The God Questions

There are two questions in play when it comes to God. One question addresses what you believe, and one question addresses what you know.

Question 1 [what do you believe?]
Do you believe in God?

• If your answer is yes, then you're a theist.
• If your answer is anything other than yes, then you're an atheist.

Question 2 [what do you know?]
Do you know if your belief about the existence of God is true?

• If your answer is yes, then you're a gnostic.
• If your answer is anything other than yes, then you're an agnostic.

In this context, "anything other than yes," includes: { I don't know, I can't know, I'm not sure, I don't give a shit, probably not, I haven't been exposed to this particular definition of God, etc. }

If someone asks you if you believe in a particular God, then claiming agnosticism isn't an acceptable answer because that label answers a different question.

In reference to any particular God, each person falls under exactly one of those four categories.

The agnostic atheist box is a different color, because it is the only position that doesn't carry a burden of proof.