Agnostic? What is that?
Its a question I'm often meeted with when asked about my religion. And in a nutshell its really not a religion as much as an understanding of the lack of understanding. (We will never understand "God" so why try?) As a Christian believes in God, and an atheist in the LACK of God, I'm stuck in the middle.
To find God, or to not find God, that is the question.
Basically an agnostic believes that we will never be able to prove the existence of a God, it is something that should well, just be left alone untill we pass into the afterlife. I personally do not believe in the notions of Heaven and Hell, but if evidence comes forward I could be swayed. I've also heard of agnostics being called communists, because communism opposed religion. Note: agnostic does not equal communist.
An agnostic is a practical type of person, believing in a lot of ways whatever he or she wants to believe, without fearing the divine ruler God.
So what is your religion? Are you a Christian and if so, what division? Catholic, Protestant? Are you Jewish, Muslim, Mormon, orthodox or unorthodox? Do you believe in God at all? Please comment. : )
I'm agnostic too. I'm just trying to figure out what I believe about "God" and "the afterlife" but at the same time, whatever conclusion I come to will not be concrete because I don't think it's possible to know anything for sure. It's hard for me to fathom how faithful some people are in their religions. On the one hand I find it strange that people can follow something somewhat blindly, but on the other hand I have great respect for people who have unwavering faith in any particular religion.
I have respect for them too. To give yourself whole heartedly to something that mysterious. Where do they find the inspiration? I have some heavy Christian friends at school and they ask me jokingly "Have you found God yet?" I want to ask them how did you find him? and how do you continue to believe in him?
Wow. Thanks for clearning up what it means to be agnostic. I never knew...and it seems I used to be agnostic...
But I've come back to my faith now. I'm a Christian. Denomination? Methodist. Why? because my church family is wonderful and I like it there. I feel at home with them when I don't feel at home...well, at home.
Anyway, what really brought me back to my faith were two experiences I had that proved to me that God exists. The first was several years back during a bad storm. I'm highly paranoid about storms at night, because if there was a tornado, sleeping peole will not know to get to their basements. And so one night, I was terrified out of my wits, convinced there was a tornado, which I later found out there was...within walking distance of my house. But during this storm, all I could do was pray, because something within me told me to. And suddenly it felt as if a blanket had been tossed over me, and I knew without a doubt I'd be safe.
The second was at a youth rally his year. I'd been having my doubts about Christianity...I knew there was a God, but I didn't know if I was in the right religion. Well, during this youth rally, which I blogged about just a few minutes ago, actually, while a great speaker with a funny name was busy telling us how we are worth something to God...which really got to me because I'd been feeling worthless...I suddenly felt that same comforting presence. And I just knew I was in the right religion, that my faith was in the right place.
I don't know much about the Bible, I'll admit. I have my doubts and uncertainties about some of what I'm taught. But I'm proud to say I'm a Christian because of my experiences. They're proof enough to me.
....goodness, I ranted. Oh well...that's what people get from me when they ask about my faith. XD
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
I commented on your blog, even before you commented on this blog, and I totally respect your decision. You don't have to knowledgable about the bible to find faith in that religion. Remember that you are worth something in any religion, and if God helps you to reinforce this, then it is the right place for you to be.
Wow. I really need to start paying attention to whose blogs I'm commenting on. XD
I had no idea that I was reading the blog of someone who had left an encouraging comment on my blog! Thanks again. ^_^
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
I've always wondered what agnostic meant exactly. Nice simple way of putting it.
I'm a Christian. I go to a Southern Baptist church. Don't worry! We're not crazy I promise. For some reason on ther internet people think we're crazy? I don't know where that comes from.
For me I believe in it because if there was CONCRETE evidence that God existed and the whole shabang there wouldn't be a point. I believe that Jesus died for mine and everyone else's sins on the cross and then rose again. There has to be a way for us to overcome our sins because it takes perfection to get into Heaven and there's no way we can be perfect by ourselves so Jesus took the fall for us. There's no evidence of this but I believe it anyway. It's faith. Simple as that. Faith takes believing with your heart and not with your eyes.
I think it's beautiful that you feel this way. I used to feel the same way but in growing up I have lost faith in christianity and religion in general. As I said in an earlier comment, I am agnostic. I still think there is probably a God, but I don't really believe in any religion that is in existence today. I do however find comfort in the Catholic Church of which my family belongs as it has taught me kindness and generosity. I hope that you're able to use your religion to spread light throughout the world and hope that you will never stop believing. For me, I feel sorry that I don't believe anything for sure, but at the same time I can't force myself to believe something that I don't.
I think many people are agnostic and just don't know it yet. I don't know how to classify my religion- I'm not religious, per se- I don't worship anyone or anything. I think we're all the result of some force that we don't understand at this point. I don't know if we'll ever understand it, but I do know that something started the events that led to us being here. I just don't know what that something is and I don't feel like I owe it praise, but maybe just respect. Who knows.
I wrote a blog about it, it's not the one listed in my signature but you can find it on my profile if you're interested. It's one of the first few blogs I wrote.
F*** Religion. Read more here:
http://www.progressiveu.org/020528-f-religion