Mortalsfool

A fifty percent probability for there being a God is counter balanced by the preponderance of evidence that weighs on the Nothingness view. The fifty percent for afterlife, stands alone on mankind’s demand that subjective experience be recognized and valued as a possibility; possibilities that imagine the interaction and influence from some Higher Power. In this way man’s unsatisfied reasoning abilities demand that an equal value be imparted to the equation under the name of Hope. No basis of faith could be founded without the other possibility being at least equal in probability considering the lack of evidence on either side.

I see a fifty percent probability for there being a God as the only logical conclusion that reason can draw to. For any view that deviates from that balance [attributing to one side more probability] must draw on assumption; either on the assumption that subjective evidence has a true weight of its own that outweighs the other; or accepting a premise, in which is believed, that the collective assumptions of many others, meaning those that 'believe' there is nothing. count as their evidence.

A ‘balanced view’, if accepted, would create a religion where each person when choosing his God, would know that he does no more than choose the name by which, and to which, his devotion is to be directed. Devotion to God's name is not quelled in the least by the fact that others have chosen differently.

Our choices are clear. We can either believe in a Power or, not! If we choose to believe, then we should acknowledge that we are only electing a name which we choose to represent our ‘God’. This way, each person is truthfully acknowledging, that his choice amounts to no more than an acceptance of the limitations facing all of us. Devout people should agree that the name they call their God ,is no more than a valued opinion, of no more value than the names others chose to call their Gods.

Since anyone starting a Spiritual quest, feels a lack of ‘worthiness’ in the presumed presence of his imagined Higher Power, it is necessary that he chose some human as a model; the ideal being a person regarded by history as expressing the best qualities of a God fearing person. Thus he selects a person through whom he can enhance his own self-image through emulation, and in his 'new image', he imbues himself with the confidence that such discipline adds to his Hope. A person’s faith is, in this way, bulwarked by both hope and works, and with these strengthening attributes founded on very nebulas concepts, he develops for himself a Spiritual passion.

A spiritual passion’s expression is not dependant on whether or not God does in fact exist; it is something that can be experienced, even by the 'devout' man that allows for a fifty fifty probability of God's existence. It in no way smacks of lukewarmness; devoutness is genuine, and shows it's existence regardless of a lack of input from God.

Answer me this, Do you conclude from this article that a person can be an agnostic and still be faithful in god’s eyes? That is, in the event that there turns out to be one. After all an agnostic by the mere using of the name allows for just such a possibility.

DNND

Here is the main problem I have with agnosticism: the negative connotations people have with the concept. I’m a disbeliever. Denier of God’s word. A lost soul. A depressed introvert. And – the one I hate the most – an alternative form of an atheist.

Yes, I was kind of depressed when I decide to be an agnostic. But that is because I had a hard time accepting the fact that most, if not all, the religions were corrupted by religious occult powers – like who would pull a sick trick like that.

I am not a disbeliever. I am an aware inquirer aka skeptic. Inquirer and skeptic are synonyms - by etymology definition not the enclosed dictionary definition, so don’t look it up. (well, not that way…lol) I like to say I’m an inquirer because it’s more positive then saying I’m a skeptic.

I’m a spiritual agnostic, and I believe God is indescribable in today’s secular world. But I do believe that there’s some unique spiritual being out there who has a lot or all the answers.

If there were not so much corruption in our world’s history, I would not be an agnostic: I would not have anything to be skeptical about anything.

And should I be punished for this?? ….No!

The An-Jel

Agnostics and Athiests have nothing to do with Gods word except as antagonists . They are the same as Satan.

__________________
"And let there be Light!" said the Blind man.

Life is simple, people make it complicated - Basilisk

Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti - Royal Gibraltar Regiment

Mortalsfool

I can certainly relate to the guilt and yes, fear, that comes from questioning your own faith. I remember when I dared to think that I could become 'a Christ', as it's put in the Bible. How dare I?

