Ship of Fools: dontknow-ist

Thread: dontknow-ist Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by pydseybare (# 16184) on :

I used to be a whole list of things, but now I don't know. I aspire to be an atheist - or even an agnostic - because at least then I'd be something definable. As it stands, I'm just a whole heap of don't-know.

Is it just me? Anyone else out there who doesn't know even how to define what they don't believe in?

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

I think it would be far easier to convert to atheism.

I've tried, but can't let go of God. Some would say God won't let go of me ...

I am very cross with God just now, if S/he exists [Mad]

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

Can you be a believer in something you don't know? I sometimes think I'm a wee bit Taoist. My paganism is of the pragmatic sort common to the Irish peasantry in which, while you may not necessarily believe in any specific Púca, Sidhe, Tuatha, genii loci etc, there's no point in getting on the wrong side of them.

Because of my background and cultural experience, Christianity has to be my religion of choice for disbelieving in.

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:

Because of my background and cultural experience, Christianity has to be my religion of choice for disbelieving in.

Well put.

Yeah, I was going through a similar examination of faith, based on musings on the function of religion provoked by a really cool NPR radio program on the "Sunday Assembly" movement. Basically, I want to check it out, but fear (ironically) that my status as a Christian will make things awkward for everyone.

Or is it that I am afraid on some level that I will see evidence that spiritual activity can happen in ways that are beyond my assumptions?

Posted by pydseybare (# 16184) on :

I think that's unlikely, Kelly. If it is the same thing as I've read about here in the UK, one of the recent meetings was arranged by a Christian.

Personally, I can't think of anything worse - all the trappings of church without the actual certainties of religion. Just bad singing and boredom in a large room.

Posted by SvitlanaV2 (# 16967) on :

quote:
Originally posted by pydseybare:
I aspire to be an atheist - or even an agnostic - because at least then I'd be something definable. As it stands, I'm just a whole heap of don't-know.

Why isn't 'agnostic' suitable in your cas?

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :

quote:
pydseybare: I aspire to be an atheist - or even an agnostic - because at least then I'd be something definable.

I think being definable is overrated sometimes.

Posted by pydseybare (# 16184) on :

quote:
Originally posted by SvitlanaV2:

quote:
Originally posted by pydseybare:
I aspire to be an atheist - or even an agnostic - because at least then I'd be something definable. As it stands, I'm just a whole heap of don't-know.

Why isn't 'agnostic' suitable in your cas?

I guess I see agnostic as a settled position and I'm not sure that I want to be defined as not-sure. It is like others say, I need to have something not to believe in.

Posted by SvitlanaV2 (# 16967) on :

Well, I suppose there are resigned agnostics and questioning agnostics. But they're both still agnostics, at least to me.

Culturally speaking, it seems possible to be an atheist and a Christian, so it must be possible to be an agnostic and a Christian. Belief isn't the issue so much as a simple fascination with religious symbols and ideas. It seems quite common among novelists and other kinds of artistic people.

I'm a Christian who finds the road very hard, but sometimes I feel (cynically?) that someone has to maintain the faith, if only so that future generations of non-religious people have some of these symbols and ideas to potter around in and pilfer. Someone must remain who still believes in them, or else what power will they have in novels, pop songs, paintings, oaths, etc.?

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

quote:
Originally posted by pydseybare:
I think that's unlikely, Kelly.

Who knows?

Posted by Lamb Chopped (# 5528) on :

I'd go with you, Kell. Though I'd insist on a tomato fight or something afterward to make up for boredom.

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :

I didn't say anything about boredom. [Big Grin]

Having said that, you might be on to something, because, for me at least, a lot of questions about the spiritual nature of man are answered for me via Holi, tomato fights, and mud puddle wrestling. You can just see the glow of the Divine on people's faces after an hour or so of that stuff. [Big Grin]

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