Most people think of agnosticism as a position between theism and atheism, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Almost all people who identify themselves as agnostic are actually agnostic atheists, yes, they’re not mutually exclusive. Agnosticism is a claim about knowledge, atheism is a claim about belief (or lack thereof). An agnostic atheist is a person who does not know whether or not a god exists, but does not believe in one anyway. That description fits most agnostics. Also, you can be an agnostic theist, a person who does not know but believes.
@@randomblueguy I think those definitions are bogus. An atheist is someone who rejects the possibility of God. An agnostic leaves it open. Those are mutually exclusive.
@@pierrestober3423 Please let us define what we are. The definition of atheism I used is the definition used by almost all dictionaries. Atheism is the disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God. If you simply lack belief, you’re an atheist. Technically speaking, babies are born atheists. Most people who identify as agnostic are actually atheists. In the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter how we choose to define the word. What matters is that we both mean the same thing when we’re talking about it, that’s why I think arguing over definitions is dumb.
I consider myself agnostic on many issues especially any metaphysical questions that are unprovable by their nature. People who demand you choose sides are always dogmatic and doctrinal which is contemptible to me. It's alright to say you don't know when you don't. Agnosticism is a sign of rationality to me.
I feel the same. But I make the mistake of wanting other people to see that they don't know either. It's weird how propaganda is used in every aspect of life, and it's hard not to engage in it. We think our way is the only sensible one. So it's hard to not become dogmatic also, just in a different way. But my veiws are similar with politics and science also. I dont claim to know how something works unless I actually do. And I would gladly bash any hardcore Republican or Democrat or Communist with the same amount of venom as hardcore atheists or theists. I guess the mob, or the herd mentality scares me, but its mainly the "one right way" ideologies that tick me off. And they're everywhere you look.
Correct, yet you still fall in a fallacy. If God exists, then why not pray about it to God to reveal who he is. + It goes against the Non contradiction Law !
@@toddfordr8218 You cannot imagine how I love this comment. You really made my day. I couldn't agree more or could have said it in a more beautiful way. Thank you xD
This show is a rare gem. I am intrigued by the various views, and opinions. The philosophies shared are intellectually profound. I am fortunate to have found this channel
You know what element athiests and agnostics are missing in the equation ? The Biblical prophecy is the element that is missing, something that other religions can't claim to possess. Not only did the Jews survive more than two thousand years of threats of annihilation and persecution but the fate of this group of people has been disclosed in prophecies thousands of years ago. Many of which have been fulfilled, others are being fulfilled currently and a few have yet to be fulfilled. Case in point: 1ST---More than thousands of years ago, God said that the Jewish people will be scattered in all four corners of the world - check! 2nd---They will return to their homeland , to be specific- to a desolate land - check! [ Mark Twain, during his visit to Israel 150 years ago described the holy land as a desolate land that even cactus could hardly grow ] Israel has been one of the top exporters of agricultural products in the world..heck it even the Netherlands, the number 1 exporter of flowers worldwide even import flowers from Israel. 3rd----They will make the land prosperous- check! considering the fact that israel was such a small country, mostly dessert, had no oil nor gas during the first 5 decades of existence..[it was etablished in 1948 btw} and always in constant threats of annihilation as they were surrounded by enemy countries. 4th---Think about this...God made a promise that He will preserve them as a separate people until the end of days despite thousands of years of being scattered in all parts of the globe - check! I have been in Israel and you will see Jews from Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, etc..People who came to Israel from all countries of the world and yet their identity remained intact...that is nothing short of a miracle..a fulfillment of prophecy made thousands of years ago. and that's just a few of the reasons why it is wise to seek God with all your heart to prove His existence....all you have to do is ask Him..come to Him in humility and He will reveal Himself to you.
I was expecting the physicist studying String Theory (Prof. Susskind) to be the most sure of what he knows and believes, yet he is the most vocal about how little we know. It’s both humbling and amazing.
But are you am agnostic who holds a belief in a god, or an agnostic who lacks a belief in a god? To say you are an agnostic is to only tell half the story, to speak,on what you don't know but not what you believe ... or don't believe.
Idk, even then, people can genuinely believe something, and then when they see it that way it wouldn’t be a lie. I think it’s honesty… if you’re an agnostic person??? For example my mom is very religious. It feels right and she can find the places where in all the arguments against it she can find some for her perspective. If she were to be honest with herself in what she truly felt I think she’d be religious. And I think part agnosticism is the ability to believe that others follow their truth and try to understand themselves. Or to encourage people to do so. It’s honesty but… idk your honesty? It’s very fascinating
All the speakers were great and very honest. We simply cannot verify that there is a God but equally we cannot disprove a universal negative. The concept of God helps us come to terms with questions about the finality of death, the injustices of our world and the burning questions of our purpose but as John S rightly states we ought to be suspicious of believing something that we desperately want to believe.
Yeah as an agnostic I find myself almost envious of the faithful, it would be nice to have the comfort of a higher power, and I see with some of my relatives the positive impact religion has had on them. I try to keep an open mind and heart but I just can't make myself feel it..
You're not animated by a Duracell AAA battery. This system that all works together in the cycle called life on this life giving planet is just random and from nothing. The celestial beauty is just rocks and random lights floating around the great nothing. The numerous sightings in the skies that defy physics and every law possible is just ET in a spaceship. Your ability (maybe?) to create and think is nothing special. Sure buddy.
Thank you ... sadly parent can push their faith on children before they can understand and then have to deal with heavy emotional and spiritual problem for years once they are older
Hi. I submit to you that everyone is religious and everyone teaches their particular religion to their kids. For example, an atheist is really a 'natural panthiest.' Atheists claim that matter, left unaided, created everything. Most atheists subscribe to the big bang theory. They worship their god, which is an explosion in space. They stand in awe of the power that brought matter from nothing. Yet, atheists are the children of chaos, of meaninglessness, the universe leaving them void of meaning and conscience. They are only a chemical reaction. Moreover, the children of chaos have no foundation for morality as morality is simply a word for 'special treatment.' That is, without God, we are simply another life form. Boil a potato; boil a person: it is all the same. According to the religion of atheism, people are not a special form of life, so there are no rules on how to treat others. Certainly, many atheists choose to live nicely with others, yet do not mistake that with a moral law. According to atheism, there is no higher authority than people. Therefore, whatever people decree becomes their morality. For example, Herod slaughtered kids under 2 years of age; yet, if you are an atheist, you have no moral foundation to even call Herod wrong. Yet, the moral law is written on your heart. Hell is eternal, but Christ died so that we can know and love God. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..you however have no proof that there is no God..how can you declare with 100 % certainty that He doesn't exist..relying only with your own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein who is way more intelligent than you are, though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things. Question everything including your own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the validity of your own belief... the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of your stance. You have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof. The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
@@mikeygarcia8271 Hi. Were you addressing that last post to me? You wrote, "how can you declare with 100 % certainty that (God) doesn't exist." I know the Lord, so how could that be a question for me? Moreover, it sounds like you, too, have a belief in God. What do you believe about the afterlife? Is there a heaven or hell? If so, how does a person get to heaven? Thanks! Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
@@kenshiloh It's for Dominic..Time to sow seeds brother..We're living in the last days..you were born for a time like this..keep on sowing the seeds..even if you're rejected..the important thing is we are sowing the seeds..leave everything else to God.The seeds you sow..God will grow.