I feel that in order to be a 'good' agnostic, requires that you live according to the best directives that your concept of a god demands. We were not make to be cowards! If you are cowardly in this life, it is because you chose it.

The following article talks of the streanth I refer to:


A man can not have confidence to speak freely, unless he has no way that another human could bring him down, except possibly by force of arms. That means not humiliation, shame, fear, nor poverty. When I give the following remarks, they will be meant to define the things that have no relationship with the ‘physical’ needs to live, we have to do what have to. We will consider only the ‘strengths’ and ‘mental attitudes’, that would give one the fortitude, courage, moxey, and boldness, balls, to ‘enter boldly’ into the household of God using the power of God you will bring with you; the presentation to God of a man well spent.

The highest standard that I can find for a man person to achieve is absolute ‘confidence’; like needed to do as Christ said about entering the House of God ‘boldly’! Think about it! It is a saying that infers the use of, attributes, or abilities to influence a coming ‘effect’ to which, is guaranteed certainty of your experience; we will enter, either Boldly as exhorted, or not!

To enter boldly requires that you have you at the moment of death, well established attributes. I must define attributes since I am using it to ‘represent’ things that are good and necessary for us as strengths to be presented for their use at death, having their ability ‘to be used’, anchored in what would be your now past life. Either death gives us a choice, or there is nothing! If there is not, than the confident man will at least have confidence while alive. But if we do have a choice; it would allow no time to lose your ‘confidence’, the same way that there will be ‘no time’ to gain it. Therefore the things that are required to ‘enter boldly’, are things we should best seek while we have today; and they are all ‘things’ for which a man cannot take credit! They are the ‘expressions’ of the things you receive from your Higher Power.

WilliamBlue

I don't see it anywhere near a 50/50 proposition especially if you are talking about a personal God. I see plenty of evidence that is against it and very little for. I also say the same for an afterlife. I have had Christians tell me that if I am wrong then I am risking hell and damnation so I should just do it for that reason alone, but that would go against my character and I would also be a hypocrite and if there is a Christian God he would know I was a hypocrite, so it wouldn't work anyway .
Most of the agnostics I know are atheist when it comes to personal gods and afterlives.

__________________
When you dance with an elephant it's up to you to not get stepped on.
How can we be so arrogant and egotistical to believe that the whole Universe was created just for us?

The An-Jel

Me too WilliamBlue

__________________
"And let there be Light!" said the Blind man.

Life is simple, people make it complicated - Basilisk

Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti - Royal Gibraltar Regiment

Mortalsfool

Unless I'm mistaken, halfway between anything equals fifty percent. Like the fifty yard line in a game; it's halfway between two ends. The same way that I would call myself halfway a believer and halfway an atheist, hence the word agnostic. Since I even know an equal amount about all three of those philosophies, I serve both extremes equally. I share non of the fanaticism of the believers, nor do I hold of no value the questioning of the athiest. I'm the one in the middle respecting both.

Mortalsfool

I think that my way is as simple as it can get. Be as good as you can without being stupid.

WilliamBlue

Who said agnostic was halfway? You need to read the definition of agnostic as it has nothing to do with halfway. It has to do with facts and knowledge and since it is a fact that we are probably never going to get the knowledge that allows us to believe in a God we are closer to atheist.

__________________
When you dance with an elephant it's up to you to not get stepped on.
How can we be so arrogant and egotistical to believe that the whole Universe was created just for us?

The An-Jel

Yep couldn't have said anything better. If you want more definite answers then you have to find the answers and insulting people really isn't the answer so rather than calling people Mortal you should think. Everyone these days wants to be insulted so they can complain but to find real answers you have to look at reality. God as any of the religions read is not obvious. You have an agnostic forum.

__________________
"And let there be Light!" said the Blind man.

Life is simple, people make it complicated - Basilisk

Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti - Royal Gibraltar Regiment