Athiest/Agnostic question?

Question

So I have noticed a lot of people saying that agnostics are just too chicken to admit they are Athiests. If you believe this what would you say to my situation. I do not feel comfortable with with a belief in any religion or an adamant denial of all religions, so it seems that Agnosticism fits me. I have never felt comfortable with extreams, I like the middle road.
To any christians who want to 'help' me I will most likely not listen to you. I have gotten many answers telling me to let Jesus/God in my heart and none have done anything for me. So go luck trying. To any Athiest who thinks Agnosticism is just for chicken Athiest, how would you convince me to say I'm an Athiest?

Answer 1

"Chicken atheist" does sound like a goad, but agnosticism is a valid position. I may define it in an odd way. I see "faith" as a commitment rather than an assertion. I'd rather believe IN an idea rather than simply believe a doctrine. I'm pretty sour on metaphysical mechanics, but I see value in the statements that various religion make about living. The ideas of compassion and of risking the self for the community are not basic survival instincts, but they are admirable traits for humanity. The Jesus story is the epitomic illustration of self-effacement for the good of all. One can attribute such counterintuitive qualities to God, or not.

The scientific method is the best way to ascertain HOW the world works (although it has some weakness showing how some processes got started). Religion is better at showing WHY (whether God is brought into the story or not). Having an "answer", whether theistic or atheistic, helps people cope with bad experiences.

Each camp has myths, stories it tells itself to explain the world. The detailed "facts" are not as important as the truths behind them. When the "facts" become divorced from their truths, cultishness arises.

So I prefer having a foot in both camps. For one thing, it means I can speak meaningfully with more people. For another, I have more metaphors for understanding things. It doesn't mean I'm indecisive. I just see value in both. Take meditation. Science can study the physiology of meditation. Faith can tout its spirtual value. I don't know whether God enters into it or not but it does seem to have some beneficial effects.

Life is not a cut and dried, black-and-white choice. You can interpret it in a variety of equally valid ways. I think people would prefer that you make a clear choice because it would make you more predictable. Don't let them box you in.

Answer 2

You pretty much describe my way of thinking! So, I like you! (lol) Anyhow...I USED to say I was agnostic, for the same reason as you , until recently, when I realized that, no matter how hard I tried (and I DID try, in many ways, having been raised a Catholic and studied various religious and almost converted to Judaism)....I realized that I could NOT "wrap my brain around" the idea that "somebody", all powerful or not, had to have "created" this world!

I mean, it's just nonsense! Logically, if someone had to have created the universe, etc., since it's so complex (which I don't dispute, having studied physics and all), then, by definition, WOULDN'T THAT "PERSON" or "DEITY" HAVE TO BE EVEN MORE COMPLEX???!

It's just basic logic and reason, right? Well, it makes no sense. If THAT deity created all of what we know, and is thus, more powerful than IT, then WHO THE HELL created IT???!

Then I realized I was an atheist! The idea of an entire universe, springing into being BY ITSELF, was, in fact, much easier to comprehend than some gigantically powerful Über-deity, creating it all!

I see your logic, truly, but it doesn't meet my personal, gut-feeling belief. In the end, for everyone, I feel that is all ANY of it really is!
The Christians and other theists, they MUST believe, for any number of reasons, no matter how bizarre to us! They are driven to it, even to the edge of reason and into violence. I would pity them if they did not prey upon us.

The atheists are sure, whether through science or logic or whatever, that believing even in the possibility of a god-figure, is just as absurd, will follow their path.

IMO, the path of the agnostic is the most difficult to bear, for always, in the background, is lurking a doubt, a consideration of possibility that YOU give to the theist, but they NOT to you...but which they'll try to use against you!

I admire agnostics...those who say..."I do not know"!

P.S. DO visit the site below. I used to belong to it, 7 yrs. ago and it helped. If you want to e-mail me, please do! I could use a spirited debate that did NOT involve the Christian god, for once!

Answer 3

To my mind, and having read through all the previous answers, agnosticism CAN be a stepping stone to atheism.
At age 12, I was an agnostic.
At age 15, I was 'promoted' to an atheist.
One does not HAVE to get promoted. Just keep thinking about what is more likely to be the truth and you will get there.
Read more, research more, examine the facts and, one day, you will be brave enough to step over that line between one state and the other. Atheism sets you free, totally free. It is very uplifting not to be forced along the path that so many blind sheep follow.
Google 'The Invisible Pink Unicorn' if you want to learn more.
Go to www.noreligion.ca to read, at length, about another in your position.
Welcome aboard the freedom train, which is pulling into YOUR station any moment. Board it if you have the strength of character to buy a ticket.

Answer 4

Atheists do not believe in any God. Most religions believe in some type of higher being, God, great spirit, or whatever. So the questions you need to ask yourself is "Do I believe that some higher power created us?" Or "Is there anything beyond this world, like an afterlife?" If your answer to both questions is "NO", then you are probably an Atheist. Do not confuse FAITH and religion. Faith is what you believe. Religion is just the exercise of that faith. I believe an Agnostic may think there is something else out there, but just not sure what it is. I do not know if I answered your question or not, just hoped I helped you out a bit. Keep searching, maybe.

Answer 5

Agnostic and Athiest are truely very different in the main beliefs. Athiest means that u believe that their is no higher power and science basically proves everything. Agnostic means that you CAN believe in a higher power and/or an afterlife. Many Agnostics just dont care what happens after they die or how they were created though.

Answer 6

I am a Christian and you prolly won't listen to me but just listen to what I have to say. I don't think that being an Agnostic is just being a chicken, some people really don't know what to believe. You just have to ask yourself, "why are we here, whats my purpose here, am I just a worthless being on this planet? No of course not, everybody has a reason for being here and everybody is valuable. If there was no God then you gotta wonder why our laws and ethics are based on the Bible, for the most part. Personally, I wouldn't wanna live if there was no God and if we were just here for nothing. I don't wanna be worthless. One more thing to ask yourself, you gotta wander how our universe came to be. It takes more faith to believe in evoulotion then in creation. When you think about it, everything is so complex, it couldn't have just happened by chance.

Answer 7

You are not a drone...you can not be programmed, have you stop to think your ability to question something that truly no one cares about but you. pressure of belief in anything is a form of taking your free spirit away. You may have faith in energy of beings around or energy of life. Do not worry about labels they mean nothing. Forever question.......you will forget life. So to answer such an oxymoron I can not help but to say. Believe your way....difference leads the human race to better places we just sometimes take hundreds of years....we are pretty stupid..

Answer 8

It actually doesn't have much to with religion, per se. An agnostic is convinced of neither the existence nor the non-existence of a god. An atheist believes there isn't one. That's putting it simply, but that is it, in a nutshell.

Answer 9

An Agnostic is not a chicken Atheist. An Atheist actively refuses that there is any kind of supreme being. An Agnostic admits that their MAY or MAY NOT be a supreme being but there is no proof either way.

Answer 10

I wouldn't get hung up on labeling yourself, just go with what your mind tells you. In the end it doesn't really matter if you hold out a hope there's a God or outright reject it.