Yes, since he has proclaimed he is agnostic, he is probably wrestling with a very heavy handed indoctrination while he was growing up. That is a big leap for a JW.

I feel that I communicate well but I do get frustrated during a conversation with him when he will try to use all of these fallacies to make his points. I am very serious about our relationship. Other than our religious views, we see eye to eye on most things and he is a great partner. He says that we agree for the most part when it comes to religion but he has hope or a strong feeling that there is some kind of god out there.

Two things bother me in what you said in your OP. "He goes silent" and the fact that this is something very important to you and you are not prepared to let the subject go. He says he believes or wants to and uses fallacies in his arguments, I would say he believes and these belief will get stronger when you have kids of your own.
It is important that you solve this dilemma before you start raising a family, that is why I suggest counselling. Ultimately you two will need to decide how to raise children as freethinkers or with your partner's beliefs.

I would never stop loving him because of his views but I just hope it won't cause any issues later in our relationship. I do feel that it is better than being with a religious person. My last boyfriend was Catholic and I was very miserable with him after awhile, as he would not even consider my viewpoints and would force his own on me.

Funny how you said "One became a non-believer" and the other a "lesbian jew." Is lesbian jew a set of religious beliefs?

Also, love is NOT always enough when two people are on different pages with regard to belief in the supernatural. I loved my ex very much. We had different religious beliefs. Part of my realization that we were mismatched is that I could not talk freely about my thoughts and feelings about religion and gods. Not because I wasn't allowed, but because I didn't want to disrespect him or make him uncomfortable. I THOUGHT and BELIEVED we could overcome the religion differences. It took me 3 1/2 years to realize it really really mattered to me.

I only say it's obvious because he will get really worked up during the discussion, especially when I make a point that he has no rebuttal for. Which is often. He seems to get really frustrated having no way to back up his claims but he doesn't accept what I am saying 100% either. Just knowing how he is as a person is also part of my basis on thinking he wants to believe this. I may be wrong though. I just wish that he could explain to me why he believes what he believes in a way that allows me to be like "okay I can see where you're coming from". I will feel more comfortable moving forward towards marriage eventually if we can communicate these kinds of things to each other. He wants that, too. These conversations are sometimes brought up by him, not just me.

Well again I still think it's unimportant whether he thinks there are good reasons to believe in a God even if he can't come up with any! - So what?!! Let's say he believes flying saucers are visiting earth but his reasons are weak even non-existent. Why should it really matter anyway if that belief is harmless? The only way I can imagine that it may actually matter (with regard to God belief) is if you decide to get married & want to have children which he want's to be religiously educated. That might be a problem & I too would have a problem with such a demand myself however there is a solution: Say 'OK they can learn about biblical claims BUT I want them to also learn about Islamic claims & Hindu claims & Zoroastrian claims & Pagan claims & Mormon claims & ALL major religious claims too to illustrate that ALL of these beliefs are based on faith - a methodology which can justify pretty much any idea. Sooner or later they will learn that they can't all be right - but can they all be WRONG?

That's what I'd do if he insisted on religious education - go for 'religions' eduction not one singular view point. Don't make it a problem unless it really really is. - Is it?

Yes, in a world where nothing is certain, it is just as dillusional to say there is no god as to say there is a god. Some say nothing is true, but I disagree; there is a truth, but we are not always able to understand it. That's my best guess. Anyway, arguing never resolves anything. Searching for truth is the best course of action, I think.

I like this comment.

I hope not, I have made it clear to him that I want him to tell me honestly what he believes. I've never said we would not work if we have different views but I do want to make sure our views are compatible. I can only do that if he's honest, and we can evaluate it from there.

I agree-I don't think he's agnostic. rather, I think that, while he may not be interested in established religion, he's still a believer in the supreme being of some sort. Doesn't surprise me that he refuses to read the bible. I don't know any atheists, personally, who have read at least much of it, many of us having grown up in religious families. If you truly want to stay together, this may be one of the things you never discuss. i would, however, warn that these differences can be huge when it comes to values and morals,especially if you have children at some point, or with regard to what your roles are if you get married, even whether or not people of other ethnicities and backgrounds are accepted, respected, or treated as less....

@ashien1965 I know what you mean. Maybe if you said something like "my belief is that it's unknown and unknowable" it might make you seem much less open to conversion.

just saying that as an agnostic, people tend to see an opening to try to convert me. this is both religious people and non-religious people.

Thank you for the reminder of Huxley. A real thinker that boy!!! There are concepts that take a bit to wrap the mind around but once you let it free from the trappings of religion it's like floating thru the either.

At some point it will rear up again and perhaps they both will have better formed their arguements/ideas/beliefs or thinking.

If both individuals except each other’s beliefs it will be ok . But in some cases this difference in opinions can lead to major problems .To me this is not a deal breaker ,it’s the person that counts not ther religious proclivity .This is just my opinion .Every one has to follow their own intuition

Yes, but did you manage to "overcome these disagreements"? That is, was that a factor in your pending divorce? I kind of compare it to a Trump voter and a Clinton voter. I did not support Trump and would never be able to have a relationship with someone who did support Trump. Trump's positions, problems with the truth, past actions are just more than I can bear and anyone who would justify that is not someone who I could relate to. Kind of like christianity vs. atheism.

Good response!

You can in fact be an agnostic and a theist. The two are not mutually exclusive. Agnostic just means you don't know. Theism or atheism deal with belief. Not knowledge. So he could very well not know if God exists but believe he does anyway.

I tend to sway to there's something greater and of a higher order, be it a God or some other mythical creatures or kingdoms; there may be layers and parallel universes of which there may be a heaven and a hell and variations of both; however, theists would never accept me and my beliefs. Sometimes, I'm like there's no God; life is shitty. I think that earth may be hell or some prison planet. The point, how in the world I would I know for sure? Therefore, I follow the possibilities that lead to a path of love, compassion, and righteousness; whatever this path may be. Right now, maybe there is a God or realm of benevolent higher order of beings, because I have no idea how I'm surviving everyday.

on the right tab I see a group "Bible Belt survivors" Might be right up your alley