Poll: Atheist or Agnostic?

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: hardwareuser
Atheist as in BELIEVE THERE IS NO GOD. Agnostic as in doesn't subscribe to a religion but DOESN'T BELIEVE THERE IS NO GOD.

Personally, I'm an atheist. I'd like to get some views from agnostic people.

Agnostic is more like "doesn't believe there is or isn't a God....aka isn't gonna concern him/herself either way and waste the time"

<--- Agnostic

 

[OrganizedChaos]

i believe god is a subatomic particle, which catagory does that put me in?

 

[Pandamonium]

I'm an atheist in that I don't believe there is a god, but I realize that the existence or non-existence of any god is impossible to prove. Scientifically, no belief is sound unless it can be (somehow) disproven and proven.

I believe in science, and while I have never seen any evidence to support the existence of a god, I wouldn't be so short-sighted to declare there will never be such evidence.

 

[Pandamonium]

Garth wins.

edit:

Techboy - out of curiosity what is your age and level of education? Have you taken introductory collegiate-level anthropology or biology classes? I think the very foundation of your conviction for a grand design would be greatly shaken after one such class.

Do some reading on prebiotic evolutionary theory. It might give you a new perspective. Just remember that is *is* just a theory, just as what *some* believe religion is.

You do make a good point in saying that technology is simply amazing, and that it had developed at human hands. But think about it this way: all that technology was conceived in what - 75 years? The universe has had several hundred million times more time to evolve into its present state. By geological estimates, I believe the figure is ~4.2 billion years. I don't think it's too far-fetched to believe that our current world came about by chance.

I don't mean to declare that you are a fool for believing in religion. But I will not stand to have a believer try to force his or her beliefs on to me. I respect your right to believe what you want to believe, just as I expect you to respect my right to do the same. You would be best able to "convert" believers by providing objective evidence and allowing others to draw their own conclusions.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

Originally posted by: Garth

Originally posted by: Amused
Agnostic means, literally, without knowledge: a (without) and gnosis (knowledge).

Yes... and? How can that be a position with regard to the existence of God, then?

However, the popular definition is what defines a word.

Not really. You can choose to use the popular definition, but no definitions are "true" or "false." I'm simply saying that my usage is more accurate, descriptive and useful, which it is, and which you have not refuted. You are free to choose not to think for yourself, and instead to utilize the obviously sloppy usage, but you are not free to tell me that my atheism is untenable when you haven't accurately described from the beginning.

You can go around all day having to define what you are, or you can use the word that, by popular definition, describes you best and move on with life.

I am an atheist because I am not a theist. I do not puport to know that God does not exist, nor do I even hold a belief that one does not. I am an agnostic atheist, therefore.

And you didn't answer my question: What is a gnostic, according to you? Where do gnostics go on the spectrum of theistic beliefs? How in the world can agnosticism or gnosticism even belong on a spectrum of theism?

-Garth

I swear this dude is using cut and paste arguments from a book. I'm talking about you Garth. You totally downplay the idea of Faith. I have faith that this universe didn't just come to be. It is blatently obvious to me that this reality as we experience it has a grand design which of course requires a designer. See the difference between me and you is that I think I am humble enough to admit it, and you my friend are arrogant. To many things have happened to me because of prayer and or odd coincidence to conciously dismiss that their is grand design in my life and how things are playing out. Perhaps you are selfish to think that you control every little aspect of your life. By your rule, perhaps a twister will pull together a 747 using stuff from a garbage dump, including a pilot, and it will randomly fly into your house. What are the chances of that happening?

Its like, I say, I bet I can throw a dime, from a corner in St. Louis into a parking meter in Chicago, and it will land it a parking meter of someone who's time is about to run out. You say, actually, because I know a cool equation in math, it might actually happen. No, no it will not. Never. You do seem to look past the actual argument and argue semantics. Funny shlt, and you probably have a degree in something that makes you feel smart. You of all people seem like a fool to me. haha, bait and hook

You are the classic religious fanatic.

You believe in God because you have no other explanation for how the universe and life came to be, and nor are you open to any if any is found. You believe that without God, everything is random; you have no apparent concept of cause and effect within the constraints of natural laws.

