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WHAT IS AN AGNOSTIC?

Runt

Runt

Well-Known Member
Using the definitions from the Religious-Tolerance site:

I am an empirical humanist agnostic atheist.

I am ultimately unsure about whether or not God exists because the evidence seems inconclusive to me (agnostic). If one does exist, very little can be known about it (empirical agnostic). However, I think it more probable that a deity does NOT exist (agnostic atheist). Furthermore, I don't even really care; I don't think the question is too incredibly important considering that I try to lead a good life out of kindness to myself and other people, rather than in the name of some God or afterlife (agnostic humanist).

So, if I add this to my happy Religion label, I am a:
Unitarian Universalist eclectic empirical humanist agnostic atheist philosophical-Taoist. *nods*
 
L

Loki

Member
What is an agnostic?

Well, I answer the question by saying that a atheist is a person, who if asked "Does God exist?", would anser "no" and an agnostic is someone who would answer with "I don't know"
 
The Grey Wolf

The Grey Wolf

ehT daM s'doG daM goD
Loki said:
What is an agnostic?

Well, I answer the question by saying that a atheist is a person, who if asked "Does God exist?", would anser "no" and an agnostic is someone who would answer with "I don't know"
Click to expand...

Yup, that about sums it up.
 
Æsahættr

Æsahættr

Active Member
You probably need to differentiate between agnostics who just don't know because they haven't seen enough evidence either way and those who believe that it's impossible to ever know.
 
Bangbang

Bangbang

Active Member
The Grey Wolf said:
Yup, that about sums it up.
Click to expand...
Yep! Thats it in a nutshell. Pretty simple and easy to explain. I am actually an agnostic still trying to find proof that their is a god or gods .....however I seem to be leaning very close to being an athiest. The difficult part forme is letting go of some very bitter feelings I have towards the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. You have seen that in my posts. I feel like I have an obligation to teach people the truth about this organization and am thinking about writing a book about my experiences. Then get rich and purchase this.

http://www.seriouswheels.com/1970-1979/1970-Dodge-Charger-Blue-FA.htm
 
Nehustan

Nehustan

Well-Known Member
I think the origin of the term comes from Agnes. It was well known it medieval france that some women were jovially called Agnes as they could be real bores, usually ranting about religion, more often than not a virgin who really should have got married and had some fun. When such a woman became unbearable (like say at Christmas) the head of the household would say 'God if she doesn't shut up I'll get the Agnes Stick' thus one who wields such an implement, usually metaphorical, is now known as an 'Agnes Stick' or just an agnostic.


;)​
 
Cynic

Cynic

Well-Known Member
Nehustan said:
I think the origin of the term comes from Agnes. It was well known it medieval france that some women were jovially called Agnes as they could be real bores, usually ranting about religion, more often than not a virgin who really should have got married and had some fun. When such a woman became unbearable (like say at Christmas) the head of the household would say 'God if she doesn't shut up I'll get the Agnes Stick' thus one who wields such an implement, usually metaphorical, is now known as an 'Agnes Stick' or just an agnostic.




;)​
Click to expand...
I hope you're joking, because Thomas Henry Huxley is the one who coined the term which was derived from "gnostic" (knowledge), and "a" (without).
 
Nehustan

Nehustan

Well-Known Member
Cynic said:
I hope you're joking, because Thomas Henry Huxley is the one who coined the term which was derived from "gnostic" (knowledge), and "a" (without).
Click to expand...
'Ladies and gentlemen stand back from the table, let the ball find its slot...red or black...your chips are down....'


:bonk:​
 
gnostic

gnostic

The Lost One
I don't see agnosticism as a religion. Religion means "worship". Religion means that is supernatural and superior being(s). Atheism is denial of all such existence; and therefore considered religions to have people suffering from delusions.

Agnosticism is a concept, rather than a religion, to say that "there are no absolute proof of either one way or the other."

The problem is that religious people see that agnosticism means "ignorance". But I don't think that's the case. I was at forum called islam.com, but that's what they think without understanding the principle behind agnosticism. I got into a lot of arguments with Muslisms, and sometimes with Christians.:banghead3

Anyway, I do believe Nehustan is joking.:biglaugh: If he/she wasn't joking, then you can just hit him/her in the head. :bonk:

Yes, T.H.Huxley, an English biologist of the mid-19th century, had coined the word, to mean the opposite meaning of "gnostic" be simply appending the "a-" as a prefix. He was early supporter of Charles Darwin, who also became an agnostic.
 
gnostic

gnostic

The Lost One
I don't see agnosticism as a religion. Religion means "worship". Religion means the belief of the supernatural and superior being(s). Atheism is denial of all such existence; and therefore considered religions to have people suffering from delusions.

Agnosticism is a concept, rather than a religion, to say that "there are no absolute proof of either one way or the other."

The problem is that religious people see that agnosticism means "ignorance". But I don't think that's the case. I was at forum called islam.com, but that's what they think without understanding the principle behind agnosticism. I got into a lot of arguments with Muslisms, and sometimes with Christians.:banghead3

Anyway, I do believe Nehustan is joking.:biglaugh: If he/she wasn't joking, then you can just hit him/her in the head. :bonk:

Yes, T.H.Huxley, an English biologist of the mid-19th century, had coined the word, to mean the opposite meaning of "gnostic" be simply appending the "a-" as a prefix. He was early supporter of Charles Darwin, who also became an agnostic.
 
H

Hal_Jordan

Member
While simplistic, I like the definition offered; an atheist says, "no " to the God question and an agnostic says, "I do not know". Semantics aside, no one can really 'know' if God is real or not, but I digress...

I think I am an atheist with humanistic and pagan leanings; in short, I am just me. My beliefs change frequently, depending on my mood and what I encounter, but one thing (since leaving Christianity) has remained consistent: I have not seen any evidence for the existance of anything Supernatural, but that is probably because I am using natural methods.
 
Jayhawker Soule

Jayhawker Soule

-- untitled --
Premium Member
As I wrote here some 15 months ago ...
The difference between agnosticism and atheism is the difference between ontology and epistemology.

The agnostic atheist asserts that God(s) (and the supernatural) are, if they indeed exist, unknowable by any of the standard protocols by which acquire and test knowledge. Given that circumstance, the persistent absence of evidence, and the pervasive success of methodological naturalism, s/he concludes that there exists no warrant for a belief in God(s).

The agnostic theist (fideist) acknowledges the same impossibility of verifiable knowledge, but places faith in revelation and, thereby, accepts the existence of God(s) and he supernatural as a matter of faith.

Huxley, the gentleman who coined the term 'agnostic', wrote:
Positively the principle may be expressed: In matters of the intellect, follow your reason as far as it will take you, without regard to any other consideration. And negatively: In matters of the intellect, do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable. That I take to be the agnostic faith, which if a man keep whole and undefiled, he shall not be ashamed to look the universe in the face, whatever the future may have in store for him. ["Agnosticism", 1889]

That it is wrong for a man to say he is certain of the objective truth of a proposition unless he can provide evidence which logically justifies that certainty. This is what agnosticism asserts and in my opinion, is all that is essential to agnosticism. ["Agnosticism and Christianity", 1889]​
Similarly, Wikipedia notes:
Agnosticism, focusing on what can be known, is an epistemological position (dealing with the nature and limits of human knowledge); while atheism and theism are ontological positions (a branch of metaphysics that deals with what types of entities exist).​
The distinction between epistemological and ontological position is an important one.
 
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