Cannot understand it at all. Believe me, I grew up in a Christian society...then I opened my mind and researched into it...(I was deemed Atheist for a few years) and finally after a long drawn out confusing struggle with my mind..I eventually concluded that the human race will never know for certain so I can't say if anything exists or not. I really don't consider it to be a lazy concept at all...or did I just take the long route? Lol!
2007-11-22 02:50:04 · 15 answers · asked by Black Star Deceiver 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I have seen many reffer to those two statements on blogs, forums and on here too etc. Only a few though but it was said enough to make me notice it.
2007-11-22 02:55:30 · update #1
Fantastic answers from all...I need to have a think about this one!
2007-11-24 07:14:21 · update #2
Because most extremists dislike anyone who doesn't believe as they do, and accusing agnostics of "fence-sitting" is the best they can come up with for someone who believes half of what they do and half not.
What they basically mean is that they consider that fence an obstacle to separate them from the bad and stupid people on the other side and don't appreciate that there might be some sort of intermediary stage that they cannot 100% oppose.
That said.... I have very little time for soft-agnostics...
I don't even consider them "agnostic" at all. Only hardcore agnostics (those who proclaim ignorance of ALL knowledge and not merely that relating to deities) really count in my book. As far as I'm concerned, soft-agnostics are just non-confrontational and short on thought.
Then again.... even hardcore agnostics don't seem to notice that indecisiveness is a decision in and of itself.
They're one logical step away from Skeptics... who are one logical step away from Absurdists... who are one logical step away from Nihilists.
2007-11-22 02:59:45 · answer #1 · answered by Lucid Interrogator 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have come across those statements and I get quiet annoyed by them. Im an atheist and not an agnostic but I do understand why someone would be agnostic. Everyone has to find their own way of reasoning as per their existence. Some have gone the religious route, others the total denial of anything beyond us.
There are others who choose to remain open to the any idea. They are less likely to be hardcore in their beliefs and thus more open to competing arguments because they are perhaps looking to be persuaded. Others simply have reconciled that no one side can hold the ultimate truth and so be it but usually they are also seeking to be more learned in the matter. I find it an interesting method of obtaining knowledge; its simply a mechanism for making an informed decision.
Dont let comments of others bother you; Kudos to you:)
2007-11-22 11:03:01 · answer #2 · answered by Vampie 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
FINALLY !!!
Someone else on here who knows how I feel.
I grew up in a christian background and have also found it hard to reconcile the idea of a higher being but cannot rule one out completely either. I admit happily that I don not know everything in this world and that I may be wrong.
Hence AGNOSTICISM.
An open mind is not sitting on the fence nor is it being lazy.
2007-11-22 10:59:00 · answer #3 · answered by Doodle 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many people class me as Agnostic because I know there's someone out there but i don't know who, and i don't know how to connect with him/her.
My personal belief is that i am on a journey to find out who that is out there, that put evolution into gear etc. (list reasons why a higher being would exist here) and im looking for the right path to him, and to figure out a personal definition of who he is.
I don't see anything lazy or relaxed about that. Its like living in a constant question mark and involves alot of work, study and thought. But honestly it is interesting.
I'm also and ex-Christian, ex-atheists and wouldn't say its about trial and error, but more about making a completely educated decision into what you believe and what you dedicate your time, energy and beliefs to.
Even if i were to die not knowing who is up there id be happy because of the rich journey I've had.
That's me though, i honestly don't even know if i fall into the agnostic category.... if i do then i wold be upset about being called lazy or 'sitting on a fence'
Peace
2007-11-22 11:11:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because it is sitting on the fence and taking the easy way out. Either there is a God or there is not...If there is a God...then you have 94.9% of the worlds population in a state of belief for which you claim they cannot know...Yet, I know there is a God. How I know you can't understand..as yet. If there is no God then where did the concept of God originate from and why? An agnostic has come to the conclusion that one cannot know..so they have essentially given up the search for the truth of the matter. If there is a God, you would be uniquely able to seek Him out...if there is not a God then because mankind has attributed most of what is good and pure in this life to His instigation of noble laws right along with the concept of God altogether...you would still do well to strive to discover irrefutable proof that He doesn't exist. There is the good, the bad and the indifferent. The believer, the non-believer and the agnostic. I'd rather be one or the other than useless an idle in the midst of this great controversy. Get off your cusp and figure it out...Love in Christ, ~J~
2007-11-22 11:01:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
I thought that for a while, too. What you need to realize is that the line between atheist and agnostic is very thin. Atheists don't claim to know there is no god any more than agnostics. They just recognize that it's unlikely enough that there's no use in calling yourself agnostic anymore than you should call yourself a fairy-agnostic. Just because you can't prove it wrong doesn't mean you need to leave room for it.
2007-11-22 10:55:42 · answer #6 · answered by camof2009 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is for some. There are fence-sitters. There are intellectually and theologically "lazy" people out there.
What is worse is that there are people on both sides of the argument who do not recognize that a person can look at the scant evidence and come to the conclusion that the existence or non-existence off deities are both non-trivial possibilities.
2007-11-22 11:01:47 · answer #7 · answered by novangelis 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's just a matter of "perception" by some people who would prefer you to be one or the other... i.e. dualistic thinking, some people don't like "gray areas" in thinking. Don't let anyone bother you, only you can let them bother you... just do what you do, be altruistic, wise and patient, doing all virtuous deeds and the rest is gravy.
_()_
2007-11-22 10:56:56 · answer #8 · answered by vinslave 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that at all. I think it is just being open minded, to either possibility.
2007-11-22 10:54:35 · answer #9 · answered by PROBLEM 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am agnostic deist. I think there is a God.
I know exactly what I believe.
2007-11-22 10:53:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