Christians, atheists, why are agnostics.....?

Question

....Fence sitters, cowards, "psychologically scarred"?

In an earlier question some answerers (mostly atheists, I think) characterised agnosticism in the above terms. Can you expand?

Is there a moral or intellectual imperative that impels you toward either a theist or atheist position?

Nemesis, I agree, but not only that - we haven't even agreed what the question is, given that there's little agreement about who or what God is supposed to be.

Answer 1

I considered myself agnostic before declaring myself an atheist. Now I'm an atheist because I don't think it's worth to entertain the question anymore, I got over it.

Since Isaac Asimov said it better, I'll just quote him:

"I am an atheist, out and out. It took me a long time to say it. I've been an atheist for years and years, but somehow I felt it was intellectually unrespectable to say one was an atheist, because it assumed knowledge that one didn't have. Somehow, it was better to say one was a humanist or an agnostic. I finally decided that I'm a creature of emotion as well as of reason. Emotionally, I am an atheist. I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect he doesn't that I don't want to waste my time." .- Free Inquiry (Spring 1982)

Answer 2

I have little quarrel with Atheists. but there are important philosophy of science based considerations here.

1) There is no argument or evidence that would suffice to show that there was a deity. (1) Other explanation for any event are always (logically) possible.
2) Empirically, a question of existence is a question of measurable effect. No deity has ever (in the scientific age) produced such an effect, at least not in a way that could not be accounted for by other means, so there is no reason to assume some deity might exist.
3) In other cases where no evidence can be produced, the defacto scientific position is non-existence (Bigfoot, Loc Ness monster, Santa Claus, etc.)

Even an Atheist can admit they may be wrong, it's just overwhelmingly unlikely. But Agnosticism is the reserving of judgment for some future possibility of evidence that (before death) cannot possibly come. It is not a scientific position, but a refusal to take a position.

Answer 3

The people who say that Agnostics are "fence sitters" or "scared to choose a side" are idiots and chances are they don't even know what an agnostic actually is.

An Agnostic can be either atheistic or theistic, and to simply not "pick a side" is a valid belief.

Again, people who say Agnostics are "fence sitters" are idiots.

Answer 4

Because who are you to decide that God is his REAL name?

Agnostics aren't "on the fence"

They don't believe the church, yet they believe in a higher power. they DO believe some one created the universe.
But why complicate things by fighting over details.

Seems to me it's a lot better than the war christans and atheists are constantly battling and NEVER WIN

Answer 5

I think there is a God. I cannot prove it and neither can anyone else.

Either way the existence of a God or not has no affect on the afterlife of my soul.

Answer 6

I think agnostics are Atheist to be. The have realized that gods/religions are false but have not yet come to terms with Atheism.

Answer 7

I am Agnostic, to me I know there is a Creator and I choose to believe in my own way.I need not impress anyone with my beliefs nor do I need to join a religious group to prove this.I have my own mind and MY OWN FAITH thank you.

Answer 8

Grim Jack hit the nail right on the head

Answer 9

I'm an atheist and I answered by saying they are like bi people- they like it all. I don't think that's bad- I'll order everything on my sundae I just don't feel the same about my religion (or lack thereof)

Answer 10

Agnosticism is the only logical answer to a question nobody can actually know the answer to