Is the Atheism/Theism belief/disbelief a false dichotomy? are there other options?
October 2, 2015 at 4:35 am
(This post was last modified: October 2, 2015 at 4:37 am by Psychonaut.)
I've heard quite commonly, that if you're not a theist, you're an atheist, and vice versa. I've also been told there is no in between, as you either believe something, or you don't, but is that necessarily so? I'm not speaking of agnosticism (defined by one's ability to know whether god exists, which is a different question).
What if I'm not certain that I believe in one or the other? I mean, I'm only certain of the experiences that I have. Beyond that, I have no certainty.
Is it because "belief" is an experience, and "lack of belief" another experience, that people say these things?
I don't exactly know why there is no middle position, when my experience would accurately be described as "uncertain of belief".
I at times feel as though I am an atheist, and at one point in my life I was a theist, but now, I am completely uncertain of my beliefs.
I don't know if my belief reflects that of theism or atheism, because I don't know if I have enough information to believe in anything, despite this, I manage to maintain some beliefs, such as:
The belief in an outside world, the belief in other minds, and the belief in a stable, quantifiable universe.
I'm sorry if this was winding and confusing, but this is the state of affairs in my brain.
I'm also sorry if this has been asked before, and I've accidentally overlooked it.
What are your thoughts on this?
What if I'm not certain that I believe in one or the other? I mean, I'm only certain of the experiences that I have. Beyond that, I have no certainty.
Is it because "belief" is an experience, and "lack of belief" another experience, that people say these things?
I don't exactly know why there is no middle position, when my experience would accurately be described as "uncertain of belief".
I at times feel as though I am an atheist, and at one point in my life I was a theist, but now, I am completely uncertain of my beliefs.
I don't know if my belief reflects that of theism or atheism, because I don't know if I have enough information to believe in anything, despite this, I manage to maintain some beliefs, such as:
The belief in an outside world, the belief in other minds, and the belief in a stable, quantifiable universe.
I'm sorry if this was winding and confusing, but this is the state of affairs in my brain.
I'm also sorry if this has been asked before, and I've accidentally overlooked it.
What are your thoughts on this?
Plato had defined Man as an animal, biped and featherless, and was applauded. Diogenes plucked a fowl and brought it into the lecture room with the words,
"Behold Plato's man!"
