I know that an atheist will usually answer "No" to the "does God exist?" question. My answer would be that answering that question isn't important at all, since God hasn't taken the trouble to reveal himself to me. Trying to improve myself seems more important until more evidence arises. Some people have told me that this makes me an agnostic, and others have told me that it makes me an atheist. Which do you guys think it is?
2007-11-14 07:59:08 · 12 answers · asked by Shinkirou Hasukage 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm really not concerned with the label, I just don't feel like typing all that out whenever someone asks if I'm an atheist or not...
2007-11-14 08:08:17 · update #1
Agnostic Atheist
Agnosticism is not about belief in god but about knowledge — it was coined originally to describe the position of a person who could not claim to know for sure if any gods exist or not.
Agnosticism is compatible with both theism and atheism. A person can believe in a god (theism) without claiming to know for sure if that god exists; the result is agnostic theism. On the other hand, a person can disbelieve in gods (atheism) without claiming to know for sure that no gods can or do exist; the result is agnostic atheism.
An agnostic atheist won’t claim to know for sure that nothing warranting the label “god” exists or that such cannot exist, but they also don’t actively believe that such an entity does indeed exist.
2007-11-14 08:02:20 · answer #1 · answered by Beautiful Dreamer 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why are people so preoccupied with what label to put on themselves? You are a human being, the other labels just further separate us from each other. If you need a definite answer, I would have to say that you are agnostic, because you wouldn't feel so hurt about someone you didn't feel even existed not revealing Himself to you. As for that, God comes to us in many ways, but only when we seek Him out. You have to be open to Him, not sitting there with your arms crossed daring Him to prove himself to you. He's not going to prove anything until you have learned to have faith without the proof, that's how it was for me, anyway. Most important is for you to decide who and what you are for yourself, and don't worry about what other people think or have to say about it.
2007-11-14 08:05:59 · answer #2 · answered by bainaashanti 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why does it matter what other people label you as? If believing in a god or a higher power is of no interest to you, it is not important. Unless you are in a situation where you have to list a religion, it's really no one's business. If you become engaged in conversations pertaining to religion, just sit back and listen, let others say what they have to say. You are not obligated to agree, disagree or argue with them. Just let them talk. If you are in a situation where you may consider marrying someone of a certain faith, that is when they two of you need to sit down and discuss the arrangements - would it be acceptable to both parties if a civil ceremony were in place of a religious ceremony? Things like that. If you're pretty sure that you feel that there is no need on your life for anything religious or spiritual, that is your life choice and you are entitled to it.
2007-11-14 08:05:26 · answer #3 · answered by Hot Coco Puff 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
An atheist is one who has searched for and not found sufficient empirical evidence to support the hypothesis of a god or gods. An agnostic just does not care one way or the other.
2007-11-14 08:06:53 · answer #4 · answered by What? Me Worry? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Agnostic. You have Occams Razored God out of relevant existance, but not chosen to actively deny his existance.
Kudos :)
2007-11-14 08:03:08 · answer #5 · answered by Rafael 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its really up to you. Atheism is a belief that there is no God. If you believe that his shyness equates to non existence then you are an atheist. If you just don't know or care to know you are an agnostic.
Either way it doesn't really matter I guess. I tend to agree with your take.
2007-11-14 08:06:01 · answer #6 · answered by ɹɐǝɟsuɐs Blessed Cheese Maker 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're right, the label isn't important. Labels are the problem ~ the gateway to segregation, I think anyways. You "Mirage", are open to what is, and what is? Is life.:o]
2007-11-15 02:07:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me like you're agnostic.
2007-11-14 08:05:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It makes you more of an agnostic.
2007-11-14 08:02:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe in Bush. He hasn't taken the time to come see me either.
2007-11-14 08:21:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