• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Do you believe in God?[W:359]

Do you believe in God?

  • Total voters
    103
Re: Do you believe in God?

RabidAlpaca said:
I agree. I consider it equally as presumptuous for an atheist to declare that there with certainty is no god as it is for a theist to proclaim with certainty the opposite.
Click to expand...

I believe that it is as certain that there is no god as it is that there is no flying spaghetti monster. I don't know for certain that there is no FSM, but I dismiss belief in it.

Would you consider me arrogant, agnostic or both?
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Dezaad said:
I don't know for certain that there is no FSM, but I dismiss belief in it.
Click to expand...

He is real, and you will never be able to accept that until you allow yourself to be touched by His Noodly Appendage.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Sarcogito said:
He is real, and you will never be able to accept that until you allow yourself to be touched by His Noodly Appendage.
Click to expand...

Bad touch! Bad touch!
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

I hate to trot out the FSM every time someone trots out "atheism is arrogant, agnostic is the only humble position". But, since I am not 'hard' atheist, and am yet exceedingly dismissive of belief in gods, I am genuinely interested as to whether I fit the "humble agnostic" criteria.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Navy Pride said:
Hey I am retired and have a comfortable income.....Oh and sadly I don't have a life except to fire up you lefties........:lamo
Click to expand...

so, you admit to posting for the sole purpose of provoking & annoying people...and not for honest & intelligent debate.

We appreciate your honesty.

Navy Pride said:
That is true.....Conservatives have jobs...they don't have time to play around in DP like our left wing unemployed friends......
Click to expand...

Q.E.D.
 
Last edited:
Re: Do you believe in God?

I mean, I could make up ten myths out of whole cloth right here on the spot. I could further announce that I made the all up.

But I could be lying about making them all up. One might be true!!

And will the "humble agnostic" call everyone who dismisses my myths "arrogant".
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Dezaad said:
I hate to trot out the FSM every time someone trots out "atheism is arrogant, agnostic is the only humble position". But, since I am not 'hard' atheist, and am yet exceedingly dismissive of belief in gods, I am genuinely interested as to whether I fit the "humble agnostic" criteria.
Click to expand...

Agnosticism is not some fence sitting middle ground between theism and atheism, though.

Theism and atheism speaks to the BELIEF in the existence of a god or gods.
Gnosticism and agnosticism speak to the KNOWLEDGE of the existence of a god or gods.

Do you have a belief in a god or gods? This is a yes or no question. The belief may be right or wrong, but you either have it or you don’t. You can’t not know if you have a belief in something. If your first instinct is to say you don’t know then you are an atheist.

But do you claim to KNOW whether or not a god or gods exist? Most atheists and many theists will answer no to this question. They are agnostic. To be gnostic is to claim you KNOW. It doesn’t mean you are right of course. Many religious people claim to know God exists because they believe he revealed himself to them in some manner. So let’s recap:

Agnostic atheist – one who doesn’t claim to know that a god or gods exist but has no belief in it/them
Gnostic atheist – one who claims to know that a god or gods don’t exist and thus has no belief in it/them
Agnostic theist – one who doesn’t claim to know that a god or gods exist but does have a belief in it/them
Gnostic theist – one who claims to know that a god or gods exist and thus has a belief in it/them

theagnostic.jpg

I am an agnostic atheist. Though that usually confuses the average person which is why I usually just say I am an atheist. So if you want to call yourself an agnostic, fine, but just know that you are also either an atheist or a theist.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

My problem with discussions like this is how dickish people that believe in God can get, and how incredibly unwarranted dickish atheist can get. I've also never understood how a group of people can have such a disgust for religion but treat not being religious like they are Jehovah's witnesses.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Sarcogito said:
I am an agnostic atheist. Though that usually confuses the average person which is why I usually just say I am an atheist. So if you want to call yourself an agnostic, fine, but just know that you are also either an atheist or a theist.
Click to expand...

Your post suggests that there are only two types of agnostics, agnostic theists and agnostic atheists. I suggest there are three. I used to be an agnostic theist, but over the last few months have transitioned to straight agnostic. Meaning: I see an equal amount of lack of evidence for and against the existence of a god. You don't have to lean to one side or another.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Thunder said:
so, you admit to posting for the sole purpose of provoking & annoying people...and not for honest & intelligent debate.

We appreciate your honesty.



Q.E.D.
Click to expand...
Wow! NP being honest!
Must be one of the signs of the Apocalypse.
Pretty soon cats and dogs will be living together in sin.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

JohnWOlin said:
My problem with discussions like this is how dickish people that believe in God can get, and how incredibly unwarranted dickish atheist can get. I've also never understood how a group of people can have such a disgust for religion but treat not being religious like they are Jehovah's witnesses.
Click to expand...

