Agnostic Theism

Philomath · May 23, 2013

I was wondering if there were any other Agnostic Theist's on here. I seem to catch a lot of flack when i tell people I am one. Atheist's that I've met will tell me my belief is irrational, something which I know and fully understand. Theist's I've met will ask me how can you believe god exists but that there's no proof of him, and proceed to attempt to provide proof. Often I feel in the middle between the two. I don't think god will ever be proven or disproven. I think a belief in god (whatever definition that may be) is just something you accept or you don't.

fallingblood · May 23, 2013

Philomath said:
I was wondering if there were any other Agnostic Theist's on here. I seem to catch a lot of flack when i tell people I am one. Atheist's that I've met will tell me my belief is irrational, something which I know and fully understand. Theist's I've met will ask me how can you believe god exists but that there's no proof of him, and proceed to attempt to provide proof. Often I feel in the middle between the two. I don't think god will ever be proven or disproven. I think a belief in god (whatever definition that may be) is just something you accept or you don't.

I'm in the same boat. Which is awkward as I feel like an apologist and atheist at the same time.

Philomath · May 23, 2013

fallingblood said:
I'm in the same boat. Which is awkward as I feel like an apologist and atheist at the same time.

I share those sentiments. I feel like there's nothing you can really do about it.

biased · Sep 8, 2013

Yeah. I am aswell. We don't quite fit in anywhere. Socially I'm mostly with agnostic atheists.

LuisDantas · Sep 8, 2013

I am not. But if you will, let me tell you that having one's stance of faith actually understood and accepted is a precious and rare gift.

Raban · Sep 8, 2013

I acknowledge the absurdity of a God, but I also acknowledge the absurdity of life amonst other things; yet I still have a deep seated faith in this 'God' character. Why? Personal experience has led me to such things- in my mind I agree that it is impossible to prove or disprove this God, whatever it is, and that this God probably doesn't want to be proved. I catch some flak for this, but seeings that I simply try to live life in the manner which I believe is most suited for the betterment of all men, most people don't get that mad at me, regardless of belief or not.

StarryNightshade · Sep 9, 2013

I suppose I would consider myself an Agnostic Theist as well. I have my own experiences and spirituality as my evidence for God, but I know that is not objective or scientific and not everyone will accept that as evidence.

So, I can't prove it, but I do believe in a God of sorts. Yeah, I guess I'm an Agnostic Theist.

yoda89 · Sep 11, 2013

Philomath said:
I was wondering if there were any other Agnostic Theist's on here. I seem to catch a lot of flack when i tell people I am one. Atheist's that I've met will tell me my belief is irrational, something which I know and fully understand. Theist's I've met will ask me how can you believe god exists but that there's no proof of him, and proceed to attempt to provide proof. Often I feel in the middle between the two. I don't think god will ever be proven or disproven. I think a belief in god (whatever definition that may be) is just something you accept or you don't.

What do you mean by agnostic theist?

Philomath · Sep 11, 2013

yoda89 said:
What do you mean by agnostic theist?

I believe in God but I don't "know" whether he exists or not, nor do I claim to have evidence for his existence.

Willamena · Sep 11, 2013

Philomath said:
I believe in God but I don't "know" whether he exists or not, nor do I claim to have evidence for his existence.

The agnostic plus theist is also in the position of understanding that there is a god that we cannot know.

That describes a whole lot of theists.

Philomath · Sep 11, 2013

Willamena said:
The agnostic plus theist is also in the position of understanding that there is a god that we cannot know.

That describes a whole lot of theists.

It does? Most Theists I've met claim to know with certainty that God does exist.

Willamena · Sep 11, 2013

Philomath said:
It does? Most Theists I've met claim to know with certainty that God does exist.

Understanding usually implies a certain certainty.

Philomath · Sep 11, 2013

Willamena said:
Understanding usually implies a certain certainty.

What?

