Shouldn't we all be agnostics?

You claim to be a Christian yet you say you are agnostic?

wow

A little unsolicited advice......climb down off the fence and go one way or the other...........you're wasting your time right now.

BTW......I hope you choose the right way...........As a CHristian, you should know there is only ONE way......

Oh no, someone's trying to swell *our* ranks! Well, I think most people require certainties in their lives, something they can point to and say "this is eternal" or "this is true." When you're willing to float and take truths as they come, then you might be agnostic. But most people have to have anchors. And if you're one that doesn't hold fast to a personal, empirical or scientific truth, then you're looked upon as "wishy-washy" or accused of "fence sitting," as if you're just afraid to choose between two or more options and settle down to stop thinking for the rest of your life. The difference between me and atheists or Christians/other theists is that I accept all possibilities if they pass my tests or if they are sufficiently proven or reasonable/applicable. I accept that scientific method, although it has its faults, is a powerful tool for discovering truth, AND I accept that faith can move mountains (by the motivation of humans beyond mere logical acceptance into the fire of action.) I theorize that atheists and Christians will never find middle ground if one insists on scientific proof and the other insists on faith as the way to God. But each camp keeps trying and getting frustrated. And they both think that I'm just wishy-washy.

To answer your question, I'm not going to claim everyone as agnostic like me; one is only agnostic if one decides to be. I won't say that religion is responsible for all the evils in the world, because there has also been great good done by individual people who are religious. Just as not all atheists are humanists--some are downright evil. But in my opinion, it all boils down to basic human values and how well we, as individuals, treat our fellows. It is best to be thoughtful and considerate and not hold on to unreasonable pride in insisting our way is the *only* way--because someday, that way may change, enlightenment may unfold further, and you may look back and be ashamed of how close-minded once you were (I have been closed-minded in my past and strive not be so now).

Well, technically, if taking a particularly strong agnostic stance, we all are: Some agnostics believe that whether or not there is a god is definitely uknowable.

That would go like:

There are a theist agnostics: They can't possibly know there is a god, but they obviously do believe so.

Then there is atheist agnostics: They can't possibly know there is no god, but they obviously do believe so.

And finally there is true agnostics: They can't possibly know whether there is a god, so they don't bother believing either way.

Personally, I just think whether there is god(s) is unknown; if you want to believe, go ahead. I'll not try to stuff my (lack of) belief down your throat and would appreciate if you returned the favor.

That depends.

Are you talking weak agnosticism (i.e. about the "god" issue and the metaphysical alone) or strong agnosticism (i.e. about everything)?

Afterall... everything you know is thanks to data taken in through your senses. Your senses are capable of lying to you, or rather your mind will misprocess input that itself is naturally limited. There is no way for certain to know anything at all.

But acting as though everything is up in the air and unknowable, valid a decision as it may be theoretically.... is highly impractical.

Sometimes it is better to believe something entirely, though simultaneously accepting the possibility that it might be wrong. There is nothing amiss with being misinformed or wrong about something. It happens to everyone. It certainly doesn't mean you should give up believing.

Only to the extent that we're agnostics about leprechauns and Santa Claus....

While we may never be able to say with 100% certainty whether god exists, that does not mean that existence and non-existence are equally likely, or that we can't weigh the relative probability of each claim being true.

Everything else in the universe evolves slowly over time and successive generations, from simpler forms to more complex ones. No one suggests that a complex living being like a horse or a person could just spontaneously spring up -- on this matter, both theists and atheists can agree.

However, a being capable of creating a universe would of necessity have to be a very complex entity as well -- several orders of magnitude more complex than the humans he created. Which would make it just as unlikely for such a being to simply sprung up or "always existed" without having to go through that same process of evolution. To insist otherwise is called "special pleading" -- a very common logical fallacy.

Yes, but human nature is full of superstition. Look at tribal groups found in the rain forest. They have colorful stories of spirit ghosts, and practice Animism.

But of course we don't know the answers. It is all just a way to help us deal with uncertainty. To have some kind of answer to the unanswerable.

i'm Roman Catholic (& Agnostic from time to time) yet, the only element i'm Agnostic approximately Is Hell & Demons because of fact, i'm perplexed approximately Wether If I could have faith In Hell & Demons Or no longer

Keep thinking! The process, roughly, is this: self-proclaimed christian -> doubter -> researcher -> agnostic -> atheist -> intellectual and emotional freedom!

You're on the right path, keep doubting!

I am 100% sure about my Christian faith but I understand where your question is coming from. I can't prove that God exists and I wouldn't try; but I have experienced knowing God and that convinces me.

I'm probably agnostic about Santa Claus and leprachauns though! lol

very true none of us do know for fact . as ive been saying for years. Agnostic until proven wrong

"Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we cannot see" - Hebrews 11:1

If you are not "absolutely 100% certain" then you really do not have faith, and God has certainly not filled you with His evidence - the Holy Spirit - so you are also not likely a born-again Christian.

I'm sorry - you probably are an agnostic.