The God Questions
Terminology is an important part of effective communication.
Here is the way in which I use the words: atheist, agnostic, theist, etc,.
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 is classified as an agnostic theist, a gnostic theist, a gnostic atheist, or an agnostic atheist.
The agnostic atheist holds the only position that doesn't carry a burden of proof.
