Theism, Agnosticism, or Atheism?

Started by Reck April 22nd, 2011 3:15 PM
  • 1359 views
  • 31 replies
  • Public Poll

Theism, Agnosticism, or Atheism?

Reck

?????

Age 28
Male
Ohio
Seen July 22nd, 2016
Posted April 12th, 2012
310 posts
14.4 Years
So what do you believe? Heres a brief description for each.

Theism in the broadest sense, is the belief that at least one deity exists. In a more specific sense, theism refers to a doctrine concerning the nature of a monotheistic God and God's relationship to the universe. Theism, in this specific sense, conceives of God as personal, present and active in the governance and organization of the world and the universe. The use of the word theism as indicating a particular doctrine of monotheism arose in the wake of the scientific revolution of the seventeenth century to contrast with the then emerging deism that contended that God, though transcendent and supreme, did not intervene in the natural world and could be known rationally but not via revelation.

Agnosticism is the view that the truth value of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, but also other religious and metaphysical claims—is unknown or unknowable. Agnosticism can be defined in various ways, and is sometimes used to indicate doubt or a skeptical approach to questions. In some senses, agnosticism is a stance about the similarities or differences between belief and knowledge, rather than about any specific claim or belief.

Atheism in a broad sense, is the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities. Most inclusively, atheism is simply the absence of belief that any deities exist. Atheism is contrasted with theism, which in its most general form is the belief that at least one deity exists.

thanks to wikipedia for definitions

No allow me to start this by saying i am Atheist.

On a side note. THIS IS IN NO MEANS A TRY TO START AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN THE BELIEVER AND NONBELIEVER!

Melody

Banned

Female
Cuddling those close to me
Seen March 4th, 2018
Posted March 2nd, 2018
6,459 posts
18.6 Years
I'm a Christian by nature so naturally I'm all for Theism.
I'm not a conventional Christian, nor do I claim a home in any of the different sects of Christianity that exists, they are all both right and wrong at the same time.
I read the bible and interpret His Will for myself. I do not shun the idea of asking someone for guidance, but ultimately I alone chart my course. I do this because no one minister, evangelist, priest, rabbi, pope, bishop or religious teacher has all the answers, and the wisest of these all know that.
I do not deviate from Christianity's basic ideals, but I do not refuse to know the bare basics of other major religions so I may understand those people better.'

I am logical enough to tip my hat to truth, regardless of what religion has to say about it. The Truth does not have to be "Good and Right" by the religious teachings in order for it to be The Truth. Neither Fact or Faith have default precedence when there is a minor conflict. Each conflict is mediated individually.

Charizard★

Age 28
Female
Seen January 28th, 2019
Posted November 13th, 2018
13,369 posts
13.8 Years
Atheism, I am athiest because I just figured that my life was so bad at the time, and nothing was going right, that there was nothing up there that was going to help me.... So I stopped praying and took it upon myself to solve my own problems. I also stopped living in fear. Because with religion I felt like everything I did was a sin or my family would not approve. But now being an athiest, I have no fear of hell or demons, or the devil.


Esper

California
Seen June 30th, 2018
Posted June 30th, 2018
I would say I'm agnostic because I want to sound smart by saying I'd be willing to believe in gods if given evidence of their existence, but even if I was given evidence I'd probably not believe anyway because I'd rationalize it as something else. I really don't have it in me to believe in supernatural things so I may as well say I'm an atheist.

Sydian

fake your death.

Age 30
they/them
Georgia
Seen May 22nd, 2022
Posted November 29th, 2021
33,354 posts
15.2 Years
I'm a theist. I don't think I'll be shaking my Baptist roots. I've always believed in God and Jesus Christ, and I don't see that ever changing.
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Margot

some things are that simple

they/he
Seen April 16th, 2022
Posted February 25th, 2019
3,662 posts
17.3 Years
I'm going to put myself in the agnostic category.

My parents come from very different and conflicting religious backgrounds and when they had my brother and I they decided that instead of fighting over what religion we'd be raised with, they dropped the conversation of religion in general. So that left me completely clueless about religion, which in a way has ended up being nice. I'm much more open minded to learning about other religious ideals than someone who believes in only one would. Not saying that everyone is that way at all, but you'd be surprised at how many kids in my worlds religions class sit and preach about why their religion is right and bash other ones.

So I do believe in a higher being, but I agree and disagree with ideals from numerous religions so I don't identify with just with one. Hence my agnostic standpoint.

Mr Cat Dog

Frasier says it best

Age 32
Male
London, UK
Seen September 29th, 2017
Posted July 12th, 2017
11,344 posts
19.1 Years
I'm an atheist. Going to a Catholic school did nothing to drive the fear of God into me, and I just don't believe any of the stuff in what most people refer to as Scripture. Religion can work wonders for many people to cope with the harder aspects of life, and help them with some of the big questions, but it does nothing for me: simply because I don't believe in a deity.

Misheard Whisper

I also happen to be a model.

Age 28
He/They
Nimbasa Gym
Seen October 3rd, 2022
Posted September 27th, 2022
3,488 posts
14.4 Years
Personally, atheist. I was raised Catholic, but after about ten years (:/) I realised it wasn't doing it for me. It's Easter Sunday today and I'm going to church with my family, but that's one of maybe three times a year that I go. I do it out of respect to them.

