No one can KNOW, however much faith you have or however much evidence you don't have.
All Spiritual Paths should be contemplated or at least looked into by individuals - how do you know that yours is the most convincing if you have never even read other Holy Books? How can you know that none of them are convincing without looking into them?
And if you have, and don't believe in God, surely you would still be agnostic, even if you're an agnostic as close to atheism as can be. You cannot be sure. If you are so totally SURE there's no supernatural/superior force, it is a little arrogant and means you just assume you're right (though I can understand not accepting certain varities of religion, or saying some are more likely.)
Even if you've read all religious texts and studied science, and still believe your religion, you also cannot be sure. You can be as close to a total theist as can be, but still agnostic as you do not KNOW.
2007-02-12 05:40:42 · 37 answers · asked by serf m 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Knowledge via 'i feel it in my heart' has about as much bearing as knowing because 'I'm always right!'
2007-02-12 05:41:16 · update #1
'Atheism is the logical default position not agnosticism. If there's a lack of evidence to prove God exists it's right to believe that he doesn't.' - That has truth in it, thanks. Like the teapot in orbit argument :D
2007-02-12 05:51:16 · update #2
'When pressed to define myself, I say that I am an atheist because that is the most honest descriptor I can use. Of course there's uncertainty.' Same sorta thing with me! Thanks for your view, though. It's interesting how it is the religious people who feel they have to KNOW, and the atheists are (often) okay with admitting we don't really know (that's a compliment not a criticism... not allowing any doubt makes me think that religion is less solid as a foundation)
2007-02-12 05:59:00 · update #3
'Then what the point of studying?' - I like to learn! Hell I do, but I don't KNOW anything, truly. And I generally accept that there is no personal God because I think there's no proof for one and he seems like a very obvious comfort blanket. But I think when it comes down to actual religious debates, not just everyday life, people should have the guts to admit that there are flaws in everything and what we can and cannot know, ESPECIALLY in ethical areas.
2007-02-12 06:02:12 · update #4
There are many things in life we do not know for sure exist or are real. But...to a true believer...we truly believe in the existence of God...therefore, we cannot say we are not sure. This is what faith is son.
If you are married, do you have faith in your wife...if you have a best friend do you have faith in them....if you have a job do you have faith that you are good at it. Faith is believing...its not maybe.
2007-02-12 05:49:24 · answer #1 · answered by Dust in the Wind 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The best example of whether God exist is the Human Brain.
Studies, like that done by the University of Michigan, and features in the Discovery Channel program, The Amazing Life of the Human Brain, shows just how amazing the human brain is.
Every second while awake, we are absorbing 40MBs of data per second. That’s 144 gigabytes per hour and about 2 terabytes per day. That’s a lot of data even for the largest computer. When we sleep at night, and only at night or under nighttime conditions, all that data is sorted and stored through the creation of synaptic connectors and biochemical bounds. The brain has enough volume to allow for the creation of these storage connectors to last over 10,000 years.
Without the need of a creator, what evolutionary pressure could cause the need for this much volume that would take that long to fill? Clearly, man was either created by God to live that long, or if evolve, once lived that long, and has since de-evolved to what we are today. Which do you think it is?
Evolution does take place, in that animals have evolved and humans have de-evolved since the time of the creation. Many divergent species are related, such as the Meerkat/Hyena and the Lion/House cat. A house cat can breed with a lion, I wonder if the same is possible the Hyena and Meerkat?
This is why I believe in God. I use the brain he gave me, and designed for me, to determine something beyond imagining.
2007-02-12 05:47:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
You're right. Most people only believe what they believe because they have been brought up that way. It is important to at least read a little bit about all beliefs.
However, the main point of Christianity is that you must have faith that God DOES exist and He is the one in charge of all things. Faith is not able to be documented because it is not scientific, and that is the point where a lot of people get confused. You are putting your afterlife in the hands of an idea, and you are hoping that you have made the correct choice. As for me, I have confidence that I have made the right choice and, while I am open to hearing about other religions, I am strongly anchored in my faith in God.