Agreed. People get waaaaay to personal about this stuff. I understand that a person's faith is the very epicenter of who they are. But, for the most part, every Christian religion or Christian related religion teachs tolerance and a non-judgemental stance. Not to mention the Bible teachs it. By tolerance, I don't mean that if you have someone spitting in your face and telling you the Christ doesn't exist you should just stand there and take it. Walk away. What I mean is that a Christian shouldn't be seeking people out to tell them how stupid they are for not believing in Christ. I will tell someone about Jesus all day long. However, if they don't want to hear it, it doesn't matter if you're Billy Graham or Tim Tebow. It's not going to get through.
My only issue is this. Everyone is allowed to not believe in God all they want. But don't try to convince me of it. Just like you not wanting to hear about God existing, I don't want to hear that He doesn't. You have no proof that He doesn't, so don't present it in a manner that says you do.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

RabidAlpaca said:
Your post suggests that there are only two types of agnostics, agnostic theists and agnostic atheists. I suggest there are three. I used to be an agnostic theist, but over the last few months have transitioned to straight agnostic. Meaning: I see an equal amount of lack of evidence for and against the existence of a god. You don't have to lean to one side or another.
Click to expand...

Atheism and theism have nothing to do with knowledge, only belief. You have a belief or you don't. It is a binary position. How can one not be sure if they have a belief? That said, I realize this type of discussion can spiral into one of semantics and I am not trying to tell you what to call yourself.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Sarcogito said:
Atheism and theism have nothing to do with knowledge, only belief. You have a belief or you don't. It is a binary position. How can one not be sure if they have a belief? That said, I realize this type of discussion can spiral into one of semantics and I am not trying to tell you what to call yourself.
Click to expand...

Of course those two positions rely on belief. Agnosticism however, as you mentioned, relies on knowledge. As such, I have neither knowledge or facts for or against the existence of a god, therefore, I am agnostic, and not an agnostic theist or agnostic atheist.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Sarcogito said:
Agnosticism is not some fence sitting middle ground between theism and atheism, though.

Theism and atheism speaks to the BELIEF in the existence of a god or gods.
Gnosticism and agnosticism speak to the KNOWLEDGE of the existence of a god or gods.

Do you have a belief in a god or gods? This is a yes or no question. The belief may be right or wrong, but you either have it or you don’t. You can’t not know if you have a belief in something. If your first instinct is to say you don’t know then you are an atheist.

But do you claim to KNOW whether or not a god or gods exist? Most atheists and many theists will answer no to this question. They are agnostic. To be gnostic is to claim you KNOW. It doesn’t mean you are right of course. Many religious people claim to know God exists because they believe he revealed himself to them in some manner. So let’s recap:

Agnostic atheist – one who doesn’t claim to know that a god or gods exist but has no belief in it/them
Gnostic atheist – one who claims to know that a god or gods don’t exist and thus has no belief in it/them
Agnostic theist – one who doesn’t claim to know that a god or gods exist but does have a belief in it/them
Gnostic theist – one who claims to know that a god or gods exist and thus has a belief in it/them

View attachment 67126636

I am an agnostic atheist. Though that usually confuses the average person which is why I usually just say I am an atheist. So if you want to call yourself an agnostic, fine, but just know that you are also either an atheist or a theist.
Click to expand...

I have presented the exact same arguments on DP about these definitions, and fully agree with them. In this thread, I haven't yet said whether I am agnostic or atheist, but wanted to see how the humble agnostic defined me.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

No, but I respect all beliefs and theories as long as others respect mine, but this is not so. I will continue to live my life to the fullest and perhaps I'll find purpose or self-gratification there.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Robbymac said:
No, but I respect all beliefs and theories as long as others respect mine, but this is not so. I will continue to live my life to the fullest and perhaps I'll find purpose or self-gratification there.
Click to expand...

Yes, and I'm intolerant of the dangerous/radically different beliefs of others, I'm particularly intolerant of the belief that all beliefs deserve the same equal respect.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Matt Foley said:
Yes, and I'm intolerant of the dangerous/radically different beliefs of others, I'm particularly intolerant of the belief that all beliefs deserve the same equal respect.
Click to expand...

That would mean you are just as intolerant as the intolerant radicals. Who the hell cares what other people believe? You control your own life.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Robbymac said:
That would mean you are just as intolerant as the intolerant radicals. Who the hell cares what other people believe? You control your own life.
Click to expand...

It matters what other believe. What others believe effects my life and yours. This should be basic knowledge for any sentient species.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Robbymac said:
That would mean you are just as intolerant as the intolerant radicals. Who the hell cares what other people believe? You control your own life.
Click to expand...

I'm sure a lot of gay couples who want to get married would disagree that the beliefs of others don't matter.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Thunder said:
wrong.

many Atheists & Agnistics believe as they do..due to the lack of hard scientific evidence for the existence of "God".
Click to expand...

Apologies, I didn't word that correctly. Of course the things one knows informs what one believes. What I meant was, atheism and theism are not claims of knowledge, but claims of belief. Agnosticism and gnosticism are claims of knowledge.
 
Re: Do you believe in God?

Sarcogito said:
Apologies, I didn't word that correctly. Of course the things one knows informs what one believes. What I meant was, atheism and theism are not claims of knowledge, but claims of belief. Agnosticism and gnosticism are claims of knowledge.
Click to expand...

Small quibble, they're not claims of knowledge, they're claims about the ability to know.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom