Why do Agnostics believe what they do?

Question

Why can they not mak up their minds whether there is a god or not?

Do they even try to decide?

Or are they content to not believe either way, ever?

Answer 1

Not all agnostics cannot make up their minds. Agnostic simply means you don't believe there is enough proof to PROVE one way or the other.

There are several different kinds of agnostics:

Agnostic theists: believe that a deity probably exists

Agnostic atheists: believe that it is improbable that a deity exists.

Empirical Agnostics: believe that God may exist, but that little or nothing can be known about him/her/it/them

Agnostic Humanists: undecided about the existence of God, do not really consider the question to be particularly important.

I think you refer to the agnostic humanists. Personally I label myself as agnostic-atheist/humanist because I don't believe its likely that one exhists, but at the same time I don't really think its importants and I know that there is always possibilities, but that doesn't change the fact that I still choose not the believe in it.

And as to why? Its not that I can't make up my mind. I chose to believe the way I do because it seemed more logical. It leaves leaway for me to listen to the other side instead of being a bigot on either one side.

Answer 2

Some of these people fail to understand what an agnostic is. For the future commenter, let me tell you that agnostics do not know whether a god or the God exists, and find it impossible to determine. Some may lean one way of the other, but they are not the cookie-cutter definition, which is what the question appears to be asking.

I believe just as strongly that God does not exist as others believe the God does exist. I do not think that being agnostic is incomprehensible. It can make sense for there to be a God, yet not make sense at the same time. For example, how was the world created? It makes sense that something could have created it, but then again, what created that something?

Some agnostics try to decide, and others say it is pointless to try, because there is no way of knowing. And if you think about it, there really is not a way of knowing. Some people say that they can "feel" God, but some crazy people can "hear" voices. So unless you're able to sit down and have a glass of non-diet Coca-cola with God, you really do not know until you die. Then again, if there is no God, then you will never know when you die.

Again, whether they are "content" or not is all up to the individual. I would not be content with not knowing, so I wouldn't make a very good agnostic :)

Answer 3

I would consider myself an agnostic, bordering on atheism. I have no reason to really believe either way in the existence of a higher being. I've never been baptized, so I wasn't brought up attending church. the more I read the Bible, the more I think it's just a bunch of bigoted, outdated tripe and that people take it entirely too literally. and then there's the fact that there is so much scientific evidence pointing to the reality that evolution existed that makes me laugh at the idea of one "being" creating the Earth and everything on it. I mean, come on. that's just not rational thinking. however, since I have no actual evidence that there is or ever was a "God", I remain agnostic. I can't believe something or disbelieve something just b/c a book told me to do so.

Answer 4

I'm an agnostic. I believe that there is something more to life than what we see, I just don't buy in to religion of any type. If there is an afterlife, I'll find out when I get there, and all religion has done in history is give another reason for people to form different groups and try to kill each other. If there is a god, do you really think he cares how much time you spend in church? Just be good, help people, and live life to the fullest, and you've done your bit.

Answer 5

Why should there be religion, then there wouldn't be any undecided people on whether God exists. Why can't people just believe in God without belonging to a religion? That way there wouldn't be many conflicts in the world. Particularly from the Muslims.

And frankly I don't care if anyone doesn't agree with me.

Answer 6

Gnosticism is not another form of Christianity, it is a bunch of people who were not raised well with the Bible in their lives and they are lost. Most Gnostics I've spoken with tell me that they are just so uncertain of a real God, because science can't prove Him. Science doesn't have to prove God, it has to disprove God and it cannot do such a thing! They don't really try to decide, they'd rather run on ahead in life with that question hanging over them, because they are afraid of repercussions of truly living a spiritual life with God in the center---people's reactions to them are more important to them than what God thinks or they think of themselves. Sadly, that happens every day, all day long. When you decide, finally, that what people think of you is nothing and what YOU think of you is everything, you'll find wisdom in finding yourself and God. Gnostics prefer the world view, because it suits them better than getting into discussions such as this one. They don't have the answers, because they don't have the knowledge. Contentment in not believing is a good answer, because they can conform to the world's views and not "answer to a higher power until death"....guess where eternity will be for them? Our lives are never in our own control--we are controlled by other's views, thoughts, feelings, etc, so why not accept that God is who he is and surrender to what HE thinks of us? Believe me, it enriches your life more than you realize and...being a Christian is much more fun that anyone thinks it is!

Answer 7

The word Agnostic can be defined as "without knowledge". If Gnosis is"knowing" than agnosis is the opposite. I believe that it means that they have not been convinced of either the existence on non-existence of "god".
If anyone would like, I would be happy to lead them in their quest for Gnosis, but I can only show the way...the path must be taken by the individual, as well as the result.

Answer 8

Agnostic means 'not knowing' so it's not a matter of belief but of knowledge.

Agnostics are usually much more honest searchers after the truth than someone who doesn't believe in God (an atheist) or someone who has a strong religious conviction and is therefore fundamentally biased.

Answer 9

I see no proof that a God exists, nor any that no God exists. That's what it means to be agnostic.

Personally, I don't know a single christian. I come from an environment where people do not question atheism, and although they're totally entitled to their beliefs, I'm more inclined to question things, and so far I have come to no conclusions. I don't believe I'll ever know, but I sure would like to.

Answer 10

Most Agnostics I have kown have based their non belief on a lifetime of reading the bible. They haven't just accepted what others have said about it. And, they're not indecisive about what they believe either. They will tell you that, while they don't believe now. they are open for enlightenment. So far everything they have seen and read tells them there is no God, that Jesus, if he ever lived was a gifted adept, who has, since his death inspired millions of gullible people. There's no fence-sitting there.