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[davekriss]

101. Popular shorthand for gnostic atheism?

"Atheism" in popular usage, albeit incorrect or at least insufficient, is held to mean "gnostic atheism": "I know there is no god, I thus don't believe in one".

That's a difficult position to hold, given the impossibility to falsify the common definitions of "god". (Perhaps that's why "atheism" is frequently frowned upon by many? It appears extreme.)

I think the popular (and, again, incorrect) usage of the word "agnostic" is meant to mean "I don't know if god exists or not and I am withholding belief until I know more". However, The latter half of that sentence means the speaker is an "atheist" (yes?), he or she lacks belief, but they are not yet "gnostic" and thus don't use the word "atheist" as defined above.

Language evolves. Who knows, maybe the popular definitions of these terms will someday supplant their philosophical meanings in our Oxfords. (Fun thread!)