These are the things that an agnostic generally accepts...?

Question

1. The existence of a Supreme Being is unknown and unknowable.
To believe in the existence of a god is an act of faith. To believe in the nonexistence of a god is likewise an act of faith. There is no evidence that there is a Supreme Being nor is there evidence there is not a Supreme Being. Faith is not knowledge. We can only state with assurance that we do not know.
2. If there is a Supreme Being, then that being appears to act as if apathetic to events in our universe.
All events in our Universe, including its creation, can be explained with or without the existence of a Supreme Being. Thus, if there is indeed a God, then that god has had no more impact than no god at all. To all appearances, any purported Supreme Being is indifferent to our Universe and to its inhabitants.
3. We are apathetic to the existence or nonexistence of a Supreme Being.
What do you think?

Answer 1

I agree with 1 and 2.

I am not sure I could agree with your last statement. While technically accurate, I think it rather misses the point.

Technically I think that no atheist cares about the existence or non-existence of God. What they care about is belief in the existence of God. The fact that you are here also argues against your apathy on this point as well.

Also, most atheists are technically agnostic. I, for example, do not know if there is a God or is not a God, and I agree it is impossible to know. But I do not believe in the existence of God, even if he does exist, because I have no reason to. I consider myself an atheistic agnostic. Some agnostics would say I'm simply an agnostic, and some atheists would say I'm simply atheist. The semantics of this are unfortunately not set in stone.

Answer 2

Wow - that'd be a remarkably wishy-washy position to take. Does the agnostic also agree that

The existence of the Easter Bunny is unknown and unknowable. To believe in the existence of the Easter Bunny is an act of faith. To believe in the nonexistence of the Easter Bunny is likewise an act of faith. There is no evidence that there is an Easter Bunny nor is there evidence that there is not an Easter Bunny. Faith is not knowledge. We can only state with assurance that we do not know.

[ Does agnosticism seem silly enough yet? Need I go on? ]

It's perfectly reasonable and not at all dogmatic or narrow-minded to say that we know that there is no god, as long as we admit to the possibility that we might be wrong. It's utterly silly to say "we don't know whether or not there is a god".

Answer 3

Hmmm, not all agnostics feel or believe this way. For me the term agnostic or "without knowledge" defines me. If there is a supreme being the point is not that it is unknowable, but rather that my limited perceptions do not allow for knowledge at this time. The same for creation, there is some evidence for both theories (I am still studying and learning), however, it too is limited by human perception and bias at this time. Will we eventually know? I hope, but for now the jury is still out. I am also not apathetic in anyway. I'm very passionate about life and the things I know and do not yet know.

Apathy is the true opposite of love and a precusor to numbness of the mind/soul.

Answer 4

No, as far as I have been taught,there is more evidence
for "Supreme being" then not, I think I brought this up once
before, a computer was asked if there was evidence for a
God, and the answer was 97% pfrobability, so if you want
to go along witht the 3% chance, hay that is your choice,but
remember if you believe you have everything to gain,and if
you don't what have you got to loose? By the way, your
question is very well put. Miracles have happened and been
documented,supernatural occurences have happened,now
you tell us, isn't it better to think that something does happen
after we "die" or to go into an "everlasting nothingness"
And Jesus, who shed his blood, so that all might be saved.
I grant you, faith is not an easy thing,esp. when things go
wrong in our lives, and the condition of the world is deplorable,
]but in the "end" it will be made "right." I don't mean for this
to sound like a sermon, just trying to answer the best that
I can, and one more thing, Albert Einstein, the most brilliant man
of our time, believed in a "Supreme being," God bless.

Answer 5

How do you know that the existence of a supreme being is unknowable, unless you first assume one of 2 possibilities;

- there is no supreme being and that's why it's unknowable
- there is a supreme being but it is unknowable

In either case, you have implicitly made a claim to knowledge regarding supreme beings that you have no basis for making.

This is the biggest gripe I have with formal agnosticism. It's inconsistent to say a supreme being (or anything else for that matter) is unknowable.

The consistent position is simply to declare that you don't know anything about supreme beings, and that further, you have no reason to even suspect anyone else does. That being the case, the concept is judged to be myth. But then, that makes you an atheist, not an agnostic.

Answer 6

According to wikipedia I sound more their version of 'weak agnostic' as it is of no consequence to me if there is a god or not.

However I cannot disclaim my experiences with spirit. That, then lends the question 'is spirit god or something else'.

Of course many agnostics and athiests won't believe in spirits or the existence of a spiritual energy after our body dies. Spiritualists may say I fall in line with their beliefs, but I don't hold their faith and belief in a god/bible connection.

Therefore, I seem to have a foot in more than one camp.

However, I don't have a need to define myself or even to feel I belong to any particular group, so it is of no significance to me which catagory others wish to put me in, or pidgeonhole me as if I am a letter to be filed away.

Nor do I need to justify holding the door open incase a God does exist, in truth if I was to create a God it would not be a God of any description I have read about in religious philosophies. My God would be like any good parent allowing me to make my own mistakes without judgement or punishment.

Answer 7

If I could disassemble my computer to the last screw and lay it in the path of a tornado will it ever be reassembled? Even after the trillionth time? Never! Yet you choose to believe that you a more complex and delicate yet strong organism happened upon chance and not just you but a whole universe of order and perfection accidentally happened. My god!!! You have faith! Science can't explain it that's why they study it. The only definite find is more questions. Todays answers are tomorrows mythology. It seems the most independent people demand a more in your face controlling God. He has given man and woman kind the opportunity to prove themself by your own admission we are blowing it. FREE WILL is a privilege ask any communistic domineered prisoner. At least that is what I think.

Answer 8

1. I agree. However, the Christian faith is rests on historical events...this makes it more than "wishful thinking".

2. The key to your statement is "appears". You are only going by that which your physical senses observe. There are many things that act outside of our observance...just because you don't see something doesn't mean there isn't an active process....

3. I find it rare when apathy is a good thing!

Answer 9

the firsto ne, sure. the second one, maybe. the third one - might be true to some, but not others. some might agree, but others might believe that there is no god until proven otherwise, therefore aren't apathetic but simply don't believe.

Answer 10

very good. and whoever said same with athiests, thats wrong, athiests have a firm belief that NO god exists. if you believe there could be a god and your calling urself athiest, time to change your title to agnostic ^^