I am not an atheist by choice

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: Annee

I know those definitions, but I don't like them. They don't allow for a middle ground. I used to tell people that I'm an agnostic atheist, but I've decided that there is as much evidence for god as there isn't for god. None. Therefore neither answer is known. I don't like to say something called god doesn't exist, because I'd be lying since I don't know. Hence I just say I am agnostic.

How is there evidence for a God?

He just said there is none. I have noticed that you frequently misunderstand posts (including mine). Perhaps rereading them would clear up misunderstandings.

originally posted by: Prezbo369

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: ScientificRailgun

Why be an atheist? Be an agnostic. That leaves the possibility you could be wrong about god existing while not having to put forth the effort of belief.

Agnostics are by default atheists.......and as such lack the belief in god.

Why are people always attempting to change the meaning of the word?

I am an agnostic not an atheist. I know the difference. Why are you trying to define the positions of others?

originally posted by: Prezbo369
a reply to: poncho1982

One side loves a god that'll burn you for eternity in a lake of fire, or something....

And the other 'side' has told you that you were stupid for believing in something for no good reason, no evidence, nothing.

Yeah they're the same...

That's not the same. One is a threat and the other is a value judgment.

originally posted by: Prezbo369

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: ScientificRailgun

Why be an atheist? Be an agnostic. That leaves the possibility you could be wrong about god existing while not having to put forth the effort of belief.

Agnostics are by default atheists.......and as such lack the belief in god.

Why are people always attempting to change the meaning of the word?

I LoL'd.

Ignorance is truly bliss.

a reply to: Eunuchorn

B.S. just because they do not fit "GOD" into any of the Spoonfed overly weak characteristics that shrowd this earth does not mean they are atheist.

I am in the camp that something exists all right, but none of these religions know about it, and are designed to make sure we never do!!

Atheist have made a decision NOTHING exists, Religious have been fed amazingly deep tales of what exists, and then we have the REAL PEOPLE, who know none of the religions NONE, have any power over us, and we will show them just WHO has been FORCING this world and every other one to live on this frequency.

And that means this, NOTHING taught anywhere describes properly or even tries too, of what is actually going on....The dam YOGIS are the biggest fools of all, since they travelled the most to get nowhere good in the end, but another SEA OF DELUSION.

Need some real people to wake up and see that everything is neither up or down, ying and yang and every other lie fed us so brutally.

a reply to: ScientificRailgun

It is something that waxes and wanes with me. Sometimes I feel faith in my head, and other times it is only with my heart. Sometimes both, but the only time I felt it in neither, was in a time of despair.

SRG, I can't imagine God judging you in a harsh way. The way you are, seems to be the way you are wired. We can't argue with that too much, I think. Some things are as impossible as trying to change your eye color. Can't do it.

I've enjoyed this thread so much, and I don't click on religious threads. Ever. (Well, maybe once, and I regretted it) but I thought I would take a quick peek, and I'm glad I did.

a reply to: ladyinwaiting

You are truly missing out. On my posts alone. I go out of my way to read religious threads & almost single handedly make them readable. Well, me & DeadEye anyways. Just don't read any bible quotes, & the thread as a whole will be far more entertaining.

a reply to: ParasuvO

So you agree, atheism & agnosticism are not the same thing?

originally posted by: Tangerine

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: Annee

I know those definitions, but I don't like them. They don't allow for a middle ground. I used to tell people that I'm an agnostic atheist, but I've decided that there is as much evidence for god as there isn't for god. None. Therefore neither answer is known. I don't like to say something called god doesn't exist, because I'd be lying since I don't know. Hence I just say I am agnostic.

How is there evidence for a God?

He just said there is none. I have noticed that you frequently misunderstand posts (including mine). Perhaps rereading them would clear up misunderstandings.

Did you read how he worded it?

originally posted by: ParasuvO
Atheist have made a decision NOTHING exists,

That is not true.

a reply to: ScientificRailgun

I agree with Shadow Herder: Spiritual Pursuit is something else to religion, that spiritual journey can lead you to religion (if that is your course) or to a deeper and better understanding of your self and your place in the universe.

What is spirituality? I am not entire sure myself but for me it has been finding out the nature of things, of relationships, between man and the rest of creation and of trying to find the reflection of the grand universe inside of me...after all we all desire a peaceful life and this can be just being kind to others and living a life of happiness made up of your loved ones from your youth to your old age, the moments are important and being able to appreciate those moments and being thankful for them.

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: Tangerine

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: Annee

I know those definitions, but I don't like them. They don't allow for a middle ground. I used to tell people that I'm an agnostic atheist, but I've decided that there is as much evidence for god as there isn't for god. None. Therefore neither answer is known. I don't like to say something called god doesn't exist, because I'd be lying since I don't know. Hence I just say I am agnostic.

How is there evidence for a God?

