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The atheist/agnoistic identifications are often fused and the distinction between them overlooked. What I think happens is that people who are pro religion tend to treat agnostic as an admission of the general legitimacy of religious belief, i.e., "You are saying that the chances of there being or not being a god are equal." That isn't a fair characterization and it drives the agnostic to become more forceful in the argument, radiating the aura of the atheist.
Most self-described agnostics are atheists. You either believe in a deity or you don't. If you don't, you're atheist whether or not you think it's possible there is one. Also, almost no atheists would say there definitely isn't a god. We would just say your reasons for believing in one are ridiculous.
Most self-described agnostics are atheists. You either believe in a deity or you don't. If you don't, you're atheist whether or not you think it's possible there is one. Also, almost no atheists would say there definitely isn't a god. We would just say your reasons for believing in one are ridiculous.
You have provided your definitions, but there is an absence of general agreement that those are the proper definitions. You would have "I don't believe in god" be indistinguishable from "There is no possibility of a god." If that were the case, there would be no need for the concept of agnosticism.
I don't know if I have a favourite famous atheist but I do like Sam Harris, Derren Brown and Carl Sagan a lot.
My least favourite atheists are people like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Bill Maher. They come off as angry and arrogant, I don't like their style at all.
For me, it's a tie betwen Dan Barker and Christopher Hitchens. I love Christopher's accent and answers, and I love Dan Barker's logic and answers to the most difficult questions. I have spent hours watching debates on YouTube. They are both excellent debaters IMO. They make Dinesh D'Souza look stupid! Who is your favorite atheist?
It's Hutchins, not Hitchens. And are you aware he died last year?
I liked him too. Along with Richard Dawkins. Oh, and George Carlin too!
You have provided your definitions, but there is an absence of general agreement that those are the proper definitions. You would have "I don't believe in god" be indistinguishable from "There is no possibility of a god." If that were the case, there would be no need for the concept of agnosticism.
I provided the definitions used in the atheist community. Also, those are distinguishable as an agnostic atheist versus a gnostic atheist, although there is very little need to distinguish the two. The latter barely exists and has no practical difference from the former. The religious have no more in common with someone who believes there probably isn't a god and there is no reason to believe in one than with someone who actively believes there isn't one even though, as was said earlier, they seem to want to think the former somehow justifies that their belief is reasonable.
I don't know if I have a favourite famous atheist but I do like Sam Harris, Derren Brown and Carl Sagan a lot.
My least favourite atheists are people like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Bill Maher. They come off as angry and arrogant, I don't like their style at all.
^ I forgot to mention David Attenborough, like him as well
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