I am agnostic. I believe in God. I do not believe in any organized religion. I can worship God anywhere, and anytime. Assuming that all of us have no beliefs is the same as assuming that all Christians are the fundamentalists fanatics.
2006-09-15 04:55:14 · 17 answers · asked by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To JT: I looked it up. An agnostic theist is a person with no knowledge of God's existance but chooses to believe in God. Look it up!
2006-09-15 05:04:40 · update #1
Jesus, can't you people answer a simple question without the bible rhetoric and hell talk?
2006-09-15 05:11:25 · update #2
By the way, how could any one have "knowledge" of God. It is impossible to prove God exists. Either you believe or you don't.
2006-09-15 05:14:45 · update #3
Great question! I don't assume that agnostics have no beliefs. However, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, an agnostic is one who believes that there can be no proof of the existence of God but does not deny the possibility. Perhaps, if you really believe in God, you're not an agnostic, but rather you're simply a believer who doesn't subscribe to organized religion. Also, it's a good point you made about Christians. I am a Christian, but I certainly don't consider myself to be a fanatic. Your use of the word fundamentalist, though, is somewhat troubling, given that the word has been so misused lately. Again going to the dictionary (sorry), fundamentalism is 1) a Protestant movement holding the Bible to be the sole authority, or 2) a movement marked by rigid adherence to basic principles. I hold the Bible as my sole authority, so I guess that makes me a fundamentalist. But I disagree with the general right-wing movement because I believe that morality cannot be legislated. One must accept the biblical view of morality by his or her own free will, not because he or she is compelled to by law. I agree with you wholeheartedly regarding assumptions. I certainly don't like it when people assume things about me, and your question has reminded me to have the same respect for others that I would like to receive, and not to assume anything about other people. There's an old joke about what assuming makes you: what are the first three letters of the word?
2006-09-15 05:17:40 · answer #1 · answered by rockdahouse85 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You are not a true agnostic. Generally speaking most agnostics are uncertain of what they believe and are seaching for the truth. They don't know if there is a God or not. That's not you. You are a humanistic believer. You have a God you are making into what you want. It is no different than idolatry. ...making an idol into what you want it to be. God is who He is. He never changes, no matter what we want. We can want Him to be a loving God who is never judgmental or harsh. But God is who He says He is in the Bible. That is the standard of measurement. Any other god is false. It's true, you can worship Him any time and anywhere, but He has standards. He does not fellowship with sin. Some people think they are OK with God simply because they believe He exists. Satan believes he exists, and he will spent eternity in hell. It takes more than just belief. He requires a repentant heart that chooses to turn from sin. You may think, 'I'm Ok...I do good things" But God measures the heart... not you.
2006-09-15 05:06:23 · answer #2 · answered by rejoiceinthelord 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because as the definition of agnostic points out
they do not believe in God or believe that there isn't a God. They are unsure. This doesn't entirely mean they don't have beliefs, for example someone who is agnostic may say if there is a God I believe this or if there isn't one I believe this, but they don't have an absolute belief in Gods existence.
You believe in God, therefore you are not agnostic. If you believe that Jesus was Christ, then whether you believe in organized religion or not you are Christian. The definition of a Christian is Professing belief in Jesus as Christ or following the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus. So you don't actually have to follow a specific religion, you can also just believe.
2006-09-15 05:13:41 · answer #3 · answered by curls 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Agnostic means, "a-" = "without", "gnosis" = "knowledge", "-tic" = "status of being"... hence being Agnostic means "being in the state of not having knowledge".
If you "believe in God", then how is it that the title "not having knowledge of God" applies to you? Can a newborn baby speak English? No, they are agnostic about it... they have no knowledge of its existance, hence cannot believe which is the right way to say "tow-may-toe" or "tow-mah-toe".
A true agnostic would be one completely severed from having any contact with anything spiritual. A common agnostic would be one who says "I do not know if there is a God or not" (thereby since they don't know if He exists, there is nothing to worship).
But believing in God, without any hint of organized religion, would make you either a 1.) theist (a believer in some kind of god, not necessarily the Judeo-Christian one), 2.) deist (a believer in the Judeo-Christian God, but not in the way to classify as being either Jew or Christian) or 3.) nominal Christian (assuming you believe in Christ as well... "nominal" means "in name only, not necessarily heeding the tenets, traditions, or texts of the faith").
2006-09-15 05:12:11 · answer #4 · answered by seraphim_pwns_u 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Webster's dictionary says this about the agnostic: " a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as a god or God, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable."
Therefore, the definition states that one can believe in God, but does not understand Him and doesn't believe it is possible to.
What you said about generalization is true, I truly didn't understand the agnostic view until I looked up the definition.
2006-09-15 05:13:03 · answer #5 · answered by historybuff2009 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you believe in God, you are not agnostic.
Agnostic literally means ignorant (without knowledge).
How can you claim to believe in something you claim does not exist?
An agnostic is a spineless, cowardly atheist.
You can look it up all you want but agnostic literally means "ignorant." If you are "ignorant" then you cannot believe one way or another due to your ignorance.
The formula is very simple:
Do you believe in God?
Yes = theist or deist
No = atheist.
Agnostics try to complicate the issue because they are spineless atheists. Agnostics do not believe in God which makes them atheists.
BTW, "agnostic theist" is a long way from "agnostic."
If you claim to be a theist you can drop the agnostic part since we all know there is no evidence to support God belief.
2006-09-15 04:59:03 · answer #6 · answered by Left the building 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You are not agnostic if you claim a belief in "god". A better term would be "spiritualist" or "theist". The fundaMENTALs will jump on anything and anyone that threatens them (ie: disagrees).
Agnostic is just a label. Find one that better fits your beliefs or better yet...don't subscribe to labels at all and do your thing regardless of others. Follow your bliss!
Your agnostic friend, J
2006-09-15 05:09:34 · answer #7 · answered by Medusa 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because they are ignorant of the definition of Agnostic.
Based on your statements above, I do not believe "Agnostic" applies to you.
"1. One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.
2. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism."
2006-09-15 05:02:12 · answer #8 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you believe in God, you're not agnostic. Your beliefs would be classified as more deist.
agnostic comes from Greek. a = "no" and "gnosis" = know. In otherwords, an agnostic is someone who doesn't know, and in the English derivative it is applied to religion, such that an agnostic person doesn't know if there's a God and (usually) doesn't think you can know.
2006-09-15 05:00:51 · answer #9 · answered by Sifu Shaun 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I agree with you. I consider myself to be spiritual and I don't like organized religion either. I know my God/Goddess and I know where I stand with Him/Her and I don't need anyone else's approval of my beliefs.
Addendum
My dictionary states the word agnostic as: unknown, unknowable - of or relating to the belief that the existence of any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable.
So perhaps the others are right and you are not really agnostic, but spiritual like me. :)
2006-09-15 05:02:23 · answer #10 · answered by Kate 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