I consider myself a passionate (analytic) agnostic as championed in this video. Like Kuhn, I very much would like "god" to exist and ultimately provide some meaning to our world and our lives, but like Searle and many others, I remain highly skeptical that a God Hypothesis is a cogent path to follow. However, it is a bit surprising (and somewhat disappointing) that Kuhn commits one of the very fallacies talked about in another of his other videos in this series, and right in front of Simulation Argument guru Nick Bostrom no less! Presuming that an all-powerful (blah blah blah) Creator God is the only theodicy in town is a huge fallacy! Like Susskind advocates, we should be uber-agnostic about the origins of this universe, and what it all means, if anything. It is very possible that everything was created by a far less than perfect God. It is possible that we are living in a Simulation. At least the Simulation Hypothesis can be cogently formulated and analyzed (at least in comparison to other creation stories), and readily answers the Problem of Evil, and the Fine-Tuning Problem as well. Anyway, as a final word, my passion for the agnostic position can be boiled down to one simple statement: God May Exist. That statement is categorically true. And what's more, any addition to that statement breaches a religion. And that religion should be passionately, vehemently, and most critically challenged.
@Andreea _"When you're dead, you don't know you're dead, "_ When you are dead, you will know you are dead, as you will start seeing things in different dimension, so your analogy above is simply falsifying the realm you haven't seen or experienced and it exhibits dishonesty and those who have given thumps-up for your comment weren't thinking through.
@@micheal74rich This is your ideology, I think that after you die there is nothing. So my statement is true (for me of course, if you have other beliefs that's your business). After all no one died and came back to tell us what's in there so whatever we believe in here is just a speculation. We'll see at the right time🥲or not🥲
@@andreea5927 c1: _"This is your ideology, "_ I can say the same line at C1 for your line _"I think that after you die there is nothing. "_ come on, we all are on the same boat. Even scientists admit, sometime things happens beyond our realm of understanding, but you to say something like this _"after you die there is nothing. "_ that puts you an awkward position. C2: _"for me of course, if you have other beliefs that's your business"_ Your line c2 is fair statement, but your first post on this tread is premature, that is all I want to tell you.
@@jyeviolegrace2143 New one or i for got for ADHD AND HDTV Channels my thinking memories 🥴🥴😂. well i get what your getting at and being nice about it. A good adhd way of being.
I'm a philosophical agnostic because I've thought seriously about the implications of human limits. The more I learn, the more I know that I don't know. And the kinds of assertions made by theists and atheists are the kinds of things humans simply cannot know.
Hitchens know by now that God is real. Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..atheists however have no proof that there is no God..how can an atheist declare with 100 % certainty that God doesn't exist..relying only with his own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein--- though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things. Atheists must question everything including their own own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of such stance. Atheists have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof--we have seen Him our visions..while others during NDE [near death experience] The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
@@mikeygarcia8271 I'am atheist theres No religion True, and the god never communicated with Human.But We all agnostic about the cause who Created the universe.
Robert, your final summary was simply exquisite. I wholeheartedly agree. We keep pushing, and we never yield. Open-minded and learning to the last. I feel glad I am not alone in this pursuit. Thank you.
Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..you however have no proof that there is no God..how can you declare with 100 % certainty that He doesn't exist..relying only with your own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein who is way more intelligent than you are, though he did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made. Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things. Question everything including your own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the validity of your own belief... the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of your stance. You have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof...we saw Him in visions ..even atheists did see in visions others during NDE [ near death experience] and they were transformed by the experience..and their lives were changed dramatically..some went on becoming servants of Christ because of what these atheists saw. The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
I just became an Agnostic, today. I argued for Christianity, but everyone called me a hypocrite, everyone told me their religion is true, every Christian told me i should believe in their Christian beliefs instead of believe my own Christian beliefs i had. I got confused and upset, depressed about whether i was a Hypocrite, clown, and a dummy. Now i have realized that we can never know the truth fully.
@@LastBastian Every christian i know have been dishonest consistent enough to reconsider. and ya in a way of many shapes and forms of changing minds if they don't get the answer they will make one up and make an opinion insted of truth.
@@trafficjon400 Yes, I definitely see irrationality from theists. But I've spoken to a number of them who actually seem pretty intellectually honest and reasonable. Whereas, I've spoken to many "only" agnostics, or "passionate" agnostics, as you put it, and so far, every single one has demonstrated themselves intellectually dishonest, illogical, and irrational. Now, I'd truly love for this trend to end. ...But I'm still waiting.
@@LastBastian Then, I don't think you've actually met an agnostic. How can someone who claims to not being able to fully believe in certain concepts... to be dishonest? or illogical? or irrational? Isn't that completely contradictory to the concept of agnosticism? He neither believes nor denies the existence of god so he is being honest that he, as a mere human might have or might have not been created by a higher power. He has already admitted that he doesn't know thus he cannot be dishonest, illogical or irrational. He does not fully support any argument after all. It is the state of not being fully certain. An agnostic never truly believes nor is committed to any beliefs, It is not just the lack of belief but the uncertainty of anything at all.
