(September 18, 2019 at 11:09 pm)Inqwizitor Wrote: I agree that "agnostic" is the most agreeable position to situate oneself when it comes to religion. It depends on where you live and who you associate with, though; for me to admit that I'm Catholic can (and has) cost my reputation with many people. I never deny it, though.
For someone who simply lacks faith, though, atheism is the more accurate term. Agnostic refers more properly to what we can know, not what we believe in. For example, the orthodox Catholic teaching is agnostic when it comes to anything supernatural. It is beyond our ability to know.
Actually, the terms are not mutually exclusive.
One can be considered an agnostic atheist. You, for example, are an agnostic theist.
Atheism versus theism tackles the concept of belief. Agnosticism versus gnosticism tackles the concept of knowledge, as you sort of alluded to.
So one can be an agnostic atheist, and that would, in fact, be the most proper term.
If you're frightened of dying, and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the Earth.
