Agnostic and Religious (Jesus, ritual, Messiah, myths, experience)

[Radio Frequency X]

So, here is something I always get caught up on. I am both religious and agnostic. I've never really understood the whole faith thing. Is there room for agnosticism in religion? Do we really need faith?

[CaptainXeroid]

Originally Posted by Radio Frequency X

...Is there room for agnosticism in religion? ...

I would say 'yes' because I've encountered many people who feel there is a greater power but are uncomfortable with the Christian God. Some prefer to describe themselves as agnostic and spiritual.

I've even met people in my own faith who believe that Jesus set a wonderful example for Christians but are not 100% convinced that he was the 'Messiah'.

I realize many people have this image of 'religion' an a monolithic set of inflexible rules, but I think if you do some research you will find that some faiths are longer on personal growth and shorter on dogma that others.

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by Radio Frequency X

Is there room for agnosticism in religion?

A UU would say, 'absolutely'.

[Radio Frequency X]

I don't know anything about gods. I don't know any divine wisdom. I don't know any divine truths. I'm just a guy that loves religion, loves myths, loves people, loves imagining worlds greater and deeper than the seen. Yet, despite the imagined, I still love the material world, the real world, the stuff that exists.

Aristotle painted a picture of a single God whose function was the universe. I think of all the gods as the function of the things they correspond to. Though, I think people see that as pretty strange. I don't know if my views are 2,000 years early or 2,000 years late. But my agnosticism is just honesty. I don't know that the gods exist.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Radio Frequency X

I don't know anything about gods. I don't know any divine wisdom. I don't know any divine truths. I'm just a guy that loves religion, loves myths, loves people, loves imagining worlds greater and deeper than the seen. Yet, despite the imagined, I still love the material world, the real world, the stuff that exists.

Aristotle painted a picture of a single God whose function was the universe. I think of all the gods as the function of the things they correspond to. Though, I think people see that as pretty strange. I don't know if my views are 2,000 years early or 2,000 years late. But my agnosticism is just honesty. I don't know that the gods exist.

There's plenty of room for agnostics in religion.

However, there is no way to participate in the myth without faith. By faith myth interacts with history. It's by faith that we interact with the myths.

[Radio Frequency X]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

There's plenty of room for agnostics in religion.

However, there is no way to participate in the myth without faith. By faith myth interacts with history. It's by faith that we interact with the myths.

I interact with the myths the same way I interact with Aristotle, David Hume, Adam Smith, the music of The Who, and the paintings of Leonardo. My faith is determined by my experience. The more I experience something to be true, the more faith I have in it. But I think you are talking about blind faith, which is something I don't really understand.

[Elvendon]

I am of the view that the only really intellectually sound view to have with respect to God is to be agnostic. I simply cannot make an intellectual judgement that God, for certain, exists or does not. I do however, believe that God exists and that Jesus was his son. Intellectually, the evidence is far from conclusive, spiritually however I am compelled to believe.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Radio Frequency X

I interact with the myths the same way I interact with Aristotle, David Hume, Adam Smith, the music of The Who, and the paintings of Leonardo. My faith is determined by my experience. The more I experience something to be true, the more faith I have in it. But I think you are talking about blind faith, which is something I don't really understand.

Then you have all the faith needed to believe in God.

Enjoy.