9 replies to this topic

[Traveler]

Have you ever told someone you are Agnostic and that person looked at you like Satan just appeared on your shoulder and shot them the bird?! As an Agnostic, I am no different than anyone else. My beliefs or lack thereof in any religion do not make me a bad person and certainly do not make me an Atheist. I believe in respecting others, taking care of my family and friends, working hard and simply being a good person. How does this make me different from anyone of a specific faith?

[Shogun89]

I often get a similar response. There is nothing wrong with being agnostic. I think that the existance of god is truly uncertain. We have no evidence of him Existing, WE also have no evidence of him/her being false or not real.

[Traveler]

Exactly. At the end of the day how easy would it be to simply have the answers. No one does, but we all have our beliefs and we all have the right to believe and worship how we so choose.

[Just Me]

What's ironic is the ones who judge you for a misunderstood idea of what being agnostic, are often the ones who themselves claim to be religious. People sometimes fall into the mistake of saying to themselves, "if I say I am, I AM!" They fail to follow through with their religious beliefs. Judge yet no ye be judged comes to mind. People often times forget that.

[Traveler]

Just Me, on 10 January 2012 - 07:02 PM, said:

What's ironic is the ones who judge you for a misunderstood idea of what being agnostic, are often the ones who themselves claim to be religious. People sometimes fall into the mistake of saying to themselves, "if I say I am, I AM!" They fail to follow through with their religious beliefs. Judge yet no ye be judged comes to mind. People often times forget that.

Excellent point!

[TripleFive]

When someone tells me they are an Agnostic I generally consider them an Atheist. As most people that use the term have a misconception of what an Atheist is.
Agnostic is the belief that the truth of a god is unknowable. Whereas Atheist is just the lack of a belief in a god, not the belief "there is no god".

[Traveler]

I dont understand why you would consider the two the same? As an Agnostic, its not that I do not believe. I believe in science and answers that can be proven. Saying that, I realize that science can not prove everything leading me to believe there may be some greater power, "God" if you will, but that can not be proven by us here and now. I am open to the opinions and the beliefs of all. I may not agree, but hey, that's okay!

[jelacqua]

TripleFive, on 10 January 2012 - 09:04 PM, said:

Agnostic is the belief that the truth of a god is unknowable. Whereas Atheist is just the lack of a belief in a god, not the belief "there is no god".

TripleFive --

Just to clarify, atheists are usually characterized by making a willful statement that God (i.e. the divine) does not exist. Just not believing in the divine doesn't necessarily constitute atheism. Agnostics are characterized by their refusal to make that same statement as well as its opposite.

-- JE

[damM3]

Shweeze, on 10 January 2012 - 05:47 PM, said:

Have you ever told someone you are Agnostic and that person looked at you like Satan just appeared on your shoulder and shot them the bird?! As an Agnostic, I am no different than anyone else. My beliefs or lack thereof in any religion do not make me a bad person and certainly do not make me an Atheist. I believe in respecting others, taking care of my family and friends, working hard and simply being a good person. How does this make me different from anyone of a specific faith?

ahahahahahahahaha

TripleFive, on 10 January 2012 - 09:04 PM, said:

When someone tells me they are an Agnostic I generally consider them an Atheist. As most people that use the term have a misconception of what an Atheist is.
Agnostic is the belief that the truth of a god is unknowable. Whereas Atheist is just the lack of a belief in a god, not the belief "there is no god".

I agree in part that some atheists do not believe that there is no god but have a dis belief in god, that is often referred to as weak atheism, and the atheists who believe there is no god are called strong atheists.

[Traveler]

damM3, on 13 January 2012 - 07:42 PM, said:

ahahahahahahahaha



I agree in part that some atheists do not believe that there is no god but have a dis belief in god, that is often referred to as weak atheism, and the atheists who believe there is no god are called strong atheists.

I was not aware of any variations or degrees of atheism. It's fun to learn more about all beliefs!