Why YOU are agnostic!

Discussion in 'Politics & Religion' started by drmike, Dec 6, 2009.

  1. #1
    Like it or not we are all agnostic. The hardest religion critics right up to the biggest bible bangers. Those who do not believe in religion cannot prove there is not God, so unless they have some power or knowledge we do not then it is not possible for them to say they know for a fact that there is no God. Likewise the pope himself cannot prove that there is a God. He can believe as much as he wants, but there is currently no possible way to prove either way wether or not a God exists.

    So, wether you like to admit it or not, in order to have sound logic you have to admit that you are agnostic.
     
    drmike, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  2. Obamanation

    Obamanation Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    8,016
    Likes Received:
    237
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    180
    #2
    I think what you mean to say is that the Agnostic belief system is the only one which does not differ from any known scientific findings, and does not require any more yet to be discovered scientific findings to support it's premises. I happen to agree(its hard to argue with facts).

    To say we are all agnostics is to say we all believe the same way, which is obviously untrue.
     
    Obamanation, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  3. stOx

    stOx Notable Member

    Messages:
    6,426
    Likes Received:
    130
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    230
    #3
    Disbelieving in something isn't the same as knowing it doesn't exist. I'm sure you disbelieve in many things without knowing that they don't exist, like fairies. The only time a leap of certainty is required is when someone asserts a possitive that they can't possibly know, like saying something does exist. You wouldn't say you were agnostic towards fairies and equate a disbelief in them to an assertion that they do exist would you?

    Everyone besides those who believe in god are atheists.
    a = without
    theism = belief in god
     
    stOx, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  4. Obamanation

    Obamanation Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    8,016
    Likes Received:
    237
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    180
    #4
    Still struggling with the english language I see.

    Yes.

    Disbelief != knowledge
    also
    Belief != knowledge

    That was from my previous post. And now the part you struggle with.

    Belief god does not exist = Disbelief god exists

    Thanks for agreeing with my post while trying to twist the English language. Entirely absent were the declaration of victory, the insult, and the word "Facile". GET WITH IT!
     
    Obamanation, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  5. drmike

    drmike Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,288
    Likes Received:
    29
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    110
    #5
    Agnosticism does not require any belief at all. It is solid fact, we simply do not know. Ontop of being agnostic we can go a step further and make the personal choice of being an atheist or a theist.

    As for the fairy argument, while I do agree I think we can set it aside until people start killing each other while arguing over whose fairy is the best fairy.
     
    drmike, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  6. Obamanation

    Obamanation Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    8,016
    Likes Received:
    237
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    180
    #6
    I think that is a fair take on it, though the very definition of the word Agnosticism includes the use of the word belief:

    agâ‹…nosâ‹…tiâ‹…cism
      /ægˈnɒstəˌsɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ag-nos-tuh-siz-uhm] –noun
    1. the doctrine or belief of an agnostic.
    2. an intellectual doctrine or attitude affirming the uncertainty of all claims to ultimate knowledge.


    True for any ism.


    ism
      /ˈɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [iz-uhm] Show IPA
    –noun
    a distinctive doctrine, theory, system, or practice: This is the age of isms.
    Origin:
    extracted from words with the suffix -ism


    theâ‹…ism
      /ˈθiɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [thee-iz-uhm] Show IPA
    –noun
    1. the belief in one God as the creator and ruler of the universe, without rejection of revelation (distinguished from deism ).
    2. belief in the existence of a god or gods (opposed to atheism ).

    aâ‹…theâ‹…ism
      /ˈeɪθiˌɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ey-thee-iz-uhm] Show IPA
    –noun
    1. the doctrine or belief that there is no God.
    2. disbelief in the existence of a supreme being or beings.

    I say it is a fair take on it because we all hold beliefs, about god, the beginning of life, the best way to solve America's health care problems, and other things. Those beliefs are sometimes based on fact, and sometimes not based on facts. I won't dispute an Agnostic's beliefs are based on solid fact, and only solid fact.
     
    Obamanation, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  7. eric8476

    eric8476 Active Member

    Messages:
    1,547
    Likes Received:
    16
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    78
    #7
    disbelief in something acknowledges that something exist becuase their is "something" that you do not believe in.
     
    eric8476, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  8. eric8476

    eric8476 Active Member

    Messages:
    1,547
    Likes Received:
    16
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    78
    #8
    .

    the word belief refers to the word agnostic which is the defining word for agnosticism
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2009
    eric8476, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  9. drmike

    drmike Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,288
    Likes Received:
    29
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    110
    #9
    In a sense you are exactly right in the sense that it is very difficult to define the word "exists". What are the requirments to exist? Even if something only exists in your mind it cannot be said that it does not exist.

