We shell never know.
God knight all.

Caveat Empty

I wouldn't say that the two are mutually exclusive.

I would classify myself as an agnostic atheist.

ron......there a word for you.......agnostic or as i sat....sitting on the fence

This sitting on the fence line is nonsense.  I do not have a clue about the existence of God so I'm hardly going to say I do or don't.  Sitting on the fence implies that you have made a decision but choose not to reveal it.

It's not a question where you can sit on the fence, either the evidence is there or not. Pascal's Wager which many Agnostics take the stance, states that it's better to believe because if your wrong then you've nothing to lose. This is a kop out, deep down Agnostics know there is no evidence but they want the wager just in case. As someone who reads a lot of science, every new discovery cements me more into believing there is no god or gods. If there is a creator, he's a very benign one.

hh........same can be said of the tooth fairy or appollo

No one can claim a god absolutely does not exist unless he can claim infinite knowledge of the universe.

I'm never 100%, it would be unscientific otherwise but there is a distinct lack of evidence. The God of the Old Testament seemed to be speaking from the clouds every day, sending his wrath and thunder. He's went very quiet now that we can explain all these fables by scientific methods. If you can show me any evidence, I'll gladly change my mind.

I had an RE teacher at my first school who tried to explain 'miracles' from the Old Testament. His take on the Red Sea parting was changes in tide etc. Needless to say his teaching career was short lived..

He'd be more believable even today than the pyramid king..

Well you landed a knockout punch their sir - we're all floored by that logic.

Thanks, Ivor! I know you're a man who appreciates logic!

i have a guy that sits on my right at work who says things along the lines of 'what? God? don't be so stupid, as if that's true, a man in the sky? lol' He is an atheist.

the guy opposite me just refuses to engage in conversation. he says things along the lines of 'i don't know, i don't want to know, i don't car, i'll find out when i die' He is an agnostic.

HTH

When you look at the mind blowing size of the universe I think believing that there are aliens somewhere is actually fairly sensible.

Perhaps I'm old and tired, but I think that the chances of finding out what's actually going on are so absurdly remote that the only thing to do is to say, "Hang the sense of it," and keep yourself busy. I'd much rather be happy than right any day.

Believers seem to think because they believe in their God  they will be safe , whereas if an atheist lives a decent honest life he will get shafted in the after life( if there is one ) because he didn't believe.  That has to be be non sense , if there is an after life those who have done bad things will get judged heavily irrespective of whether they believe in God or not. Good post Make my Hay.

yesterdays truth: 'there is a god'

todays truth in the western world : 'there is no god'

tomorrows truth.....we'll have to wait and see.........

As an agnostic I deny that I am sitting on the fence or secretly believe so that I don't miss out as it were. The facts are that there is not enough evidence to be an atheist or a believer. Agnosticism is the logical position to adopt in the matter.

The chances of God being what any one of us believes Him to be are infinitesimally small.

That's assuming that there is one God, and not none, nor lots.

What I care about is the consequences of belief or unbelief.

If there is no God, but a belief in God steered people towards true goodness, then surely that should be welcomed, even if one is not a believer.

Indeed religion and faith can be invaluable to many billions of humans. A source of responsibility, mental comfort, community, identity, routine, pleasure and guide to good living etc.
BUT - I can enjoy all those same attributes without 'living a lie' at the same time.