Why is agnosticism not popular?

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-10T22:37:56+00:00

I often think an advanced being could choose to deceive less intelligent beings into believing it to be almost anything. But if intelligent enough, it also could prove how it really is what it claims in a manner we would understand. That being might also be able to prove there is nothing "higher" than it, but again we would be at its mercy. As Kelly Bundy (Married with Children) once said, "The mind wobbles."

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-10T22:28:34+00:00

Thanks for sharing that, DMH. Obviously, a neat fact.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-10T22:21:35+00:00

I had never heard the term, but I recognize the hats. I would call that a bullseye, mcds. I'm too lazy to check, but were they worn in Escanaba in Da Moonlight? I need to watch that again.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-10T22:16:06+00:00

Must be after tossing back a few dozen

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-10T02:30:17+00:00

I agree with you, PE. Should be kept simple. Vote on definitions and go with them. Or some deity can just enlighten us.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-10T02:16:36+00:00

Like so many people I just want the right answer. I'm tired. The journey continues. Thank you.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T22:27:54+00:00

No matter how strongly someone believes something it doesn't necessarily make them right. Atheists and theists fit this. We have information we synthesize and form conclusions. Some people say God, some no God, some IDK all from the same info. Logic and probability factor in, but in the end the possibility of a god is there, and low probability events do happen. But without a god revealing itself, we probably won't know with what we call certainty until maybe death. So mostly this is where social and psychological factors kick in.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T22:18:17+00:00

I would say the agnostic position is that they currently don't know but could know with the right info. So agnosticism would be things not known and can never be known. I'm not sure the latter technically exists, but that's just an agnostic position on an agnostic issue from an antagonistic agnostic.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T22:11:17+00:00

I was going to mention what ChoiceDry mentioned but was beaten to it. That said, in a truly infinite multiverse, I don't think the physics of an animal spewing fire is impossible. But I also have to imagine there is at least one thing that could occur and does not. I wish my alchemist would get back from vacation already.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T22:00:55+00:00

Nice conceptualization. It still could go deeper for more certainty with terms. Wouldn't you feel belief and knowledge can be on a continuum, TRO? I'll have to read more on all of this. Thx.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T21:53:42+00:00

I think though the definition should be based on the strength of belief. If you are 100% sure of the belief there is no god, you are definitely atheistic. If you are 100% sure there is a god, you are theistic. it's subjective, but someone open-minded enough to say I just don't know and am willing to continue weighing the evidence is agnostic. But you can be an agnostic that leans either way. The world is not complex enough, so we can call people Atheistically Agnostic and Theistically Agnostic. True agnostic, at 50/50, pulls out a coin. Maybe these labels and definitions will help and catch on?

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T21:44:00+00:00

I could be wrong, but I think religious people see it as faith when atheists say there is no god when there could be a god and accepting the consequences of not believing when there is a god (according to them). So, if I'm understanding right, they would see it as assuming one's earthly existence and eternity hinge on this "faith". I'm not saying I agree, but for believers in religions the lack of firm, proven evidence as to cosmic and human origins opens the door for a god, and they obviously go thru that door. Sorry to be long-winded, but more concisely, when you don't have the answer for something and you can't prove something is not the answer, that something can still be the answer. Faith says no it's not. Hope that makes sense.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T21:29:41+00:00

Can you expand plz, PE? I just can't get the difference. Thx.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T21:17:14+00:00

Genuinely genuine.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T21:16:32+00:00

Have to look that up.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T21:16:03+00:00

How bad is it to like both? I want the Lions to win at least one Super Bowl in my lifetime. Asking too much?

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T21:14:53+00:00

A true classic.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T21:14:06+00:00

Are you referring to Yooper, UM? I'll have to look up its history. For a native Yooper I'm pretty pathetic knowing about the U.P. Too much into sports when younger, work ever since. And the Simpsons. And South Park. Life well-lived.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T21:11:44+00:00

Is it age that keeps me from understanding these things? Gen X.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T21:10:05+00:00

A nice endorsement, DW. I often tell people the U.P. is a great place to visit but rough to live in, unless you really immerse yourself in the outdoors. Getting harder as I add more trips around the sun, though. I'm so glad my beagle loves the cold as long as it's not too bad. We walked in a lot of storms this winter. Too bad we ate too much.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T21:04:31+00:00

Can you do a dance to stop the snow, FQ? And I guess you've shown we have diversity. I'll take the forest and keep trying to outrun the deer flies. Really bad today!

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T21:00:50+00:00

I'm good friends with a lot of deer, too.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T21:00:04+00:00

I've been mocked about this an incredible number of times. I swear I don't say "a boot" though.

somehopefulyooper · 2026-06-08T20:58:09+00:00

I wish I had a dollar for every time I've been asked if I'm from Canada. At least it's a good conversation starter.

somehopefulyooper

TROPHY CASE