However, you have no tangible, measurable evidence for the existence of God. Nor do you have any evidence as to the nature of God, if it even exists. You believe what you do because you were taught these concepts at some point in your life, and you have convinced yourself that your ideas and beliefs are correct because of some "grand design" that you believe controls your life. What if God exists, but is nothing like how the Bible portrays it to be? I'm willing to bet this thought has never crossed your mind, and that you will utterly refuse to consider the idea now.

If someone questions your beliefs, or "disrespects" them, you go on the attack. You are different only in degree, not in kind, from Islamic fanatics who feel perfectly justified in ritually beheading infidels (for reference, see also the murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, who was killed because he made a film critical of Islam).

 

[jjones]

I'm still working on the definition of god. I haven't got as far as deciding whether or not I believe in one.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
LOL Your a fool for taking me as someone to confuse something like a Leprechaun with God. Using your example, I could replace Leprechaun with anything that would belittle what I believe God to be. Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, The Mail Man, anything. Your comment just shows lack of respect for the life you have. It really does. Your not disrespecting me as much as you are disrespecting all that is before you. Your making fun of the idea of GOD and that we might as well be saying Leprechauns created the universe is really ignorant.

Why would I think that all of this in front of me was created by Leprechauns? That's crazy talk. I'm not talking about ends of rainbows here, the topic was atheist or Agnostic? Which is you believe that there is no God or you can't tell either way. Not to be concious enough to realize the existance of supreme design of our existance, not necessarily understand it, but not even aware enough to sense it just tells me that a person either lacks spirt and soul, or hasn't risen to a level of awareness to comprehend it.

I've never seen anything to make me believe that Leprechauns created the universe. But I have had spiritual experiences that have changed my life and point of view, things that have proven to me that something greater than us has a reach into our world.

LOL, you're a fool for not believing in Leprechauns! And I TOO have had spiritual experiences that have changed my life and point of view, things that have proven to me that something greater than us has a reach into our world. And you know them as Leprechauns.

Oh, and I like how an invisible magic man can create a universe but Leprechauns can't. What fantasy land rule book are you reading from? Because apparently I'm reading from a different book. I just find it VERY ignorant of you to say Leprechauns do not exist or could not have created the universe. You're just disrespecting Leprechauns. I feel sorry for you as you will not be going to magic Leprechaun land when you die. You'll be going to...ummm....BAD Leprechaun land. Yep, and it's VERY dark BUT VERY firey at the same time. Very bad place.

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Garth

Originally posted by: Amused

Yes, I did answer your question with the translation.

Where? In the invisible type?

A gnostic claims to have knowledge of a god or gods.

Still wrong. There is nothing intrinsic in gnosticism that it must deal with the question of God. Notice the conspicuous absence of the root for god-belief in the word's construction. That is what theism is about.

An agnostic claims no knowledge... which is, again, the only logically tenable position.

There is nothing untenable about "I do not believe in God." That is a fact, knowable a priori.

Your "usage" goes against the popular (and classical) definition. (a - without, theos - god)

Your distortion continues. The proper etymological anaysis breaks the term down to "a-" meaning "without" and "-theism" meaning "belief in God." Anyone that does not have a belief in God is an atheist, like I have said from the beginning, and in contradiction to your claims. An hypothetically "neutral" person would still lack a belief in God, and therefore would fulfill the definition of an atheist.

The minute you say to someone you are an atheist, they will fall back on the popular definition and automatically assume you deny the existence of any gods. If that is not your position, you will have given them a false impression.

Not at all. It is not my problem that you and intellectual sloths like you haven't throughly analyzed the different conditions pertaining to god-belief.

If they speak out on it, you will then have to waste your time explaining your position. Just as you are in this thread.

Forgive me that I am more concerned with accurately describing reality than yourself. It is a vice of mine that apparently you lack. You watch Fox News a lot, too, don't you?

Tell someone you're an agnostic atheist, and most will be confused, or assume you are confused.

Again, their problems, not mine. The fact is that your claim that atheism is untenable is based on a misunderstanding of what atheism is, despite how widespread that misunderstanding may be. If you're going to make claims about the logical tenability of a particular position, they you should expect that those claims will become subjected to the type of scrutiny that I have conducted in this thread.

-Garth

Fine. Spend your life arguing semayics rather than actually living it.

