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RE: If you were ever a theist...
January 9, 2016 at 3:27 pm
(This post was last modified: January 9, 2016 at 3:40 pm by robvalue.)
Well, I go further and say I'm ignostic, meaning I don't think the word "God" is well defined. I find the question meaningless. But informally, sure, I'd be agnostic. I expect most intellectually honest theists would identify as agnostic, at least after agreeing on definitions.
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RE: If you were ever a theist...
January 9, 2016 at 3:29 pm
(January 9, 2016 at 3:24 pm)*Deidre* Wrote: Going with that, could we all be agnostic, when all is said and done?
Never again insha'allah.
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RE: If you were ever a theist...
January 9, 2016 at 3:33 pm
(This post was last modified: January 9, 2016 at 3:33 pm by *Deidre*.)
(January 9, 2016 at 3:29 pm)MysticKnight Wrote: (January 9, 2016 at 3:24 pm)*Deidre* Wrote: Going with that, could we all be agnostic, when all is said and done?
Never again insha'allah.
lol Perhaps, I should have elaborated. Meaning...I can't prove that God exists to anyone through my experience. I can share my experience, and to me, it verifies God's existence, honestly. (TO ME) But, unlike a blue cup that if you were sitting across from me, I could hold up and proclaim 'look, see? this cup is blue!' I can't prove God's existence in such a fashion, so agnosticism in terms of knowledge, seems fitting. But, I feel that my experience rendered me knowledgeable, in terms of believing there exists a deity, and I shall call Him...God.
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RE: If you were ever a theist...
January 9, 2016 at 3:34 pm
(January 9, 2016 at 3:27 pm)robvalue Wrote: Well, I go further and say I'm ignostic, meaning I don't think the word "God" is well defined. I find the question meaningless. But informally, sure, I'd be agnostic. Most intellectually honest theists would identify as agnostic, at least after agreeing on definitions.
yes. agreeing on definitions is half the battle? lol
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RE: If you were ever a theist...
January 9, 2016 at 3:42 pm
It is!
My problem is that "God" is an elastic word. It can mean virtually anything. So until I hear what any particular person thinks it is, I can't comment.
Much of the time, I ask for a definition and either don't get one at all or I get one that makes no sense to me. If I can't understand what is being described, I can't make a judgement on it.
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RE: If you were ever a theist...
January 9, 2016 at 10:39 pm
(This post was last modified: January 9, 2016 at 10:41 pm by *Deidre*.)
(January 9, 2016 at 3:42 pm)robvalue Wrote: It is!
My problem is that "God" is an elastic word. It can mean virtually anything. So until I hear what any particular person thinks it is, I can't comment.
Much of the time, I ask for a definition and either don't get one at all or I get one that makes no sense to me. If I can't understand what is being described, I can't make a judgement on it.
The beauty of atheism as I see it, is that it is merely a position of not believing in a deity. Or any deity. (as it relates perhaps to any sufficient evidence being provided to prove the existence of said deity) That said, it is not a position of absolutes. There is something free-ing about that, to me. Theism is also not a position of absolutes. I can believe in a deity, and believe that this deity has created the universe. But, I'm still not speaking in absolutes, and that is the beauty of both sides of the discussion...neither speaks in absolutes, and it makes me wonder if life is more abstract than we might be willing to admit.
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RE: If you were ever a theist...
January 9, 2016 at 10:40 pm
(This post was last modified: January 9, 2016 at 10:40 pm by Edwardo Piet.)
Agnosticism is a very intellectually honest position, both for atheists and theists alike, D
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RE: If you were ever a theist...
January 9, 2016 at 10:42 pm
(January 9, 2016 at 10:40 pm)Evie Wrote: Agnosticism is a very intellectually honest position, both for atheists and theists alike, D
It is. I should thank the agnostic who thought it up.
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RE: If you were ever a theist...
January 9, 2016 at 10:44 pm
Well technically I guess it existed before the term was devised.
But yeah, agnosticism is cool
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RE: If you were ever a theist...
January 9, 2016 at 10:50 pm
(January 9, 2016 at 10:44 pm)Evie Wrote: Well technically I guess it existed before the term was devised.
But yeah, agnosticism is cool
When I was an atheist, a few people (I don't see them on here anymore) would scold me for 'sitting on the fence' as an atheist. They viewed agnosticism as 'weak atheism.'
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