A woman we know has a boyfriend who claims to be an atheist/agnostic/spiritualist. Does this make any sense? How can you be all three at the same time? Or is he just seriously unsure of what the heck he believes in? Or perhaps just an idiot (which we highly suspect)?
2007-06-29 12:50:35 · 10 answers · asked by Cheryl E 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
sounds like a big ol idiot!!! i just see how you can be all 3.
i could be wrong, but doesn't athesit mean you do not believe in any God or higher power. Doesn't that cancel the other two out?
2007-06-29 12:55:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's nothing by way of reasoning his way through it. It almost sounds like he's convinced that there's a human spirit, but doesn't know whether or not there's a creator. He most likely thinks that the God of Christianity doesn't exist, but won't rule out all Gods. At least, that's about the only way I can decipher this.
The problem is his terminology, if this is, indeed, what he's trying to say. An Atheist absolutely holds no faith in God. Period, and end of story. Some will say that they believe in a spirit or central energy source that we're all a part of... but as far as a deity, nope! No such thing. An Agnostic isn't sure either way; they are neither convinced of God's existance nor are they convinced of His nonexistance. A spiritualist might believe in a soul or "spirit" within each of us, or even--like stated above--believe that we are all a part of a central energy source. The term "spiritualist" is the only one that will fit the other two: An Atheist can be spiritual, as can an Agnostic.
So while he obviously misunderstands the literal meaning of his terminology (hence my statement that he hasn't reasoned his way through this all that much), I would think that this is what he's trying to say.
2007-06-29 13:15:52 · answer #2 · answered by writersblock73 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a lot of confusion as to the meaning of some terms.
Atheist = "without" "belief in gods or deities"
Someone who doesn't have a belief in a god or deity (not necessarily someone who believes that gods and deities do NOT exist; a subtle but important difference)
Agnostic = "without" "knowledge"
Someone who believes it's not possible to know whether or not gods or deities exist. (Specifically coined to refer to the Christian gods, but can apply elsewhere)
Spiritualist = depends. There are "spiritualist" religions and beliefs that are each based on their own creeds. Some are incompatible with agnosticism and atheism, but it is possible to be spiritual, atheist, and agnostic at the same time.
Someone can be Atheist and Agnostic and Spiritualist, but it really depends on what they mean by Spiritualist. Why don't you ask them, instead of a bunch of people who don't know what this person's beliefs really are?
2007-07-01 07:06:13 · answer #3 · answered by godlessinaz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's normal to be an agnostic atheist - all that means is that you are not a theist, and you hold to the principle that it's wrong to assert the truth of a proposition without logically satisfactory evidence. Everyone should be an agnostic atheist. However, I don't see how you can also be 'spiritual' if the word is being used in the supernatural sense. An atheist would not normally believe in anything supernatural.
2007-06-29 12:59:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am so confused about what label I fit into, I though of myself originally as Atheist because I did not believe in any religion, then Agnostic because I still haven't learnt enough about other religions. basically Deist probably suits me best now, some people when they say Atheist/Agnostic mean this I know I did. Believing in science without dismissing the existence, and believing in more but not specifically.
I think parrot summed it up well too.
2007-06-29 13:02:51 · answer #5 · answered by Link , Padawan of Yoda 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cheryl, be nice! Ambiguity is a sign of an open mind. The less you decide you know, the more you can learn. Socrates was declared the wisest man in the world because he was full of doubt.
I would interpret that label to mean someone who doesn't think there are deities but doesn't know for sure and yet believes in spirituality - that something is out there, only they don't know what.
Looks perfectly legitimate to me. Better than someone taking a label that people would understand but that they find dishonest and not really pertaining to their beliefs.
2007-06-29 12:56:56 · answer #6 · answered by KC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suppose if you think there aren't any gods but there might be a few minor spirits floating about, you could legitimately call yourself an atheist spiritualist.
Dunno about the atheist agnostic part though. I too suspect he is an idiot.
2007-06-29 12:55:47 · answer #7 · answered by Citizen Justin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only the first two terms are incompatible...
Maybe he means he definately doesn't believe in some gods and holds out the possibility of some other ones?
I do lean towards the idiot....
2007-06-29 12:54:00 · answer #8 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A person who thinks that it's impossible to know for sure whether God exists or not, but still doesn't believe in one, while at the same time believing in a 'soul' or spirit.
I have no idea if that's what it is, but that's my guess.
2007-06-29 12:58:56 · answer #9 · answered by . 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
sounds like someone made up their own label for their beliefs. I hve no idea what it means. Why don't you ask the guy who calls himself that?
2007-06-29 12:54:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