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EOTE

(13,409 posts)

35. And what if you don't know? Or if you think that God could exist just as likely as God doesn't?

Tue Nov 26, 2013, 03:47 PM

Nov 2013

As an agnostic, I don't think it's possible to prove the existence of God, that much I'm clear on. As for whether I'm an atheist or theist, I'm a lot less clear on that one. If someone asks me if I believe in God, I wouldn't feel that a yes or no would adequately express my belief. I can't even say if I think it's more likely that God exists than doesn't. So, seeing as there are plenty of people who couldn't answer yes or no to such a question, shouldn't there be a word to describe them as well?

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This message was self-deleted by its author [View all] WilliamPitt Nov 2013 OP

Is saying youre Atheorist like saying you dont believe in science? ErikJ Nov 2013 #1

I think the key word is belief in that quote - Atheists don't like the suggestion that they believe el_bryanto Nov 2013 #2

Being an atheist doesn't require a recognition of facts as there are no facts which affirm atheism. EOTE Nov 2013 #3

You might feel that way, but many Atheists feel differently nt el_bryanto Nov 2013 #5

Many people believe many things, that doesn't make them right. EOTE Nov 2013 #11

Argh... gcomeau Nov 2013 #8

You are more than welcome to explain this. EOTE Nov 2013 #10

You're confusing anti-theism with atheism. NuclearDem Nov 2013 #14

Thanks for the clarification. EOTE Nov 2013 #21

Degrees of certainty. NuclearDem Nov 2013 #30

I consider myself an anti-theist, but in the same way Christopher Hitchens stopbush Nov 2013 #29

Atheism and theism... gcomeau Nov 2013 #17

I still don't understand how theism can overlap with agnosticism. EOTE Nov 2013 #20

I repeat gcomeau Nov 2013 #23

So, a person who is 51% convinced of a god is a theist? EOTE Nov 2013 #28

Expressions of percentages have no meaning here. gcomeau Nov 2013 #31

And what if you don't know? Or if you think that God could exist just as likely as God doesn't? EOTE Nov 2013 #35

Here we go... gcomeau Nov 2013 #43

What if one doesn't know whether or not they believe a God is more likely to exist than doesn't. EOTE Nov 2013 #47

Think that through. gcomeau Nov 2013 #63

That's because you're wrong and always have been wrong. eomer Nov 2013 #114

Sweet Jesus, man, why so obtuse? cleanhippie Nov 2013 #33

Post removed Post removed Nov 2013 #37

Your "question" ignores the facts and makes false assumptions. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #39

It does not. And you have added exactly zero to the discussion. EOTE Nov 2013 #42

Pass. Until you get it right, I'll keep correcting you. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #49

Looks like a jury saw that YOU added nothing to the conversation. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #53

Except by definition exboyfil Nov 2013 #115

Here's an easy way to tell if you're actually in that mythical 50-50 spot: Marr Nov 2013 #121

Most Theists I know are Agnostic. ieoeja Nov 2013 #24

I appreciate the response, but I'd like to know how you feel about my question in #28. EOTE Nov 2013 #40

Pure Agnostic n/t ieoeja Nov 2013 #44

My 2 cents: If I believe and I'm wrong, oh well. If you DONT believe and you're wrong, uh-oh. 7962 Nov 2013 #85

Oh yeah? What if there IS a heaven, but only Atheists can get in? PassingFair Nov 2013 #92

Good one! But then how would they get there if there was no entity to GET them there? 7962 Nov 2013 #95

Or not. PassingFair Nov 2013 #97

What if you believe in the wrong god? cleanhippie Nov 2013 #102

If a god punishes people to immortal suffering because they did not bow down and worship it ... ieoeja Nov 2013 #109

Pascal's Wager - so dumb, even Homer Simpson spots the obvious flaw. cemaphonic Nov 2013 #118

Ha! Love Homer. 7962 Nov 2013 #119

okay THAT is a bit confusing hfojvt Nov 2013 #71

It's a common misconception. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #77

but it IS the way the word is used hfojvt Nov 2013 #82

Sure, it's used by some that way. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #104

Yeah I know... gcomeau Nov 2013 #83

"In my mind..." Right there is the problem. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #18

(A)theism deals with belief; (A)gnosticism deals with knowledge. Hosnon Nov 2013 #19

Nah. Atheists deny the existence of God. Atheism is the proposition that God does not exist. Vattel Nov 2013 #27

As an atheist... gcomeau Nov 2013 #32

lol, okay, if you say so. Vattel Nov 2013 #34

Sorry, that's wrong. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #36

well, I hate to appeal to a dictionary, Vattel Nov 2013 #38

Are you seriously trying to tell me and other atheists what we believe a what we don't? cleanhippie Nov 2013 #46

I am seriously telling you that you don't know what "atheism" means. Vattel Nov 2013 #50

Ok. Then what word defines my LACK OF BELIEF in a god. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #52

"a disbelief in the existence of deity" Rex Nov 2013 #58

Yeah, I know. Par for the course with folks like this, they believe what they want to believe. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #60

