I'm agnostic and have been as long as I can remember...?

Question

...my question relates to the many people I've seen here who talk about atheists and agnostics "gambling with their souls". It reminds me of my mother who tells me that given that I can't be sure one way or another if God exists, why don't I just go to church and pray, just to be safe. In other words, people seem to have the idea that acting like I believe in God, regardless of how I feel and truly believe would save me from hell on the chance that there is a higher power. Now, even a heathen like me knows that's not how it works.

My problem is that I always did want to believe in something more. I have major problems with organized religion but that has nothing to do with my agnosticism. This is not a choice that I have made to reject God. It is the complete lack of feeling the presence of a higher power. I feel like people who believe must be happier, more hopeful but it's not something I can force. I recall praying as a child and not feeling comfort but instead feeling

alienated and frustrated. I felt like an idiot for trying to talk to a man in the sky who supposedly was watching my every move.

So, now I’m curious. People like me who have searched within our hearts, prayed for a feeling and truly wanted to connect to something bigger only to come up empty, are we the same as any other atheist? I mean, to you personally, what do you think of this? I know there’s no magic set of instructions to finding God or disproving his existence but do my intentions matter or am I just another damned soul to you?

Answer 1

Keep questioning!
I feel that agnosticism is often misunderstood. It sometimes feels like saying your agnotistic is like saying you give up to trying to find the answer. I say that agnostics are in a constant search for the answer, something clearly seen in your search for enlightenment. As depressing as a life of perpetual searching may sound, there are many ways to still feel connected. Religions and groups such as the Universalists, of which I am a member, provide structure and forum for discussion without forcing any answers onto you. Also, the sense of community that you seem to want in your life is added. In time, you may find that one answer is right for you. BUT DON'T FORCE IT. Never let yourself succumb to threats or logic other than your own. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

No we are not atheists, we do not believe that god does not exist. That is a stance people take when they want to be comfortable in their view and feel that they are right.

To me agnosticism is about accepting my own humility and not getting into the mindset where I think I am right about everything.

In terms of the "just in case" philosophy it is easy to disagree with this and it comes down to one of the basic problems that non-believers have; which religion is the right one to follow?

If you choose to live your life under one specific doctrine then doesn't it make it statistically likely that you have chosen the wrong one based on the fact there are hundreds of potentially exclusively correct options?

I believe that there is a general theme running through all religious beliefs. This suggests that there is either a basic underlying logic that religions have fed off or that there is a god that has given this basic message that the organised religions have interpreted in varying ways.

So if we are to go to heaven as Agnostics then it is a matter of living a good life that does not break the fundamental rules that seem to be common, don't kill, be nice to others, don't sleep with the neighbours Ox etc.

Alternatively there is no god and we still get to have fun while we are alive :P

edit: it is funny how people from organised religions just don't get it.....

Answer 3

The Christian vote interior the US is very stable. i do no longer see something to stop an agnostic or atheist working for President yet I doubt in the event that they had get in. interior the united kingdom we've the different difficulty. here Christians are a minority, yet such is the constitutional place that the best Minister must be a working in the direction of Christian, besides an Anglican. that is because of the fact the Queen, although Head of the Church of britain and with the prerogative of appointing the Bishops and Archbishops, relies upon upon the advice of the PM. it is likewise reasons why Tony Blair could no longer grow to be a Catholic jointly as in place of work.

Answer 4

You certainly haven't stopped searching for the truth. Just focus deeper on how you know the truth.

If God is true, there has never been any truth without God.

Most people distrust religion because what they hear about it disagrees with what they know in their hearts. That knowledge deep inside is from God ( the Holy Spirit in Christianity). People doubt that. Other people have made you doubt that.

Your "sins" could possibly keep you from knowing the truth, but more likely it was other people's blasphemy that has kept you from realizing it.

We all know right from wrong. It's only a fool that never learns from their mistakes.

The truth is impossible to refute.

Nobody is ever really lost, although many people eternally demonstrate it. It's obvious to those that know the truth.

Answer 5

The answer, is that spiritually we were never meant to pray to God, etc for help or guidance, but to our own spirit - the greater part of us, that survives. Your personality, etc is but the tip of the iceberg (so to speak) there is much greater depth to you, than what you presently know.

This is what 'Jesus' was suppose to teach us, but which early Christianity changed, into what we know now as 'The Lord's Prayer'.

Here is the original version.

Here it is, from 'The Talmud Jmmanuel'

My spirit, you exist in omnipotence.
May your name be holy.
May your kingdom incarnate within me.
May your power unfold itself within me, on Earth and in the heavens.
Give me this day, my daily bread that I may recognise my wrongdoings and the truth.
And lead me not into temptation and confusion, but deliver me from error.
For yours is the kingdom within me, and the power and the knowledge forever.
Amen.

Religion for the most part, is all just a pretence. A scam, if you will. The whole business about the God of the Bible, and Jesus Christ, etc etc is all a big lie, or at the best wrongly interpreted.
There is so much preaching in the Bible - it does put most people off. It is pure propaganda designed to put the fear of God into you, and reinforce the fear of death.
Of course there is some good that religions do, and some good in the Bible - but you have to put up with a lot of wrong interpretations with it.

Answer 6

Hey Legs, how's it going? :D
I think we've spoken about this before, my beliefs about this. Im not fussed on organized religions at all as well but I have always felt some sort of a presence of a higher power...I trully believe that I have some sort of higher power, a higher guidance and I also belive in faith and everything that happends, happends for a reason...I dont understand people who dont believe in something, and even if they say that they dont, deep inside everyone believes in something to explain their own faith and existance.
Thats just my opinion, but me, as well as everyone I know who believes in a God, has their doubts about there being one, but I dont know, I just cant imagine not believing in something, I cant explain that feeling, its a feeling that makes me feel safe when Im at my worst times. Something that tells me its going to be ok, but its not a voice, its just a feeling. Eh maybe its sounds stupid, but whateva. :)

Answer 7

I think you should keep praying for faith. I think that God has the power to give you faith, the power isn't within you to give to yourself. Be persistent, I don't really think that it's about feelings a lot of the time. I think it's more about talking to God and letting him talk to you by reading the Bible, starting with the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus. I think that people can feel a strong pull between good and evil in the world. We are faced with many decisions per day and many of them can be good or bad. That's just my opinion I guess, you can agree or disagree. :)

Answer 8

I think you have a brilliant mind, and you are over thinking God, you are putting to much thought and not enough feeling in to this! If you would go and sit beside the Ocean, and just feel, and try not to think! You will feel, feel a peace and then eventually you will realize that we just didn't materialize out of dust! I am no going to go on and on, I am sure you heard it all, but just stop over thinking! I can tell by your writing that you are brilliant, and sometimes a mind can over think, the most brilliant people sometimes just don't see the obvious

Answer 9

I'm going to be the "evil pagan" and let you know that there are MANY paths. (It's my belief that no path is for everyone, and that each person needs to look around and find what's right for them as an individual.)
I encourage you to look up a few and see what you think. (Shameless plug time!) The path I've chosen is Asatru, a path committed to honor, loyalty, etc.

Anyway, that's my piece. Best of luck finding where you're meant to be. :)

Answer 10

Please read this answer with an open mind...and put aside the hate and confusion spread by the media. Islam is the true religion it is the fastest growing religion. It is the most logical religion. It agrees with science more than any other religion. May Allah guide you to the truth.