Agnostics... C'mon down off the fence!

[Papa Deuce]

Pick a side. What is holding you up? Will you decide if you are in a near death situation? ( Ya know the old saying.... "Everybody believes in God while in a fox hole" )

What can make you pick a side?

BTW, this IS NOT a condemnation of agnostics. I'm just curious. I am not affiliated with any organized religion ATM, and in fact, used to be Catholic. But I certainly believe in "God" or a "higher power".

 

[Robinrs]

Have patience, PD..

I was an agnostic most of my life. Thought Christians were stupid sheep and the Bible could be taken apart and analyzed.

Then I lost my son.... I guess that was MY foxhole.

Agnostic then, Sister SuperChristian now.

Much nicer, kinder version of me. Glad I got here...

Robinrs

 

[MosMom]

Because nobody really knows do they? If I were to proclaim myself an athiest, I would be as silly as believers. How can they be so sure there isn't a God when they think it is silly that so many are sure there IS a God. Nobody knows...I just admit it.

 

[MosMom]

Oh and yes...I've been in "foxholes" where I wanted to believe but when logic comes around I just don't buy it. I can't force myself to believe without a doubt. If there is a God, I sure as hell don't think he is the way current religions make him/her/it out to be.

 

[BillSears]

I'm an agnostic and I agree it's just as wrong to disbelieve as it is to believe. Both require faith.

What would make me believe or disbelieve? Proof. Just prove it to my satisfaction and I'll make up my mind.

I can stand on one side of a door and listen to different people telling me what color the room on the other side is. But until I get some proof about it I won't know what color it is.

 

[cstraub]

Because nobody really knows do they? If I were to proclaim myself an athiest, I would be as silly as believers. How can they be so sure there isn't a God when they think it is silly that so many are sure there IS a God. Nobody knows...I just admit it.

What she said!!

My first foxhole.......praying that an oncoming tornado would not kill my DS (1 at the time) and I while laying in a bathtub in a house with no basement with a matress over us. I prayed my heart out in that tub 14 years ago and it was then that I realized that more than likely no one was listening to my prayers.

I threw the matress off of us and ran to someone's house with DS that had a basement.

You could say it was the day a became a born again agnostic.

Been in some foxholes since and I still pray but I still have my doubts- can't hurt though.

 

[cstraub]

Have patience, PD..

I was an agnostic most of my life. Thought Christians were stupid sheep and the Bible could be taken apart and analyzed.

Then I lost my son.... I guess that was MY foxhole.

Agnostic then, Sister SuperChristian now.

Much nicer, kinder version of me. Glad I got here...

Robinrs

So sorry for your loss.

 

[Charade]

Umm.... no!

I like it here.

 

[MouseWorshipin]

Umm.... no!

I like it here.

I think most agnostics are waiting for proof. They are a resolute bunch who will not believe there is or is not a God until they have rock hard, solid, concrete proof. Which I doubt they'll ever get.

There are no athiests in foxholes...but there are plenty of hopeful agnostics.

 

[grinningghost]

Because nobody really knows do they? If I were to proclaim myself an athiest, I would be as silly as believers. How can they be so sure there isn't a God when they think it is silly that so many are sure there IS a God. Nobody knows...I just admit it.

That's me too.

Nobody knows.

 

[ptrbryant]

Of course, the irony is that faith is impossible if it's based solely on "proof". If you have absolute proof, you accept something as fact. "Faith" is not in that scenario.

Karla B. (Catholic convert, btw)

 

[grinningghost]

Of course, the irony is that faith is impossible if it's based solely on "proof". If you have absolute proof, you accept something as fact. "Faith" is not in that scenario.

Karla B. (Catholic convert, btw)

Well, I think you're right, but the question is, "how does one obtain faith?"

You can't just one day say to yourself "I'm going to have faith and start believing." That would be lying to oneself on so many levels.

What bothers me most about true believers is when they tell their children, from day one, exactly what to believe. Isn't it possible that these kids, left to their own devices, might think the whole thing is a fairy tale? I just have a problem with people pushing their faith on others - even their own children. It's a very personal matter and everyone should decide for themselves.

 

[sajetto]

It's a very personal matter and everyone should decide for themselves.

ITA

I remember that there were 3 girls I went to HS whose dads were ministers. One is now a lesbian and an athesit, another is pregnant with a 58 year old's baby and she's only 22, and another is in rehab for heroine. Something tells me that maybe pushing religion down someone's throat isn't such a good idea

 

[Papa Deuce]

.....

