I personally do not think that. Agnosticism is looked upon by some atheists as cowardice or a cop-out because it doesn't commit to either belief or non-belief. I do think, however, that agnostics are judged less harshly because they only doubt, and many believers have their doubts at one time or another. Atheists stand firm in their non-belief and that is unsettling to a lot of people.

That is the definition of atheism, is it not? How is there injustice in making them sound like they think what they claim to think? By declaring themselves atheists, they are saying that they don't believe there is a God. How does the uncertainty of agnostics hurt atheists in any way? If you doubt that atheists are actually sure there is no God, see the definition of atheism: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/atheism a⋅the⋅ism –noun 1. the doctrine or belief that there is no God. 2. disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings. a·the·ism (ā'thÄ“-Ä­z'É™m) n. 1. Disbelief in or denial of the existence of God or gods. 2. The doctrine that there is no God or gods. atheism [(ay-thee-iz-uhm)] Denial that there is a God. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism Main Entry: athe·ism Pronunciation: ˈā-thÄ“-ËŒi-zÉ™m Function: noun Etymology: Middle French athéisme, from athée atheist, from Greek atheos godless, from a- + theos god Date: 1546 1 archaic : ungodliness, wickedness 2 a : a disbelief in the existence of deity b : the doctrine that there is no deity http://www.thefreedictionary.com/atheism a·the·ism (th-zm) n. 1. Disbelief in or denial of the existence of God or gods. 2. The doctrine that there is no God or gods. atheism [ˈeɪθɪˌɪzÉ™m] n (Philosophy) rejection of belief in God or gods atheism the absolute denial of the existence of God or any other gods. http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=4607&dict=CALD atheist noun /ˈeɪ.θi.ɪst/ n [C] someone who believes that God or gods do not exist http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/atheism Atheism Noun 1. The doctrine or belief that there is no God. 2. A lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.

No, I don't think so. I think agnosticism is a distinct and valid point of view. But I think that "atheism" covers a broad field, which I split into "hard" and "soft" atheists. "Hard" atheist say that God is impossible, cannot exist. "Soft" atheist say that, while it is perfectly possible that God could exist, there is no evidence for him/her/it, and they will presume his non-existence until evidence appears. This differs from agnostics who simply say that that they do not know if God exists or not. A soft atheist, while not claiming disbelief in any God, implicitly claims disbelief in all the Gods which have so far been offered. An agnostic does not do so.

Which illuminates the fact that atheism is faith based. Atheists, just like theists, simply believe. Agnostics, on the other hand, admit that they just don't know, and therefore don't subscribe either belief, theism or atheism.

I don't think that it does Agnosticism treads on Atheism at all. Atheist don't believe a god exist while Agnostics aren't sure. They are two completely different things and I don't think that using words by their definition is an injustice to anyone

Atheists actually state for certain that there is no God. It is in the media to include tv, as well as friends.