Agnostics: why do you give the question of God's existence such special treatment?

Question

Self-described agnostics often criticize atheism as an untenable position, because nobody has proof that God does or doesn't exist. Thus, they leave God's existence as an open question. But we make common-sense judgements all the time without proof. For example, nobody can prove that Santa Claus doesn't exist, but adults don't consider it an open question, on common sense grounds. Likewise, common sense suggests that every religion makes up its own idea of God (or gods) and none of them is likely to be true. Why do you still leave the question open?

Believers, please don't try to convince me that God exists. That's not the dialogue I want to have here, and I will ignore you.

Answer 1

It's not the only question I leave open, there are many question concerning life, death, reality, truth etc that I keep thinking about and want to keep thinking about. I've got a lot of little theories posed to myself that I keep bringing up and debunking over and over again.

I know that the practiced religions in the world are man-made and are just fighting over their own version of reality. That's why I can't put much faith into any of those. Still I might be wondering about the purpose of things, why we are here and if we are predestined to do certain things. Sometimes I find out, sometime I don't and sometimes I wonder if there might be some sort of "force" in control of it all. And that may be a sort of God. Or may not.

It's not that I don't want to leave the question about God answered and resolved. It's just that I can't.

Answer 2

I don't give it special treatment: I simply find it pointless to form an opinion regarding the existence of something for which there is no evidence. I don't consider Santa Claus to be an open question, as the general admission by society is that he is made up. Were there proponents of the "living Santa" theory, I might leave the question of his existence open too.

Answer 3

i'm in simple terms an ignorant human, ignorant simply by my constrained place in this great universe. I in simple terms do no longer know what handed off interior the area previous, interior the days whilst Jesus walked the earth, buddha set under his bodhi tree and the jews fled egypt. I see a international packed with contradictory ideals and perspectives of God or gods, whichever is the case. All I see are people who have self belief simply by fact the society wherein they're born teaches them to accomplish that. i'm no longer prepared to have self belief in historical memories and myths simply by fact my way of life believes them to be authentic, i desire evidence previous faith. in any different case, i'm in simple terms giving in to the peer rigidity of my way of life instead of utilising the severe innovations i replace into given by skill of God or randon evolution.

Answer 4

I leave the question open because I don't have the answer. I can only live by how I feel and I respect others right to do the same.

Answer 5

Because science and common sense give me reasonable answers back to gases and microorganisms. I believe in an inate moral code and Natural Law. These all seem sophisticated enough to be attributed to the works of a Higher Power.

Answer 6

santa claus is different from the question of god, 5+ billion people do not have an active belief in santa claus, everybody knows "santa" is false, but most people think there is a god, I don't think you can compare the 2

Answer 7

The difference is Snata Clause would be a tangible part of our universe if he existed. While a deity outside our realm of time or space would be intangible...real or not. So that is why I basically conclude....'Who the **** knows?'

Answer 8

I leave the question open because I am still working it through in my mind.

Answer 9

Atheists have A LOT going for them .

For them , no need for Fear
no need to Hate
no need for Envy


THEREFORE a much greater PEACE of
Mind, enabling Sympathy for the misguided....