Atheists, agnostics most knowledgeable about religion, survey says

Discussion in 'Free Speech Alley' started by Rex_B, Sep 29, 2010.

  1. gumborue

    gumborue Throwin Ched

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    1. many posters in this thread were obviously drunk when posting.

    2. how is an athiest one who doesnt not belive in god, and an agnostic one that isnt sure? seems like the same definition to me.

    3. ignorance and intelligence are largely different characteristics. the educated have only a slightly greater claim on intelligence that the non-educated (because of social issues). besides, this pew survey only addressed knowledge/ignorance, not intelligence. im not sure what to take from the survey except that most people are ignorant---wow, news flash. can someone find the survey where 80% of americans with a high school diploma cant find the UK on a globe and half cant find the US?

    4. the religious that are intelligent are athiests that have just not yet overcome their social attachments to worship.
     
  2. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    There is a distinction. Atheists (without belief) believe God does not exist and can not exist.

    Agnostics (without knowledge) believe that there is no way of knowing if God exists but accepts the possibility.

    Some agnostics believe in God, only rejecting the human religions attributed to them. No atheist believes in God.
     
  3. Bud Lee

    Bud Lee Call me buttercup

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    Come on man…this horse was decomposing. Did you really need to kick it?
     
  4. gumborue

    gumborue Throwin Ched

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    better than "discussing" politics
     
  5. gumborue

    gumborue Throwin Ched

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    if only "some" agnostics believe in god then some agnostics dont believe in god and are therefore just like athiests as you define --"believe God does not exist "

    i find it difficult to accept your definition of agnostics because it includes fundamentally different views. i find it difficult to accept your definition of athiests because i dont believe a significant # of people will think they can know that god does not exist. athiests are rational people, possibly to a fault. it is only the socially/psychologically encumbered religious that think they can know that god exists.
     
  6. LaSalleAve

    LaSalleAve when in doubt, mumble

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    you are an anomaly. aren't you into comics and punk rock also, sci fi movies and stuff like that? but a catholic pro lifer at the same time.
     
  7. martin

    martin Banned Forever

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    i have tried to explain the flaws in the definitions to red a zillion times.

    we are all born atheist, without belief or knowledge. we never acquire any knowledge, but some of us mistakenly think we do. smart people resist the lies and stay atheist.

    the only rational position is to admit you are ignorant, and therefore have to no reason to believe. red defines this as agnosticism, but i define it as atheist, because you are without belief.

    the atheist that is absolutely certain god does not exist is so rare that i have never heard of such a person.
     
  8. LaSalleAve

    LaSalleAve when in doubt, mumble

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    but there is a difference between because agnostics have a want to believe. **** i just sounded like Miles. Anyway atheists, no way there is a god, agnostic, i don't know if there is a god or not, but i would like to think there is.

    I think I am an Pantheist.
     
  9. martin

    martin Banned Forever

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    all of that is incorrect.
     
  10. red55

    red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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    I know that you understand the difference between "believes God does not exist" and "believes we can not know if God exists". One is unequivocal, the other is conditional.

    It's not my definition, it is the dictionary definition of the the terms and also the excyclopedia explanations of their meaning.
     

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