NP. Can't deny the words written on the dictionary site. Rex Nov 2013 #64

sorry, I actually think that the term is somewhat ambiguous. Vattel Nov 2013 #62

Agnostic is the belief in 'I Don't Know For Sure'. Rex Nov 2013 #66

I agree Vattel Nov 2013 #67

Agnostics believe they cannot know the nature of the supernatural. Marr Nov 2013 #122

Sorry, you're mistaken again. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #69

Seems you and I fall into the same category. Rex Nov 2013 #72

agnostic atheist?? trekbiker Nov 2013 #81

It seems you are confirming what I stated, and classify yourself as a... cleanhippie Nov 2013 #89

Actually the dictionary backs up exactly what the other poster is saying. Rex Nov 2013 #51

Dude, read your own Websters definition. You got it wrong. Very wrong. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #57

One definition is clearly on my side: "The doctrine that there is no God." Vattel Nov 2013 #65

You're twisting like a pretzel here. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #70

Lol, okay, I surrender. I defined "atheism" too narrowly. Vattel Nov 2013 #74

If that makes you feel better. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #76

I swear Dorian Gray Nov 2013 #61

There is no such thing as invisible purple unicorns Stuckinthebush Nov 2013 #87

Agnosticism seems to be the most scientific position available. AlbertCat Nov 2013 #84

I am an atheist�"they found Elvis' guitar on the Moon�now prove me wrong!!! Tikki Nov 2013 #100

Being an atheist is the LACK of belief. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #15

Than what distinguishes it from agnosticism? el_bryanto Nov 2013 #73

Gnosticism is about KNOWLEDGE of a god. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #75

I guess i see where you are coming from el_bryanto Nov 2013 #78

What you say is true, these words are commonly misused cleanhippie Nov 2013 #79

Everyone believes in something zeemike Nov 2013 #96

You could not be more wrong. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #99

Well you miss the point. zeemike Nov 2013 #103

Wait, what? Because I don't believe in a god I believe there is no god? cleanhippie Nov 2013 #105

No I am trying to explain to you that belief is not the problem zeemike Nov 2013 #111

You've totally lost me and make no sense at all. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #113

Well I certainly did lose you if you think that is what I said. zeemike Nov 2013 #116

I don't think you said that, you explicitly DID say that. cleanhippie Nov 2013 #123

Popular shorthand for gnostic atheism? davekriss Nov 2013 #101

Opposite of Atheism is Atheorist? ErikJ Nov 2013 #16

If atheism is a religion, then baldness is a hairstyle eridani Nov 2013 #80

In this context, does the phrase "believe in atheism" mean "believe that atheism exists"? Nye Bevan Nov 2013 #4

Does anyone actually click links on this site any more? WilliamPitt Nov 2013 #6

Naw, they're too busy typing "smart" replies with their thumbs Scootaloo Nov 2013 #7

You don't want to smoke a doobie B Calm Nov 2013 #25

I did. zeemike Nov 2013 #112

Even though it's not quite right... gcomeau Nov 2013 #9

I adore The Oatmeal LadyHawkAZ Nov 2013 #12

ROFL! 'Ich bin ein polynomial!' truebrit71 Nov 2013 #13

"Wir m�ssen die Tangent ausrotten!!!" bobclark86 Nov 2013 #56

Okay, that was awesome! Vattel Nov 2013 #22

that reminds me of how in the 17th c. they were saying that chemistry proved Protestantism MisterP Nov 2013 #26

Only on DU can an Oatmeal cartoon start a flame war. WilliamPitt Nov 2013 #41

Oatmeal is a very controversial topic, the Cereal Cartels Rex Nov 2013 #48

HA HA HA HA HA HA!!! LMAO! A HERETIC I AM Nov 2013 #55

With all deliberate speed. WilliamPitt Nov 2013 #68

you mean it was supposed to be funny? hfojvt Nov 2013 #59

So if I believe that god does not exist, I'm also likely to believe in mathematics? Rex Nov 2013 #45

Hitler was not an atheist, he was a theist rock Nov 2013 #54

If you trust the engineering and contract PATRICK Nov 2013 #88

This thread has gone about as expected. rug Nov 2013 #86

I should have known. WilliamPitt Nov 2013 #106

Random fact: Zero was influenced by Hinduism and Jainism... mwooldri Nov 2013 #90

"Science is going to exist whether you believe in it or not" Yavin4 Nov 2013 #91

"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." PassingFair Nov 2013 #93

Was at a concert recently where Athiests had shirts on that said, "Ask me a question" cbdo2007 Nov 2013 #94

We're they disrupting the concert before you asked them to move? cleanhippie Nov 2013 #110

Hitler was a jelly donut. chknltl Nov 2013 #98

No, he was from... JimboBillyBubbaBob Nov 2013 #107

Will Pitt + The Oatmeal = Flamewar? LanternWaste Nov 2013 #108

Welcome to my life. WilliamPitt Nov 2013 #117

I thought you said you were a Catholic, Mr. Pitt - a DU Catholic at that Douglas Carpenter Nov 2013 #120

Post removed Post removed Nov 2013 #124

A SPECIAL NOTE TO EVERYONE WHO TURNED A THREAD ABOUT A CARTOON INTO A DOUCHEFESTIVAL WilliamPitt Nov 2013 #125