I was just wondering what many of you view to be the beliefs of Agnostics. I also read an article that grouped Agnostics, Athiests, and Jews. It seems to me that Agnostics neither accept nor deny a higher power, but rather believe that the concept and existence of a higher power is beyond our comprehension. I think I agree mostly with the Apathetic Agnostic belief that mankind has been neglected by a higher power and suffered, and therefor, a higher power is questioned.
2006-09-09 17:13:23 · 6 answers · asked by delilah 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Agnostic means "without knowledge." So in regards to theism (belief in god) we are all agnostics. And if a word describes everyone in existence then it can't be used as an exclusive definition.
Atheism literally mean "without god belief." Not someone who denies or rejects the possibility that there is a god. So one can be an agnostic atheist(Doesn't know if there is a god and doesn't believe there is one.) or an agnostic theist(Doesn't know if there is a god but believes there is one). There may be some who would claim to be gnostic theists, who claim to have knowledge of god. What they call knowledge is not independently verifiable so it is not real knowledge at all. And if they claim to have knowledge of god then faith is no longer necessary for them to believe.
A lot of people use the term agnostic to mean a fence sitter , but this is incorrect. Most atheists are "fence sitters" in the sense that most of us would be happy to convert if the theist could offer sufficient evidence for their god.
As far as Jews tying into this..dunno. I do know a lot of people are Jewish by heritage only and call themselves Secular Jews. These people don't believe there is a god.
2006-09-09 17:29:48 · answer #1 · answered by AiW 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Man...who gave you your info???! They majorly screwed with your head! Agnostic comes from the Greek words, which combined means "don't know"! That pretty much says it all. WE DO NOT KNOW. IT's a pretty simple concept, if you don't go mucking it up with concepts like apathy! I'm not apathetic about most stuff, not even religion, tho' I'm agnostic. It's just SUCH fun to discuss it and see people get all revved up...including me. (I need another hobby).
As for Jews being agnostics and/or atheists? WRONG!!! I knew a rabbi once who apologized to his congregation because he realized he was an agnostic...and another Jewish guy STUDYING to be a rabbi, who quit, because he realized the same, so yeh...
Being Jewish (tho' it's also a culture) presumes belief in one "god".
That's why I didn't convert! What a ridiculous thing to do when I'd spent so many years escaping form Catholicism!
2006-09-10 00:21:56 · answer #2 · answered by Gwynneth Of Olwen 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Agnosticism does NOT believe in a higher power, at all, let alone one that has embraced humanity or one that has neglected humanity.
Agnosticism follows the thought (not belief) that the existence or nonexistence of a deity or deities is so beyond the ability of humanity to question that the question, "Is there a god?" is as meaningless as, "What is the color of the smell of the other side of this here mobius loop?"
2006-09-10 00:16:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I identify as an Agnostic-in the true sense of the word, "without knowing". I'm pretty sure there are significant issues with the christian bible, as well as the jews and the muslims.
2006-09-10 00:20:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Agnostics are fence riders. Agnostic is the shallow end of being a religious person or an atheist. You guys won't make your minds up because you fear being wrong. Either there is a God or there's not. If there is a God he won't accept your halfway decision of believing there might be a God... so in essence you will be as screwed as we atheists are... if there is a God. But don't, worry there's not.
2006-09-10 00:28:55 · answer #5 · answered by atheist_2_u 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
its means that they dont really care. and they usually hate christians for pressing their beliefs on them
2006-09-10 00:17:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