by Jack Roviere

Created on: October 09, 2008

The largest intellectual battle of recent times has actually not been one religion versus another or even atheism versus any conception of theism...but instead a battle between people who should be friends.

It's the battle between atheists and agnostics.

Only through a definitional battle can these two groups be placed on different sides, when actually, agnosticism does not necessarily disclude or exclude atheism. Atheism does not necessarily disclude or exclude agnosticism.

Some agnostics and theists will point to the dictionary and then triumph: "ah, our definition of atheism is correct! It is a faith like any other and we refuse to be a part of it!" Indeed, I see two major definitions for atheism as per dictionary.com1.the doctrine or belief that there is no God.

2.disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings. Theists and some agnostics will point to the first definition and point out then, that atheism is a positive belief that requires a positive faith. How can one believe there is no God without proof, either side will say? So, atheists are hypocritical and they actually require the same faith that theists do. This seems to help agnostics, who claim to be above the fray of both theism and atheism.

However, with this is a willful (or maybe not) ignorance of the second definition...while yes, a positive belief that there is no God would suffice for atheism, the second definition is critically important: it simply calls for the disbelief in the existence.

This requires more specific prodding on what exactly the nature of "disbelief" is. Going by the same definition from dictionary.com

1. the inability or refusal to believe or to accept something as true.

This appears to be a strong definition and unflattering to disbelievers of...well...anything...if one "refuses" to believe, a theist might say, that means they are set in stone and unable to change...they have decided that god doesn't exist and they will never change their ways. Some agnostics would go on to say, "Ah, but our position once again reigns supreme over atheism, because we don't "refuse" to believe...we simply don't know and don't make a decision."

However, things aren't so clear-cut...really, there are two questions to be asked:

1) Do you believe in a god?

2) Do you believe there is no god?

To characterize the positions...a theist would believe in the first statement...in other terms, they ACCEPT this claim as true. An atheist does NOT believe in the first position. They do not accept...they

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