Jainarayan · Sep 11, 2013

Philomath said:
I believe in God but I don't "know" whether he exists or not, nor do I claim to have evidence for his existence.

Willamena said:
The agnostic plus theist is also in the position of understanding that there is a god that we cannot know.

That describes a whole lot of theists.

I'm coming to believe that describes me. I believe in God, and I put an anthropomorphic face on him. In my case, it's the Hindu face because it's what appeals to me (jaki rahi bhavna jaisi prabhu murat dekhi tin taisi, "everyone sees God as is in their heart"). Moreover, in the Bhagavad Gita Sri Krishna says "It is much more difficult to focus on God as the unmanifested than God with form, due to human beings having the need to perceive via the senses" (Wikipedia paraphrase of B.G. 12.5). But even than, as for actually knowing God, it's virtually impossible as living humans. However, there are claims of those who came to know God while still alive.

bobhikes · Sep 11, 2013

Philomath said:
It does? Most Theists I've met claim to know with certainty that God does exist.

I myself am agnostic atheist but I have a good friend that is agnostic theist. I find we have very little difference's. We both agree that you can not prove either point and we also both agree that all of today's religions have it mostly wrong. We both just personally chose a different belief for Gods existance.

As an atheist I still can not answer accurately how the universe, life and humans where created or why they were created. As an atheist I still can't decide if everything came from nothing or everything always existed. This is why I am agnostic.

I suspect the theistic version of agnosticism has similar concerns.

Orias · Sep 12, 2013

Philomath said:
I was wondering if there were any other Agnostic Theist's on here. I seem to catch a lot of flack when i tell people I am one. Atheist's that I've met will tell me my belief is irrational, something which I know and fully understand. Theist's I've met will ask me how can you believe god exists but that there's no proof of him, and proceed to attempt to provide proof. Often I feel in the middle between the two. I don't think god will ever be proven or disproven. I think a belief in god (whatever definition that may be) is just something you accept or you don't.

People probably tell you that agnostic theism is irrational because it is.

What you're describing is gnostic, not agnostic.

yoda89 · Sep 12, 2013

Philomath said:
I was wondering if there were any other Agnostic Theist's on here. I seem to catch a lot of flack when i tell people I am one. Atheist's that I've met will tell me my belief is irrational, something which I know and fully understand. Theist's I've met will ask me how can you believe god exists but that there's no proof of him, and proceed to attempt to provide proof. Often I feel in the middle between the two. I don't think god will ever be proven or disproven. I think a belief in god (whatever definition that may be) is just something you accept or you don't.

If there are a great number take solace in that fact

Philomath · Sep 12, 2013

Orias said:
People probably tell you that agnostic theism is irrational because it is.

Thank you for stating what I already said.

What you're describing is gnostic, not agnostic.

What do you mean?

Orias · Sep 12, 2013

Philomath said:
What do you mean?

Gnostic leans more towards theism, agnostic leans more towards atheism. Neither completely tips to one side on the extreme spectrum.

Agnostic theist is a contradiction of sorts, its like saying your an atheistic theist. There is no need for agnostic theist, because what you're describing is gnosticism.

Philomath · Sep 13, 2013

Orias said:
Gnostic leans more towards theism, agnostic leans more towards atheism. Neither completely tips to one side on the extreme spectrum.

Agnostic theist is a contradiction of sorts, its like saying your an atheistic theist. There is no need for agnostic theist, because what you're describing is gnosticism.

Gnosticism is about claiming knowledge of something....I'm doing the exact opposite of that.

Agnostic Theism

Sadhaka

Agnostic Theist

Sadhaka

Active Member

Aura of atheification

Hagian

Spiritually confused Jew

On Xtended Vacation

Sadhaka

Just me

Sadhaka

Just me

Sadhaka

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय

Nondetermined

Left Hand Path

On Xtended Vacation

Sadhaka

Left Hand Path

Sadhaka