Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Religion
In reply to the discussion: Agnostic atheism: a reasonable position on spiritual matters, or the only reasonable position... [View all]edhopper
(34,496 posts)41. There is a difference between
the possibility of being able to detect something and the existing ability to detect.
Long before life on earth, the possible ability to detect things existed, there was just no one to use it
We have the possibility to discover many things we haven't yet. Higgs Bosons were always detectable, we just didn't have the technology to see them until recently..
So the argument that if God has had any effect on the physical world, we should be able to discern it holds.
Now a God that simple created this universe and then never interferes with it at any way, would be hard to detect if at all.
Though why propose one when there is no need for an explanation is another question.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
117 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Agnostic atheism: a reasonable position on spiritual matters, or the only reasonable position... [View all]
Htom Sirveaux
Jul 2014
OP
The point is that usually even our "supernatural" God is said to effect visible material things
Brettongarcia
Jul 2014
#27
It may be more a piece of exploring one's identity. Sexual identity and religious preference
pinto
Jul 2014
#15
No. I choose to let people call themselves whatever it is they prefer. And I'll follow their lead.
pinto
Jul 2014
#21
As a general rule, I agree that people's self-definitions should be respected.
Htom Sirveaux
Jul 2014
#23
My statement was meant for both believers and non-believers. Sorry if that was not clear.
cbayer
Jul 2014
#26
No, but I can find you lots of definitions of agnosticism that sees it as a stand
cbayer
Jul 2014
#68
But I do that all the time. You just refuse to acknowledge it because it doesn't fit into your
cbayer
Jul 2014
#82
Agnosticism is a good default position. Until evidence begins to pile up against religion
Brettongarcia
Jul 2014
#31
I meant it in the sense of "I don't know". Which I think is a common default position.
pinto
Jul 2014
#49
? Doesn't it mean "not knowing"? Or acknowledging doubt, uncertainty, or perhaps disinterest?
pinto
Jul 2014
#51
OK. I'm an agnostic, not out of ignorance or irrationality, but out of a reasoned point of view.
pinto
Jul 2014
#56
Some people are really invested in evading the question of whether or not god exists.
AtheistCrusader
Jul 2014
#73
While you can make the argument that atheism is just a passive non-position, the
cbayer
Jul 2014
#111
To me, the knowing would trump believing. Believing would be unnecessary if you knew.
Demit
Jul 2014
#98