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Originally Posted by Gettin' In Tune  I am just curious where Agnostics draw the line between deism and agnosticism. Why do you draw this line where you do?
As for me, I am going to remain neutral and then proceed. I am two weeks into my new journey of cultivating 'god/the force/entity/the big cheese/etc'. I would really appreciate some help demarcating the two belief systems and the reasons for this demarcation.
Thanks |
Dear Gettin' in Tune.
Your question has stimulated a lot of discussion. I would like to throw my two-cents in.
Belief and non-belief in god(s) is relative to the concept of the deity purposed.
Almost everyone, for example, is an atheist relative to the gods of ancient Greece.
Theists believe in some concept of god. Christians believe in the god described by Christianity. Muslims, the god described by Islam. Etc.
In my understanding, the claims of agnosticism can range from "I don't know" to "We can't know" whether god(s) exist(s). In practice, agnostics are atheists to some versions of god, but do not know whether some god(s) may exist. I, for example, think the Christian god and the gods of ancient Greece do not exist, but I will not say no god(s) exist(s).
Diests thought reason and observation of nature proved that some creator existed. Diests rejected knowledge of god(s) through revelations such as the Bible.
Deists said things like, "we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Since I can't imagine an agnostic saying such a thing, I think deism has practical implications different from the claims of agnostism.
Good luck with your investigations.