Do other atheists/agnostics have this problem?

Question

You don't want to say that you're agnostic/possibly spiritual because people will assume you mean that you're contemplating THEIR kinda God?

I know I don't feel ok with saying I'm agnostic or religious (which i am in a great many ways) because I do not associate with the personal, emotional God that a lot of major religions around me have, and they will assume that if I say I'm agnostic, I kinda believe in their God. Which I never will. I am just as likely to believe in a great number of other things.

Thanks for nice answers, sweeties :)

I'm basically an atheist pantheist quaker.

I don't believe in a personal God at all. My reverence of the universe and my Pantheism is all from how amazing everything is, in a scientific and proveable way. I also believe in peace and love - quaker/hippie kinda thing. But I'm not fitting into a specific religion and people assume they can 'convert' me if I'm already contemplating things. So generally I say I'm an atheist.

But I am the happiest I've ever been, all that said. I've finally realised I have a conscience, and Im grateful for my genes, my parents and my society for making it so strong. I know what to do in situations and at the same time I know how little my life matters. It is a good place to be. I laugh a lot for no reason.

I'm very grateful for anyone who answers, and for anyone. and everything.

Love. One. Peace.

xxxxx

Answer 1

I'd say that you should just tell people that you are agnostic and stick with that. If anyone is curious you can discuss it further with them.

Ooh, and get a t-shirt that says "I may or may not believe in 'a' God, but chances are it's not your God I'm undecided about."

Answer 2

Yes, I think many people who are agnostic may have a similar problem. Don't forget that the issue here is the way we look at God. In practice, no two persons, even those who belong to the same religion, see God the same way (though they may be the last to realize this). So agnostic, gnostic, christian or whatever we are, we see God differently. Unfortunately, for us, this does not make God any different. God remains God, regardless of our religious beliefs.

Indeed, many people who claim to be atheists are probably those who have not found a path that best fits their own view of God. They see what other people who claim to be religious do, and would rather not have anything to do with such religions. Many such atheists are in fact more spiritually advanced than their fanatically religious neighbors.

Personally, I think you are not doing badly spiritually. A hallmark of growth is when you are ready to be different. And as you grow spiritually, you get the understanding that God is whatever you think God is because God is that, and much more. Much more than what our simple human minds can understand.

Invariably, every view about God is correct. Except of course the view that says it is the only correct one.

Answer 3

I believe it is all the same God, but I don't want people to think I agree with them on how they choose to see him/her. So it is kind of frustrating. I think I make it pretty clear I don't believe that, and anyone important to me knows what I believe or don't believe at least, so I guess if other people want to think I believe what they do, although it's annoying, there's not much I can do about it.

Answer 4

that is given which you haven't any longer troubled to teach your self approximately it. You (in accordance on your answer) have long previous on emotions fairly of reason and as a result have neglected the full factor. You assume that magic is in touch yet actual that could be a straw guy argument (something you enhance and then refute). you're literary diagnosis and exegesis introduced you to think of that the OT and the NT 'do no longer mesh nicely'. ought to you factor me out some concrete examples that have not been replied in the two,000 years of Christian history? are you able to teach to me that Christ did no longer upward push from the lifeless, because of the fact the gospels (and seventy 5% of all NT scholars) argue He did? What info (no longer hypothesis, yet documented historic info and argument) are you able to quote? I doubt you have been ever a Christian first of all. many human beings are in that concern, i used to be considered one of them.

Answer 5

I sort of know what you mean. It's like when someone asks me if I believe in god. To which my reply would be "specifically define god." before I could give a yes or a no.

Answer 6

Would "Deist" be a term you could live with and use?

Classically, it referred to a person who believed in a "first cause" or creator, but one that (or who) was not intimately involved with the course of the world or individuals on a personal, emotional, level.

Personally I'm happy to be known as an atheist.

Answer 7

I say "atheist" unless I think the person is going to have a heart attack, in which case I say "agnostic."

It sounds like people are all up in your grill about your personal beliefs. Maybe if you were more firm in your tone of voice and body language when you say "agnostic" they will stop bugging you?

Answer 8

well, im jewish, so i certainly dont believe on the "god" the people around me believes, so sometimes they try to convert or persuade me, so i try to forgive the subject and beter talk like this:
" there are values that does not belong to any religion, like love, friendship, respect, etc (wich by the way, many religious doesnt practice) so, dont talk me about your God or your religion, talk me about these values we can all practice from wherever we are"

Answer 9

well maybe you are an agnostic theist or agnostic deist anyway people tend to like agnostics more as they feel that maybe they can help us find the truth as they feel that we are lost and they can try to convert us ahh it doesn't bother me too much what bothers me is that some people say that we are immoral or are bad people when we aren't at all

Answer 10

You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. You can just say that you think religion is a very personal issue and that you do not discuss it. I have no obligation to discuss my personal life or beliefs with people just because they ask. My private life is just that, private, and it is my option to establish boundaries lines with other people.