What is the name for my beliefs?

Question

For the past couple of months, I have found myself questioning my belief in God. I do not believe that he is not real, but I can't get myself to accept that he is. Is there a name for people who are not sure if God really does exist. And I don't want atheism, because I do not yet think that is true either.

Answer 1

You might or might not be agnostic. The term was coined by a staunch defender of Darwin, a guy named T.H. Huxley. Even he used the word differently in different writings, so there's some confusion as to its meaning.

Basically, Agnosticism is skepticism. An agnostic (at least as the word's originally and traditionally used) thinks that we can claim to know things about the Universe based upon applying reason to objective evidence. The agnostic, in so examining the evidence for and against the existence of a god or gods, does not see sufficient proof one way or another to justify claiming to know that there definitely is or is not a god. That's the essential part of agnosticism and, if you feel it describes how you feel then you might want to consider yourself agnostic at this point.

Now later Huxley also wrote that it's impossible to prove whether or not there's a god. Some agnostics feel this way. Others, like myself, wonder how you could know for sure that it's impossible. Maybe it's possible, though highly unlikely. Agnostics may or may not believe that whether there's a god or not can't be proved, but if you do feel this way than Agnostic's a good label for you.

Agnosticism was specifically coined as a term to differentiate from those who claim religious faith or declare they know there's no god without actually being able to prove it sufficiently. Such people seem to be using a special sort of knowledge beyond what the objective evidence shows- they are being Gnostics.

Just remember, and I'm sure you do, that the label is only a helpful way of summing up your beliefs in a word or two. If the label gives a false impression of what you actually believe then you don't have to use it (or any other) label. And never figure that you have to believe or disbelieve something just because you happen to use that label and you want to conform to what people with that lable think. The label should be descriptive, not prescriptive.

Answer 2

Seems as though you are struggling to find what is true.. you are kind of sitting on the fence between believing in an All Mighty God and not believing in anything.. you want proof.. probably at some time you have looked up in the sky and said hey God if you are up there and you want me to believe.. then drop me a feather or something..since no feather floats your way then you don't get your answer.. Okay.. now, if you want to know that there is a God.. here is all you have to do.. walk outside.. look at the trees and tell us who made them.. thats all you have to do.. do you think they crawled out of the sea like some say man did?.. where did they come from.. oh and where did the dirt come from.. and oh yes how bout the earth..the sun, the moon, the stars..who made them.. some scientest will tell you that all these things came from a big boom.. that the universe was created from the big boom.. well then if that is true..my question is.. where was the stuff that blew up.. what was it and who made it.. something had to bring all that stuff together and it had to be some where.. Where? from what?.. by the way many of the events that were recorded in the Bible have been proven and documented... there has not been one connection made between man and fish...but yet there are those who are still looking for the missing link... so now what do you do?.. well you are a free agent.. God says you can believe and have faith in my word or you can go do something else.. you are free to live your life anyway you want..but remember you will live forever.. it is just a matter of where.. Now here is some advice for you.. if you can't figure out who made the trees.. then why not read the Bible it gives you an explanation.. read it and then you decide.. what do you want to belive.. God said belive in me.. he did not say believe in preachers, popes, dopes, and scientest... all the answers are in one book.. it is not a history book, it is not put together in chronological order, it was recorded over a period of 1800 years by men from several different countries who for the most part did not know each other and.. yet each book of the Bible is in perfect harmony with all the others.. It is the word of God.. if you want to understand it then ask for guidance and wisdom from the Lord through prayer.. and belive you will get the instruction.. don't try to image that God is talking to you, because he is not.. he does not directly communicate verbally with mankind anymore... he speaks to your heart.. in his way and when he chooses.. ask for guidance and believe that you will receive it.. pick up the Bible and read it.. it is Gods word.. believe it.. or not.

Answer 3

Kevin..could it be that you are confusing belief in religion...and belief in God? Many people today are experiencing a faith backlash because of the issues that have come to the headlines over the past several years. Priests abusing children, religious leaders having affairs or stealing their followers blind, movies or documentaries that deny the existance of God or Christ, general acceptance of the theory of evolution amongst even young children and most of all, the constant badmouthing of one religion against the other. Jews hate Muslims, Muslims hate Christians and even some Christians hate everyone that doesn't belong to their particular branch of Christianity. For years, I went to church every Sunday, served on the church council, worked at all the fund raisers and special events, taught Sunday school and generally was the "ideal" Christian, but even at it's best I knew something important was missing. What I was missing was a personal relationship with God. He wasn't real to me. Instead of loving and worshiping God, I was playing at religion. Much of the Bible didn't seem to make sense in the light of the newest scientific evidence and I will have to admit that for a time I even bought in to the idea that God was a creation of man. Believing in God was not logical...and I am a very logical person. Then one day, pretty much unexpectedly, I was in a situation where their were a lot of people who were strong believers in God...people who had very personal relationships with Him..people who believed that God was their best friend. I saw their faith transform a very bad situation into a victory for some people that I really cared about. For the first time in my life, I felt God calling to me..and opened my heart just enough for Him to enter. Don't get me wrong, it didn't come as some fantastic bolt of lightning. It happened over a period of months...but my belief became more and more real as each day passed and I saw the changes that even a little faith had in my life. Today, I walk with God 24/7. I'm not a Bible thumper as they say, but a person who knows without any question that God is not only real....but that He does love me...and He does take a personal interest in those that love him in return.

Since that time, I realized that religions were made by man....not by God. Nowhere in the Christian Bible does it speak for the need to be one religion or another...or for that matter, Jesus never once preached the need for a "church" in the sense of a religious denomination. The church simply means "believers".....all believers.

Some may call you an agnostic....but I would simply call you...a seeker. I believe that God is putting a call on your heart..just as He did me. That is why you ask the question you asked....and I sincerely believe that God put me on the site tonight just for you.....to tell you my story.

All the stories in the world can not do what one simple conversation with God will do for you. Try it. Just talk to him and tell him what you are feeling. I can assure you He has heard it all before......from ME.

God Bless.

Answer 4

Gnos·tic (nŏs'tĭk) Pronunciation Key
adj.

1. gnostic Of, relating to, or possessing intellectual or spiritual knowledge.
2. Of or relating to Gnosticism.


n. A believer in Gnosticism.





----OR----





ag·nos·tic (āg-nŏs'tĭk) Pronunciation Key
n.

1.
1. One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.
2. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
2. One who is doubtful or noncommittal about something.

Answer 5

Agnostic fits fairly well. The literal meaning of the term is to not know, referring specifically to the existence of some god.

Answer 6

You just don't get it. The only way to Heaven is through Jesus Christ. Except Him as your Lord and master, confess known sins. And your on your way to Heaven. God Bless Ya, Chicago Bob imasinner There is more joy in Jesus in one day. Than there is in the World 365/24/7 I know, I tried them both. Numbers 6:24-26

Answer 7

Agnostic.

Answer 8

Confused

Answer 9

Agnostic.

Answer 10

agnostic

Agnostics claim either that it is not possible to have absolute or certain knowledge of God or gods; or, alternatively, that while individual certainty may be possible, they personally have no knowledge. Agnosticism in both cases involves some form of skepticism.