prefix A meaning “without”
Gnostic from Greek Gnosis meaning “knowledge”
Term coined by British scientist Thomas H Huxley in 1870.
A person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience.
A person who denies or doubts the possibility of ultimate knowledge in some area of study.
One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.
One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/agnostic
Atheist
prefix A meaning “without”
Theist from Greek Theos meaning “a god”
Earliest form “atheo” “atheonism” (c.1534)
A person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings.
One who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods.
Someone who denies the existence of god
A person who does not believe in God
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/atheist
If I’m reading the definitions of Agnostic and Atheist correctly, Atheist includes both those who say there is no god/s (denies) and those who say there may not be and it may be forever impossible to know (disbelieves).
If that is correct there does not seem to be a point or reason for the word Agnostic.
Agnostic sounds like either a Theist who doesn’t know what or who to believe but would like to believe in something (this is taking for granted that there aren’t Atheists wouldn’t like to believe) or an Atheist who doesn’t like what some people think the word Atheist means (afraid of other people’s possibly negative reactions).
“Do you want a cigarette?”
“I don’t smoke.”
“You’ve glanced at that pack three times since you came in here.”
“I’m trying to quit.”
“People who are trying to quit are generally pussies who cannot commit. Someone is either a smoker or a nonsmoker. There’s no in-between. The trick is to find out which one you are, and be that. If you’re a nonsmoker, you’ll know.”
-Robin Williams and Kenneth Branagh, “Dead Again”
Basically Agnostic sounds like “people who are trying to quit” theism or “cannot commit” to disbelieving until there is proof at which time there will be no need to believe or disbelieve; there will be only fact.
Also, who would want to use a word to define a part of themselves that means “without knowledge.”? It makes me think of Otto from “A Fish Called Wanda”; “Don’t call me stupid”.
Now, Atheist: it seems strange to define a part of oneself by a negative. Generally, people don’t define themselves on a topic by what they are not or what they don’t believe. For instance, there is no word that I am aware of that means “Without Republican.”
Instead of Atheist or Agnostic why not “Comgnostic”/"Com-gnostic" (With Knowledge, silent g) or “Intragnostic”/"Intra-gnostic" (Into Knowledge, silent g)? (I checked both at dictionary.com and got no results for either.)
Neither of these words has the “pole up ass” feeling of Agnostic (who’s going to be on the fence or noncommited about being with or into knowledge). Neither has the negative context of both Atheist and Agnostic (who wants to be without knowledge/facts/proof).
Com-gnostic does sound a bit egotistical though; almost as if one has all the proof, facts, and knowledge (wisdom of the ages) already. Intra-gnostic has a sound of willingness to learn, ability to change with facts, open to the wonders of life, the universe, and everything.
Intragnostic
prefix Intra meaning “into”
Gnostic from Greek Gnosis meaning “knowledge”
Term coined by Tressa Lee Breen, 2008 (yeah, like it'll catch on)
1) One who, with skepticism and the tools of critical thinking, will examine theories and beliefs, and hold only to those confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold assent, yet leave open the possibility of correction, revision, adjustment, or even outright rejection upon presentation of better or conflicting evidence.
2) One who, due to lack of evidence, denies the existence of, and does not believe in, any type(s) of god-like deities, and although is willing to accept proof should it be discovered, finds that highly unlikely.
Hmmm.....
2008
2008
Loose (loos), adjective, looser, loosest, adverb, verb, loosed, loosing:
free or released from fastening or attachment,
free from anything that binds or restrains; unfettered.
