January 13, 2009

  • Agnostics

    I've been wanting to post about this for awhile now.  Mind you, I am grounded in Christianity which may present a certain bias, but let's see if I can avoid that.  I've had some interesting discussions with agnostics.  I've read some material of former Christians who have become agnostic.  All basically say the same thing:  I just don't know. 

    Ok.  Don't know what?  If God exists?  If one particular God is the right god?  Is God a type of personality that we have known to be God?  These are all good questions.  I have no problem with that.  Each questions has an answer that requires thought and soul searching.  In fact I find it admirable that despite the easy way out of doubt or disbelief, agnostics are open the idea that God does exist, that one God may or may not be a THE god, and that God is omnipotent, omniscient, etc.  As long as one continues to search for answers, I have no complaint with agnostics.

    What I do have a problem with are agnostics who become complacent and just don't care anymore.  The "I don't know" consumes them to a point where the answers do not exist, at least ones that they are willing to accept, and they no longer search for answers.  Moreover, some antagonize believers (Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc,) for "conversion" attempts.  Now, I don't know how forceful such a discussion would entail, and I don't condone coercesiveness when proselytizing, but it is information that should be considered, if one is truly searching for answers.

    Agnostics occupy a very convenient place, if not wishy-washy state.  Despite all the presented evidence about God, how is one left without an answer?  How does an agnostic declare ignorance about God, in a grand "I don't know" about everything?  Shouldn't there have been a mental process that made infomred decissions about God?  If so, doesn't that mean decisions are being made that accepts some ideas and discards others about God?  And if this is so, are such people truely agnostic?  In the end it's the difference between not believing something to be true, and not knowing something to be true.  If one does not believe something to be true, and so claims ignorance about God is not really agnostic.  They know something to be untrue about God, and that is not agnoisis.

    If there really is a God, and there is a judgment, agnostics gain no benefit.  The question then is, why remain an agnostic?  Either believe things about God or don't.  Don't say I don't know and not care.