Hi,
Would you agree that existence consists of matter and/or energy? and that it can be detected through our senses? be it audible/visual or through a spectrograph/x-ray/infra-red machine etc...
And that non-existence cannot be detected through any sense?
Thus 'God' possess all the properties of non-existence?
If 'God' possess all these properties, how can you say to an atheist that they cannot say that god doesn't exist, compared to what? compared to the un-knowable? how can you know? do you see the logical fallacy?
I still don't follow your logic that Agnostisism only applies to 'God' and not invisible elves etc... as the same rules apply. because a dictionary says other wise does not address the argument.
What criteria can be used to determin the existence of 'God' if the same non-existence properties apply to invisible flying fish? an un-knowable criteria?
If someone says "there is a god" because 'God' intervened in their life some way, then it changes from subjective to objective, because if 'God' did not interfere in any way with the human then there would be no way of knowing at all because of the properties of non-existence. This must also have taken place outside the imagination of the person or else they would say "I imagine there is a God". Once it is established that it is now objective, the criteria of proof becomes relevent.
Therefore the effects of 'God' must be measurable, but, the proposition that 'God' exists as a conscious outside of matter, or a mind without a brain is the same as saying that electricity exists without energy. They are one and the same, electricity is a form of energy, the conscious or mind is an effect of matter. Therefore you get into a round about argument where the goal posts are always moved. So they 'believe' in something that has no evidence and is innately contradictory.
Maybe you think that agnostisism is a compromise? there is no compromise between principles, there is only correct and incorrect, agnostisism is a false compromise.
Man 1: "the sun rises in the west."
Man2 : " no it rises in the east."
Agnostic : "no, it's somewhere inbetween."
"...the cult of uncertainty is a revolt against reason...a revolt against the absolutism of reality." (Rand. the virtue of selfishness 1961:90)
What do you think?