@@poike5299 Well first off, I *am* an agnostic (by certain definitions) second, I've probably spoken to hundreds of "only" agnostics. And that is specifically who I am referring to. The *"only"* agnostic types. I certainly agree, simply admitting when you don't fully *know* something, is very intellectually honest. That's great, and that is the version of agnostic I personally fall under. The: gnostic = claiming to know (if god exists) agnostic = not claiming to know (if god exists) It's all the other stuff that "only" types like to throw in, that is the problem. Like dishonesty misrepresenting atheism. Like claiming illogical positions such as: "nothing *CAN* be known of the existence of God" -Most proposed gods are all powerful types who *by definition* have the ability to make themselves known if they like. So to claim they *cannot* be known, is to claim you know they can't exist. It's an illogical, paradoxical, self defeating position. Many claim agnosticism is some magical position *between* having belief and not having belief. -This is illogical. You have belief or you do not. Belief exists, or it does not. You can't not believe and *NOT* not believe at the same time. etc… Unless you can explain the position between existing and not existing? Because so far, nobody has. "A person who claims neither faith (belief) nor disbelief" -Same as above. Disbelief is either a refusal or a the simple *inability* to believe. Which most claim to be the case. They are unable, or unwilling to believe, yet claim they do not have disbelief. ...it is illogical. Then there are cases of adding random or illogical things to the term. No offense but you give some examples here: "He has admitted he doesn't know thus he *cannot* be dishonest, illogical, irrational." -Admitting one doesn't know a specific thing, does *not* prevent one from being dishonest, illogical, or irrational about any number of things. "He does not fully support any argument after all" -You are making and supporting an argument right now. "An agnostic never truly believes nor is committed to *ANY* beliefs" -You seem pretty committed to this belief. -Being agnostic certainly does not prevent people from believing things in general. "not just the lack of belief but the uncertainty of anything at all." -You seem pretty certain of that. Honestly, your description of agnostics makes them sound even more befuddled and irrational than I even alluded to.
I didn’t choose to be an agnostic, but I’m an agnostic by nature, or skeptical about any claims beyond human senses. I feel that many things are simply beyond humans’ ability to comprehend, just as it’s impossible for a dog to understand quantum physics. Unanswerable questions are, for example, the concept of infinity, the manifestation of something out of nothing in reference to how the universe started out of the vacuum of space, how was life started from dead matter, is there a conscious supernatural being that designed and created the universe? So agnosticism, or skepticism go beyond simply not knowing if there’s a god or not, but in realizing that it’s impossible to know anything beyond the realm of the human senses. And I am completely comfortable in not knowing. I feel freedom in guiding my own life without the restraint of having to follow other people’s rules.
I’m 5 minutes in. This is one of the few videos I’ve found on RUclips that actually… do what agnostics do! Ask questions and listen to answers and go “MAYBE! Let’s keep looking!”
There is a famous story in Buddhism: One day a guy who never believed in God comes up to Buddha and asks him: Is there a God? And the Buddha says: Yes. Later that day a guy who always believed in God comes up to Buddha and asks him: Is there a God? And the Buddha says: No. A follower of the Buddha who overhears both conversations comes up to him and asks: I've heard you say to one man that there is a God and to the other that there is none. So which is it? Why did you do it? And the Buddha says: I told the non-believer that there was a God because he never truly considered the idea and I told the believer that there was no God because he never considered that there could be no God. If I told them what they already knew they wouldn't have been able to learn anything, so I just nudged them in a way that would allow them to progress.
@@therealexistentialist Buddha was teaching compassion and understanding. Truth wasn't his teaching, attitude was. You go to the Buddha to learn compassion and proper attitude, truth you come upon yourself once those are properly established.
Im a believer in god but resent and disagree with religion and faith in cult religious activities. Maybe im an Agnostic.... but im quite fond of Christmas because it makes everyone Happy.
No argument can prove that God doesn't exist because somethings existence Isn't determined by argument. Having faith in something also doesn't determine that it exist, in the end it's more about realization.
realize faith is realization? better have it he said or go to hell! is EVIL IN ALL SHAPES AND FORM MADE BY CROOKS CRICKED MONSTERMEN. Grace is power though.
What about CHILDREN? Has Mr. Kuhn considered interviewing children on this topic? They seem to KNOW without the need to implement their intellect. Where did they come from? How did they get here? Who and where were they before arriving here? It would make a FASCINATING episode or SEASON!
As a theist and former atheist and former agnostic. Agnosticism is the only path to knowledge and truth. I found theism unattractive and unconvincing. Then atheism became unconvincing. The agnostic period of my life made me study a lot on these issues. Ultimately, I came back to theism by studying philosophy.
@@frantiseknovotny2674 It is still about believing. I am confident in my belief. I do not claim God to be a fact per se. But I believe there is a God for multiple reasons. A lot of it is the argument from contingency, as well as fine-tuning after and applied to that. Also that I have reason to think that there is a largest thing in the universe and parallelism leads one to believe there is a greatest being. Not necessarily in an ontological argument sense but cut and dry. Also watching debates and atheists not making good arguments that atheism is true. I have not seen nor heard one argument convincing me that atheism is true. But I have heard convincing arguments for theism. (Above examples)
The overwhelming majority of theists profess certitude in not only the existence of a God of one stripe or another, but that they and theirs have absolute certainty in its will and intentions. Atheists claim certitude that no God exists nor may exist. In your scenario, most theists and all Atheists, by the very meaning and definition of the term, would qualify as Sith.
Question evrything, including your own belief. Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..you however have no proof that there is no God..how can you declare with 100 % certainty that He doesn't exist..relying only with your own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein who is way more intelligent than you are, though he did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made. Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things. Question everything including your own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the validity of your own belief... the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of your stance. You have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof...we saw Him in visions ..even atheists did see in visions others during NDE [ near death experience] and they were transformed by the experience..and their lives were changed dramatically..some went on becoming servants of Christ because of what these atheists saw. The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
@@dsstudio76 come on man, everybody should understand it is the woman who is the creator. The man just deposited the seed is the woman who does all the work.
Agnosticism is a personal stance that recognizes the profound and elevated awareness gained through questioning everything around us. It is deeply rooted in philosophical realism and practicalism, both of which provide rational arguments. Agnosticism asserts that crisis is not existential.
Excellent intellectual perspectives on this subject. Took me a while to understand what my true beliefs are, i am moving closer to who i am. Since i have doubts, (doubting Thomas), i feel that agnosticism befits me quite well.
Hitchens know by now that God is real. Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..atheists however have no proof that there is no God..how can an atheist declare with 100 % certainty that God doesn't exist..relying only with his own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein--- though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things. Atheists must question everything including their own own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of such stance. Atheists have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof--we have seen Him our visions..while others during NDE [near death experience] The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
Well I'm glad to see a discussion on agnosticism as a potentially constructive approach to living and not just a blase position of uncaring neutrality. Agnosticism does not bow to the temptations of certitude which have more to do with comfort than knowledge. But I speak only for myself. If others truly feel their bedrock beliefs to be certainties, I can at best question them about it, but in each case we arrive at our own sense of what is or is not the case. I do think living with uncertainty without freaking out, despairing or becoming apathetic is a virtue in a world as surprising and unreliable as our own often is.
