Are atheists and agnostics the same?
No, but they overlap. An atheist doesn’t believe in God or gods. An agnostic thinks the question can’t be definitively answered — or hasn’t been answered for them yet. Some people are both: they don’t believe, and they think you can’t really know. Many people who drift from religion call themselves agnostic because it feels less definitive. Both live in the same neighborhood.
1 · MindWhat people believe, and how they know
The word agnostic was coined by Thomas Huxley in 1869 from the Greek agnōstos — “not knowing.” He meant it as a position about knowledge: the existence of God is not knowable through human reason or experience. Atheism, from the Greek atheos, means without god — a position about belief.
Philosophers distinguish these carefully. You can be an agnostic theist (you believe but think it can’t be proven), or an agnostic atheist (you don’t believe and think it can’t be proven). In everyday usage, people are less precise. Many who describe themselves as agnostic simply mean they’re uncertain, or that they left religion without feeling ready to close the door entirely.
Pew Research Center (2023) found about 4% of Americans call themselves atheists and about 5% call themselves agnostic. An additional 17% identify as nothing in particular — sometimes called the “nones.”
What each tradition or community says
Atheism addresses belief; agnosticism addresses knowledge. The two are not mutually exclusive. Many philosophers are agnostic atheists — they don’t believe, but they don’t claim certainty either.
Most people use agnostic to mean ‘I’m not sure’ and atheist to mean ‘I don’t believe.’ Both describe people who are not currently practicing a religion, and both get lumped together as the ‘nones’ in surveys.
The Bible addresses doubt as part of faith, not as its opposite. Thomas doubted and was welcomed (John 20:27). Many Christians treat honest inquiry with more grace than the internet does.
2 · HeartWhat it feels like
If you’ve been told there are only two teams — faith or no faith — the agnostic position can feel like a waiting room. Nobody asks for the exit.
Some people land on agnosticism after a hard loss or a painful experience with religion. Others arrive there by reading. Most are trying to be honest.
What they usually want, from a neighbor, is not a debate. They want to be treated like a person.
We’ve got Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and plenty of ‘not sure yets’ listening to this station. All welcome. We’re not checking credentials at the door.Neighbor Radio
3 · HandsHow to be a good neighbor
The honest differences between atheist and agnostic matter less in a neighborhood than most things. Neither position stops someone from being a good neighbor, a good parent, or the person who shows up with a shovel after a snowstorm.
If someone in your life calls themselves agnostic, and you’re curious what they mean, ask. Most will tell you, if you ask like you actually want to know.
This weekThe next time religion comes up with someone who doesn’t share yours, listen for what they actually think — not just what you expected to hear.
SourcesWhere it is in the scriptures
New Testament
- John 20:27 Read it in the World English Bible on Free Scripture
Plain wordsWhat do these words mean?
- Atheist
- Someone who doesn’t believe in God or gods.
- Agnostic
- Someone who isn’t sure whether God exists, or thinks we can’t know.
- Grace
- A gift you didn’t earn. Christians use it for God’s love and forgiveness, given freely, not as a reward.
Four questions to take with you
From Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan, about the stranger who stopped to help. We call it the Samaritan Test.
- Did they see? Or look right past?
- Did they stop? Even when it was inconvenient?
- Did it cost them? Time, money, comfort, reputation?
- Did they treat the person like a person? Not like a label?
Try it on: someone in your life who doesn’t believe what you believe. Have you ever asked why — and listened all the way through?
Quick questions
Can someone be both atheist and agnostic?
Yes. They address different questions — belief and knowledge. Many people are agnostic atheists: they don’t believe, and they don’t think the question can be settled.
Is agnosticism just a polite way of saying atheist?
Sometimes. But genuinely agnostic people often feel stuck between certainties they can’t reach — that’s different from a settled disbelief.
How should I respond if a friend says they’re agnostic?
The same way you’d respond if they said anything else honest. ‘Tell me more’ is a good start.
- Pew Research Center: Religious 'Nones' in America (2023)
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Atheism and Agnosticism
- John 20:27 (World English Bible)
Written in plain words by the Neighbor Radio team. Each faith's and community's section is checked by someone from that faith or community. Until then, this page says so. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We read every note and fix mistakes.
Where to go next
Free tools that go with this
Free Scripture (opens in a new tab)→ Read
A calm Bible reader with three translations and full search. No ads, no sign-up. Just the words.
First step: Look up any Bible verse quoted on this site.
Free Constitution (opens in a new tab)→ Read
The founding documents in full, searchable and in plain order. The rules every American neighbor shares.
First step: Read the First Amendment. It’s 45 words.