He just said there is none. I have noticed that you frequently misunderstand posts (including mine). Perhaps rereading them would clear up misunderstandings.

Did you read how he worded it?

Yes. It seemed clear to me.

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: ParasuvO
Atheist have made a decision NOTHING exists,

That is not true.

OK, then how do you distinguish between an atheist and an agnostic?

originally posted by: Tangerine

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: ParasuvO
Atheist have made a decision NOTHING exists,

That is not true.

OK, then how do you distinguish between an atheist and an agnostic?

Already posted that.

You picking and choosing?

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: Tangerine

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: ParasuvO
Atheist have made a decision NOTHING exists,

That is not true.

OK, then how do you distinguish between an atheist and an agnostic?

Already posted that.

You picking and choosing?

You posted a definition of an atheist agnostic. I'm not an atheist agnostic. I'm an agnostic.

a reply to: ScientificRailgun

Thanks for telling your story

What does faith mean, to you? What do you want, that you think you are missing? To believe, obviously, but why don't you? It is skepticism about facts, or more spiritual in nature? That is, are you skeptical that God exists because of hard, tangible evidence, or do you simply feel like He's not really there? I'm genuinely curious. And, for what it's worth, you're not defective. At least, not as far as I can tell. You're certainly not the only person to feel as if they lacked faith.

I'm glad you've found some friends that will stick by you.

Edit: if this thread has drifted too much for your taste, feel welcome to PM me. I'd like to hear more of your story.

originally posted by: Tangerine

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: Tangerine

originally posted by: Annee

originally posted by: ParasuvO
Atheist have made a decision NOTHING exists,

That is not true.

OK, then how do you distinguish between an atheist and an agnostic?

Already posted that.

You picking and choosing?

You posted a definition of an atheist agnostic. I'm not an atheist agnostic. I'm an agnostic.

Is this a trick question?

Basically agnostic means god can not be proven or disproven.

Agnosticism & Thomas Henry Huxley How Did Huxley Understand Being an Agnostic?

By Austin Cline Agnosticism/Atheism Expert

The term "agnosticism" itself was coined by Professor T.H. Huxley at a meeting of the Metaphysical Society in 1876. For Huxley, agnosticism was a position which rejected the knowledge claims of both "strong" atheism and traditional theism. More importantly, though, agnosticism for him was a method of doing things.

Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895) was an English natural scientist and author who became widely known as "Darwin's Bulldog" because of his fierce and uncompromising defense of Darwin's theory of evolution and natural selection. Huxley's career as a public defender of evolution and antagonist of religion began most fully when he stood in for Darwin at a 1860 meeting in Oxford of the British Association.

atheism.about.com...

originally posted by: ScientificRailgun

I call out to him. I pray (not much anymore, it's always led to heartache). People have always told that they could FEEL god's love in them. That they could FEEL the lord's presence. I have never felt that. I've never felt the kind of things the religious have told me they feel. That euphoria in being awash in his love, I've never had that.

For what it's worth, I've never had those sorts of feelings/experiences either. And I am *definitely* a Christian.
That's not to say that I've never seen things in my personal life that point me towards God. But they were not especially emotional in nature. (For what it's worth, I'm not an especially emotional person.)

Theistic Gnostic - you claim to Know God exists
Theistic Agnostic - You don't claim to Know God exist but only have Faith.
Atheistic Gnostic - You claim to know God doesn't exist
Atheist Agnostic - You don't claim to know for sure God doesn't exist but you don't believe.

Misotheist/Antitheist - someone who hates God

Much like you, I threw away Christianity because I had many doubts and because my Baptist preacher said that if you find even one error in the Bible then you might as well throw it away (I found many). The Southern Baptist Convention said that if you believe evolution as I did, you don't belong. I saw Christians as spiritual Luddites that thought they knew all about an invisible spiritual world but couldn't grasp simple things in the real world and I predicted they would lose the youth and die out. In pilot training, I lost both engines on take-off at about 300 ft and would have crashed but a voice told me to check my boost pump switches and that saved my life. I realized there must have been some spiritual being that spoke to me. A few years later I fell off my 2nd story roof and a breeze caught me and put me on the middle of the roof; that was a miracle and I got on my knees and thanked God. There were a few others and I became convinced the Holy Shroud is authentic (the Middle Age's date is wrong because they didn't know that new threads were in the sample). I decided to become a good Christian and soon realized I was a heretic but so what. The NT tells me how to be saved and Jesus made it so simple a 5th grader can understand it. Publicly say Jesus is Lord and Savior, be Baptized in Jesus name, and live a holy life based on Jesus' example and teachings so the Holy Spirit can dwell in your temple. You don't have to believe Genesis etc or even all the NT. I now consider the OT is like a box of rocks with many gems and the NT is a box of gems with a few rocks. There are some good testimonies on Youtube. Pray for help, obey, stay alert, be patient and God will bless you.