Yeah! When did the meaning soften to noncommittal?

Those who refuse to acknowledge differences between agnostics and atheists, let alone the differences among agnostics themselves, are simply lazy thinkers who love to pigeonhole people, and the fewer the pigeonholes to stuff people into, the better. This is not to mention the arrogant self-righteousness of insisting on telling people they don't know what they believe in or don't believe in, but you do.
However, such judgmental narrow thinking makes it so much easier to put all infidels into one category and condemn them all to hell, doesn't it?

Great conservation. I'm currently reading "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman. No, I don't believe in any of them but . . . Great book. So many amazing insights into American cultural melting pot and he's English. Atheist, agnostic, cynic, skeptic, etc. . . It's sad so many so want to believe.

In Europe Agnostics were often referred to as fence sitters. It is a pity that the religions have dictated the agenda and those outside still have to wear the "A"tag. The reality is the followers of religions are also agnostic because they cannot know for sure either. They are just believers, not knowers.

I grew up with the understanding that "atheist" was a stronger position than "agnostic." Like atheists didn't believe in god and were confident in that position, and agnostics were not quite sure if they believed or not.

Now, I understand that many people use the word agnostic to mean that it just isn't possible to know if a god exists or not, and they don't believe one does. Which still seems like a way to soften the hard edge that the word "atheist" has always had. I'm OK with "atheist." I don't believe in a god or gods.