    I love thse kinds of discussions!
     
    drmike, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  10. Obamanation

    Obamanation Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    8,016
    Likes Received:
    237
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    180
    #10
    Yes, the belief OF an agnostic, not the belief IN an agnostic. In other words, what an agnostic believes.

    I also happen to believe that I will likely die if I fall off a 30 story building, and that I will be poor if I spend more than I earn/have. I think of those belief systems are also founded in fact.
     
    Obamanation, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  11. eric8476

    eric8476 Active Member

    Messages:
    1,547
    Likes Received:
    16
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    78
    #11
    you can believe in a certainty but your belief is independent of the certainty
     
    eric8476, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  12. Obamanation

    Obamanation Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    8,016
    Likes Received:
    237
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    180
    #12
    On this we 100% agree. By the way, death following a jump from a 30 story building is not certain, it is just highly probable :D(and probably preferable to the alternative).
     
    Obamanation, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  13. stOx

    stOx Notable Member

    Messages:
    6,426
    Likes Received:
    130
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    230
    #13
    Mike agnostics don't believe that they don't know, they believe god is unknowable, That it's impossible to know either way, whether he exists or not. How they know that I'm not too sure and in reality that position requires a lot more assumptions than the atheists position of "I reject the assertion that a god exists".

    Atheists are everyone who doesn't hold the position that a god exists, basically everyone who doesn't describe themselves as a theist, hence the term a = without theism = belief in god. Atheists are everyone from those who say "god doesn't exist" to those who say "I just don't know" and everyone inbetween.
     
    stOx, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  14. Obamanation

    Obamanation Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    8,016
    Likes Received:
    237
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    180
    #14
    All this according to Stox. Ignore the dictionary definitions.
     
    Obamanation, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  15. Genuine Marketer

    Genuine Marketer Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    395
    Likes Received:
    6
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    130
    #15
    Stox is right. Whether we believe or not wouldn't change the fact of a God existing or not. So... like anything, why do we need to believe it? Agnosticism is just a way to sound like you are more open to the idea I guess. Atheists don't let the idea effect them in anyway because we truly don't know.
     
    Genuine Marketer, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  16. Obamanation

    Obamanation Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    8,016
    Likes Received:
    237
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    180
    #16
    I've had enough. I'm going to nail my boyfriend, and when I say boyfriend, I actually mean a girl of 22 years of age and D size breasts. After all a boy is just like a girl. They both have arms and legs and hair and eyes and a mouth and an asshole. Boys with penis's can aloways just have them removed and I've seen many a 50 year old man with "Man Boobs".

    Words have meaning for a reason. We have dictionaries for a reason. We have more than one word to describe similar though different things because they are in fact DIFFERENT at the end of the day. Is insanity contagious?
     
    Obamanation, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  17. Genuine Marketer

    Genuine Marketer Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    395
    Likes Received:
    6
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    130
    #17
    Sure is... I am glad you agree. :)
     
    Genuine Marketer, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  18. drmike

    drmike Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,288
    Likes Received:
    29
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    110
    #18
    In a sense you are wrong. Athiests claim they kjnow beyond all reason that God does not exist. This is their claim to fame, and because of this they are no different than a theist in the sense that they rely on personal belief instead of the fact. The one and only fact is that we truly, and currently have absolutely no way of knowing either way. Therefore we must admit weather we like it or not that we are all truly agnostic.... or crazy. Your choice.
     
    drmike, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  19. stOx

    stOx Notable Member

    Messages:
    6,426
    Likes Received:
    130
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    230
    #19
    You are misreprisenting people mike, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume it wasn't deliberate. Atheists are people who don't accept the assertion that a god exists. If anyone says they know a god doesn't exist then that statment would be as illogical as believing in god, or fairies. What atheists will generally say is that they disbelieve in a god, based on the lack of evidence and the arguments against it.
     
    stOx, Dec 6, 2009 IP
  20. ChaosTrivia

    ChaosTrivia Active Member

    Messages:
    2,093
    Likes Received:
    40
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    65
    #20
    :confused: very wrong.
    disbelief in something
    1) acknowledges that something might exist.
    2) says that due to one's logic/evidence/whatever, that someting is highly unlikely to exist.
     
    ChaosTrivia, Dec 6, 2009 IP