2007-02-12 05:49:07 · answer #3 · answered by Rachel H. 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think believers of all faiths admit on here all day long there is no proof. There is sound arguement, but no "proof" But then there has been proof at times and there were still non believers. Every major religion acknowledges Christ. Some view Him as a prophet, some as God, but they all agree He existed. Why then is their religion not an offshoot of ours? Our God is in their Holy Books. Theirs is not in ours (with the exception of Judism which is the basis for Christianity and in which Christ is a fullfillment of verses from their holy book). Our holy book is not continually searching for a new prophet, their books do not fullfill the prophesy of ours. So why is it not that they have just taken our beliefs and corrupted them to suit their own purposes. Is this not like people who refuse to believe in the bible because "their god" would not condemn people who have not heard of Jesus. Or people who refuse to believe in God at all because none of the stories fit in with the life they want to lead.
Yes you should learn. You should study. You should be sure your choice is the best one for you and be willing to accept the consequences if you are wrong. The bible teaches that those who are truely seeking will find God. So as long as you are looking and not dwelling in complacency you will eventually get where you need to be.
All that being said. God grants us free will. We can choose not to search, and if that is our choice and we are willing to accept the consequences then that is ok too.
2007-02-12 05:56:06 · answer #4 · answered by micheletmoore 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lot of people have had experiences that allow them to "be sure." Often, people assume if the Jews are right, then the Christians must be wrong. Or if the Buddhists are right, then the Hindus are wrong. I believe that God's truth is big enough to encompass the differences.
So I believe that people CAN be sure and that those people can each have their own set of beliefs that are true. I think we can be more sure in God than in many other things that we can "prove."
2007-02-12 05:48:15 · answer #5 · answered by Shrieking Panda 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people do admit that they don't know. The rest believe that a god or gods exist or does not exist with the same strength as the belief that they themselves, their families, their pets and their neighbors exist. When pressed, most people will admit that belief means we don't know one way or another but I don't really know whether Philadelphia exists, I have never been there or seen it, I am of the belief that it does, but I have to say that I don't KNOW that it is there. For many people the question of gods is no different.
2007-02-12 05:47:17 · answer #6 · answered by Huggles-the-wise 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you "know" the Earth is round? Have you ever seen it for yourself? So can only astronauts say that they 100% know that the Earth is round only becuase they have actully seen it in person? Poor exmaple, but do you see my point?
Why is it so wrong for one to think that they are right?
I can kind of see that you think it is ignorant for one to assert that one religion is right with out contemplating why other religions are wrong. It is werid for a person to blindy accept their faith when there are many faiths. But even when one does study science and religion, that is not good enough for you? So even if we study you say we can never truly know? Then what the point of studying? SHould we just say to ourselves "Well, I will never know for sure so I will continue to do nothing."
Not all atheist have any uncertainty. I have no uncertainty what-so-ever. Not all atheist are OK with admitting that we really "don't know" as you put in your 3rd detail to your question. Through my studies I am convinced that God does not exisit. I do not see how I am arrogant...and I do not assume I am right, I know I am right. Do not confuse arrogance and confideance.
2007-02-12 05:59:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
People who study science, philosophy, etc. understand that there is always uncertainty. This is just a fact of life that we appreciate.
Religious types often insist on certainty, even if it is an absolute conviction of faith alone.
I've done both. When pressed to define myself, I say that I am an atheist because that is the most honest descriptor I can use. Of course there's uncertainty. Show me anything that isn't.
2007-02-12 05:54:35 · answer #8 · answered by The angels have the phone box. 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because people need something to believe in, right? What's wrong with believing in a higher power? People believe in all sorts of things even though they aren't really sure it really exists...like true love, or fate, or karma. The saying goes "walk by faith and not by sight". So even though people have never "seen" GOD (in a sense) they know he exists, that's what faith is. Believing in something wondering, something great.
To be honest, I'd rather believe in GOD and find out later that he doesn't exist, then not believe at all now and later find out he does....
2007-02-12 05:51:38 · answer #9 · answered by ~Fabulous~ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do agree, there is no real way to know for sure if there is a GOD, we have to believe in faith.
And truthfully, there is no such thing as an Atheist. Unless you have been around the world, have read everybook and seen everything, then you can make a decision if you believe in GOD or not. If you have not, then you are an Agnostic. You don't know what you believe.
2007-02-12 05:48:19 · answer #10 · answered by cadowney1 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I admit I don't know if there is a god, but I certainly have not been presented with any credible evidence for gods so I have no choice but to be an atheist.
Neither do I know how you can know that you can't know. I don't know that such knowledge is impossible or not so I don't call myself a permanent agnostic. I reserve the possibility that someday knowledge might present itself in some way that I cannot now imagine.
2007-02-12 05:51:55 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