A theist believes in god (or gods)
An atheist does not believe in god (so must have some idea what theists mean by god)
An agnostic doesn't know if god exists, so again, must have some idea what 'god' means
What do you call someone like me who, honestly, has no conception what 'god' means, beyond a meaningless syllable?
Seriously!
2007-06-25 12:39:55 · 20 answers · asked by barry 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I like anomalies.
Are you a philosopher?
2007-06-25 12:44:51 · answer #1 · answered by KC 7 · 1⤊ 6⤋
Seriously, I don't buy, but I'll still bite.
You must be aware of the subtle difference of
"have some idea what theists mean by god"
and
"no conception what 'god' means".
Which really is not all that subtle if you haven't crawled out from underneath a rock a minute ago, because otherwise, you'll "have some idea what theists mean by god" if you even bother with this topic.
What your personal conception or lack thereof is is irrelevant - pick the agnostic or the atheist box. Go by whether you allow for the possibility of a divine entity or not.
2007-06-25 12:50:55 · answer #2 · answered by The Arkady 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Ahh great question..
you are not an atheist because you just do not know... as well as agnostic.. I would need to know just one question..Do you formulate your own beliefs and practices based on your experiences. I would say you are of the New Age movement.
Do you believe more and know more about lets say peoples souls.. then you would be called a Animism--is simply "belief in souls"; it doesn't matter whether these souls occupy all entities or only humans. Therefore, a religion that attributes souls to only humans is still a form of animism..
Those are off the top of my head.. other then that I would have to know if you study philosophy..or what you study.. I could give you a more exact term for what you are.. lol..Besides a HUMAN.. lol
Well this is the very first step in to finding God..or a god..I pray the Lord will lead you on your journey and is smiling upon you and your quest..Feel free to ask us more..
2007-06-25 13:14:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
You are not describing an atheist. An atheist makes an effort to reject, deny, or disprove God. Any one of these three efforts, is a challenge to the foundation of theism. There are in my opinion, very few true atheists, as most people, including myself and other self proclaimed theists haven't a clue to what 'god' means, beyond a meaningless sylable that several birds can mimic. I am one of those many, and the master of only the obvious.
p.s. and to say man made god, is absurd. most men can't even make ice-cream.
2007-06-25 12:56:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think you might be categorized as agnostic.
Agnostic is a loose term. Have you totally rejected the possibility that a supernatural force greater than man exists? If the door of your mind is still open on this one, you could be called agnostic. Agnostics range from someone who is pretty sure a supernatural power doesn't exist but doesn't find enough evidence to rule it out (agnostic atheist) to someone who is pretty sure there is 'something' out there, but can not define it and does not subscribe to any religion (agnostic theist).
Or, you can reject all labels and just say. I have no religious beliefs - the question of the existence of 'god' or 'gods' is unimportant to me. Perhaps apathetic would suit?
2007-06-25 12:50:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
A theist, as you say, believes in a god or gods. If you don't believe in a god or gods, then you're an atheist (not a theist).
2007-06-25 12:44:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
I don't mean to be disrespectful, but anyone can understand the meaning of a word simply by consulting a dictionary. The concept of God is not so complex.
2007-06-25 12:46:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
You've heard of Zeus and Thor and Poseidon, haven't you? I don't believe in them, either. I don't know every last detail about every god in the history of mankind, and I don't need to in order to notice the similarities--we made them all up to suit our purposes at the time. Same with the one that's popular today. As someone here is always calling it, Santa Claus for grownups. Atheists don't believe in ANY deities.
2007-06-25 12:47:03 · answer #8 · answered by Phartzalot 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Dictionarilly Deprived.
2007-06-25 12:50:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Student
2007-06-25 12:42:03 · answer #10 · answered by Alan 7 · 2⤊ 4⤋
You don't know what the word "god" means?
o.O
Ok, the word god is objectifiable, but dont tell us you dont understand what it means, It has a meaning wether or not its concrete and difinitive, which it could potentially be actually.
So i guess i would call you "some one who thinks he's clever"
2007-06-25 12:45:53 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