Atheism and Faith

[TheBigDog]

Originally Posted by Nammy

...ever heard of ignostics?

Another atheist faction heard from. Time for the atheist pope to come out and make some statements and get everyone back in the same camp again.

Bill

[Nammy]

Another really good explanation of Ignostic : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignostic

[ughaibu]

This thread has been running for two and a half weeks yet still there's been no attempt by believers to address it's question.
Presumably there are two general cases: 1) those who were born and brought up in religious environments, who have never conciously not believed, and 2) those who initially had no belief but due to changing circumstances, internal or external, adopted a theistic belief. Case 1) is more of a 'how' explanation and case 2) a 'why' explanation.
As there are several believers frequenting this thread, it would be nice to read their personal case histories. Failing that, it would at least be illuminating to read why they are so reluctant to answer Questor's rather simple enquiry.

[infamous]

There are several reasons why people develope faith:

#1. They are brought up with it and continue to build and grow their experience.

#2. They develope a dissatifaction with their current lives and seek out answers in a relifious group.

#3. A few after sinking to the lowest levels of society, drug abuse, alcoholism, or any other of many self inflicted abuses, they come to understand of their own mortality and look for another form of fulfillment.

#4. In my own case; They have a near death experience which convinces them that there is indeed, life after death.

As everyone here knows, neither one of the four reasons I've listed can be proved to be a good reason for everyone. Individuals make personal choices in their lives that are specific to their own understanding, don't ask me to prove mine, I can't prove it to you but I've proved it to myself..................Infy

[ughaibu]

Infamous: Thanks for your story.

[C1ay]

Originally Posted by infamous

#4. In my own case; They have a near death experience which convinces them that there is indeed, life after death.

But this brings us to yet another fork. I tend to believe that there is some sort of spirit or soul that gives the body life, a form of energy yet to be explained or even verified. For me though this does not hint at the existance of any God, just a facet of our life that we currently lack the technology to explore or the knowledge to understand.

[Tormod]

Originally Posted by Nammy

Before we ask ourselves if God exists we need to determine if the question is relevant, or even sensible. Ignosticism holds that the question is not important and in fact doesn't even make sense.

I believe that this is the position that I was ridiculed for a couple of pages back.

[infamous]

Originally Posted by C1ay

But this brings us to yet another fork. I tend to believe that there is some sort of spirit or soul that gives the body life, a form of energy yet to be explained or even verified.

Good points C1ay; I have similiar views about the reality of our existence..........

Originally Posted by C1ay

For me though this does not hint at the existance of any God,

If I may respectfully suggest, that all depends on how you define God.

Originally Posted by C1ay

just a facet of our life that we currently lack the technology to explore or the knowledge to understand.

It truly is just spectulation at this point in our understanding. There may be some greatly underestimated surprises in store for us all. Who's to say?..............We humans know so little at this point in our evolution, yet, many times we act so wise..........................Infy

[someguy]

Never have I seen such intelligent conversation regarding belief or non-belief in God.
Personally, I do not believe in God. I would say I am an Athiest. Some would like to lump me with agnostics, I do not feel I belong there because I fell more strongly there is no God than that it is undecided. This is not to say, I believe God does not exist. I believe in the possibility although I believe it quite remote. Belief, to me, is never absolute. Belief can always be changed in the face of enough evidence. This is what science teaches us.
It is important to define what God is, before you say you believe or not. If God is the God of the Bible, Quran, Talmud or any other religiuos book then no I do not believe in God. For me all of these books are written by men and are not the word of any God. If God is a being in any sense why would he/she care about us. If you created a world complete with little people in it in a laboratory, would you find it necessary for them to worship you? Would you write a book for them to follow so they could go to a special place when they died? What would be the personality of this God? The Bible paints the picture of a child of a God who demands respect and worship, who smites those who defy him and tests the loyalty of those who beleive with extreme hardships.
Gods choose to remain remote and questionable. Why? If I were this God I would make myself known. What purpose would there be to hide or remain unseen?
These are some reasons why I believe the way I do.

Satia,
You said you didn't believe in "Higher Authority" yet you mention you believe in God. Isn't that what God is to you?
You also said you used to be an Athiest. What made you change your mind?

Someguy

[someguy]

Originally Posted by TheBigDog

Another atheist faction heard from. Time for the atheist pope to come out and make some statements and get everyone back in the same camp again.

Bill

It seems to make you more comfortable in your faith to think others are really just the same. This implies disbelief in your faith.