Re: QUESTION

On 11 Oct, 18:41, "L.Roberts" <ozzcat2...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

> Well until you believe that there is a deity, you are an atheist.
> 'maybe' doesn't count to make you a theist.  if you 'don't know' then
> you are not a theist and are therefor an atheist.

Sorry, no: not so simple.  If you believe there's a god of any sort,
then you're a theist.  If you deny the existence of any form of god,
then you're an atheist.  If you don't commit, then you're an
agnostic.  That's despite any desire certain atheists might have to
claim agnostics as their own: atheism is a point of view that most
agnostics wouldn't feel 100% comfortable with, because it's an
absolute position: "There Is No God".

> I used  to understand  that an agnostic believed that there is a deity
> (and is therefor a theist) but that it is unknown and unknowable,
> somehow that seems to have changed.

'Agnostic' as the term is normally used indicates one who doesn't
commit to any specific claim of knowledge with regard to the existence
or nature of God or gods.

> If you swear that you know that there is a god, you are just talking
> out your ass.

The ass-talking happens when someone on any side of the argument
starts saying that everyone else is obliged to believe what they're
told to believe.