(CNN) – How many ways are there to disbelieve in God?
At least six, according to a new study.
Two researchers at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga found that atheists and agnostics run the range from vocally anti-religious activists to nonbelievers who nonetheless observe some religious traditions.
“The main observation is that nonbelief is an ontologically diverse community,” write doctoral students Christopher Silver and Thomas Coleman.
"In 30 years, we may be looking at a typology of 32 types.”
Behold, the six types of atheists – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs
Seems like a silly "study" to me.
Behold, the six types of atheists – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs
Seems like a silly "study" to me.
I thought Atheism wasn't a religion, so why is this a religious discussion?
It fits because they are making the comparison of atheist being agnostic. Which it isn't.
Behold, the six types of atheists – CNN Belief Blog - CNN.com Blogs
Seems like a silly "study" to me.
It fits because they are making the comparison of atheist being agnostic. Which it isn't.
The only reason why you think it's silly is because you just assume all atheists are the same, therefore, you don't want them to be taken seriously enough to be analyzed and defined.
Well, they certainly aren't mutually exclusive either. You can be an agnostic atheist or even an agnostic theist. But I agree they didn't use the term properly in the article.
1: a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable; broadly : one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god
2: a person who is unwilling to commit to an opinion about something <political agnostics>
Have I said that somewhere before? Because I surely don't think I have.
I assume each and every atheist is as individualized as their personalities are.
I'm not sure at all why they'd need categorization to be taken seriously?
I myself am and agnostic/atheist.
I surely don't feel a need to be a part of a category.
I surely don't feel a need to be a part of a category.
No, they cannot be an agnostic atheist. Atheist is a specific belief that there is no God. Agnostic is not confirming there is no god.
definition of agnostic:
If you hold a belief that there is no God, you are an atheist.
They research over 1,000 people's differing views and defined groups based on a few similar views they held.
Why is that silly? Because you don't want to be part of a group? Ok, then, don't identify yourself as any of the above.
Silver and Coleman derived their six types of nonbelievers from 59 interviews. We're pretty sure we've spotted all six in our comments section.
In theology and philosophy theism and atheism speak to belief whereas gnosticism and agnosticism speak to knowledge. For example, if you don't believe in a god but admit you don't KNOW for certain that one exists or not, you are an agnostic atheist. If you believe in God and claim to KNOW God exists, perhaps through some personal revelation, you are a gnostic theist.
Dictionaries are fine for broad lay definitions, but when actually discussing religion or philosophy, or any topic in depth, encyclopedias are best.
No, they cannot be an agnostic atheist. Atheist is a specific belief that there is no God. Agnostic is not confirming there is no god.
definition of agnostic:
If you hold a belief that there is no God, you are an atheist.
Well philosophically you can pretty much argue anything, however, words do in fact have meaning and atheist and agnostic are mutually exclusive. I have not the desire to argue with you on your belief, but in language terms you are wrong.
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