-- Posted by StraitjacketJunky at 6:12 am on July 3, 2009 This is according to the dictionary.   An atheist is some one who denies the existence of a higher power.   An agnostic is some one who says that such knowledge is unknowable.   A theist is some one who worships and/or follows a religion.   What the hell do you call some one who believes in a god/ess(es) and still doesn't worship/follow him/her? edit: Fixed dumb mistake. -- Posted by iconoclast at 6:19 am on July 3, 2009 a poly-atheist -- Posted by Dexter Ward at 6:29 am on July 3, 2009 A theist doesn't have to follow a god you just have to believe that one or more exists. -- Posted by R Blake at 6:32 am on July 3, 2009 Polytheists--and, I would contend, some theists--can believe without worship. Even the dictionary says "worships and/or follows," meaning it is possible to follow a deity without worshiping, praying to or making sacrifices for that deity. A poly-theist must believe in multiple deities, a mono-theist believes in only one, and a theist is a general term for either, but usually referring to mono-theists. -- Posted by StraitjacketJunky at 6:37 am on July 3, 2009 Quote: from R Blake at 6:32 am on July 3, 2009 Polytheists--and, I would contend, some theists--can believe without worship. Even the dictionary says "worships and/or follows," meaning it is possible to follow a deity without worshiping, praying to or making sacrifices for that deity. A poly-theist must believe in multiple deities, a mono-theist believes in only one, and a theist is a general term for either, but usually referring to mono-theists. That's my bad. What I meant was worship OR follow. -- Posted by Effigy at 6:47 am on July 3, 2009 You still call them a theist. To be counted amongst the theist ranks you need only believe in a deity, there is no requirement to follow or worship. So your dictionary isn't quite correct. See here for some correct definitions. -- Posted by princess timz at 6:53 am on July 3, 2009 Theist, they believe in a higher power. -- Posted by StraitjacketJunky at 7:56 am on July 3, 2009 Quote: from Effigy at 6:47 am on July 3, 2009 You still call them a theist. To be counted amongst the theist ranks you need only believe in a deity, there is no requirement to follow or worship. So your dictionary isn't quite correct. See here for some correct definitions. To believe in something means either that you believe it's true, or you have trust and faith in it. I only meant that you thought it was fact, not that you trust in it. -- Posted by exceedinglyrare at 10:50 am on July 3, 2009 Quote: from StraitjacketJunky at 9:12 am on July 3, 2009 This is according to the dictionary. An atheist is some one who denies the existence of a higher power. An agnostic is some one who says that such knowledge is unknowable. A theist is some one who worships and/or follows a religion. What the hell do you call some one who believes in a god/ess(es) and still doesn't worship/follow him/her? edit: Fixed dumb mistake. The dictionary is incorrect and is not something that should be used in defining philosophical and theological terms because it's far too simplistic and generalized. -- Posted by Forever Angel at 11:30 am on July 3, 2009 A little more in depth description of the terms: Atheist: Atheism is characterized by an absence of belief in the existence of gods. This absence of belief generally comes about either through deliberate choice, or from an inherent inability to believe religious teachings which seem literally incredible. It is not a lack of belief born out of simple ignorance of religious teachings. Some atheists go beyond a mere absence of belief in gods: they actively believe that particular gods, or all gods, do not exist. Just lacking belief in Gods is often referred to as the "weak atheist" position; whereas believing that gods do not (or cannot) exist is known as "strong atheism." Agnostic: Someone who disclaimed both ("strong") atheism and theism, and who believed that the question of whether a higher power existed was unsolved and insoluble. Another way of putting it is that an agnostic is someone who believes that we do not know for sure whether God exists. Some agnostics believe that we can never know. In recent years, however, the term agnostic has also been used to describe those who simply believe that the evidence for or against God is inconclusive, and therefore are undecided about the issue. Source Theist: In theology and philosophy, the belief in a personal God. It is opposed to atheism and agnosticism and is to be distinguished from pantheism and deism. Unlike pantheists, theists do not hold God to be identical to the universe. Like deists, they believe that God created the universe and transcends it; unlike the deists, they hold that God involves himself in human affairs. Columbia Encyclopedia -- Posted by LogicandReason at 12:52 pm on July 3, 2009 Excellent post above and thanks for the clarification.  IMHO, all non-believers are in fact agnostics...because there is no empirical evidence as to existence or non-existence of God.  So any position on existence is in fact a 'belief.' Young Christians and Young Atheists alike...come join our forum on www.thehereticandthepreacher.com .  It's brand new and we don't edit the opinions.  All sides represented.