God is real. I used to be an agnostic..but I still prayed to Him..but one day..while I was praying in my room... I saw a vision of Christ on top of a hill while seated praying and was fully awake..I never looked back..Im here to tell you..Jesus is real..I saw Him with a woman who was also clad in a white garment and with a white veil on her head. She died the next day..I already knew of her impending death because her face beamed as she was standing face to face with Jesus. You can't declare with 100% certainty that there is no God.. You have no proof..while I and many others..even atheists themselves saw visions of God and the after life...and were transformed because of those spritual experiences. Will it not be reasonable to seek God..knowing that you're one and only soul is at stake? We don't have a lot of time in our hands..we are living in the last days..actually the last days started in the first world war..and it has accelerated since the Jews return to their homeland in 1948 aftr two thousand years of exile aftr their expulsion from Israel in 70 A.D during the Roman invasion of Jerusalem.
Suskin is always a breath of fresh air. Sees things for what they are. Doesn’t make up illogical reasons to explain it. And John Searle. Sheesh. I love this episode
I like to wear black myself. A black t-shirt and shorts is what I typically wear year round. Winter and summer, its simple and comfortable. People often look at me funny for wearing shorts in the dead of winter in a cold state. I just cannot stand the way that jeans feel, they are very uncomfortable and I'd rather be cold. I actually like being cold for a couple reasons. It gives me an opportunity to practice mind over matter, I'm at a point now where I can largely ignore the feeling of being cold. Secondly I think its beneficial to make yourself physically uncomfortable because it makes you appreciate it when you are not. I need to go grocery shopping today, I'm not looking forward to it. I don't enjoy being around other people. I spend virtually 99% of my time alone and feel very content alone. I never feel lonely, this actually concerns me a bit sometimes. I don't dwell on it though, I've accepted that I'm not a "normal" person. This comment if proof of that. ... flush
I dream of going to Oxford University and having these discussions, to know someone with such a high philosophical respect towards an agnostic approach yet value the overall well-being of a sum of choice that comes with arguments holding virtue's towards overall?
thank you for this Robert ... i appreciate the time you take to do these interviews with the different people ... my favorite interview is the one you had with John Searle ... i also like the fact that he knew Bertrand Russell .. I seem to relate to John the most ... although i am a christian ... i had an experience back in my teens at a coffee house .. this was during the 70s when the Jesus Movement was going on ... and i did feel the hand of God touching me ... i obviously can't prove that ... but for me it was very real ... even to this day ... i am not a very good christian ... but i do believe ... if that makes any sense .. my desire is to be found in Him (in His son Jesus) on that day when this life comes to an end ..
Perhaps you should consider the trickster god idea? In addition, the materialistic non-theistic Jain doctrine and the Theravadin Buddhist perspective. this episode is perhaps the closest to truth that you have presented so far. Perhaps the agnostic position is the most rational and HONEST of worldviews? Somewhat strange that epistemology was not mentioned! Please keep asking the right questions. Many thanks.
"I think that attitude is exactly right. And I think that one should never, ever force oneself into a certain belief." I like that statement. How can anyone "force oneself" to believe something? If God loves us, reality must be more than forcing a belief.
@@lloydtucker5647 God is always speaking, you just have to open your heart, mind and ears to hear what he is saying. If u are not patient with God you will fool yourself into thinking he doesn’t care or hear your prayers.🙏🏼 Also, I asked that question because God did enter time, space, and matter over 2000 years ago in the form of a human being through a virgin, he died for us and then rose again, This is the greatest message God has ever spoken to the world.❤️
I grew up a very militant atheist in a catholic family (i know, the rarest of stories haha). I did a lot of psychedelics a lot in my 20s. In general, agnostic just encompasses how i feel. I could have seen the eyes of god and heard the trumpets, and all that would happen is being in awe. Being in awe alone means you cant describe whats happening, there is a level of ignorance that cant be crossed. Or it can all be large and grandois hippy halucinations or exploring the inner world like carl jung. No matter what happens, there is a base level of ignorance. Even in math and science, theres a huge basis on theories and axioms, and we can bring of Godel into that too, or quantum mechanics.
I recently had a professed atheist accuse me, and by me I mean all agnostics, of being an atheist, but being a coward that wished to not offend theists. When I protested, he insisted to know what I believed concerning God, I explained to him that belief did not even enter into it for me. Belief is the domain of theists and atheists, agnosticism is not about belief, it is about knowledge. The amount of knowledge on this subject is insufficient to make any meaningful determination on it. Atheism and theism require a belief in something that is not properly evidenced, agnosticism acknowledges the true fact that verifiable evidence does not exist to make a decision on the question with even the slightest degree of certainty. I do not believe that I know better than everyone else, I also do not believe that anyone else knows better than I. Until one side or the other can present a superior, more logical and reasoned argument, or some event occurs that provides more conclusive knowledge on the subject, here I shall remain.
Guess like being an atheist doesn't make you immune from being "irrational". And, what's even worse is that they wanna believe anybody who isn't religious are an "atheist" by default, because irreligion is synonymous with atheism to them.😔
@@americanliberal09, Lots of things are like that these days, most people use all manner of labels, stereotypes, any shortcut in order to avoid actually thinking.
Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..atheists however have no proof that there is no God..how can an atheist declare with 100 % certainty that God doesn't exist..relying only with his own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein--- though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things. Atheists must question everything including their own own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of such stance. Atheists have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof--we have seen Him our visions..while others during NDE [near death experience] The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
I like Leonard Susskind’s comment - that we may be asking the wrong question. Maybe we should start from human experience, rather than metaphysics. How do we explain life changing religious/spiritual experiences? That is the ‘evidence’ which needs unbiased investigation and evaluation. That’s why I prefer those without prior commitment to either theism or atheism ie. strong agnosticism.
Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..you however have no proof that there is no God..how can you declare with 100 % certainty that He doesn't exist..relying only with your own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein who is way more intelligent than you are, though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things. Question everything including your own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the validity of your own belief... the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of your stance. You have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof. The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
Add in the fact, yes the fact, that supernormal events occur (see Leslie Kean's recent reports about Stewart Alexander's physical mediumship) and there is all the more reason to move from atheism to agnosticism. Imagine the most hardcore atheist who comes face to face with and talks to his long-departed, now briefly re-materialized mother. Indeed, how many atheists remain convinced of their position after a much more common, far less "miraculous" NDE?
Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..you however have no proof that there is no God..how can you declare with 100 % certainty that He doesn't exist..relying only with your own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein who is way more intelligent than you are, though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things. Question everything including your own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the validity of your own belief... the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of your stance. You have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof. The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
12:24 The guy frames agnosticism as if it would mean to be indecisive, and that one is better off in choosing either side. To be blunt, I find this rather nonsensical. And who knows what he thinks of his other side. If I don't know the answer to a true dichotomy, it's definitely not a reasonable thing to do, to commit to either side just for the sake of it. It's flat out irrational. I feel it's a very solid position to hold, when one says that he is an agnostic. One remains rational and honest this way. It's the opposite of being indecisive. The God hypothesis gives a better explanation for those who already believe in a God, presupposing the bald assertion of purpose behind existence. It just doesn't convince those, who lack that belief. Belief is not a choice, it's completely random (random as in being ignorant about the natural factors which lead to a certain belief) or up to God respectively, whether or not you grow up in an environment indoctrinating you for hopefully the right inclination (all though to be fair, growing up without a belief in a God is nothing like the systematic indoctrination of a religion). To say that one doesn't know, is doubting the reliability of heritage, which is a reasonable thing to do. The majority of Christians would probably confirm this, when it comes to Hindus from India or Muslims from Pakistan, while making a case for special pleading when it comes to their own upbringing. The bible supports a notion like this too in Matthew 11:25-27, that you don't choose to believe. Jesus is the alleged arbiter of my belief in God. It just so happens that he didn't choose me to believe in God. And it still stands either way, you can't know the answer, because you can't tell what's going on in your head, if you interpret something as a revelation from God, whether or not that's actually the case. One has to interpret experiences. One cannot access the experiences of others, who might experience the same thing, without attributing it to God. One does not get around that. Interpretation of personal experience is hearsay for everybody else. It's unreliable. How would one be able to know? It's a coin toss. Also, there is overwhelming amounts of compelling data to support a naturalistic view as an inference to the best explanation, without invoking a creator God. I just don't buy it that an inference to the best explanation is sufficient evidence for God. One needs actual data to make a solid inference. How one is weighting mere philosophical (non empirical) evidences and to which evidences one has access to, determines the outcome of a belief. In theological circles interpretations are very different and full of added assumptions right of the bat, which, if anything, makes me doubt their reliability.
Truth is alive, free, thrilling, and always moving. When truth becomes crystalized, dogmatized, and institutionalized then the facts are all that's left to ponder. Ya, ya.. The bible will do you well in your search for truth, but why should people continue to press forward in the March of Progress with a trumpet blast from the middle ages when all we want most is this 'Living Truth' to be closer to.
Christians I believe are “living to die”hoping for this magical afterlife instead of trying to live every moment of every day knowing that in the end you will return to the basic elements that all living things are made of…end of story. Only memories of you remain in the living world.
It is weird that no one mentioned about agnostic atheism. I think "not believing a god exists and not knowing if a god exists or not" is not contradictory.
This channel is weird like that. I've seen other videos where they just seem to want to perpetuate centuries-old religious propaganda that atheism is always a dogmatic position, when in reality is rarely is.
Wow! What a great video! I have been an agnostic my entire life, even though I went to catholic school and church. When old enough, and on my own, I dropped out of church. Too much hoopla and no proof. As an agnostic I can believe in a God my own way, without any particular religion and or ritual that goes with it. I believe there is a god, and I believe in re-incarnation. I believe our universe is a complex machine, orchestrated by someone, or something. I believe we are all here for a reason, yet unknown. Based on my own experiences, I do believe there is some type of life after we die here on earth. However, I also think that everyone has a right to believe in what they want to believe. Like they say.... whatever floats their boat to get through life. Me, I keep an open mind, and I thank my creator for being here on earth, every day, just in case there is a creator. If not, what does it matter after my body is dead? Again, thanks for a great video!
I am happy to see you at least trying to get it right. Most of my life I also hedged my bets. I was raised in the Catholic faith and said that I believed in God BUT there was always a tiny bit of doubt in my mind and heart - until 16 years ago. In January 2008 God gave me a job description that says " I am sending you out by the power of My Spirit to Release those bound by Fear, to Proclaim Forgiveness, and to show Love to ALL men". Ironically, I don't have to like you but it is necessary that I Love you. This is a request, NOT a command. Contrary to very popular belief God DOES NOT COMMAND. I could easily say no to my job at any time and I KNOW that God will NEVER stop Loving me UNCONDITIONALLY. As for the so called Commandments, God said that He actually gave us the 10 COMMITMENTS. He says that if you are truly looking for Him then you will find it impossible to do anything mentioned in the so called commandments. I could explain further about God's Perfect System which has reincarnation and Free Will as major components. Just ask me. I don't wish to write a book here. I am available to help you with your Fears anytime. As for hedging your bets about a God yes or no, trust me there is a God and He KNOWS what is in your mind and heart. Please don't try to deceive Him. There would still be no reason for Fear but I think that we can both agree that to try something like that with someone who Loves you UNCONDITIONALLY....is not cool. Bless you 🙏❤️
To argue for permanent agnosticism is to deny the biblical injunction that says no man can serve two masters. That said, what exactly is wrong with that kind of compartmentalization? Oh, on an Ocham's Razor consideration, you have to juggle two basic worldviews instead of concentrating on one. What else? In favour of it is that you have membership in a tribe of sorts. That might be worth any cognitive down-side to this compartmentalization
I think the only position that one can take is to decide how eager you are to believe in an architect of this universe. Considering we are here (big bang, evolution, consciousness) , I think chances are good. The next question then is whether an afterlife is part of the equation in the architect's project - associated with that constant nagging for a purpose in life. Eventually, you get to a point where you believe what you want to - for me, consciousness and life are on another dimension, outside this simulation constructed of matter and laws. You cannot not prove an afterlife, so why not just embrace it as a comfort that life exists where space-time does not.
