Agnostics. Do u live as though God might exist or as though He doesn't exist?

Question

I'm am basing my question on this statement from "The Watchman Expository". And I quote:

Agnostics avoid the charge of dogmatic atheism by acknowledging the theoretical possibility of God’s existence. Yet virtually all live as if the non-existence of God was an established fact, and are thus practical atheists.

What are people's thoughts on this?

To Weird War - It's saying that almost all Agnostics live their lives as though God doesn't exist and he goes so far as to say that that makes them atheists. I wanted to know if that statement is true.

Answer 1

Not all agnostics are the same. I have referred to myself as agnostic simply because I acknowledge the possibility (however minute) that a god of somekind could possibly exist. However, I am not searching for a religion or that god. In reality, I don't expect to find one. Therefore, I am likely a practical atheist.

On the other hand, I have met some agnostics who use the term to describe themselves when they ARE searching for a faith. They believe something exists but they aren't sure what. Perhaps they are undefined theists or deists.

Answer 2

My problem with this is the wrong definition for the word, atheism.

Only Strong atheism positively asserts that there is NO God. Most atheists are what is known as Weak atheists, which is actually what agnosticism is. The word atheist literally means the following. a- (the prefix meaning without), and theist (a person with a belief in a supernatural being/beings). Put that together, you simply get someone who lacks the belief in a supernatural being, not someone that flat out cries there is NO god.

To assume there is no god anywhere in the Universe, you would have to prove a negative. That is impossible. You would have to have a device which could first detect the presence of a god, then search the entire universe at the same time (for fear of missing him) to prove there is no god. This will never happen. Strong atheism is just as unscientifically sound as is theism without proof.

Answer 3

Later word: Whoops, misread your question as "if day after today, it grow to be proved that god exists..." Which god? An impersonal author or some middling sky god annoying human sacrifices? This needs to be located into context, as there are over 2,000 gods created via the human species. Secondly, i do no longer think of that i'd stay my existence in yet in a different way, shop for info empirical info for the existence of a god. My international view would adapt to info. A deity is not any different. yet does this does not advise that i'd sacrifice my existence if there have been a god. i think it might matter on the ethics of the deity/deities that are shown to exist. of path, it relatively is only hypothetical through fact faith is a farce. even though that's an exciting element to think of roughly.

Answer 4

Might be true to a certain extent.

I am agnostic, and live my life to my own standards, as set by moral beliefs established/instilled in me by my Christian parents.

I wouldn't say that I live as if the non-existence of God was an established fact. I live my life as if the non-existence of an interceding/caring/personal God is an established fact. I do so because I believe it to be true. It explains all of the terrible things that happen to sinless babies, horrific events that happen to God-fearing people, and EMO music.

I don't acknowledge the theoretical possibility of God's existence in order to avoid being charged or called an Atheist, that is just stupid reasoning, designed to belittle my belief system.

I believe in the theoretical possibility of God's existence soley due to the fact that man has an infinitely small amount of knowledge compared with the knowledge that is available in the entire universe. My belief is that science can still prove, or disprove the existence of God hasn't happened yet due to a lack of evidence.

My belief in the nonexistence of a personal/interactive, loving God is based on thousands of years of pain, torture, biblical doctrines of hell, biblical inconsistencies, and the fact that some babies are created and then born in order for them to starve to death or be tortured by disease.

While I appreciate the Watchman's attempt to lump all the sinners into one handy bundle and thus scare the shite out of all questioners effectively turning them into shaking Jehovah's Witnesses. I don't subscribe to this nonsense, as an agnostic who actually knows why he believes the way he does.

Keep knocking eventually I will let you in, but don't hold me responsible for if you get knocked around a little by my answers.

Answer 5

I agree with the statement. Most agnostics think there is a VERY small chance of God existing and so live as if he doesn't. I think there is a chance that everything I see is an illusion, but I live as though it's not. Many Christians seem to live as though God doesn't exist in my experience.

Answer 6

I can only speak for myself.

I grew up believing in God--although my views were not traditional.. I didn't believe in hell. or the idea that one religion was right and others were wrong..etc. But even as a kid I was very logically minded.

15---practically over night I changed my views..and they have been the same for the past 6 years.

For me it is a matter of : I don't believe in God. But I have no proof. I've debated the circular argument for the first 15 years of my life. Now, I don't debate it any more.

I think the idea of God at its best is the idea of having a purpose for the good of society--or even life in general-- and to make oneself happy (within reason). Studies have shown that spiritual people in America tend to live longer, happier lives. and that is fine with me. But, I don't think it is necessary.

I've always heard the argument: Believe in God. If it turns out he didn't exist--no big deal, you're dead anyway. If it turns how he does, then Great--you'll go to heaven. But I've never seen that to be sufficient. If I were God, what would I think of people who believed/worshipped me -just in case-- I would think they were suck ups and unable to make a decision for themselves.

If there is a higher power--and it actually has some sort of conscious thought--I doubt he would be as petty as we make him out to be. Would he think more of a devout person who worshipped all the time, or a hard worker who used God's resources to produce for humanity.

Sorry.. I'm getting off the track. My answer is: I live as though he doesn't exist, but it doesn't make a difference anyway. I believe my choices would be the same if or if not I thought *God was watching*.

Answer 7

I am an Agnostic.

I do live as though God doesn't exist, although I acknowledge that he might. On the other hand, I generally live my life according to Christian principles (the Golden Rule, the Ten Commandments, etc.) because they are good rules to live by for civilized people in a civilized society.

I don't anticipate accepting Jesus as my savior on my deathbed as a "just in case" measure, because I feel that a person's spiritual beliefs and convictions must be heartfelt and genuine.

Answer 8

I live as though God does not exist.

I also thinks he misunderstands Agnosticism, or at least how I approach Agnosticism.

I am identical to Atheists in how I see God for myself. I require proof/experience. I am not content with dogma. In the event that I experience it, I will believe. Until then I do not believe.

In other words.....until I expereince it...there is No god. I recognize that I don't know everything, and moght experience it in the future.

My main difference with atheism is, I suspect, that they are more sure that other people haven't experienced anything either.

I don't see it as my place to say for certain what other people know. I can say that I doubt them. But I can't KNOW what they have or have not seen.

In other words....regarding my own beliefs...there is not much difference between an atheist and I.

Answer 9

i try to live as though god exists, however, sometimes i forget, because the question is not on my mind a lot of the time. I don't say "i'm going to teach my kids that it's good to do charity work because god might exist." i do it because i think that it's good for them and others. but that's when i think that there is a god, when i see people helping people and loving each other. that's where god hides.

Answer 10

"Virtually all live as if the non-existence of God was an established fact." I don't understand this part. How exactly do they live as if God doesn't exist? Needs to be more clear.