As well as that, although I turned away from the idea of the existence of a God, I still hold to the Catholic values as much as I can, because in essence, they are just common sense required to be a good person. Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not covet . . . most are sensible, while others warrant a little more thinking about, but here is neither the time nor place.

No, I don't believe there is a God, or any kind of god(s). If you showed me proof, I would be forced to change my ways, but I do not believe there is any proof for the existence of deities, hence I picked Atheist over Agnostic in the poll.

Note: I always found it interesting how the Bible often says 'Do not test the Lord'. To me, that just said 'Don't ask for proof, because we haven't got any.' That was one of the reasons I stepped out of the faith.

I don't think there is any kind of greater power. I like to believe in enormous coincidences, because it actually makes me appreciate my existence far more. Do I believe in an afterlife, or a soul? I actually don't know. I'd like to think I have a soul, and that there's somewhere for it to hang out after I die, but the same part of my mind that pushed away God tells me it's unlikely.

At the same time, though, I try to remain open-minded and respectful of all religions, especially the one that most of my family follows, Catholicism. But I know people who are Catholic, Protestant, Mormon, Jewish, and other religions I'd never even heard of and can't pronounce, but I treat them all with the same level of respect because ultimately, it's that person's choice. I made my choice a few years ago and I expect others to respect it just as much as I respect theirs, because in a way, atheism is a religion in and of itself.
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Shining Raichu

Expect me like you expect Jesus.

Age 32
Male
Australia
Seen October 17th, 2020
Posted December 21st, 2017
8,958 posts
12.3 Years
I'm an atheist through and through, I don't believe and I never will. You can waste your life that way.

I still hold to the Catholic values as much as I can, because in essence, they are just common sense required to be a good person. Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not covet . . .
I don't think churches have a patent on those, you're right, they're just common sense - I wouldn't call them Catholic values :P but I am glad you follow them!
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donavannj

Age 32
Male
'cause it get cold like Minnesota
Seen 4 Days Ago
Posted 1 Week Ago
22,513 posts
18.2 Years
I would describe myself as a secular humanist who isn't concerned with what anyone's religion is, just how respectful they are of other people, and whether what they're doing is causing harm or will cause harm to others.
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Timbjerr

T-o-X-i-C

Age 36
Female
Texas
Seen May 30th, 2022
Posted January 28th, 2016
7,415 posts
19.7 Years
I'm most definitely theist, but I'm also not what you'd call religious.

I believe in the creation deity of the Abrahamic religions, but I see Him as more of a passive observer and judge of our race rather than as an omnipotent father figure...if that makes any sense at all.

Such a belief is often referred to as "Deism". The belief that God(s) exist but do(es) not interfere in our mortal affairs.

ShinyMeowth

Gone forever

Age 26
Male
Greece
Seen March 23rd, 2012
Posted May 14th, 2011
397 posts
12.4 Years
I am definitely atheist. I see no reason in believing there is a god, as there is absolutely no scientific evidence supporting that claim. The bible breaks the laws of physics countless times (Jesus walking on water, for example. The human body is much more dense than water, and if his density somehow changed, he would have auto-died anyway.), and when that happens, you know something is very wrong. I can't claim the same thing for other religions, as I am not aware of the contents of their holy books, but I am pretty sure they also claim the impossible to be happening all the time.

Shiny ★ Meowth

Nutella

♫ Purple Hurple ♫

Female
Skyloft
Seen January 27th, 2012
Posted January 26th, 2012
398 posts
12.1 Years
I'm an atheist through and through, I don't believe and I never will. You can waste your life that way.
I share almost the same sentiments as you (can't remember if I posted here or not), but I don't think it's a waste of a life if they get positive emotional and mental benefits from believing in a higher power.

You could almost call me a skeptic- I don't believe in the supernatural, and I dislike people jumping to divine or supernatural conclusions just because empirical/tangible evidence isn't apparent. Answers to such complexities rarely occur instantaneously. Just how many ghost photos have been debunked? Ah, but I'm getting off-topic. Skepticism and atheism are similar, but not hand-in-hand.

Holy Roman Empire
Seen February 23rd, 2016
Posted February 23rd, 2016
2,551 posts
13.7 Years
Theist.
I don't particularly care about the laws of physics, but I don't believe in everything the bible or its equivalents say either. But, the main reason why I value religion: death. If it was just the end of existance, life, nay, everything would be pointless. I could not live with this thought, and it doesn't explain the will to survive of all living things either, there would be no reason. No, there has to be another explanation than that everything just happened haphazardly, and the existance of a higher being that created the system (most likely not in the way the creation story tells) and has, while benevolent, mostly been a passive observer ever since makes a lot more sense to me than any 'scientific' one saying it all happened randomly and for no reason. I believe there has to be a reason for everything.
Age 30
Male
Melbourne, Australia
Seen January 8th, 2013
Posted April 30th, 2012
1,031 posts
14.1 Years
Posting to specify 'other': Apatheism — I am disinclined toward the notion that I should care either way.
Being atheist or religious requires you to take a stance. Apatheism, through not caring, is not taking a stance on religion which technically comes under agnosticism.

I'm agnostic/apatheist. I won't believe in gods without proof and consequently can't believe that there aren't gods without proof they don't exist. Because I believe there's no way of obtaining this proof I don't really concern myself with religion.