Am I agnostic? That's what people keep telling me. I don't believe in God. It has nothing to do with lack of evidence. It's about looking at the world, listening to what Christians say and do (the rampant hypocrisy and mental masturbation), and not needing it for anything. I only need modern medicine, family, and friends. I have a fear of hell. Anything's possible. (?) I could be wrong. I fear that when I die I will wake up and find myself in a place of eternal torment. Christianity is useless and offensive. Nothing fails like prayer. It also is incompatible with my sex-positive values, for no good reason at all.
Why are you afraid of a judgement of God (hell) if you don't believe in God? Anyway, agnosticism has a solid definition. You can find it in the dictionary
Agnostic-Gnostic is a spectrum of how much you claim to have knowledge. An agnostic atheist doesn't believe in God but also doesn't claim to know whether there is a God or not. A gnostic atheist doesn't believe in God and also claims to know for certain that God does not exist. Of course, a position of pure gnostic atheism is something of an impossibility if we are being honest, just like a position of pure agnostic atheism can be thought of as flippant, which is why people tend to think of it as a "spectrum." That said, they are all just arbitrary labels that divide people. Judging from the rather aggressive generalizations in your post, you seem to be divisive enough as it is. It might be more fruitful to try and understand people instead of seeking out categories for yourself and them.
Oh piffle, an Agnostic is just an Atheist with no balls! Scared of eternal damnation? I think you might be sub-consciously catholic...
I'd ask what are you trying to accomplish with the labels? You've told us what you believe, so you know that. When you ask what label to put on it, it seems similar to the people who ask themselves or others "Am I gay,bisexual or straight?" As neodude says, it's a continuum. Or maybe two continua. Dan Barker, in his book Godless says agnostic-gnostic is about knowledge and atheist-theist is about belief. So a person can be both, or neither or some combination of each. Knowledge has to do with the amount of evidence a person thinks (s)he has to make a decision. Belief has to do with trust, confidence and conviction. Then there's also the distinction between "hard" atheists (There is no God) and "soft atheists" (I don't believe there's a God") You can use labels any way you want, as long as you and the people you're talking to understand how and why you're using them that way. When I say I'm a Christian, I mean that I've accepted the teachings and example of Jesus as my main role model for life--nothing more. That wold include the Sermon on the Mount, the parable of the Good Samaritan, the golden rule, and the other inspiring stories that captivate believers. That's not what a lot of other people mean by the label. Some mean that they accept a body of doctrines contained in creeds, like the Apostle's Creed or the Nicene Creed--the virgin birth,, miracles, etc. I don't believe in those, at least not literally. So how can I call myself a Christian? Easy. I just did it. Some would call me a "cultural Christian", which I really don't mind, as long as it doesn't imply that I'm just using the label to fit in. I also don't believe that the Bible is the "Inerrant Word of God"--just the words of men trying to find God. As you note, there are a lot of douche bags who use the label "Christian", many of whom would look down their noses at you and me and tell me I'm not a true Christian, to which I say: "Same to you, buddy". There are a lot of Latter Day Pharisees proclaiming their Christian righteousness from the rooftops. If they're raptured, as they think they will be, I wish them godspeed. The world would be a better place without them, and Congress might even do something constructive. As for "knowldege", I think that nothing is certain, not even that. That would make me an "agnostic", except agnosticism is so non-committal. I come from a strain of theology called Fideism, which stresses belief in the face of uncertainty--e.g., Kierkegaard's "leap of faith". As Luther said, faith is a "joyful bet". I think of mine as an educated bet on the basis of the best available evidence and consistent with science and reason to improve the odds. Life is a gamble. I'm afraid I can't tell you whether or not either of us will go to hell. I have no belief in an afterlife. We have to make a decision whether or not to live a fear-based or a hope-based life. Sartre said that "Hell is other people", but Genesis tells us that we were created in the image and likeness of God. As Jesus said in Thomas (113): "The kingdom of the Father is spread out everywhere upon the earth, and people do not see it." I think we get glimpses of it when we open our eyes encounter other people. So in that sense, I can label myself a "humanist".
Thanks for weighing in folks. A more question: are there atheists who are afraid of the possibility that they could be wrong and could end up in hell?
Yeah I agree. I wasn't raised in an environment of fire and brimstone teachings, like from the bully pulpit. I think I did pick up something from childhood watching Catholic shows. Catholicism has always made more sense to me than Protestantism, especially with the new prosperity gospel and positive thinking fiasco.
None of them religions totally make sense to me, where one religion might in some ways it doesn't in other ways. The best religion IMO is one you live by on your own, believe you could end up in hell if you do wrong to others, believe you could be wrong but so might others. Best attempt to be religious without having to support the messengers and follow their laws is read the bible yourself as it is and try to be the best person you can be. Why should it be any harder then that? I checked out many religions and it came down to this, I can be evil, I can be selfish or I can try to do good to others as I would hope they will for me. That is really the whole complete message given after you have read it all. If more could get that one message Without any clutter given in the churches and other worshiping places I am betting we'd be a better animal then we are. We are the only animal that will kill for no purpose or for anger, jealousy and selfishness. Don't harm others and offer what you can when someone is in need but watch someone isn't scamming you for what you will give at the same time. Why label? Why worry who you are without a church? Why not live life to the fullest and enjoy what it has to offer, it's that kind of thinking that makes us wonder if we are worth anything to others. Yet we can be everything to anyone if we just take the time to see others as they are and appreciate them.