WORD HISTORY An agnostic does not deny the existence of God and heaven but holds that one cannot know for certain whether or not they exist. The term agnostic was fittingly coined by the 19th-century British scientist Thomas H. Huxley, who believed that only material phenomena were objects of exact knowledge. He made up the word from the prefix a?, meaning ?without, not,? as in amoral, and the noun Gnostic. Gnostic is related to the Greek word gnosis, ?knowledge,? which was used by early Christian writers to mean ?higher, esoteric knowledge of spiritual things?; hence, Gnostic referred to those with such knowledge. In coining the term agnostic, Huxley was considering as ?Gnostics? a group of his fellow intellectuals??ists,? as he called them?who had eagerly embraced various doctrines or theories that explained the world to their satisfaction. Because he was a ?man without a rag of a label to cover himself with,? Huxley coined the term agnostic for himself, its first published use being in 1870.

I'll tell you what, I'll believe http://www.answers.com/agnostic&r=67 and real history before I'll believe you.

Same goes for this:

http://www.answers.com/atheism&r=67

Etymology
In early Ancient Greek, the adjective atheos (from privative a- + theos "god") meant "godforsaken, abandoned by the gods". The word acquired an additional meaning in the 5th century BCE, expressing total lack of relations with the gods, that is, "denying the gods, godless, ungodly", with more active connotations than asebes "impious". Modern translations of classical texts sometimes translate atheos as "atheistic". As an abstract noun, there was also atheotes: "atheism". Cicero transcribed atheos into Latin. The discussion of atheoi was pronounced in the debate between early Christians and pagans, who each attributed atheism to the other.

Face it, your definitions fly in the face of both classical, and modern popular definitions.

In fact, throughout this entire thread, you've wasted the majority of your time debating definitions rather than any actual subject matter... all because you want words to mean what you want them to.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Originally posted by: Amused

Fine. Spend your life arguing semayics rather than actually living it.

I'm not the only one arguing semantics here, dude. It takes two to tango, and you're dancing.

WORD HISTORY An agnostic does not deny the existence of God and heaven but holds that one cannot know for certain whether or not they exist. The term agnostic was fittingly coined by the 19th-century British scientist Thomas H. Huxley, who believed that only material phenomena were objects of exact knowledge. He made up the word from the prefix a?, meaning ?without, not,? as in amoral, and the noun Gnostic. Gnostic is related to the Greek word gnosis, ?knowledge,? which was used by early Christian writers to mean ?higher, esoteric knowledge of spiritual things?; hence, Gnostic referred to those with such knowledge. In coining the term agnostic, Huxley was considering as ?Gnostics? a group of his fellow intellectuals??ists,? as he called them?who had eagerly embraced various doctrines or theories that explained the world to their satisfaction. Because he was a ?man without a rag of a label to cover himself with,? Huxley coined the term agnostic for himself, its first published use being in 1870.

Why do you think that this contradicts ANYTHING that I have claimed in this thread?

I'll tell you what, I'll believe http://www.answers.com/agnostic&r=67 and real history before I'll believe you.

You're free to believe what you want. I've already explained the fallacy behind arguing from the dictionary, but even once led to water, you can't make a horse drink, and I know that.

Same goes for this:

http://www.answers.com/atheism&r=67

Etymology
In early Ancient Greek, the adjective atheos (from privative a- + theos "god") meant "godforsaken, abandoned by the gods". The word acquired an additional meaning in the 5th century BCE, expressing total lack of relations with the gods, that is, "denying the gods, godless, ungodly", with more active connotations than asebes "impious". Modern translations of classical texts sometimes translate atheos as "atheistic". As an abstract noun, there was also atheotes: "atheism". Cicero transcribed atheos into Latin. The discussion of atheoi was pronounced in the debate between early Christians and pagans, who each attributed atheism to the other.

Again, why do you think that this contradicts ANYTHING that I've claimed in this thread?

Face it, your definitions fly in the face of both classical, and modern popular definitions.

No, I think it is time that *YOU* face the fact that your misconceptions are tantamount to willfully induced ignorance.

In fact, throughout this entire thread, you've wasted the majority of your time debating definitions rather than any actual subject matter... all because you want words to mean what you want them to.

The claim I addressed was your claim that atheism is untenable. It isn't, but you don't understand what atheism is, so you make silly claims like the one you did. Since you will not listen, it must be left to the readers-along to decide who is making the most rational argument, and I'm perfectly comfortable with that.

