Right now I'm about 98% sure God and Jesus are non-existant. But that 2% keeps nagging "what if you're wrong". Can I still call myself Agnostic or do I have to commit to Atheism?
2006-07-11 06:20:58 · 41 answers · asked by Kenny ♣ 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
okay make that 2% of the 10% of my brain I actually use
2006-07-11 06:27:01 · update #1
that sounds just like what goes on in my head, on that subject. So, I'd say when we're happy or contemplateing the afterlife, we're agnostic. When we're pissed off, fed-up, and sick of hearing from the bible beaters, we're atheists.
2006-07-11 06:23:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You know, there are alternatives to Christianity, other than Atheism. Have you considered Deism, Gnosticism, Unitarianism?
Bear in mind, American-style Christianity is often particulary extreme and evangelical in nature. A French Catholic would hardly recognize a southern Baptist as being a member of the same religion.
What about other religions like Judaism, Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism? I consider myself to be an agnostic Jew, personally, and there's nothing particularly inconsistent about being a Jew and an agnostic at the same time, as far as I can tell. The Jewish concept of God is actually extremely vague, just the verb "to be" in the first person, "I am".
In my own case, I cross the line between agnosticism and atheism when I have some agressive evangelical breathing down my neck about how I'll be damned for eternity if I don't accept Jesus as Lord. To Hell with Them.
2006-07-11 06:31:46 · answer #2 · answered by jkraus_1999 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As with many definitions, the meaning of the words "atheist" and "agnostic" are difficult to pin down, and they mean different things to different people in different contexts. Let's start with some basic dictionary definitions.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines an "atheist" as "one who disbelieves or denies the existence of God or gods." An "agnostic" is "one who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God" or "one who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism." This dictionary also notes that 19th-century British scientist Thomas H. Huxley invented the word "agnostic."
Huxley was an ardent Darwinist who used "agnostic" to describe his attitude toward religion. He wrote: "Agnosticism, in fact, is not a creed, but a method." This method of thought advocates that people "do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable." An agnostic doesn't necessarily believe or disbelieve in a god -- he or she doesn't profess to know if there's a god at all. Huxley's writings may also suggest that it's impossible to ever know if a god exists or not.
Atheism is a little simpler to understand and is basically defined as a disbelief in any god. However, atheists themselves hold varied beliefs that generally fall into two main camps. "Weak atheism" is a lack of belief in a god. "Strong atheism" is a belief that no god exists and cannot exist. To compare the two, a weak atheist might say, "Gods might exist, but I don't worship them." Whereas a strong atheist might say, "It is impossible for any gods to exist, so there's no reason to believe in the idea." Neither believes in a god, but only the strong atheist denies the existence of gods.
Atheist and agnostic aren't interchangeable terms, but they can overlap. Occasionally, people use "agnostic" as a more socially acceptable word for "atheist." This usage irritates some atheists. They think that agnosticism is just a subset of atheism because agnostics generally do not believe in gods. Some feel that using "agnostic" in this way reinforces the incorrect idea that all atheism is strong atheism.
2006-07-11 06:25:32 · answer #3 · answered by ♥♦Marna♦♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agnostics subscribe more to the belief, there could be a God (doesnt mean the Christian God, but any God), or there may not be a God, and I dont know or care to either way.
So, you can still be an agnostic, and not believe in Jesus, all the while thinking there could be some kind of God. Thats agnostic. Saying absoloutley there is no God of ANY kind, is atheism.
2006-07-11 06:24:13 · answer #4 · answered by sweetie_baby 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your 2% is in fact likely more like 50% if you say you're afraid of being wrong. Its that powerful fear that have kept the "faithful" being believers for centuries despite all evidence to the contrary. But even if it is only 2% - you're still an agnostic. If you ever do lose the final 2% - truly - you'll find it liberating - just make sure you don't throw out the baby with the bathwater - don't lose your spirituality in the process.
2006-07-11 06:31:41 · answer #5 · answered by N F 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Commit to your 2% and study about it. I'm sure you'll realize that God and Jesus do exist and your life will change for the better with the knowledge that someone is there for you 24/7 to hear your prayers and accepts you with a love that is so pure that you can't even comprehend it. I know no Agnostics, so far, who have gone into Atheism. I know quite a lot who have gone into Christianity. Good luck with your choice--your eternity depends on it.
2006-07-11 06:25:37 · answer #6 · answered by save_up_your_tears 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Memento,
Why do you want to place a label on yourself, and proclaim that you are someone Else's idea? Why are you trying to make a decision without complete information?
How can you decide whether to be with God or not, when you have never met Him? Sorry to answer your question with so many questions! You are on the crux of the most important decision of your life. The results will stand forever. Before you can decide to follow God or not, wouldn't it be wise to at least check Him out first? He is open for business 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have been generously invited to enter His Kingdom. We must simply choose through faith, to believe not only in His existence, but in His Authority, and ever-abiding Love. You must learn what His Will is, and accept to making it the guiding power in your life. He is, after all, a King. If you get to know Him, you will probably fall in love with Him. That, however, will not stop you from leaving His Kingdom, if you should so choose. The scriptures say that a third of the Heavenly Host were drawn away in the rebellion of Lucifer. Their fate is cast. Yours is not. You still have time to choose. But not tons of time. It's your life, do whatever you want, but do it wisely.
2006-07-11 06:37:46 · answer #7 · answered by Will O' the Wisp 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a believer. If you are right and I am wrong, and I die. I go to nothing. If I am right and you are wrong, you go to hell. Which is the better choice. An agnostic crosses the line and becomes an atheist when he stops not caring if there is a God and starts believing there is no God.
2006-07-11 06:28:26 · answer #8 · answered by loufedalis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As agnostic there is no need to swing in any direction. Even atheist don't refuse that there can be mroe powerfull race or being than we are. So who cares. The real issue is dismiss biblical genocidal GOD .
In this universe or universes there can be many pocvibilities of anything and no1 can know that for sure. But we do know that biblical crap is only crap.
Therefore GOD create non-education as better gift than free will.
2006-07-11 06:24:53 · answer #9 · answered by PicassoInActions 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the 2% "keeps nagging 'what if you're wrong' ", then you are still an agnostic. If you were an atheist, you would be 100% sure.
2006-07-11 06:23:47 · answer #10 · answered by JCL 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An atheist does not believe there is a God. An agnostic is one is has no personal knowledge of God but does not claim there is not a God. So unless you completely deny the existance of God you are not an atheist.
2006-07-11 06:50:47 · answer #11 · answered by miki 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