From: Dick.Gray@bull.com
Date: Tue Dec 22 1998 - 15:32:17 MST
>I haven't thought of myself as an agnostic, because I don't
>say that "I haven't decided." or "I'm not sure." Instead, I say,
>"I currently don't see any rational way I can accept the notion
>of god." So what am I?
Technically, by definition you're an atheist. Don't be afraid of the word.
It simply means "absence of belief in a god or gods".
You're also technically correct in not referring to yourself as an
agnostic, since agnosticism is a position regarding the possibility of
knowledge: specifically that knowledge about a given topic is unattainable
in principle. This, I assume, is not your opinion.
Yet common usage gives rather different - and confusing - meanings to both
of these labels. Instead of fighting a semantic battle against popular
usage, you might be better off avoiding both terms, perhaps calling
yourself a "nonbeliever". Depends on your patience and that of your
interlocutors.
Dick
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