Religion

The Velveteen Ocelot

(122,436 posts)

11. I can't answer it, and prefer not to try.

Mon May 21, 2018, 01:34 PM

May 2018

I'm an agnostic. I don't know whether there is a deity or a force or whatever, and I don't especially care. If there is or isn't, I can't do anything about it anyhow. I can't know which, if any, is the "correct" religion so as to worship the correct god. So I leave others to their beliefs or their non-beliefs and try to stay out of arguments that are bound to go nowhere or change anyone's minds.

I do find theology and religious studies interesting as aspects of anthropology and sociology and how they reflect and influence the behavior of societies. I have no argument with religious people as long as they stay out of government and don't harm people. Other than that, a god could exist, or not. It doesn't matter much to me.

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School Shootings - More Evidence of a Non-Existent Deity? [View all] MineralMan May 2018 OP

Not necessarily evidence of non-existence, but certainly evidence The Velveteen Ocelot May 2018 #1

Well, since I'm an atheist, I think it's evidence of non-existence, MineralMan May 2018 #2

Dude. Tipperary May 2018 #46

Thanks for pointing that out. I've corrected the error. MineralMan May 2018 #61

Can you describe the difference between a universe where no gods exist... trotsky May 2018 #3

It's a position held by deist philosophers - Newton and Descartes, for example. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2018 #4

Yes, thank you so very much for that. But it doesn't answer my question. trotsky May 2018 #5

I can't answer it, and prefer not to try. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2018 #11

So you don't believe in gods. That's cool. trotsky May 2018 #12

Because I don't know. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2018 #13

I don't either. trotsky May 2018 #14

I don't know. From what I've read, some do. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2018 #15

Fascinating. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #28

I really don't care about how other people perceive me. The Velveteen Ocelot May 2018 #41

I'll bet. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #56

Was that an insult? Am I supposed to care? The Velveteen Ocelot May 2018 #57

Why would you think it is an insult? Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #60

I am an agnostic too, and it's easy to explain marylandblue May 2018 #49

We're *all* agnostic. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #55

Then why call yourself atheist? marylandblue May 2018 #62

The two things aren't mutually exclusive. Mariana May 2018 #64

If I don't believe something is true, then I say it isn't true marylandblue May 2018 #87

For me, it's because I don't believe in gods. trotsky May 2018 #65

I don't have a special category marylandblue May 2018 #85

Very few atheists I've ever met claim to "know for sure." trotsky May 2018 #90

Because the two are not mutually-exclusive terms... Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #69

Some people seem pretty sure, one way or the other marylandblue May 2018 #83

I said I don't believe in gods. trotsky May 2018 #92

I don't know the answer therefore I am agnostic. It's not about belief. marylandblue May 2018 #93

Technically, leprechauns *could* exist. You don't *know* they don't. trotsky May 2018 #109

Technically, you could be a figment of my imagination marylandblue May 2018 #114

I'm also uncertain. trotsky May 2018 #117

Well usually leprechauns are tiny humanoid magic creatures dressed in green marylandblue May 2018 #122

"usually" trotsky May 2018 #124

Yes it does depend on definitions marylandblue May 2018 #126

According to #65, Trotsky doesn't believe in gods. Mariana May 2018 #95

What definition of belief are you using? marylandblue May 2018 #96

Yes. I don't think any gods exist. Mariana May 2018 #100

I'd say the probability of finding the Loch Ness Monster etc. is zero marylandblue May 2018 #101

Folks thought the probablility of finding a live coelacanth was zero. Mariana May 2018 #104

yes, I was thinking of that example as well marylandblue May 2018 #105

"Seem pretty sure" Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #107

I can't read their minds, but marylandblue May 2018 #115

You keep confusing these terms. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #118

This is not about theoretical uncertainty marylandblue May 2018 #119

No, it's about the misapplication of a term. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #120

You have not been down this road 1,000 times with me marylandblue May 2018 #121

We're certainly getting there. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #123

I don't believe belief is a binary proposition marylandblue May 2018 #125

Confidence is a spectrum. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #127

You are splitting hairs marylandblue May 2018 #130

No, I'm not. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #135

I won't tell you what you believe marylandblue May 2018 #136

I'm not telling you what you believe. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #137

Definition of Agnostic from Merriam Webster marylandblue May 2018 #138

The operative word being "broadly" Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #140

I really don't care how believers sort non-believers marylandblue May 2018 #141

Spare us your sanctimony. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #142

Spare us your own sanctimony marylandblue May 2018 #143

Having a fever is a binary proposition Pope George Ringo II May 2018 #128

Temperature is a spectrum marylandblue May 2018 #129

There's nothing arbitrary about it. Pope George Ringo II May 2018 #131

Like I said, if you see this in black and white, you are not going to understand me marylandblue May 2018 #132

Well, if you're that sincerely committed to it, I'll concede the point. Pope George Ringo II May 2018 #133

Climate change? Moostache May 2018 #86

I don't believe in God as described in the Bible or the Quran marylandblue May 2018 #88

