I mean I'll still do good and believe that there is "someone" up there, I just believe having a certain religion is just another way for man to judge each other am I wrong?
2006-08-15 03:46:19 · 25 answers · asked by Sonny M 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If you believe there is someone up there, you're not an atheist, but it's a good start at least. What you're describing sounds sort of like Deism. You'd be in good company with people like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. I prefer Paine.
2006-08-15 03:51:05 · answer #1 · answered by lenny 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Once you start asking questions, belief is not really a matter of "turning" one thing or another. It becomes a matter of believing what makes sense to you and not anything more or less. You don't have to adopt a certain set of beliefs as a whole if you are deist, agnostic, or atheist - there is no central authority telling you that you must believe one thing and you may not believe some other thing. Just use your brain and make up your own mind - then change it later as needed. You don't have to stick with one belief for life.
2006-08-15 12:03:49 · answer #2 · answered by Maple 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheists (from Greek "a": without, "theus": god) do not believe that there is "someone" up there. Atheists, by definition do not believe in gods.
The belief system that you're describing is agnosticism (from Greek a: without, "gnosis": knowledge). Essentially, agnostics claim that they lack some knowledge of god or spiritualism needed to make a definite decision.
I'm an agnostic, and I encourage you to join the millions of us with the courage to admit that we don't know.
Although people use the terms in different ways, their etymological meanings aren't so limited. An agnostic may be an atheist if he neither believes in nor denies the existence of god. Conversely, an atheist can be religious; he just can't believe in any gods. (Buddhism, Scientology, Unitarianism, and arguably Taoism are all non-theistic religions.)
Your beliefs can be described as "deist", which simply means that you believe in a god, but doesn't imply anything else.
Whatever you call it, though, believe what you want to believe, and don't concern yourself so much with labels. What you believe is important. What you call it isn't.
2006-08-15 10:58:38 · answer #3 · answered by marbledog 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no not really...it depends what you choose to believe...you can believe in `someone being up there` as you like to put it but every relgion tells you diffrently.of course you cant answer a quaestion as this now becasue you havent died and you dont know whats in store for you.i believe in heaven and hell.just in case for eg it doesnt actually exist and really and truly i will die and rot and thats it...isnt it nice just to have some faith and believe you may go to a better place rather than just rot away.....i think youl realise soon once you do research that there is a relgion for everyone and if u care about what others think if you do become a certain relgion then well who cares...shouldnt let others rule your life...
as well as remember back in the 60`s or earlier black people had no priority over whites...so if a white person got on a bus a blak siting down had to stand up and let the white sit.well do u remember there was a woman who didnt do it.she stood up for herself.
nowdays we are too scared to do anything.we are a scared nation too petrified to stand up and defend ourselves
2006-08-15 10:56:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, atheist is not believing in god. I am atheist, and it does not sound like what you want. Still be theist, just no part of any religion. Religion is a way to control people, and if there is a god, it takes people away from him. You go to a priest, etc? No, if you believe, you don't need religion. If you stop believing in god, then go atheist.
2006-08-15 10:53:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sonny,
You usually don't get to decide what your religion is. It sounds to me like you're an agnostic.
Atheists usually don't buy the stuff that religions say from the very begining; the fact that you have questions means that you could become one.
I suggest that you read a lot from both sides of the equation and go with what makes the most sense to you.
I'm an atheist, by the way.
Take care!
Ignacio
2006-08-15 10:55:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
There is a difference in believing and going to church! Faith and religion do not have to mix in order for you to believe! Being atheist means you do not believe at all, maybe you should go for the spiritual root instead of the religious one! Do what is best for you!
2006-08-15 10:53:55 · answer #7 · answered by princeessintraning 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In that case, you wouldn't be an atheist. Atheists don't believe in any God at all. What you describe sounds more like deism.
Only you can know what's right for you, but I'm just helping with the terms.
2006-08-15 10:53:11 · answer #8 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An atheist doesn't believe that there is "someone" up there. Many people believe in "God", but don't follow a specific religion. (I'm not one of them, I am a true atheist.)
2006-08-15 10:53:48 · answer #9 · answered by Kathryn™ 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are turning agnostic.
Atheists don't believe in any kind of religious concepts, and they don't believe in "someone up there". They are unbelievers.
Agnostics do believe there is "someone up there" but they just don't trust any religion. They are believers.
2006-08-15 10:56:22 · answer #10 · answered by Axel ∇ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