Quote:
Originally Posted by RT14
Not having read any of this thread yet and spending 5 minutes perusing the poll options, I found myself unable to choose anything.
I don't understand how in this day and age one can "believe", which by my definition means believe to be true, as in, anything opposed would be untrue. There is just so much that is being discovered in the science community that disproves so many religious beliefs it's pretty much impossible to take the bible or any religious writings as factual. At the same time, there are so many things that had to go absolutely perfect for the human species to come out on top on our little speck of dust called Earth that it's hard to think there isn't some guidance or higher power looking out for us humans. However, I said hard to believe, not impossible. It's entirely possible it's all coincidence. With the billions if not trillions number of stars and incalculable number of planets out there, it's bound to happen here and there, but that's another topic all together.
Looking at my own life experiences though, there are a lot of incidences where a split second or inch of difference could have resulted in me not being here today and looking back at everything, again, it's hard not to think that maybe, just maybe, there is some higher power that has a slight influence on the time/space continuum, or something like that. But again, it could all be coincidence.
The thing is, anything is possible. The only things we know for certainty is what science has proven and is proving today. If there is a god, science will one day prove it and at that time he/she/it will have my full belief. Right now, I don't believe or disbelieve in "god" per se, but I'm open minded enough to think it's possible while waiting for science to enlighten me on what can honestly be believed in.
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So you're what's called a weak agnostic or empirical agnostic, which is a pretty interesting viewpoint. I think that a lot of people look at the same evidence that you cite and say, "I can't know anything for certain, but here's what I'm going to believe, even though it might be wrong." Whereas you chose, if I understand you correctly, not to believe or disbelieve out of concern that whatever you choose may someday be disproved.
I think that increasingly, more and more people are various forms of agnostic: agnostic theists who feel that they have no evidence for the existence of god, and yet choose to believe; agnostic atheists who have no evidence for or against the existence of god, but choose to disbelieve; apethetic atheists who feel that the lack of any evidence for god means that he has no empirical impact on us so the question is completely pointless; strong agnostics who believe that the existance of god can never be known or understood.