I think pure agnosticism is indefensible. Everything has to hinge on the claim that Gods/Goddesses exist. We don't know what we don't know so it takes a topic about "something" to give any meaning to not knowing. From this perspective, the question becomes do you "believe" the claim that a God exists and that question is why pure agnosticism is indefensible. You either believe a God exists or you don't, where agnosticism only addresses that there are gaps in our knowledge and also why everyone wants to know what you mean by agnosticism. I like the curtain analogy, where in front of the curtain, we have only natural explanations and every time we move the curtain back with new knowledge, we keep finding more natural explanations. As a result, there is nothing that supports intelligence being involved on the grand scheme of existence and an expectation of future natural explanations since that is the only thing we have found with every step of the curtain being moved back. As an atheist, I don't want to assume that every time the curtain moves back it will be only be support for natural causes even though that is my suspicion, so I add agnosticism to my atheist label to identify that I don't believe the claim, but I don't completely know that the claim is false. The primary reason I don't believe the claim is that the evidence and reasoning used by theists is very poor. Even looking at holy books, I don't see advanced intelligence but rather human ignorance. I can certainly imagine a scenario where all existence, at least in this dimension is completely natural, yet a God is still able to exist in an alternative dimension that doesn't require a natural explanation. I think that is what the one theist meant by not being able to just stay agnostic and why I don't think pure agnosticism can be maintained, you are going consider other things and move towards some level of atheism or theism. Even if you ask a person who has no interest in seeking answers to the question does a God exist, there will be no belief that one does exist as they answer "I don't know".
I have been an Apathetic Agnostic for 23 years. I have no fear of death. When we die, we go back to sleep. If there are gods, they probably do not care about us, and at the same time, why should we care about them? If I have lived a good life, and I try to live one, and god does happen to exist, then for me to be thrown into hell would only prove that god is evil. And if god is real, then maybe I would be accepted. Either way, It will be an eternal sleep.
I think being agnostic about God's existence is one thing. But no reason to be agnostic about myths about God. Obviously Jesus's mother wasn't a virgin, the angel Gabriel didn't visit Mohammed in a cave and so on. And if you take away all the myths whether God exists or not really makes no practical difference.
To what extent must we be agnostic to the beliefs of others. Is their gnosis any of our business? Is it pro or counter evolutionary. Is it charitable to go beyond the group dynamics of belief?
Being a believer or a non-believers are clear cur However, there is a community of dishonest people who outnumber believers and non-believers and agnostics combined. I am referring to those who say that they are believers and yet in a very private corner of their hearts their is a doubt. These are cowards who are trying to hedge their bets but I have news for them. God knows your mind and heart. I am blessed in that I KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt, that God IS.
I don’t think they are cowards. People have different opinions than yours and I’m not going to sit there and place a negative label on them. You have no idea what brought someone else to their viewpoint just like I don’t pretend to understand yours.
I consider myself an agnostic and not an atheist because I recognize that I don’t know everything about the universe. I know for sure that the present concept of God is wrong. My agnosticism derives from acknowledging that I might not be capable of conceptualizing a universal God. As long as we have questions about the universe humans will keep making Gods.
I have two beliefs: "All religions must be tolerated... for every man must get to heaven in his own way." - Epictetus* "In the Beginning Man created God" - Ian Anderson*
I think as far as knowledge goes we are doomed because in the end we have to take 'something' to be 'existing always'. No further questions asked!! This thing can be God or (laws + energy). After we have reached this stage, we can't question anymore. This inexplicable certainty is the fate of all human quest for knowledge. In this sense, everything (whether God or ever existing laws+energy) is Supernatural because both these options defy logic/explanation.
My argument against agnosticism goes as follows: by stating that one doesn't know about something,one presupposes that they are talking about something knowable, but the human mind has evolved in such a way that it enables us to interact with and understand only what lies within the realm of our natural universe, which makes science the suitable means whereby we can do that, since it's based on methodological naturalism and endeavours to investigate and understand only the phenomena that are governed by the laws of nature. However, our minds also enable us to imagine, wonder about, and invent the supernatural (Not metaphysics, which belongs to philosophical terminology). Along this line of reasoning, just because we can ask such questions like whether there's a creator of our universe, which arise from our deepest psychological and social needs (e.g., connecting to a higher power, fairness, certainty, etc.), and we can feel as such and transcend, doesn't necessarily indicate that there must be answers Waiting to be discovered. Even when we think about and assign verbs such as originate from, transform, create, begin, etc., these are verbs that describe and denote processes that take place in and pertain to our physical universe. As though trying to extend our knowledge by means of assimilation beyond the boundaries (not the limits) of knowledge itself. Let's take the verb create, for example. Since we can conceptualise and mentally represent it, it becomes obvious that we are referring to a process that occurs in nature. e.g., stars are created from interstellar gas, animals create their habitat,and an enormous civilization has been created by humans, etc., principally because to create something means to do so using something else. In other words, you need something to create something else, and if the creator is something, it follows then that the creator is not a supernatural entity, which makes it a biological organism governed by the laws of nature; therefore, if there were any creator, it would be our universe; i.e., nature is the real creator.
The reason why there isn't a satisfactory answer to the question of "why do children suffer" is because it wasn't framed correctly. I am a Buddhist and in my religion we believe that all souls are reborn into different lives and lived experiences. The soul achieves perfect harmony once it has lived through all forms of suffering and attains enlightenment this way. Life is about balance, too much happiness is bad for the spirit...too much suffering is as well, suffering is key to understanding the universe, thats why buddhists dont shy from hard work, it pushes them to embrace it and understand it.
It should be noted that the English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley created the word 'agnostic' in 1869, and said "It simply means that a man shall not say he knows or believes that which he has no scientific grounds for professing to know or believe."
As a skeptical theist the problem can be summed to this. The religious theists generally have the burden of proof of historical evidence for their beliefs. The just as dogmatic group, the atheists have to argue experience is purely physical. Therefore metaphysical categories like morality, ideas, reason, etc. stem from purely physical functions like neurons in your brain. The result of this would be that morality is purely an imaginary thing we create to order ourselves and there is really no such thing as good and evil. It is merely a story we tell ourselves on repeat.
If, in the highly improbable event, I were to meet St Peter at the pearly gates, I would propose the exact same question I ponder now: "Why am I here?"
Whatever way we are here , I have come to believe if we were to know why we are here , if whatever put us here knew , we would know. OR it's only to be an experiment .
"Nick's how -to-think guidance is good. But his approach will not appeal to theists or atheists." It appeals to me, a theist, and I wager it would appeal to Dr. Graham Oppy, a prominent, extremely level-headed atheist philosopher, who definitely should be among the rotating experts in these episodes.
