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Dear_Prudence

(418 posts)
11. Hold my beer, Agnostic
Wed Apr 17, 2024, 11:03 PM
Apr 17

Last edited Wed Apr 17, 2024, 11:36 PM - Edit history (1)

If a person wants to spur their own evolution in some way, then they might adopt some practice that opens the mind (or 'soul'). Prayer or meditation, gardening, artwork, dance or music, or Sufi whirling can induce expansiveness, joy, insightfullness, connectedness, awakening. "Believing" in some metaphysical aspect to these practices is not necessary for effectiveness. If believing in a diety or dieties, thereby binding yourself to a conceptualization that embodies or epitomizes your aspirations, and if worshipping enhances the outcome of your practice, then it makes sense to put forth the effort to maintain faith in the diety/dieties. If dieties are extraneous, distracting, or detrimental to the intent of your practice or to your goals or to your peace of mind, then atheism is, perhaps, obligatory; a dead diety is an albatross. If flickering faith enhances your trip like a strobe light on a dance floor, then claim "agnosticism". As an agnostic, maybe you know with rational and scientific certainty that you are alone on the dance floor, but you are willing to take a spin around the floor if and when whomever shows up. So, hold my beer, I'm going with agnostic.

I reply to those pressuring me "None of the above." GreenWave Apr 17 #1
See that's where I get stuck FreeState Apr 17 #4
To wear the term Atheist is a commitment that some folks are afraid to make. Chainfire Apr 17 #2
I definitely get that FreeState Apr 17 #5
I absolutely don't believe there is a "god". I don't care if others do or don't believe. erronis Apr 17 #3
I generally don't care either FreeState Apr 17 #6
I err on the side of believing there is a god TexasDem69 Apr 17 #7
Pascal's wager never worked for me FreeState Apr 17 #9
I tend to look at it the other way. willamette Apr 17 #12
It's worse than that. Voltaire2 Apr 18 #14
When I became an atheist at 14 years old, I was very gung-oh about it and considered myselt to be a Militant Atheist. spike jones Apr 17 #8
I've always been under the impression that... Think. Again. Apr 17 #10
The agnostic position is that the question Voltaire2 Apr 18 #15
Yes, that's always been my impression. Think. Again. Apr 18 #16
Hold my beer, Agnostic Dear_Prudence Apr 17 #11
Claims about physical reality are not Voltaire2 Apr 18 #13
You write... Think. Again. Apr 18 #18
That position describes the basis of philosophical skepticism since descartes. Voltaire2 Apr 18 #20
Ok, so would that be an "Agnostic Theist"? Think. Again. Apr 18 #21
Ah I misunderstood your question. Voltaire2 Apr 18 #22
Ah, so Yes. Thanks! Think. Again. Apr 18 #23
Agnostic means you dont believe we can know IbogaProject Apr 18 #17
Yes, and only speaking for myself.... Think. Again. Apr 18 #19
I don't think you understand the meaning of "agnostic." Martin68 Apr 18 #24
A or not A in logic are the only options FreeState Apr 18 #25
Yes. But not all statements are 'logical propositions'. Voltaire2 Apr 18 #28
well then there's 3 distinct questions... Think. Again. Apr 18 #30
Whatever. You obviously have a strong opinion on the matter. Martin68 Apr 18 #34
I am a non practicing Christian because I don't want to be associated with the evangelical type of Christianity kimbutgar Apr 18 #26
The Christian religion is based on what many people came to believe two thousand years ago. Midnight Writer Apr 18 #27
My response is simple PJMcK Apr 18 #29
But the fact that our knowledge IS ever-expanding.... Think. Again. Apr 18 #32
Exactly so... CCExile Apr 19 #38
Agnostic Wifes husband Apr 18 #31
Well said. Think. Again. Apr 18 #33
i think i am a brownist. raised liberal lutheran. i read about them in a 1871 encyclopedia brittanica. pansypoo53219 Apr 19 #35
This is really all about interacting with other people and neither... NNadir Apr 19 #36
My agnosticism was the off ramp to atheism Stuckinthebush Apr 19 #37
I claim the label 'agnostic atheist' hurl Apr 19 #39
Your definition of gnostic is a big part of my definition of the terms wysimdnwyg Apr 19 #40
You are correct Farmer-Rick Apr 22 #41
You asked the wrong question. AZ8theist Apr 28 #42
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