WOTM: Atheist vs. Agnostic

My response to Neil deGrasse Tyson's 2012 "Big Think" video where Neil comes out as an agnostic.

To purchase my e-book, "Atheist Fundamentalist" on kindle:

[ChrissonatorOFL]

Do you believe in a god? No? Atheist.
Do you believe in a personal god? Yes? Theist.
Do you believe in a impersonal god? Yes? Deist

Do you claim to know a god exists or not? Gnostic.
Do you not know if a god exists or not? Agnostic.

Pretty simple.

[MxlexywithaY]

Anyone who disliked this video must have been too overpowered by your raw sexual energy Mr. D.

[ChipArgyle]

By definition, if you don't believe in a theistic deity, you're an atheist.  As a famous person labeling himself as an agnostic, Neil's simply engaging in career self-preservation while being employed in a nation full of people who believe in magic.

[TheSultan]

That was a very polite slap in the face.  You brought up good points with levity and without animosity.

[MasterWolf]

Saying you are agnostic is like saying you are human. Agnostic to me is a word with out meaning. It is simply "we can't know if there is a god or not",  which applies to everyone.  While I respect Neil DeGrasse Tyson, I was a bit disappointed with his big think video.

[RuudGerrevink]

To all atheists: If Niel deGrass Tyson's refusal (for now) to come out as a blatant atheist was our biggest problem; what a wonderful world that would be ...
Let's just be satisfied that someone who claims he's agnostic is on the good side of the Dawkins scale (Dawkins himself says that he is not 100% atheist, only 99, 99%, because that would be scientifically unsound).

[EoThorne]

Neil's admitted to not being a skeptic at I, Skeptic. He admitted to being a scientist. Even though the two frequently get lumped together.

It's not the first time he's used these tactics.

[uncleanunicorn]

Neil doesn't use the 'A' word publicly, but if you put him in a room with Lawrence Krauss, and Caroline Porco, there's no doubt where he stands.

[misterdeity]

Can anyone tell my why, after I've allowed all comments in the video's settings, I'm still told that "There are comments awaiting approval. Review comments"? WTF, YouTube?

[ziffulmyer]

I saw that video when it first came out, and I was a little disappointed... but for only for a minute.  I left a comment about the FFRF and how, if not for them and other outspoken atheists, our kids would be learning Noah's Ark in school instead of science. _"Atheist Activist"_ is a shit job, but someone has to do it!
B U T ...the more I thought about what it must be like for Neil, as director of the Hayden Planetarium, trying to get evangelical kids in the Midwest excited about science... I can absolutely appreciate the fine line he has to walk. Of all the people I admire (and there are many) Neil is pretty much at the top of my list.
(I am an Atheist, but I rarely use that title. I more often use _humanist, skeptic, rationalist, naturist, etc_ because those titles better describe me)

[KJJJHUUY]

Once again Mr. Deity gets my motor running. Vroom, vroom.
Tyson embarrassed himself big time with that nonsense.

[Animuldok]

I laughed...  I cried...  I self introspecterized...   :D

[LonesomeSparrow]

This video made me question my sexuality. Brilliant work as usual Bad Boy Bribri.

[neddyladdy]

What's the bloody difference.  One term says " I don't know" the other says "I don't believe"  Why the angst ?

[northwestgirl]

Tyson had an interview with Richard Dawkins, and when I found that, I was so delighted, because I thought, "two heroes of mine are going to discuss science and reason" - but it was stained. Tyson stood before the preeminent atheist of the world was afraid to associate with the concept of being one himself. His only reservation is that he thinks Atheism is unpopular. He's not only cowardly, he's disrespectful as well.

Thanks to Dawkins' years of work and the courage of atheists everywhere, we don't need a "stealth" atheist. Tyson wants anonymity for his own personal gain, and although he does excellent work as a science communicator, let's not immunize him from criticism on that basis. I support the work he does, but I stand behind atheists like Mr. Deity who stand behind us as well (figuratively speaking, of course).

Since then, my admiration has been held much more by atheists such as yourself, Mr. Deity. You're my hero.

[oscargordon]

Yes, poor Neil did lose a nut when he came down on that fence, in my opinion.

That was pure comedy gold.  Going to have to remember that one.

[Kamael]

I, for one, wish Tyson had bothered to check the OED before spouting his nonsense.  If he doesn't want to be known as an atheist or an agnostic, or even a faithful evangelical Christian, the answer to the question "Do you believe in God?" should have been "That's none of your damned business. . ." NOT redefining terms to make his position more palatable for the faithful.

[FedorSteeman]

Good job with this video! Being somewhat impressionable myself, I got terribly confused, because in the beginning I really thought you were praising Neill, but then it slowly started to sink in you were being sarcastic. And actually I had the same feelings about this issue. Although I am a great admirer of Neill, I was rather disappointed in him disavowing the term "atheist" and just calling himself "agnostic". You are absolutely right that he hereby jumps on the bandwagon of denying atheists any kind of respectability, which, especially in the US, is a huge problem. 

I used to call myself "agnostic" during a period where I was active against creationism, but still wanted to be "nice" to religious people, until I got convinced by Laci Green, amongst others, that you cannot just be "agnostic" without being either "atheist" or "theist" too! 

BTW Where do you get all these brilliant terms from! "Intestinal fortitude"? You pull those out of thin air? Divine inspiration?

[aMulliganStew]

(strictly based on the title) "I am agnostic about God in the same way and to the same extent that I'm agnostic about fairies at the bottom of the garden." -- Dr. Richard Dawkins (paraphrased).

[stylis]

That _stealth astronomer_ bit made me wish I could give it another like. It might actually work like that.