Diagram and Definitions
People can identify themselves in different ways based on their beliefs and personal views. So, to organize ideas, I created this Venn diagram based on the common sense of discussions about the main categories used to label personal beliefs in the philosophy of religion. I created this diagram for several reasons, such as preventing people from mixing concepts. Another reason is that some individuals learn better about any subject through the use of drawings.
Atheist: individual who does not believe in the supernatural and consequently rejects the gods, but also all types of mysticism.
Agnostic: One who believes it is impossible to know whether gods exist or not.
Theist: One who believes in some deity.
We can observe that the circle of atheism and the circle of theism do not touch and are diametrically opposed; they only relate through the circle of agnosticism. This serves to show that atheism and religion are inherently incompatible. Atheism is not a religion; there are no atheistic religions, nor is there mystical atheism!
Each person has the right to adopt the philosophical positions they consider most appropriate for themselves. Atheism, agnosticism, or theism are common perspectives in philosophical discussions, and each of these proposals reflects different approaches to complex issues. Philosophical discussions should be based on respect for the positions of others and constructive dialogue. However, someone seeking reason through linguistic and scientific rigor will focus on deconstructing narratives that try to mix categories in a chaotic way.
Agnosticism is often used to avoid taking a position. People may enjoy navigating the uncertainty between the categories of atheism and agnosticism. But we can ask: is the agnostic atheist, also known as an agnostic, atheist, or agnostic? To which circle does the agnostic atheist belong?
With the diagram, we can see that the agnostic atheist is not strictly atheist but agnostic.
Materialism is an ontology that asserts that only material reality exists. Given that the hypothesis of a “deity” as a material entity is not aligned with the concept of a benevolent and supernaturally powerful deity as advocated by theism, ontological materialism can be seen as synonymous with gnostic atheism. This means that the belief in an eternal universe composed exclusively of matter implies the certainty that there is no supernatural and benevolent being as the creator of the universe. Agnostic atheists are somewhere in between; they are partly gnostic, meaning they have a certain conviction, possess knowledge that the gods of religions do not exist. Agnostic atheists cannot be labeled as materialists because they do not assert that reality consists exclusively of matter and energy. They do not believe in any specific god but also do not rule out the possibility that a god exists. Therefore, agnostic atheists cannot be classified as materialists since they do not claim that reality is limited to matter and energy.
