(October 8, 2020 at 5:26 pm)runewell Wrote:(October 7, 2020 at 11:33 pm)Gwaithmir Wrote: One does not have to say, "There is no god," to be an atheist. All that is necessary is not to be convinced by claims that gods do exist.
So if that's all that is necessary - then you're an agnostic?
Gnosticism and anosticism is about knowledge.
I have seen multiple times when one person ask another:
"Do you BELIEVE that there are gods?"
Person 2 replies:
"I do not know."
But he isn't being asked
"Do you KNOW that there are gods?"
Belief just means opinion.
"Is it your OPINION that there are gods?"
If you have no opinion, then you are a non-believer and so, you are an atheist because that is the default position.
If your opinion is that there are no gods at all, then you are an atheist in this case also.
If you are a christian, then you are an atheist with respect to other gods. However, I tend to call christians and such people theists.
Do I believe that my watch exists? YES
Do I know that my watch exists? YES
Yes, it is possible to know and believe that something exists.
The other combinations are
1. Do I believe that my watch exists? NO Do I know that my watch exists? YES
2. Do I believe that my watch exists? YES Do I know that my watch exists? NO
3. Do I believe that my watch exists? NO Do I know that my watch exists? NO