As a person who has been a devote agnostic since I was 12 I love how religious people sound more religious while my Atheist brothers and sisters sound like Light agnostics lol
A true believer strives to know the truth. If the strive takes him to peace it’s enough , because that guides him through life. Reality, illusion, cosmos, quantum these are all word we names and patterns we named. Ok let’s got to equations, most of the physicist admit that almost all equations in physics has a loose end. Though it heels 😍 but ‘can’t make whole
@@aneesvc If a person tries hard he can make his emotions thoughts and delusions to PSYCHOSES. Not saying there is no creation. but creation seems to do what it wants no matter what we do. leaves us a little mistaken but then it said this and that and to be or not to or ignorance is Bliss..
I look at it like this. We are human. We are limited in our knowledge. The evidence for me, tends to indicate that an "omni-this and that" GOD most likely cannot exist. I acknowledge there are somethings greater than myself. I believe there could be much life outside of Earth and that some of that is more advanced than we are.
Mr. Kuhn, the feeling "I am alive" IS THE SAME to all living things in all the history of earth. The personality that develops inside each living organism disappears after death, but you continue to exist in the bodies of the other living organisms of course with other personalities. Yes, the enemy who want to hurt is YOU just as the poorest or the wealthiest man on earth. You are not going to any paradise neither any "god" exists, all these are absolute nonsense.
I too would like to believe in God because as a human I can understand this narrative more than I can understand a random universe with fine-tuned, immutable laws. But I cannot convince myself that this is the truth. This only convinces me that I haven't got the ability or the faculties to answer these questions. Atheism and theism are both leaps of faith. I humbly have to say that I'm not intelligent enough to understand.
Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..you however have no proof that there is no God..how can you declare with 100 % certainty that He doesn't exist..relying only with your own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein who is way more intelligent than you are, though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things. Question everything including your own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the validity of your own belief... the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of your stance. You have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof. The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
@@mikeygarcia8271 ... "We who believe in God's existence have proof". I think you are declaring that with 100% certainty, not I. My argument is I don't know. I leave the possibility open. NDE and Einstein and complexities of the universe,as you described, are not evidence for a God, but rather an incomprehensible journey taken up by both science and theology. Your belief is predicated on faith and nothing else, Heb.11;1.
@@davidsfuntimes9899 Yes I do declare that with 100% certainty because I saw it with my own eyes. And many others can attest to it..even many atheists saw it with their eyes and were transformed by the exprience. You know..in court ..there is a required number of credible witnesses to prove the innocence of an accused person before he would be set free by the judge. You see..those who have witnessed the spiritual realm and saw visions of God are too many to count..many of them are also highly educated atheists in the medical field and were strong proponent of atheism at the time they had such experience..which makes them credible witnesses..dnt you think? So shouldn't it be logical to give the existence of God the benefit of the doubt? Knowing your one and only soul is at risk of being tortured in hell forever? Study the biblical prophecy..and you will know that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is real. Something can never come from nothing..that's not how the natural world works..there is God..the Creator of the universe.
@@mikeygarcia8271 That is your personal view and I am not here to discount your visions. All I will say though is that what you saw will never hold up in a court of law today as evidence. It is nothing more than a dream/hallucination and a judge will not allow that to be used as evidence. The mind /consciousness is a mysterious thing.
@@davidsfuntimes9899 What about the sheer number of highly-educated atheists who shared their journey in the Spiritual realm in spite of being mocked by their families, friends, colleagues and the public? Should this not compelling enough to lead you to pause and to consider your stance on the reality of God's existence and the afterlife? You can't say it's just an halllucination because they are educated anough to understand if they are just hallucinating or not. They can distingusih between hallucination and an authentic experience, between a mere dream and a real, open vision of God and the afterlife. Besides..they were atheists when they had such experience. They cannot be convinced quiet easily because of their atheistic stance at the time they crossed that veil that separates the physical world from the Spirit realm. Aren't they credible witnesses for standing up or upholding such conviction, a belief in God and the afterlife which they used to abhor and despise? Isn't their sudden transformation a verifiable evidence of the authenticity of their experience in seeing God in their visions? What can you say about these highly-educated atheists who lived private lives but came out in the open to stand as witnesses to the reality of the after life..to the reality of God's existence?
Agnosticism is really the only intellectually honest position regarding theism or atheism.
Its not. Pantheism is.
The Spaghetti monster is the ultimate truth. Wake up !
Most people think of agnosticism as a position between theism and atheism, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Almost all people who identify themselves as agnostic are actually agnostic atheists, yes, they’re not mutually exclusive. Agnosticism is a claim about knowledge, atheism is a claim about belief (or lack thereof). An agnostic atheist is a person who does not know whether or not a god exists, but does not believe in one anyway. That description fits most agnostics. Also, you can be an agnostic theist, a person who does not know but believes.
@@randomblueguy I think those definitions are bogus. An atheist is someone who rejects the possibility of God. An agnostic leaves it open. Those are mutually exclusive.
@@pierrestober3423 Please let us define what we are. The definition of atheism I used is the definition used by almost all dictionaries.
Atheism is the disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God.
If you simply lack belief, you’re an atheist. Technically speaking, babies are born atheists. Most people who identify as agnostic are actually atheists. In the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter how we choose to define the word. What matters is that we both mean the same thing when we’re talking about it, that’s why I think arguing over definitions is dumb.
I consider myself agnostic on many issues especially any metaphysical questions that are unprovable by their nature. People who demand you choose sides are always dogmatic and doctrinal which is contemptible to me. It's alright to say you don't know when you don't. Agnosticism is a sign of rationality to me.
I feel the same. But I make the mistake of wanting other people to see that they don't know either. It's weird how propaganda is used in every aspect of life, and it's hard not to engage in it. We think our way is the only sensible one. So it's hard to not become dogmatic also, just in a different way. But my veiws are similar with politics and science also. I dont claim to know how something works unless I actually do. And I would gladly bash any hardcore Republican or Democrat or Communist with the same amount of venom as hardcore atheists or theists. I guess the mob, or the herd mentality scares me, but its mainly the "one right way" ideologies that tick me off. And they're everywhere you look.
Correct, yet you still fall in a fallacy. If God exists, then why not pray about it to God to reveal who he is. + It goes against the Non contradiction Law !
@@toddfordr8218 You cannot imagine how I love this comment. You really made my day. I couldn't agree more or could have said it in a more beautiful way. Thank you xD
such a lovely and wholesome show
this is the nicest episode I've ever seen from closer to truth
This show is a rare gem. I am intrigued by the various views, and opinions. The philosophies shared are intellectually profound. I am fortunate to have found this channel
Theres only two choices god pretenders (theists) and evryone else (athesits) agnostic are atheists!
