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Old 23rd November 2007, 08:27 AM   #763 (permalink)
AlanG
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dundee
Posts: 3,367
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As I've always understood it (substitute God with Gods, he with it, she, they where appropriate)

There are two states of belief:
theism and atheism. Theism is the belief in the existence of God, atheism is the disbelief.

There are two states of knowledge about God
gnosticism and agnosticism. Gnosticism is knowing about the existence or non existence of God(s). Agnosticism is lack of knowledge about God(s) existence.

1. Agnostic Atheist: someone who doesn't know if God exists and doesn't believe one does
2. Gnostic Atheist:
a. someone who knows God doesn't exist and doesn't believe he does.
b. someone who knows God does exist and doesn't believe he does.

3. Agnostic Theist: someone who doesn't know if God exists but believes he does.
4. Gnostic Theist:
a. someone who knows God exists and does believe in him.
b. someone who knows God does not exist but believes in him.

Pantheism is type 3 from that. I am type 1. Thee Alex is probably type 2A? Most Christians/Muslims/Jews would be of 3 but claim to be of type 4A. A smaller group would claim you can't know about whether God exists and faith is solely how you know, so would fall into a 4c, can't know whether God exists but believe in him through faith alone etc.
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Ernie Ross - "I'm not a rent-a-quote MP" 10 Sep 04

Ernie Ross being a rent-a-quote MP 23 Jul 04

Last edited by AlanG : 23rd November 2007 at 05:57 PM. Reason: had said Alex was probably type 2B. whoops!
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