Agnostic: a pointless term?

[wiploc]

I think Agnostic is only a pointless term when its used as an answer to the question, "Do you believe in god?"

According to the old nomenclature, we have three categories of people:
- Theists believe gods exist.
- Atheists believe gods do not exist.
- Agnostics (everybody else) don't believe either way.

Most people use the old nomenclature.

For people who use the old nomenclature, "I'm agnostic," is a perfectly good answer to the question, "Do you believe in god?" It has exactly the same meaning as, "I'm a weak atheist," has to users of the new nomenclature.

[Outtahere]

Swore I was gonna give it a week before I even touched this subject ...

But I swear ALOT !!!

I find the term agnostic to be the only place I can stand to approach the subject of religion from right now ... Im so burnt out on theist of any order insisting that there is a god in any of 10,000 shapes and forms .... and just as burnt out on atheist that insist there is absolutely not .... It brings out the Hulk in me (you wouldn't like me when you break the only commandment - "If I didn't ask - Thou shalt keep thy religion to thy fucking self")

Not claiming this to be everyone's experience, but for me , right now, I find I can only avoid this combative nature if both parties can agree
to the simple acceptance that neither of us has died and come back, or is privy to any information on the existence of God that the other is not ....

For me, right now, both sides have to take a deep cleansing breath, and be willing to admit, with no hidden agenda, .... "I don't know and neither do you"

The rest is mental masturbation !

Doc

[emilynghiem]

Swore I was gonna give it a week before I even touched this subject ...

But I swear ALOT !!!

I find the term agnostic to be the only place I can stand to approach the subject of religion from right now ... Im so burnt out on theist of any order insisting that there is a god in any of 10,000 shapes and forms .... and just as burnt out on atheist that insist there is absolutely not .... It brings out the Hulk in me (you wouldn't like me when you break the only commandment - "If I didn't ask - Thou shalt keep thy religion to thy fucking self")

Not claiming this to be everyone's experience, but for me , right now, I find I can only avoid this combative nature if both parties can agree
to the simple acceptance that neither of us has died and come back, or is privy to any information on the existence of God that the other is not ....

For me, right now, both sides have to take a deep cleansing breath, and be willing to admit, with no hidden agenda, .... "I don't know and neither do you"

The rest is mental masturbation !

Doc

I think the "masturbation" stops where people agree to accept the fact that some people identify as theist, nontheist, or can relate to both.
And then just focus on how to communicate on common points and principles GIVEN these differences instead of judging or fighting over them.

We can get past the masturbation and foreplay,
and go for the real intercourse and consummation of relationships.

(yeah, go ahead and insert jokes here about tribulations and rapture, Jesus coming for his bride, the Lord coming twice, coming in the name of Jesus Christ, church and state coming together, all the sexual innuendo you want about male and female being made one, oh yeah)

[Whateverist]

That was hot.

So you identify as non-theist and theist .. or were you just talking dirty?

[robvalue]

Whoah! I thought I was good at mocking religion :o

Nice work Emily!

[emilynghiem]

That was hot.

So you identify as non-theist and theist .. or were you just talking dirty?

been told I'm going to hell for "swinging both ways" ppbbfftt!!
Yep it's that "unrepentant" attitude that is to blame for why...

[Whateverist]

Seems like your position is more politically motivated than anything else. Am I right? Seems like you'd just like to focus theists on doing some good here and now. In my experience most of them think that's for after, provided you follow the rules when you and repent when you can't.

Restorative justice is something of a buzz word right now. But more often than not, I'm in favor.