duck

Life is pretty much a series of choices we make. Simple as that. We live with the consequences either joyfully or in disappointment, or somewhere in between.

As you can tell, I like to keep my view of life as simple as possible. Too many other things and other people making it complicated.

milligal

I agree with you and yet I feel some choices are made subconsciously. If you ask a fundamentally religious person why they live their life the way they do, they'll no doubt answer it's because it's what God wants them to do, or because they've been saved. They'll give an answer alluding to the fact that they have to live their lives according to how a higher being deems right. So, they are making a choice, but they have convinced themselves that they really have no other choice-or the only other choice is eternal damnation.

sisterX

I believe most agnostics and even athiests, believe in the existence of God but are just reluctant to have a personal relationship with him. You will rarely find someone who is 'sincere' in their 'disbelief'.

__________________
"But as for me (I believe) that He is Allah, my Lord, and I shall associate none as partner with my Lord." Surah Al-Kahf verse 38. Holy Quran

niranjan

I think maybe these atheists and agnostics, believe indeed in a supreme power, which is nature, which they consider as the divine with an intelligence of its own, and which they relate to.

The nature God , to them , is different from the angry God in heaven, which punishes sinners eternally in hell sadistically and yet talks about love and compassion.

It is this nature God , or universal intelligence, which they study and understand through science, which they revere , and not the God of the religions. And most atheists and agnostics I know love nature.

__________________
You yourself are your only friend. You yourself are your only enemy.

---Krishna ( Bhagavad Gita )


“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

---Buddha


The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.

---Thomas Paine

debdodd

Oh An-jel .... I am so with you one this!!!!!!!

__________________
"Ubi dubium ibi libertas."

"We are all lone souls. It pays to know humility, lest the delusion of control, of mastery, overwhelms. And indeed, we seem a species prone to that delusion, again and ever again ....."

milligal

I wouldn't mistake sincere disbelief with irritation at sincere believers. I think many Agnostics, and Atheists are sincere, but chritians put their faith in everyone's face all the time. I think non-believers have become defensive not over their own lack of belief but over constant ridicule and confrontation fron the christian front.

lauraclay

Could it be possible that an agnostic is sincere in her disbelief but strives to understand all sides?

__________________

The purpose of a fish trap is to catch fish,
and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten.

The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits.
When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten.

The purpose of words is to convey ideas.
When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.

Where can I find a man who has forgotten words?
He is the one I would like to talk to.

debdodd

LC ... ditto for me.

__________________
"Ubi dubium ibi libertas."

"We are all lone souls. It pays to know humility, lest the delusion of control, of mastery, overwhelms. And indeed, we seem a species prone to that delusion, again and ever again ....."

jaej

I think it's wrong to say a desire to understand all sides defines agnosticism. I know plenty of christians who embrace knowledge of other religions; in fact, it makes them more secure in their own. And I also don't think agnostics and atheists really believe in god but just don't care enough to have a 'personal relationship' with him.

Personal relationship? Why would an all-powerful deity care about one little human?

__________________
Μολὼν Λαβέ

Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate

sisterX

You know I have always thought that most athiests would still disbelieve in God even if He were to speak to them directly. And I believe I have read someone say that here.

The reason is not dis-belief in His existance, no-one can be so sure that God does not exist there must be that nagging little voice saying "what if it's all true" but then the other 'not so little' voice says "So what if it is, nothing is worthy of my worship even God".

I believe its PRIDE that gets in the way of submission to the Most High.
What does a human being have to be so proud? What power? What majesty? What control? He doesn't even have control over the little ticker in his torso pumping blood around his body keeping him alive.

I dont get it.

Cant you see you have not created yourself?

The way I see it, I was born helpless and I shall die helpless.

I look at my two young children and I think "I have given you everything in my power, I hope and pray that when you are older you will not be too proud to give a little back and show me the love and kindess I have shown you"

But then I'm just their mother, I have not created them, I do not sustain them, their lives are not in my hands.

Then I think of what it would be like to refuse to obey, love, respect, adore and want to please the One in whose Hand my life is in.
Disbelievers will say "why would an almighty God need our worship?" "What does it matter to him."
The truth is, your disbelief does not lessen His Power and Might in the slightest. Do you see the earth halting it's orbit because you disbelieve? He is not in need of you, you are in need of him. He has something you need, salvation.
Just like you would believe more in a stone, in the middle of the jungle, under which was a treasure with your name on it.

But before I get accused of preaching I think I'll stop. lol

__________________
"But as for me (I believe) that He is Allah, my Lord, and I shall associate none as partner with my Lord." Surah Al-Kahf verse 38. Holy Quran