Do you even know what agnosticism is?

Question

I've seen a lot of posts here that regard agnostics as "fence sitters". People that either won't commit to a position on religion or just don't want to think about it (which is really not it at all).

Do you know what it is? Do you understand why someone would come to the conclusion that our primitive brains (c'mon, we can't even stop blowing each other up) can't even understand the real concept of divinity, let alone it's will (if there even is such a thing).

Answer 1

As an agnostic myself, I certainly do know what it is. Some people are going to call you a fence sitter for it. Hey, some agnostics are. But for one to claim that a fence sitting nature is inherent in agnosticism is foolish and ignorant. (Much like assuming you know whether or not God exists. Go figure.) Don't let them get to you. They're overconfident, many of them arguing for the sake of arguing.

Agnosticism, for those who truly understand, is not indecisive. It's realistic.

Answer 2

IF YOU are an agnostic, you come somewhere between an atheist and a theist. The atheist is convinced that God does not exist, while the theist has a firm belief that God does exist and that he is involved in human affairs.

The agnostic does not feel that there is enough evidence to say that God does or does not exist. Rather, he reserves judgment or says that if God does exist he is unknown and unknowable.

Do you have friends who are agnostics? Or are you an agnostic yourself? If so, why? Perhaps you feel that agnosticism is the most reasonable position to take in this rationalist 20th century. If that is the case, we invite you to consider the words of certain men who have helped to shape the thinking of people in this century and see what they believed about God, and why. It may help you to understand a little better the reasons for your own beliefs.

Because of the Churches

The term “agnostic” (from the Greek word agnostos, “unknown”) was coined by the 19th-century British scientist Thomas H. Huxley, who also helped to popularize the Darwinian theory of evolution. Huxley noted that the churches claimed to have a special gnosis (knowledge) about God and the origin of things. He gave one reason why he could not accept this gnosis, and hence was an agnostic:

“If we could only see, in one view, the torrents of hypocrisy and cruelty, the lies, the slaughter, the violations of every obligation of humanity, which have flowed from this source [the churches] along the course of the history of Christian nations, our worst imaginations of Hell would pale beside the vision.”

Doubtless Huxley’s faith in the existence of God was shaken by his acceptance of the theory of evolution. Nevertheless, his faith was further shaken by the conduct of those who should have been in a position to help him, the churches. Their record through the centuries was no recommendation for belief in God.

Socialist Harold Laski, political theorist and educator, wrote in a similar vein. “I was brought up in an orthodox Jewish household; but I cannot even remember a period in which either ritual or dogma had meaning for me,” he confessed. Why? He explained: “Both in England and America I have never been able to see in any of the organized churches a faith in its principles sufficient to make it do serious battle for justice.”

Again, he said: “I cannot see, in the historic process, that the churches have been other than the enemies of reason in thought and of justice in social arrangements.”

Has the conduct of the churches caused you, too, to doubt the existence of God? It is true, their hypocrisy and wrong conduct are a matter of historical record. Note, however, that the Bible, the foremost source of information about God, foretold the rise of just such a perversion of the Christian faith: “They will preserve all the outward form of religion, although they have long been strangers to its meaning.”—2 Timothy 3:5, Knox.

In fact, the shortcomings of established religion are no reason to conclude that God does not exist. If a sick person has been cheated by a quack doctor, he should not thus conclude that no cure is possible. Rather, he should look around for a genuine doctor. Similarly, the fact that the established churches have turned many people away from God does not mean that God cannot be found. It merely means that you have to look somewhere else for him.

Answer 3

Well, what is it? I always thought it meant you believe the existence of a God or gods cannot be proven or disproven. That's straight from a college religion course. I don't care for that definition, although I'm a Christian, I don't think there is any way to actually scientifically prove or disprove the existence of God. So technically I would be agnostic. What else does it entail?

Answer 4

Agnosticism is the view that the existence of God is impossible to be known or proven. The word “agnostic” essential means “without knowledge.” Agnosticism is a more intellectually honest form of atheism. Atheism claims that God does not exist – an improvable position. Agnosticism argues that God’s existence cannot be proven or unproven – that it is impossible to know whether God exists. In this concept, agnosticism is correct. God’s existence cannot be empirically proven or disproven.

Answer 5

My fathers agnostic. He does not know if there is a god or not. He feels if there is he doesn't take part in out lives. As he says, We may not know everything. I don't see him as a fence sitter at all. He just admits that he does not know.

Answer 6

I understand. It's a complicated issue with more aspects than most people will ever consider. I have much respect for agnostics.

Answer 7

People that believe that the existance of god is unknowable to humans. Seekers are the fence-sitters.

Answer 8

I always took agnosticism to be someone who wasn't sure if there is a God or not. I considered myself agnostic at one time. If that is an incorrect interpretation, someone please fill me in.

Answer 9

I know what an agnostic is. I think you are just as arrogant as the rest of us though. I used to be one, and I was just as arrogant as I am now – lol

Answer 10

You ARE Fence-sitters... Most of you can come to terms...
with saying there are no gnomes,
with saying there are no faeries,
with saying there are no bigfoot,
with saying there is no Santa,
with saying there is no Odin,
with saying there is no Nessie,
with saying there is no (working) alchemy,
with saying there are no (working) crossed fingers,

but NOT saying there are no gods - YOU *DO* FENCE-SIT.
( We *all* logically have some agnosticism within our belief system... with an agnostic, it overrides logical consistency! )