Fair enough... Moostache May 2018 #91

Clearly, there are no such differences. MineralMan May 2018 #6

Purpose of prayer zipplewrath May 2018 #8

Same...but different...but still same Docreed2003 May 2018 #26

Yes, I can. guillaumeb May 2018 #31

So how is your world, where your gods exist Voltaire2 May 2018 #35

An ontological difference. guillaumeb May 2018 #36

And once again a non-answer. Voltaire2 May 2018 #37

I answered your initial question. guillaumeb May 2018 #38

For the second, you have made several unsupported statements. trotsky May 2018 #66

You asked for an opinion. guillaumeb May 2018 #94

So no answers. trotsky May 2018 #110

Ugh....my joke is a drop of poop now Docreed2003 May 2018 #50

It is quite impossible to prove something doesn't exist. bitterross May 2018 #52

Different concepts of Dieties zipplewrath May 2018 #7

OK. I conceive that no deities at all exist. MineralMan May 2018 #9

Yup zipplewrath May 2018 #10

"There isn't supposed to be evidence." Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #16

evidence would make faith worthless Fullduplexxx May 2018 #18

Which also sounds like a post hoc rationalization. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #20

And sometimes a cigar is a cigar Fullduplexxx May 2018 #25

Which was definitely was a post hoc rationalization. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #27

Not to mention it being a worn-out, trite cliche. MineralMan May 2018 #32

Apocryphal but still true dont you think Fullduplexxx May 2018 #33

If we're talking about cigars, perhaps. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #58

So far as i remember faith has been a cornerstone in the religion Fullduplexxx May 2018 #63

Pretty good memory. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #68

Oh that was hilarious Fullduplexxx May 2018 #70

Thanks! Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #108

Which religion? nt. Mariana May 2018 #72

I was speaking of the catholic religion of which i am no longer a part of Fullduplexxx May 2018 #73

That church was supposedly started by people Mariana May 2018 #106

That's an interesting idea, that evidence makes faith worthless. Mariana May 2018 #39

Only modern faith. Voltaire2 May 2018 #43

I believe so . They no longer believe, they know Fullduplexxx May 2018 #44

I think I worded that question badly. I apologize. Mariana May 2018 #45

Idk Perhaps because faith is chosen Fullduplexxx May 2018 #47

You think? Mariana May 2018 #48

Your assumption that "the supposed deity was either absent or doesn't exist in the first place." Fullduplexxx May 2018 #17

It is not my assumption. That is your assumption of MineralMan May 2018 #19

Im sorry these are not you words? Fullduplexxx May 2018 #22

Those are me[sic] words, yes. MineralMan May 2018 #24

Call it what you will and insults over typos aside Fullduplexxx May 2018 #29

I will call it what it is, and it wasn't just typos. MineralMan May 2018 #30

That 3rd option is more horrific than anything else. trotsky May 2018 #74

They were victims of his free will or his mental illness . Fullduplexxx May 2018 #77

He? You're positing that such a deity exists. MineralMan May 2018 #79

Yea i shouldnt have used he Fullduplexxx May 2018 #81

Holy shit that's even scarier. trotsky May 2018 #82

It may be to atheists but i believe we all go back to god Fullduplexxx May 2018 #84

Even if I still believed in a god... trotsky May 2018 #89

the all powerful god allowed these killings to happen. perhaps even planned them. nt msongs May 2018 #21

I don't believe there is any such entity, so no. MineralMan May 2018 #23

It has been stated here that 77% of Americans Voltaire2 May 2018 #34

Beliefs are selective. MineralMan May 2018 #40

God protected all the people who didn't get shot. Mariana May 2018 #42

We will find a reason we are comfortable with and project it on our respective deities. StTimofEdenRoc May 2018 #51

People pray to the same good that let it all happen Lordquinton May 2018 #53

No God Or False Gods? Westcoast52 May 2018 #54

Please define the word "god" as you're using it here. Mariana May 2018 #67

Uh, hello? rownesheck May 2018 #59

Whether it counts as "more" evidence is sort of borderline. Jim Lane May 2018 #71

Each incident is more evidence. Evidence is additive. MineralMan May 2018 #75

Ah, the "if there is a God" lament? saidsimplesimon May 2018 #76

The santa claus god Fullduplexxx May 2018 #78

Who is santa? lol saidsimplesimon May 2018 #80

In a multiverse all possible worlds exist. Voltaire2 May 2018 #98

Evidence of a violence obsessed society, guillaumeb May 2018 #97

"Man Is The Measure Of All Things" Westcoast52 May 2018 #99

There you go. Poking the bear. WhiteTara May 2018 #102

Moloch Buzz cook May 2018 #103

Interesting thread. I'm late as hell but ecstatic May 2018 #111

So you are claiming that there is some grand purpose that justifies Voltaire2 May 2018 #112

Well, we're not doing so well now, either. MineralMan May 2018 #113

This would not be consistent with God as usually defined marylandblue May 2018 #116

Hi marylandblue - you bring up an important (and thought-provoking point). Pendrench May 2018 #134

Thanks for your interesting take on this marylandblue May 2018 #139

You are very welcome - thank you again for your post! Pendrench May 2018 #144

Yes I live in Maryland, near DC marylandblue May 2018 #145

Glad to hear that you are OK. Pendrench Jun 2018 #146

From 2012, just after the Sandy Hook massacre. old as dirt Dec 2021 #147

"Let the little children come to me", Jesus said. old as dirt Dec 2021 #148