Is there such a thing as an agnostic theist?

[ChristyGrl]

Originally Posted by MysticPhD

Finally!!! . . . acknowledging it as a belief is the first step to questioning the rationality of it (in either camp). I remain utterly dumbfounded that anyone in this modern age can believe in the original Gods of the mainstream religions described by our ignorant primitive ancestors.

You and me both brother....but what's even more dumfounding are the vast numbers that still believe in them.

[Fullback32]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

Most atheists I've talked to (and there have been lots!) are insistent that there is no God. Period. Most agnostics I've talked to seem to be quite certain there is no God, but don't rule out the possibility entirely.I've just never seen the word agnostic used to describe something who really feels that it's impossible to know for sure, but does believe in a God.

This is the first place I ever saw the term "agnostic theist." It is from the Religious Tolerance website.

Agnosticism

"Agnostic-Theist: A Theist firmly believes in the existence of a God. An Agnostic has concluded that there is no proof for either the existence or non-existence of God. However, these two beliefs are not necessarily mutually exclusive. An Agnostic could still believe in the existence of God even though they accept that there is no proof either way.

Agnostic Theists: those who believe that a deity probably exists, even though god's existence cannot be proven."

This is more my personal mindset on the whole god question:

"Another category of Agnostic are the "Empirical Agnostics." They believe that God may exist, but that little or nothing can be known about him/her/it/them."

[Fullback32]

Originally Posted by Rafius

See....I don't understand what "agnostic" is. For me, agnosticism doesn't exist. I mean, you either have a belief that gods exist (theist) or you don't (atheist). If you accept that gods may or may not exist (agnostic) then that means that you accept the possibility that gods may exist and therefore, have a belief in gods...which makes you theist.

I'm not sure it's all that easy as there are many different thoughts on what a "god" is. I don't think of god being a god in the classic sense of the word.

For most people, I think the word god automatically conjures the image of a supernatural creature that, if would could see it, looks like a man: Zeus, Mars, Yahweh, Allah, Mithra, Ahura Mazda and, of course, the ultimate god-man Jesus. Then there are those who think of the "little g" god as those ancient gods that had animal heads and men's bodies or vice versa and such. But even these looked like things on earth. The commonality of all these types of gods is that they had very human thinking and emotion despite their purported perfection.

But when we put aside those definitions and begin to ponder that the Creator (for lack of a better word) probably doesn't look like anything on earth or fit any of the pictures we form in our mind, then I wonder if the word god(s) can be used at all. What if it's just some sort or ethereal spirit? What if it is just some sort of force or power that has no cognizance as we know it? What if it is something that pervades all things in the universe like the pantheists believe? Is it still a god then? I just don't know.

This is why I am comfortable with the term agnostic theist. I believe that there is something...I just don't know what it is.