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Simple comparative definitions of agnostic, atheist, humanist, freethinker

Hey everyone,

I understand that the definitions of agnostic and atheist are a source of much debate. However, notwithstanding that, I would like to find some simple and clear definitions for these terms. Not only to keep a clear understanding in my own head, but to have some kind of simple explanation handy for when friends ask me about agnosticism.

It seems to me I ran across some very simple, short and clear comparative definitions of agnostic, atheist, freethinker and humanist somewhere on this site and I can't find it anymore. It was somewhere listed for new members. Does anyone know where this is? It's possible I have it confused with some other webpage.

If it's not on this site, do you know of another source that has these terms listed in a clear and concise way?

I much appreciate your input 🙂

AwarenessNow 8 Mar 18
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3 comments

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1

Gnosis is a greek word that means knowledge. Theism is a belief in god and Atheism is a lack of belief in god. So there are four categories considering belief and knowledge of a god.
1.) Gnostic Theist is someone who believes in a god and is 100% certain they know it's true
2.) Gnostic Atheist is someone who doesn't believe in god and 100% certain there is no god.
3.) Agnostic Theist is someone who believes in a god but is not sure there is a god.
4.) Agnostic Atheist someone who doesn't believe in a god, but doesn't know if there is one. Most of us fit into category 4. I think it's a misnomer to seperate the two categories as full answers to the question do you believe in god. If you ask me if I believe in god I would say, "No, I don't believe in god, I am an atheist." If you were to ask me if there is a god I would say, "I have no earthly idea, I am an agnostic.

1

I doubt that you will ever get concensus on their meanings as there appear to be very different usages over time and distance.

I see no relationship between free thinker and gods. Free thinker for me is about being open to new ideas and being willing to consider and challenge the validity of social constructs.

A humanist is someone who considers how best to promote equality of all people in their best interest in the short and longer term.

Atheist does not accept the claims by theists that a god/s exists. It addresses belief. I see no evidence that god/s exists - the same that I see no evidence for unicorns, bigfoot or the loch ness monster and so do not believe in them either. When I am presented with credible, independently verifiable evidence, then I will believe they exist. Not before.

Agnosticism addresses knowledge. Do I know that in any universe at any time that a god/s cannot exist? No. I know that it is not possible to prove a negative - the null hypothesis - and that it could be possible that somewhere in the universe there could be something that may fit a description of a god. But I will not believe claims that there is without evidence.

Antitheist is the claim that god/s do not and cannot exist.

Dictionary definitions generally describe common usage and differ depending on where and when they were published as language is fluid and changes with time and geography.

1

It's in the "Questions" section you answer for your own Profile. I've copied that section from my own - rather than provide a link - since you can find it on your own within your own profile.

Which term(s) do you identify with?

While no definition is perfect, here are some:

Agnostic - sees no evidence for God(s)

Atheist - has no belief in any God(s)

Anti-theist - actively opposes religion and belief in God(s)

Humanist - rejects supernaturalism and focuses on human activities

Secularist - advocates separation of the state from religious institutions

Skeptic - questions religious authority and beliefs

Freethinker - believes truth comes from logic, reason, and empiricism, rather than religion

Spiritual - believes in a supernatural entity

Believer - believes that specific God(s) exists

Religious - believes that specific God(s) require worship

For me though - I disagree a little bit with those definitions. That fact did not affect my answers to the questions, since I went with the definitions offered for the purpose of the questionnaire.

For example, I prefer to think of "agnostic" as the belief that whether there is or isn't a god is "unknowable" even though I think the possibility that there isn't a god is 100%. I can believe there isn't a god 100%, but not know whether my belief correct or not. It's correct for me, but I can't say definitely that there isn't a god, and lucky for me I don't have to prove that to anyone. To me, the idea of whether there is or isn't a god is unknowable, but I 100% believe there isn't one or any gods.

I also disagree with the definition given for "spiritual" in that my own definition of spiritual is more of a feeling of connection to our source of creation, whatever we feel that to be, but for me we were created naturally, and whatever natural forces involved in that do not have to be attributed to a supernatural god.

But for this site, it's good to have the site author's definitions of the words, for the questionnaire's purpose.

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