I am wondering whether I am an Atheist, Deist, Agnostic, Nihilistic…or whether there is some odd name for me that I have never heard before (and at this point in my life, I am sure I’ve heard them all).
Here’s my take on the universe. “God” as we understand the term in religions is a purely human invention. However something must have created the universe. But the nature of that “creator” is a complete mystery, incomprehensible, and will never discovered.
Is this Atheism? Or does a true Atheist reject even the idea of an “intelligent creation”.
I am not so much interested in “debate” over this view, since I suspect what I am saying has been said before in more detail and in a more eloquent fashion. I just wanted to know what label was more or less appropriate for that view, and what philosophers would have covered that ground.
I’ve heard agnosticism defined that way - many people use it to describe the position of [not knowing if there is god(s)], but I’ve heard it defined as [believing that it is impossible to know the nature/existence of god(s))
I’ve read that Benjamin Franklin (and some other famous folks whose names I can’t remember right now) believed that a Supreme Being set up the universe, then just left it alone, to sink or swim, as it were. These people referred to themselves as Deists. I don’t know if this jibes with your belief, however.
I agree with this. But let me specify that in my philosophy, the “creator” is not really any sort of thinking being or entity, but probably some sort of force or energy. Yeah I have always wondered what this would be called. I always refer to this “force” or “creator” as “mother nature.” Not in the way that mother nature is normally thought of though…more as in a useful term to descirbe the force or energy or whatever it is that drives life and the world and the universe. Everytime I look at the beautiful earth or a beautiful animal, I credit it all to “mother nature.” And in my philosophy, the only way to “worship” that is just to respect it, and to accept that it is a force that can never be explained, only admired and respected.
I don’t know if I’d consider agnosticism to be a “belief” to the same extent atheism or various theist perspectives are, except to the extent you can consider “I don’t know” to be a belief. Believing that there was a divine influence pretty much takes you out of the atheist and agnostic camps and I’m not really sure to what extent nihilism speaks to religious “belief”, as it’s really not directly linked to a specific theist perspective, although I’d think (possibly incorrectly) that to be a true nihilist you’d need to at least be an atheist or a damn pessimistic theist.
I think “deist” comes closet to your mark per Random House.
Agnosticism is belief that nothing can be known about God. Deism is the belief that there was some sort of “God” that created this universe and has since done nothing with it. I don’t believe they’re entirely incompatible, but I still say he sounds more like a Deist than an Agnostic.
Your statement on the nature of the universe in that thread is far more cogent, informed, and considered than anything I can offer now.
I am just getting started in this whole area, and I really wanted to make a general question - but I knew this was a topic for debates.
I also hope this doesn’t come across as a “vanity thread” - I am not so much interested in promoting a view of my own to others - but in knowing what the boundaries between Deism, Atheism, and Agnosticism are.
Many thanks for your kind praise, synchro, but don’t do yourself down! You have come to this table with a genuine hunger for knowledge; all that the rest of us can do is recommend our favourite meals.
