The latest news about Richard Dawkins has caused quite a stir.  Many Atheists have gotten into the specifics of Agnostic Atheism and Gnostic Atheism.  Some have outlined the distinctions made in “The God Delusion.”  However, I find that the definitions are either overly simplistic or inaccurately applied. 

My degree of Atheism depends on the god in question.  For instance, I am 110% sure that Yahweh, Allah, Ahura Mazda, Zeus, Ra, Horus, Thor, and Waheguru don’t exist.  I can add many others to this list.  Hence one will call me a Gnostic Atheist.  Well, not so fast.  Let’s call into question Einstein’s use of the word god or Spinoza’s god.  This idea hinges on scientific truths; furthermore, they hinge on true transcendence.  “Spinoza expressly denies personality and consciousness to God; he has neither intelligence, feeling, nor will; he does not act according to purpose, but everything follows necessarily from his nature, according to law (Frank Thilly, A History of Philosophy, § 47, Holt & Co., New York, 1914).”  This god can be compared to the Brahman of Hinduism.  Pantheistic and Panentheistic gods are plausible.  However, they are also indescribable.  Hence they fit the mold of a god that can actually exist.  Any third chimpanzee in their right mind isn’t able to describe a god without referencing him/herself.  This is the reason why we have homophobic, misogynistic, genocidal, sexually perverse, masochistic, warmongering, egotistical, and power hungry gods.  They have been patterned after us humans — an ape I rightly refer to as the third chimp.  Spinoza’s god and the Brahman of Hinduism contradict this sort of being.  Thus, I am Agnostic when considering these notions of god. 

Atheism can’t simply be defined as either or.  Atheism must shift across a spectrum.  If you’re either wholly Agnostic or wholly Gnostic, you’ve failed to understand the intricacy of some notions of god.  One is then compelled to be Gnostic or Agnostic relative to each case.  There is no one degree for all gods.  One is sure of some and unsure of others.  This is how I define Atheism.  Yes, I don’t believe in any gods, but my level of disbelief differs for each case.

Questions you may have:

• What is Pantheism and Panentheism?

• What is Brahman?

• Who is Spinoza’s god?

• Who is Waheguru?

• Who is Ahura Mazda?