What bothers me most about true believers is when they tell their children, from day one, exactly what to believe. Isn't it possible that these kids, left to their own devices, might think the whole thing is a fairy tale? I just have a problem with people pushing their faith on others - even their own children. It's a very personal matter and everyone should decide for themselves.

Oh, my wife and I have had "disagreements" about this already. My kids will soon be 5. I expect it to get MUCH worse as they get to be around ten or 12 and I tell them it is OK not to " believe" if it does not feel right.

 

[grinningghost]

Oh, my wife and I have had "disagreements" about this already. My kids will soon be 5. I expect it to get MUCH worse as they get to be around ten or 12 and I tell them it is OK not to " believe" if it does not feel right.

I was so torn when my DD was small. My DH is an atheist. So he thinks there is no room for discussion on religion whatsoever - there is no God, there are no saints, there is no Heaven or Hell, etc. - yet, here I am "on the fence". I decided to let it ride until she was old enough to make her own decisions.

It's worked out well. She is now almost 17, and still not sure which side of the fence she's on either - maybe she never will be, but I feel better letting her figure it out.

 

[flatline]

I think most agnostics are waiting for proof. They are a resolute bunch who will not believe there is or is not a God until they have rock hard, solid, concrete proof. Which I doubt they'll ever get.

There are no athiests in foxholes...but there are plenty of hopeful agnostics.

I'm not hopeful at all, that's where belief rears it's ugly head.

I can honestly go outside and look up into the sky at night and look at the vastness of the universe and admit 'I don't know'. there's no side of the fence.

fossil proof on this planet and daily scientific findings continue to prove to me Christianity and the Bible are a waste of time and energy. what's wrong with being humble, yet strong enough to admit that no one knows if there's a God or not? IMO, it takes more guts than jumping onboard with a religion you were forced on from birth.

 

[flatline]

I think most agnostics are waiting for proof. They are a resolute bunch who will not believe there is or is not a God until they have rock hard, solid, concrete proof. Which I doubt they'll ever get.

not to mention, there are innumerable Christians waiting for the next grilled cheese sandwich with the Virgin Mary's figure to show up so they have another reason to cry... 'miracle'.

 

[Free4Life11]

ITA

I remember that there were 3 girls I went to HS whose dads were ministers. One is now a lesbian and an athesit, another is pregnant with a 58 year old's baby and she's only 22, and another is in rehab for heroine. Something tells me that maybe pushing religion down someone's throat isn't such a good idea

Well I am a pastors kid, actually there are five of us. We're not perfect! Pretty close though

Why is it that if a parent raises their kid in the church their automatically pushing it down their throat? If faith is an important part of who you are, it makes sense that many people would include their kids. Nothing was ever pushed down our throats. Yes we had to go to church and sunday school but we enjoyed it.

 

[cstraub]

I've always wanted to get the bumper sticker that says- Thank God I'm agnostic.

 

[ptrbryant]

I just read where a number of posters here feel it would be horrible to "shove your religion down your children's throats". The problem is that this viewpoint would only be from someone who does not believe their religion is real. For me, as a believing, practicing Catholic, I would feel like a liar for not teaching our son our faith. Maybe people have images of fanatics, drilling their children on dogma day and night. What I try to do is to first of all set an example. As St. Francis said, "Spread the Gospel constantly. If absolutely necessary, use words." Also, we do teach our son about our genuine beliefs in God, Jesus Christ, the foundation of the Church, the saints, etc. You know what? We must be doing something right because he's actually interested in it and we'll even have family discussions about Moses, St. Peter, etc.

When he's an adult, he'll choose for himself what he believes in. But, at least he'll thoroughly know what we believe. I was rasied as a very nominal Protestant...rarely went to church except for Christmas and Easter. I always had the feeling my parents were almost embarrassed about religion---maybe they didn't really have much faith and it was also an era when there was a growing cultural wave that intelligent, aware people no longer believed in the Judeo-Christian concept of God.

Funny thing is, out of the 3 of us daughters, I became Catholic, my older sister became more of an Evangelical Christian and my younger sister just took her initial vows to become a nun in a conservative order. My father is NOT happy with this outcome. Maybe when you grow up without faith, the result is the opposite of so many "pastor's children" you hear about who stray.

Karla B.