Incidentally, it is precisely sloppy thinkers like yourself that perpetuate the misconception that atheism is the untenable strawman that you erected. To those of us interested in intellectual rigor, the argument is more than semantics -- its about coming to terms with the reality of atheism and its subtleties, rather than burying one's head in the sand of dictionary definitions.

-Garth

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: JackBurton
LOL, you're a fool for not believing in Leprechauns! And I TOO have had spiritual experiences that have changed my life and point of view, things that have proven to me that something greater than us has a reach into our world. And you know them as Leprechauns.

Oh, and I like how an invisible magic man can create a universe but Leprechauns can't. What fantasy land rule book are you reading from? Because apparently I'm reading from a different book. I just find it VERY ignorant of you to say Leprechauns do not exist or could not have created the universe. You're just disrespecting Leprechauns. I feel sorry for you as you will not be going to magic Leprechaun land when you die. You'll be going to...ummm....BAD Leprechaun land. Yep, and it's VERY dark BUT VERY firey at the same time. Very bad place.

Yeah, seriously. One time when I was all out of Luck Charms cereal and it was a holiday so all the stores were closed. I really wanted some Lucky Charms and so what happened next was nothing short of a miracle I tell you. I put the empty cereal box on the dining table and got on one knee. I prayed to the leprechaun asking him to give me more Lucky Charms cereal. When I got up, I looked in the cereal box only to my disappoint that it was still empty. I was still hungry so I decided I would eat something else. I went to the cupboard and BAM! A brand new box of Lucky Charms cereal.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: JackBurton
LOL, you're a fool for not believing in Leprechauns! And I TOO have had spiritual experiences that have changed my life and point of view, things that have proven to me that something greater than us has a reach into our world. And you know them as Leprechauns.

Oh, and I like how an invisible magic man can create a universe but Leprechauns can't. What fantasy land rule book are you reading from? Because apparently I'm reading from a different book. I just find it VERY ignorant of you to say Leprechauns do not exist or could not have created the universe. You're just disrespecting Leprechauns. I feel sorry for you as you will not be going to magic Leprechaun land when you die. You'll be going to...ummm....BAD Leprechaun land. Yep, and it's VERY dark BUT VERY firey at the same time. Very bad place.

Yeah, seriously. One time when I was all out of Luck Charms cereal and it was a holiday so all the stores were closed. I really wanted some Lucky Charms and so what happened next was nothing short of a miracle I tell you. I put the empty cereal box on the dining table and got on one knee. I prayed to the leprechaun asking him to give me more Lucky Charms cereal. When I got up, I looked in the cereal box only to my disappoint that it was still empty. I was still hungry so I decided I would eat something else. I went to the cupboard and BAM! A brand new box of Lucky Charms cereal.

OH MY LEPRECHAUN! That happened to you too?! Maybe NOW TechBoyJK will acknowledge the existence of Leprechauns. There is just no denying them now. The only thing about Leprechauns though is, sometimes you pray to them, but you don't get what you want. But you know what they say, Leprechauns work in mysterious ways. It's just a part of their plan.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: JackBurton
LOL, you're a fool for not believing in Leprechauns! And I TOO have had spiritual experiences that have changed my life and point of view, things that have proven to me that something greater than us has a reach into our world. And you know them as Leprechauns.

Oh, and I like how an invisible magic man can create a universe but Leprechauns can't. What fantasy land rule book are you reading from? Because apparently I'm reading from a different book. I just find it VERY ignorant of you to say Leprechauns do not exist or could not have created the universe. You're just disrespecting Leprechauns. I feel sorry for you as you will not be going to magic Leprechaun land when you die. You'll be going to...ummm....BAD Leprechaun land. Yep, and it's VERY dark BUT VERY firey at the same time. Very bad place.

Yeah, seriously. One time when I was all out of Luck Charms cereal and it was a holiday so all the stores were closed. I really wanted some Lucky Charms and so what happened next was nothing short of a miracle I tell you. I put the empty cereal box on the dining table and got on one knee. I prayed to the leprechaun asking him to give me more Lucky Charms cereal. When I got up, I looked in the cereal box only to my disappoint that it was still empty. I was still hungry so I decided I would eat something else. I went to the cupboard and BAM! A brand new box of Lucky Charms cereal.

OH MY LEPRECHAUN! That happened to you too?! Maybe NOW TechBoyJK will acknowledge the existence of Leprechauns. There is just no denying them now.

