Comments on: How does one avoid becoming an unwilling agnostic? http://www.mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html New Age Spirituality Magazine Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:25:36 +0000 hourly 1 By: ELI http://www.mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html/comment-page-1#comment-76576 ELI Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:20:41 +0000 http://mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html#comment-76576 I don't know if I'm a believer or an agnostic or atheist myself. So I guess I'm agnostic. Haha. I also don't pray because I feel I'm just talking to and comforting myself. I guess I'm in a similar position. Yet I am also not content with a secular, purely scientific attitude. Somehow I get the sense that science is just one way of knowing, and there is a deeper meaning I can gather if I only had faith. I guess every human being, even an atheist, is in search of a deeper reality, a "higher" cause, a sense of "spiritual" contentment in some form. One philosopher might say that man's search is for the infinite, which is both within himself and outside himself. I suppose a root cause of confusion is because we cannot really define and measure God. If we do reduce the infinite God into an defined image, we encounter problems. For example, the vindictive, punishing, rule-making, guilt-inspiring, authoritarian male God that some fundamentalist Christians subscribe to has been a cause hate crimes and discrimination against "sinners." They neglect the overpoweringly loving and merciful God that Jesus illuminates. I guess an advice I can give you is to have an attitude similar to what the Jesuits have taught me. God is in all things, and even in the most mundane he/she is calling you, he/she manifests in the people you encounter, more importantly, he/she is also in you. And the statement "God is Love" is a "fact" that ties all creation and our lives together and inspires change for the better. Even then, it's up to us to discern meaning, think, and respond to this "call." I don’t know if I’m a believer or an agnostic or atheist myself. So I guess I’m agnostic. Haha.

I also don’t pray because I feel I’m just talking to and comforting myself. I guess I’m in a similar position. Yet I am also not content with a secular, purely scientific attitude. Somehow I get the sense that science is just one way of knowing, and there is a deeper meaning I can gather if I only had faith. I guess every human being, even an atheist, is in search of a deeper reality, a “higher” cause, a sense of “spiritual” contentment in some form. One philosopher might say that man’s search is for the infinite, which is both within himself and outside himself.

I suppose a root cause of confusion is because we cannot really define and measure God. If we do reduce the infinite God into an defined image, we encounter problems. For example, the vindictive, punishing, rule-making, guilt-inspiring, authoritarian male God that some fundamentalist Christians subscribe to has been a cause hate crimes and discrimination against “sinners.” They neglect the overpoweringly loving and merciful God that Jesus illuminates.

I guess an advice I can give you is to have an attitude similar to what the Jesuits have taught me. God is in all things, and even in the most mundane he/she is calling you, he/she manifests in the people you encounter, more importantly, he/she is also in you. And the statement “God is Love” is a “fact” that ties all creation and our lives together and inspires change for the better. Even then, it’s up to us to discern meaning, think, and respond to this “call.”

]]> By: RazzleDazzle http://www.mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html/comment-page-1#comment-76575 RazzleDazzle Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:56:22 +0000 http://mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html#comment-76575 I know this is a long answer, but you asked a long question and it deserves more than a pat response. What you're missing is a personal relationship with God. I've seen people raised in the church who never sought a personal relationship with the God they've worshipped for years. In time their worship becomes perfunctory and empty and then they quit altogether, discouraged and filled with questions. I know because I was one of them. Your ideology may be contrary to God's mind right now. Sounds like you've got your mind made up about some issues, like intolerance. Christianity is not tolerant of other religions, you know that. There is only one way to achieve salvation. You may not be ready to accept the absolute nature of this and so your relationship with God is dysfunctional. Please don't misread me-- God loves all people and wants for us to accept the path he made to get to him. But he gave us the freewill to do as we choose. And as a creature with freewill and intellect when you DO choose to do things his way it's special and sets you apart from those who will choose to do things their own way. But you must set your ideals and what you think you know aside when you come before almighty God to seek a real relationship with him. Trust that his way is the best (yes, that's faith... but without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that comes to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him.) I can attest that when you have a real and personal relationship with God worship ceases to be boring ritual. It becomes an emotion filled opportunity to spend time with your creator and heavenly father. Please give it another try. I know this is a long answer, but you asked a long question and it deserves more than a pat response.

What you’re missing is a personal relationship with God. I’ve seen people raised in the church who never sought a personal relationship with the God they’ve worshipped for years. In time their worship becomes perfunctory and empty and then they quit altogether, discouraged and filled with questions. I know because I was one of them.

Your ideology may be contrary to God’s mind right now. Sounds like you’ve got your mind made up about some issues, like intolerance. Christianity is not tolerant of other religions, you know that. There is only one way to achieve salvation. You may not be ready to accept the absolute nature of this and so your relationship with God is dysfunctional.

Please don’t misread me– God loves all people and wants for us to accept the path he made to get to him. But he gave us the freewill to do as we choose. And as a creature with freewill and intellect when you DO choose to do things his way it’s special and sets you apart from those who will choose to do things their own way.

But you must set your ideals and what you think you know aside when you come before almighty God to seek a real relationship with him. Trust that his way is the best (yes, that’s faith… but without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that comes to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him.)

I can attest that when you have a real and personal relationship with God worship ceases to be boring ritual. It becomes an emotion filled opportunity to spend time with your creator and heavenly father.

Please give it another try.

