The atheists who have crossed my path are obnoxious. They create the world in their own image and likeness, where only they are right or reasonable, and everyone else is either a fool or fanatic. (Any atheist who doubts him/herself enough to benefit someone else’s opinion is not a dogmatic atheist, but an agnostic: see below).

You can’t have a dialogue with dogmatic atheists. Because they are so sure they know everything, they never listen to intelligent people. They are mirror images of the religious fundamentalists, who -- despite their dogmatism -- at least have their enthusiasms in the right place. The worst thing for society would be to let any of them have power over the body politic. Scratch a dogmatic atheist and you likely will find a wannabe Robespierre or worse.

In contrast, agnostics are warm and fuzzy people, easy to snuggle up to like a familiar Teddy Bear. Agnostics rely on reason in concluding there is no certain evidence that God exists; but -- unlike atheists — agnostics realize there is no sure evidence that God DOESN’T exist. So they devise strategies for moving ahead without condemning others. Some of their strategies -- like philanthropy and civic service -- at times help them outdo religious people in things that really matter.

By definition, an agnostic is humble. Moreover, since doubt is a necessary condition for critical thinking, agnostics are disposed to be tolerant of other opinions and to produce meaningful change. Rather than taking a single shot at a targeted truth as an atheist might, agnostics prefer a shotgun approach, trusting that at least one of the alternatives will score.

I think there is a direct connection between this country’s secular democracy and the many agnostics among the founding fathers. After all, secularism’s democratic premise is an agnostic’s cardinal truth: Since we are not sure who is absolutely right, better to let all religions have an equal chance without favoritism to any particular one.

Some agnostics take the Pascal wager, and decide to profess faith even if they are not sure about religion’s reasonableness. Some believe in God, but are agnostic about organized religion; others go vice-versa, enjoying the culture of ritual, without being sure of a heavenly presence. I think all Buddhists are “believing agnostics.” So are lots of liberal Protestants, progressive Jews, peace-loving Muslims and all my favorite Jesuits.

Even if I left a few groups out of my list, you can always tell the difference between an agnostic – whether believing or not – and a dogmatic atheist. One listens to you, the other does not.