Yeah seriously. There's no possible way that the box was put there by my mom. No way. The only possible explanation is the leprechaun man.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

OH MY LEPRECHAUN! That happened to you too?! Maybe NOW TechBoyJK will acknowledge the existence of Leprechauns. There is just no denying them now. The only thing about Leprechauns though is, sometimes you pray to them, but you don't get what you want. But you know what they say, Leprechauns work in mysterious ways. It's just a part of their plan.

When you pray to the Great Leprechaun (PBUH) and you don't get what you want, that's just the the Great Leprechaun answering your prayer request in the negative, and telling you that He knows what's best for you -- which He does, being the Great Leprechaun, and all.

I prayed for a the Great Leprechaun to fill my empty box of Lucky Charms, but He answered, "no." I still keep that empty box as evidence of the answered prayer, though.

-Garth

 

[bandana163]

My views:

There either is no "god" or it"s existence is irrelevant (and that's practically the same as non-existence). Since there is no reason to think of anything else, there is no god. Beliefs don't change reality, and I don't consider this a matter of belief. As long as I don't see any proof of something's existence, I don't accept it as reality.
Surely, in a far-far away galaxy, there may be some pink tentacle-headed rhinos dancing tango, but it's irrelevant and has no effect on me whatsoever. Whether I believe in these pink rhinos or not doesn't change the facts. I could believe in lots of things, but what for? Every new idea could spawn a belief system, which would be just as meaningless as any other one.
I consider myself an atheist. There is no "god", since it's just something made up by humans, supported by no evidence.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Garth

Originally posted by: JackBurton

OH MY LEPRECHAUN! That happened to you too?! Maybe NOW TechBoyJK will acknowledge the existence of Leprechauns. There is just no denying them now. The only thing about Leprechauns though is, sometimes you pray to them, but you don't get what you want. But you know what they say, Leprechauns work in mysterious ways. It's just a part of their plan.

When you pray to the Great Leprechaun (PBUH) and you don't get what you want, that's just the the Great Leprechaun answering your prayer request in the negative, and telling you that He knows what's best for you -- which He does, being the Great Leprechaun, and all.

I prayed for a the Great Leprechaun to fill my empty box of Lucky Charms, but He answered, "no." I still keep that empty box as evidence of the answered prayer, though.

-Garth

That's just the Leprechaun saying, "no more Lucky Charms for your fat ass. It's diet time for you." He is truly wise.

 

[imported_LoKe]

I've seen a couple people point out that agnostics only took that position because they can't argue against a god. The problem with that is most agnostics were probably atheists to begin with, then they realized how moronic it was to try to disprove the existance of something. I think being an atheist is close minded because you have absolutely no proof, no shred of evidence to work on that could hint to the possibility of a god not existing.

It's not the arguments that are the problem, it's that there is no right and wrong belief, none that we'll ever be able to prove, atleast. It's like arguing with a wall, nothing will come of it and no one will back down.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Garth

Originally posted by: JackBurton

OH MY LEPRECHAUN! That happened to you too?! Maybe NOW TechBoyJK will acknowledge the existence of Leprechauns. There is just no denying them now. The only thing about Leprechauns though is, sometimes you pray to them, but you don't get what you want. But you know what they say, Leprechauns work in mysterious ways. It's just a part of their plan.

When you pray to the Great Leprechaun (PBUH) and you don't get what you want, that's just the the Great Leprechaun answering your prayer request in the negative, and telling you that He knows what's best for you -- which He does, being the Great Leprechaun, and all.

I prayed for a the Great Leprechaun to fill my empty box of Lucky Charms, but He answered, "no." I still keep that empty box as evidence of the answered prayer, though.

-Garth

That's just the Leprechaun saying, "no more Lucky Charms for your fat ass. It's diet time for you." He is truly wise.

haha, i love stirring you fvcks up. I guess I fear God and you guys don't. Sorry to hear that.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Garth

Originally posted by: JackBurton

OH MY LEPRECHAUN! That happened to you too?! Maybe NOW TechBoyJK will acknowledge the existence of Leprechauns. There is just no denying them now. The only thing about Leprechauns though is, sometimes you pray to them, but you don't get what you want. But you know what they say, Leprechauns work in mysterious ways. It's just a part of their plan.