]]> By: JoJo http://www.mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html/comment-page-1#comment-76574 JoJo Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:52:54 +0000 http://mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html#comment-76574 as an agnostic-atheist (the ag. is because i can't know FOR SURE, but it sure seems like a bunch of bullsh*t)...my suggestion is to go toward real information rather than labels. i've found that the more i learn and know, the less i feel a desire to label or categorize my thoughts. read as much as you can; not just religious texts, but information. some reading suggestions: Orwell; Joseph Campbell ('the Power of Myth' is fantastic); and also to read historical texts. Read 'A People's History of the United States of America' by Howard Zinn. The more you know, the more you will know what you believe and think...good luck. truly. as an agnostic-atheist (the ag. is because i can’t know FOR SURE, but it sure seems like a bunch of bullsh*t)…my suggestion is to go toward real information rather than labels.
i’ve found that the more i learn and know, the less i feel a desire to label or categorize my thoughts. read as much as you can; not just religious texts, but information.
some reading suggestions: Orwell; Joseph Campbell (‘the Power of Myth’ is fantastic); and also to read historical texts. Read ‘A People’s History of the United States of America’ by Howard Zinn.

The more you know, the more you will know what you believe and think…good luck. truly.

]]> By: Crompastompin' http://www.mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html/comment-page-1#comment-76573 Crompastompin' Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:32:47 +0000 http://mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html#comment-76573 faith is what makes it all work,I'm sorry, but you have to understand the meaning of faith and how it works in religion.Belief that does not rest on logical proof or theological evidence. Although it is the opposite of reason, belief that is based on proof and evidence, faith is not limited to the religious and theological arenas. It takes a certain amount of faith to trust causality and repeatability (refer to Hume's philosophy), two fundamental principles that scientific research is based on. It requires just as much faith to say for certain that there is no god as it does to say there is one, perhaps even more since there is no 2000 year old book to base your arguments on. Any beliefs that are not 100% supported by facts and evidence. This includes religious beliefs, hope for the future, and trust in other people as well as trust in the truthfulness of scientific theories. Where there is doubt, faith is needed. faith is what makes it all work,I’m sorry, but you have to understand the meaning of faith and how it works in religion.Belief that does not rest on logical proof or theological evidence.
Although it is the opposite of reason, belief that is based on proof and evidence, faith is not limited to the religious and theological arenas. It takes a certain amount of faith to trust causality and repeatability (refer to Hume’s philosophy), two fundamental principles that scientific research is based on.
It requires just as much faith to say for certain that there is no god as it does to say there is one, perhaps even more since there is no 2000 year old book to base your arguments on.
Any beliefs that are not 100% supported by facts and evidence. This includes religious beliefs, hope for the future, and trust in other people as well as trust in the truthfulness of scientific theories.
Where there is doubt, faith is needed.

]]> By: mary r http://www.mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html/comment-page-1#comment-76572 mary r Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:52:59 +0000 http://mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html#comment-76572 I was a total atheist and still a skeptic. What I did was realize thier is a higher power. A literal example is spit on a cop and see who has more power. I prayed not beleving any of it. I prayed over and over [still atheist]. God grant me the serenity to accept the thing I can not change. Courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. I chose to stick with it despite my total dibelief. Well I changed and have a siritual life. Note not a word of religon in this. People called me the praying atheiest. What did I have to lose look all I have gained. I was a total atheist and still a skeptic. What I did was realize thier is a higher power. A literal example is spit on a cop and see who has more power. I prayed not beleving any of it. I prayed over and over [still atheist]. God grant me the serenity to accept the thing I can not change. Courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. I chose to stick with it despite my total dibelief. Well I changed and have a siritual life. Note not a word of religon in this. People called me the praying atheiest. What did I have to lose look all I have gained.

]]> By: vampire_kitti http://www.mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html/comment-page-1#comment-76571 vampire_kitti Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:37:46 +0000 http://mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html#comment-76571 How can you be an unwilling agnostic? You either believe or you don't. Beside that, religion and spirituality are very personal things. I think you are looking at this all wrong. Instead of trying to find a religion you like you should think about what you personally believe. If you can find a religion that fits that, then that is your new religion, if not then I guess you'll have invented a new one. How can you be an unwilling agnostic? You either believe or you don’t.
Beside that, religion and spirituality are very personal things. I think you are looking at this all wrong. Instead of trying to find a religion you like you should think about what you personally believe. If you can find a religion that fits that, then that is your new religion, if not then I guess you’ll have invented a new one.

]]> By: tuisson http://www.mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html/comment-page-1#comment-76570 tuisson Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:11:56 +0000 http://mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html#comment-76570 you are obviously searching, so keep searching until you find it did you really try meditation to the point of stopping the mind chatter? you are obviously searching, so keep searching until you find it

did you really try meditation to the point of stopping the mind chatter?

]]> By: One Big Daddy http://www.mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html/comment-page-1#comment-76569 One Big Daddy Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:02:32 +0000 http://mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html#comment-76569 Go with your heart, only you can know this one. You know, go for it! Go with your heart, only you can know this one. You know, go for it!

]]> By: beweird22 http://www.mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html/comment-page-1#comment-76568 beweird22 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:40:03 +0000 http://mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html#comment-76568 I think you just need to keep looking. No one can tell you what you need to do on this one. Being agnostic isn't necessarily a bad thing. You can be very spiritual and not have a deffinate religion. Just keep looking. If you want a religion, you'll eventually find one you feel comfortable with. I think you just need to keep looking. No one can tell you what you need to do on this one. Being agnostic isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You can be very spiritual and not have a deffinate religion. Just keep looking. If you want a religion, you’ll eventually find one you feel comfortable with.

]]> By: October http://www.mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html/comment-page-1#comment-76567 October Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:59:18 +0000 http://mysticbanana.com/how-does-one-avoid-becoming-an-unwilling-agnostic.html#comment-76567 You are on you way to becoming an atheist. Welcome. You are on you way to becoming an atheist. Welcome.

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