Quote:
Originally posted by IMDWalrus
No option for agnostics? 
There really isn't enough evidence for or against...so I stay neutral. If I had to choose, I'd go atheist, but calling myself agnostic is easier...especially since there are more than a few poeple that have no idea what it means.
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You should have included a "Not Sure" for the agnostics. There are more of them then you may realize. Unfortunately, there are probably more people who don't know what an agnostic is than there are people who declare themselves agnostic.
This thread is very interesting. It reminds me of the "Philosophy of Religion" class took last semester. The whole class was arguments for and against the existence of God so I've been comparing the arguments on this thread to ones I learned. On the first day of class the prof took an anonymous poll of everyone's belief. Everyone had to classify themselves as "Theist", "Atheist" or "Agnostic" and "Hostile" (I am right and you are so very wrong) or "Friendly" (I am very open-minded about the whole thing). Then he took the same poll after the Final. Here are the results:
BEFORE:
Theist: 27 Friendly, 3 Hostile
Agnostic: 10 Friendly, 2 Hostile
Atheist: 2 Friendly, 1 Hostile
AFTER:
Theist: 28 Friendly, 4 Hostile
Agnostic: 6 Friendly, 2 Hostile
Atheist: 6 Friendly, 0 Hostile
(Note: 1 more person was polled in the After poll)
Interpret that data how you will. I am one of those Friendly Agnostics that stuck around the camp (Open-mindedness is a value I try to live by). Here are a few quotes:
"I do not consider it an insult, but rather a compliment to be called an agnostic. I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure -- that is all that agnosticism means. "
Clarence Darrow (Scopes trial, Dayton, Tennessee, July 13, 1925)
"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear."
Thomas Jefferson
"Hostile Agnostic. I don't know and neither do you"
Bumper Sticker
"Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color."
Don Hirschberg
If anyone wants to learn about well established philsophical agruements about God, just wants to debate this stuff, or wonders what an agnostic is, feel free to AIM me at "The Lucas 365"