When you pray to the Great Leprechaun (PBUH) and you don't get what you want, that's just the the Great Leprechaun answering your prayer request in the negative, and telling you that He knows what's best for you -- which He does, being the Great Leprechaun, and all.

I prayed for a the Great Leprechaun to fill my empty box of Lucky Charms, but He answered, "no." I still keep that empty box as evidence of the answered prayer, though.

-Garth

That's just the Leprechaun saying, "no more Lucky Charms for your fat ass. It's diet time for you." He is truly wise.

haha, i love stirring you fvcks up.

What did you stir up? I LOVE it when religious people come into a Agnostic\Atheist debate. It's like someone retarded trying to join in a discussion between two scientists. It's quite funny.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
haha, i love stirring you fvcks up. I guess I fear God and you guys don't. Sorry to hear that.

Well I guess I fear Leprechauns and you don't. Sorry to hear that. I tried to save you, but I guess you are destined to go to BAD Leprechaun land. Did I mention there is alot of fire down there? Scary stuff, huh? Did you change your mind yet, or should I tell you more scary stuff?

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
haha, i love stirring you fvcks up. I guess I fear God and you guys don't. Sorry to hear that.

TechBoyJK, the Lucky Charms story really did happen to me.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Garth

Originally posted by: JackBurton

OH MY LEPRECHAUN! That happened to you too?! Maybe NOW TechBoyJK will acknowledge the existence of Leprechauns. There is just no denying them now. The only thing about Leprechauns though is, sometimes you pray to them, but you don't get what you want. But you know what they say, Leprechauns work in mysterious ways. It's just a part of their plan.

When you pray to the Great Leprechaun (PBUH) and you don't get what you want, that's just the the Great Leprechaun answering your prayer request in the negative, and telling you that He knows what's best for you -- which He does, being the Great Leprechaun, and all.

I prayed for a the Great Leprechaun to fill my empty box of Lucky Charms, but He answered, "no." I still keep that empty box as evidence of the answered prayer, though.

-Garth

That's just the Leprechaun saying, "no more Lucky Charms for your fat ass. It's diet time for you." He is truly wise.

haha, i love stirring you fvcks up.

What did you stir up? I LOVE it when religious people come into a Agnostic\Atheist debate. It's like someone retarded trying to join in a discussion between two scientists. It's quite funny.

you have no soul.

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK
you have no soul.

Everyone has a soul according to the Bible. Besides, I don't think you're in a position to make that judgement.

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: TechBoyJK

you have no soul.

take your trolling elsewhere

 

[Bryophyte]

I classify myself as an atheist. I acknowledge the idea that it's impossible to know of the existance or lack thereof of a god or gods, as is the basic tenant of agnosticism, but I honestly consider the existance of a god or gods to be so far-fetched that I see no purpose in calling myself anything but atheist.

My husband is what I call "apatheist": "I don't know and I don't care." He is particularly anti-church after growing up with a baptist mother.

 

[icejunkie]

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
I am a strict Atheist.

I see it this way

...Reasons to believe in a god...
If there is a god, and belief in such god is a requirement to have a good "afterlife" then it may seem more logical to believe.

...Reasons not to believe in god...
There are 6 senses, none detect the presense of said "god".
No Evidence.



So, the only reason to have belief in any god, at least that I am aware of, is really not a reason to "believe", it's a reason to desire or want to believe. I don't believe things just because I want to believe them. I believe things that are facts, I believe things that seem to fit logic. I don't believe things that would be nice to believe in, but don't present any real actual reasons beyond that.

I don't consider that to be "closed minded" as I gave several hours of thought into my decision to abstain from the Church back in 1988 when I was 8 years old.

I am playing the odds, I think that they are very strongly in my favor. Not that it makes any difference though.

Then you, my friend, should reconsider atheism, because it isn't a FACT that god DOESN'T exist, same as it isn't a FACT that he DOES.
I find it hard to swallow that the universe is a whole big fvckin coincidence, just look at how complex life forms we are and how complex the universe is. Then again, I find it hard to swallow some dude up there was bored and decided to create it all.

Considering that being either a strict Aethiest or Theist isn't based off of any facts, being Agnostic seems to fit logic the best.

Also, some people don't believe in God just for a sense of believing. Some people could piss on religion yet still believe there is some sort of supreme being, just because they find it highly improbably that everything around them is a coincidence.