I have plenty of knowledge about deities. I know that some potential deities are logically self-contradictory, and thus cannot exist. I know that other potential deities are logically possible, but there is currently no evidence in favor of them. Thus, I am not an agnostic. But I am an atheist.
Just as all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares, all agnostics are atheists—but not vice versa. The categories are not exclusive. One is a subset of the other. (Assuming, of course, that you’re dealing with a person whose creed is based on knowledge. I suppose someone could have no knowledge of deities yet believe in them—such a person would have awfully shoddy standards for belief, though.)
Infants are both atheists and agnostics. With time, it becomes possible for them to gain knowledge about deities—but few of them do so—and to adopt a belief in deities—which most do.
‘Agnostic’ literally means “without knowledge”.
I have plenty of knowledge about deities. I know that some potential deities are logically self-contradictory, and thus cannot exist. I know that other potential deities are logically possible, but there is currently no evidence in favor of them. Thus, I am not an agnostic. But I am an atheist.
Just as all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares, all agnostics are atheists—but not vice versa. The categories are not exclusive. One is a subset of the other. (Assuming, of course, that you’re dealing with a person whose creed is based on knowledge. I suppose someone could have no knowledge of deities yet believe in them—such a person would have awfully shoddy standards for belief, though.)
Infants are both atheists and agnostics. With time, it becomes possible for them to gain knowledge about deities—but few of them do so—and to adopt a belief in deities—which most do.