Is strong agnostocism really a religious belief?

Question

A weak agnostic says at any time I might find evidence of God if God exists.
A strong agnostic says I will not have the proof of God until I die.

Is the position of the strong agnostic a religious belief, since it ascribes a property to God?

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For more info on the words weak agnostic and strong agnostic please see wikipedia. I don't mean that the person is "weak" its an academic term.

Disclaimer: I am a "weak agnostic".

Answer 1

In my view, agnostics are believers who don't find the answers to their spiritual questions in religious concepts.

They do believe in some kind of "transcendental power(s)" "power(s) beyond" but they just don't know how to label this (them).

So, in my view: agnostics = non-religious believers.

Jim (whatever is your real first name in life), I consider you are a broad-minded agnostic still deeply influenced by christian religion.

When many agnostics gather and form a movement, I consider it becomes a kind of skeptical religion.

"Free Agnostic": I think that this label suits you well.

Answer 2

Ok it took me awhile to think about this. Sometimes it just takes a bit to figure out just what you want to say.

I would say no strong agnosticism is not a religious belief.. it is just a belief. I don't really think weak agnosticism is a religious belief either. As religions are usually defined as having the elements of dogmas, sacred texts, rites, worship, sacrament, moral prescription, interdicts and organization I would say no agnostic position is a religion. Thus, at least in my own opinion, to have a religious belief first requires you to have a religion.

I feel that both are a set beliefs bordering on philosophy. Both stances look at what evidence is presented and both even require a certain amount of faith; not in a deity per se but in what we have seen to shape our beliefs. Neither is more 'right' than the other; it merely becomes what you feel best fits your own personal philosophy.

Maybe I'm way off base, I don't know. All I know is that after a good amount of thought this is what is sticking with me.

Answer 3

Well, as I recently blogged, I always see agnosticism as a philosophical position, not one of belief, but that's a good question, and one that I hadn't thought about before.

Being that I don't really suspect the existence of a god myself, I can appreciate strong agnosticism in that its only logical conclusion would be, in some way, proving _beyond a shadow of a doubt_ that no gods can possibly exist. This might just be an impossibility, in which case strong agnosticism is logical.

But you're taking it from a theistic side - let's presume that there _is_ a god, and one who could show up at any time (but hasn't yet). In that case, you're right - the strong agnostic has to believe that this god would _never_ make its presence known. And that is, in itself, a kind of belief.

Interesting. I'll have to modify my blog! :)

Answer 4

I would have to agree.
As we've discussed, I think that I'm more of a "weak agnostic" myself.
(though I do rule out the ability of man to ever understand "god" without the intervention and help of "god")

Answer 5

YOU are an incredibly weak agnostic-- so weak that you're a Believer!

As for non-belief being a religion: Sure. And BALD is a hair color!

Answer 6

Actually, you are an atheist.

Or, are you claiming that atheists would reject credible evidence supporting God belief?

Agnostic is a meaningless word that defines everyone on the planet.

Answer 7

To catagorize yourself in any terms is soooo limiting to your purpose & power...sooooo....

Don't call yourself anything...don't "believe" anything...

Why not instead, seek your answers through research...with the one gift you will always have...your soul sounds...that inner voice...your gut feeling.

Read books..."Conversations with God" series by Neale Donald Walsch...Edgar Cayse has an immense library...The Gnostic Gospels are full of well researched materials on many cultural ideals...Sylvia Browne's books are great reads, too...And of course, there's the good ol' Bible, the Quran, the Scrolls...soooo much to learn & read about!!!

Ask your questions...then listen !!!...to the next song that comes on the radio, the next line that comes up on the t.v., the next phone call you get....

In all your seeking....take what rings true to that little spirit bell inside you & hold on to those bits...and simply leave the rest....and keep going...you're on a roll! And Good Journey to you!!!

Answer 8

If you're using "religious" in the sense of adherance to a set of beliefs, atheism is more so. If you are using religious in terms of belief systems, I'd say both are equally religious - they just lean in differing directions.