What is Your Approach?

[Locke]

Again, you're doing extra. Atheist, Agnostic, Deist and Theist encompasses everything necessary. There is no need to insert sub-categories.
The sub-categorization comes from the false dichotomy that faith and knowledge are in opposition to each other, when in reality they compliment one another. Faith is the confidence we have in something (be it God, or otherwise) that comes from a knowledge of that thing. As knowledge increases, evidence emerges and either increases or decreases faith in that subject. If it increases faith, then faith in turn motivates us to seek out more knowledge.

The extra is necessary for such a nuanced position. We use the extra labels to demonstrate that nuance.

No one said that knowledge and faith must be wholly separate. That is why someone who is agnostic(does not take a position of certainty) can be an atheist or a theist. Also, you are equating knowledge, body of information possessed, with knowledge, knowing your beliefs are correct based on the body of information possessed. The latter is what the agnostic/gnostic variable describes. One can have all of the faith in the world but still not take the position that one knows their beliefs are correct.

If you see someone with faith blatently denying the facts, then what you are witnessing is not faith, but ignorance.
And ignorance is, after all, the opposite of knowledge.

I agree, the denial of facts is not faith. Faith is a conclusion derived from evidence that does not conclusively support it. When one derives certainty from faith, that makes them gnostic. Otherwise, they are agnostic.

Wow dude.. That was a seriously good explanation. Thanks, it makes more sense to me now. So I think I understand the necessity for the extra categories, I just want to clarify and make sure I've got it right (I want to have an active understanding of it):

Gnostic Theists - Believe in God and have knowledge (or claim to have knowledge) to back it up

Agnostic Theists - Believe in God without any knowledge of God

Gnostic Agnostics - Believe God cannot be proven, and have knowledge (or claim to have knowledge) to back it up

Agnostic Agnostics - Just have no idea

Gnostic Atheists - Believe God does not exist, and have knowledge (or claim to have knowledge) to back it up

Agnostic Atheists - Believe God does not exist, without any knowledge of God

Granted, I also agree with ITChick that it probly doesn't matter that much in the end, since anyone can claim to have knowledge, and grouping people doesn't accomplish too much.. But certainly good to know.