General Discussion

Marr

(20,317 posts)

122. Agnostics believe they cannot know the nature of the supernatural.

Tue Nov 26, 2013, 07:13 PM

Nov 2013

Gnostics believe they can.

Theists believe in the existence of a specific god. Atheists don't share that belief.

If you're a theist, you are also an atheist on the subject of thousands of other gods people have prayed to through the millenia. Do you define yourself as someone who 'denies the existence of Yoruba'? Doesn't that seem more antagonist than your actual feelings on the subject?

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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