I've noticed there are a few on this board, and I read up on them. I was just wondering how long it took for you guys to become agnostic. How much research did you do, what kind of research did you do, exactly at what point did you reach your conclusion..
Ok, now I'm wondering if the title should be Agnosts or "Being Agnostic" or something like that. I hope it's right.
I became an agnostic in my 20’s, while I was studying western philosophy. With western philosophy if someone wants to find truth they have to rid themselves of all cultural beliefs. It wasn’t until I read Bertrand Russell’s essay “Why I Am Not a Christian” that I realized that I was an agnostic. I agreed with everything he wrote about. Even though I am an agnostic, I make sure that my children find their own beliefs. If they grow up to be Christians or Muslims, so be it. As long as they do not follow a religion because of custom or peer pressure I will be happy.
I believe we are decended from beings alien to Earth. So did my Dad. I haven't seen anything yet to change my mind.
I always thought about that. But don't you worry that your children may neglect religion all together?
Being agnostic, btw, means that you think there's not enough proof to conclude that there is a God or not. If you believe there is a God, then you're not agnostic.
I don't respect ANY religion.....not "other" religions. I believe that no one here on Earth is capable of comprehending who or what GOD is, and the feable attempts by man to come up with an answer has led to bloodshed and intolerance. Not exactly a very GOD-like trait, but definitly a human one. DD
I don't know what I am. When people ask if I believe in God, I say "yes, but not your god". "God" is an idea and label for all that we cannot understand. I don't see God having human characteristics. When people say God "wants", "likes" or "dislikes", I think they are nuts. I also think the Bible, Koran, etc. are all metaphorical myths partly based on historical events. But they say so much about ourselves, they are important. It is our subconscious speaking. I believe there is a god, but I believe it is as Joseph Campbell described: "God is a metaphor for that which transcends all levels of intellectual thought. It's as simple as that. "
I can introduce my kids to different religions, but I can’t explain the religions with passion. Unfortunately, they will have to get that kind of information from outside sources. They will probably end up being agnostics like me. History shows that children follow their parent’s spiritual beliefs. If your parents were born in ancient Greece, you worshipped Zeus. If your parents were born in Hawaii during the 1600’s you worshipped Maui.
"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Genesis 1:27 If you are Christian or even Jewish, then this is what would debunk your opinion about what God "wants, likes, or dislikes." Man was created in the image of God, therefore we are very similar to God.
I agree with you DD, and that is why I'm exploring buddhism. Allows me to find spirituallity without having to worship something.
I don't think anyone knows enough to be dismissive either of religion or dismissive of those who don't believe in religion. In that sense, I'm not agnostic, atheist or religious. I just want to learn and grow and find moments of clarity in the midst of confusion.
I became agnostic during my high school years. I just came to the conclusion through observation and reasoning.
I really don't see the difference between being an atheist vs being an agnostic. The very definition of God make it impossible to disprove. I don't think any self-professed atheist will say that there's zero chance of the existence of God. Because it's not something you can possibly rule out. Personally, I was born an agnostic in China, since the country is secular. I came to the US when I was 8. So I basically grew up with school, classmates, and the mass media trying to convince me to be Christian, while my parents had a secular influence. Not so much that they said religion is bad, but simply by not caring about religion. There were times when I was in middle and high school that some of my friends tried to convert me. I just can't go along with them. I couldn't convince myself to believe in something that relies purely on faith. Besides, I thought that if an ominpotent and omnipresent being would only help me if I "pray" to him, then he's not someone I'd care to ask help for. It's almost like begging for charity. I'd rather rely on more tangible help, like friends, family, and myself.
I find that a rather unsettling thought because that would mean that God is also prone to the same foibles that we are.
That depends on what denomination of Buddhism you're studying. While non-Buddhist Westerners like to uphold Buddhism as a wonderful form of spirituality free of the dogmatic restraints of monotheistic religions that's only part of the story. There's plenty of Buddhism that is just as dogmatic and deist as Catholicism. In the history of Buddhism there have been the killing of enemies of the religion by zealots, battles over orthodoxy and the ruthless enforcement of dogma like in other religions. I'm saying this as a Buddhist myself but one who believes its good to know the possible dangers of any faith. Even one that has often been presented as not a faith.
