Atheism vs. Agonisticism
Are you an atheist or are you an agnostic? That is a question often posed in many a online profile. On the surface of it, the only definite difference between the two classifications seems to be the degree of certainty. Agnostics aren't sure and atheists are sure.

But is that it? Many people who self-identify as atheists are most accurately agnostics. Because, until you die, you do really know for sure what lies beyond? I submit that to both the atheist and agnostic it probably doesn't matter too terribly much. But can a rationalist really know for sure that nothing exist? Probably not.

But I submit that it's also more. The label 'atheist' carries a harsh connotation in contemporary society. There is a certain semiotic evil attached to the word. The mention of 'atheist' implies the unbeliever is some kind of horrible person, some moralless and groundless subhuman monster seeking to destroy civilization. Or some cold intellectual who doesn't understand the human condition. You must not believe so if wonderful theist hangs around you too much, they may start to not believe. It's like atheists are the spiritual equivalents of spouse tempters - faith wreckers if you will.

Agnostics on the otherhand are given the benefit of the doubt. The very label itself pleads ignorance. How can you attack somebody who pleads ignorance? That just seems harsh and inhumane. So agnostics skirt under the radar, not offending anybody, staying on good terms with the believers, etc.

Agnostics theoretically can be lead back to the fold of politically correct religious acceptability. Atheists are the god-forsaken apostates who have committed anathema.

And it isn't right. And it stinks that the dominant cultural meme can't tolerate views that don't validate itself. It stinks that people have to make atheists back down into agnosticism. It stinks that theists can have a definite expression of faith and yet not tolerate a definite expression of a lack of faith. Have you Christians died yet? Do you truly know by experience what lies beyond? No, you do not. And anybody who claims they do is a liar. So Christians would be more correct in labeling themselves as Christian-agnostics.

And really, why is it okay for believers to attack our atheism, to tarnish our character and then when turnabout occurs, the defense is always, "it's not polite to talk about religion"? Is that not like the naughty school boy who throws rocks at an otherwise benign dog and then hids behind his mommy's legs when the dog snarls back?

Imagine Christians in the audience, imagine what it would be like if you lived in the first century C.E. and you were Jewish and living in Israel. Imagine if what you believed in then would make you a social pariah. And ask yourselves, are you not doing something similar to your human brethren or sisters? It is easy for the dominant ideology to ignore those who don't agree with it and become downright hostile towards it.