You know what element athiests and agnostics are missing in the equation ? The Biblical prophecy is the element that is missing, something that other religions can't claim to possess. Not only did the Jews survive more than two thousand years of threats of annihilation and persecution but the fate of this group of people has been disclosed in prophecies thousands of years ago. Many of which have been fulfilled, others are being fulfilled currently and a few have yet to be fulfilled.
Case in point:
1ST---More than thousands of years ago, God said that the Jewish people will be scattered in all four corners of the world - check!
2nd---They will return to their homeland , to be specific- to a desolate land - check!
[ Mark Twain, during his visit to Israel 150 years ago described the holy land as a desolate land that even cactus could hardly grow ] Israel has been one of the top exporters of agricultural products in the world..heck it even the Netherlands, the number 1 exporter of flowers worldwide even import flowers from Israel.
3rd----They will make the land prosperous- check! considering the fact that israel was such a small country, mostly dessert, had no oil nor gas during the first 5 decades of existence..[it was etablished in 1948 btw} and always in constant threats of annihilation as they were surrounded by enemy countries.
4th---Think about this...God made a promise that He will preserve them as a separate people until the end of days despite thousands of years of being scattered in all parts of the globe - check!
I have been in Israel and you will see Jews from Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, etc..People who came to Israel from all countries of the world and yet their identity remained intact...that is nothing short of a miracle..a fulfillment of prophecy made thousands of years ago.
and that's just a few of the reasons why it is wise to seek God with all your heart to prove His existence....all you have to do is ask Him..come to Him in humility and He will reveal Himself to you.
The Holy Spirit has lead me to your video. At least you're agnostic, I think that means you believe in some kind of design to the universe? Or is that atheist? 🤔❓ Anyway, If you do consider creation an act of a mind, that's good. We can work with that 😂 It has never been easier to spread good news in these last days and be ecstatic 🎉 Why you say🥴❓ Because we were "told the End from the Start" ©JC Don't take my word for it. No condemnation before examination ©Chuck Missler. Begin by reading a short chapter. BOOK OF REVALATION. It's a great read. A metaphor wrapped in a enigma, it's a game of Monopoly, chess, cluedo, dungeons & dragons designed to be the most challenging complex, profound yet satisfying chapter ever written in human history 🙏😆It's like holding a phenomenon in your hands. The chapter that has obsessed mankind for 2,000 years has never been easier to understand BECAUSE... (spoiler alert there is no spoiler) I wont ruin the pure excitement you will enjoy when you read or audiobook 🥷 The Book of Revelation in the King James Holy Bible. We all deserve the opportunity to discover for ourselves.😂 🙏🧐
I was expecting the physicist studying String Theory (Prof. Susskind) to be the most sure of what he knows and believes, yet he is the most vocal about how little we know. It’s both humbling and amazing.
I've been listening debates on God and I can say that I'm proud to be an agnostic.
But are you am agnostic who holds a belief in a god, or an agnostic who lacks a belief in a god? To say you are an agnostic is to only tell half the story, to speak,on what you don't know but not what you believe ... or don't believe.
@@faysaleladdouti8394 are you a bot or are you stupid enough to copy and paste this reply everywhere?
@@faysaleladdouti8394I feel like a god because humans have invented one thing that can be used for multiple things sounds stupid doesn't it
@@faysaleladdouti8394 well humans sleeping at night is only a new sleeping habits so yeah
@@faysaleladdouti8394 You're sooo deep. 🤤
Agnosticism = Honesty. If you don't know, be honest! Too many people "know", where they are in reality just wishing.
Exactly
@@kwamecharles6037The Holy Spirit has lead me to your video. At least you're agnostic, I think that means you believe in some kind of design to the universe? Or is that atheist? 🤔❓ Anyway, If you do consider creation an act of a mind, that's good. We can work with that 😂 It has never been easier to spread good news in these last days and be ecstatic 🎉 Why you say🥴❓ Because we were "told the End from the Start" ©JC Don't take my word for it. No condemnation before examination ©Chuck Missler. Begin by reading a short chapter. BOOK OF REVELATION. It's a great read. A metaphor wrapped in a enigma, it's a game of Monopoly, chess, cluedo, dungeons & dragons designed to be the most challenging complex, profound yet satisfying chapter ever written in human history 🙏😆It's like holding a phenomenon in your hands. The chapter that has obsessed mankind for 2,000 years has never been easier to understand BECAUSE... (spoiler alert there is no spoiler) I wont ruin the pure excitement you will enjoy when you read or audiobook 🥷 The Book of Revelation in the King James Holy Bible. We all deserve the opportunity to discover for ourselves.😂 🙏🧐
The Holy Spirit has lead me to your video. At least you're agnostic, I think that means you believe in some kind of design to the universe? Or is that atheist? 🤔❓ Anyway, If you do consider creation an act of a mind, that's good. We can work with that 😂 It has never been easier to spread good news in these last days and be ecstatic 🎉 Why you say🥴❓ Because we were "told the End from the Start" ©JC Don't take my word for it. No condemnation before examination ©Chuck Missler. Begin by reading a short chapter. BOOK OF REVELATION. It's a great read. A metaphor wrapped in a enigma, it's a game of Monopoly, chess, cluedo, dungeons & dragons designed to be the most challenging complex, profound yet satisfying chapter ever written in human history 🙏😆It's like holding a phenomenon in your hands. The chapter that has obsessed mankind for 2,000 years has never been easier to understand BECAUSE... (spoiler alert there is no spoiler) I wont ruin the pure excitement you will enjoy when you read or audiobook 🥷 The Book of Revelation in the King James Holy Bible. We all deserve the opportunity to discover for ourselves.😂 🙏🧐
Idk, even then, people can genuinely believe something, and then when they see it that way it wouldn’t be a lie.
I think it’s honesty… if you’re an agnostic person??? For example my mom is very religious. It feels right and she can find the places where in all the arguments against it she can find some for her perspective. If she were to be honest with herself in what she truly felt I think she’d be religious.
And I think part agnosticism is the ability to believe that others follow their truth and try to understand themselves. Or to encourage people to do so.
It’s honesty but… idk your honesty? It’s very fascinating
@fobbles like your perspectives
I’m feeding my brain watching this. Thank you for existing. 🙌🏼
All the speakers were great and very honest. We simply cannot verify that there is a God but equally we cannot disprove a universal negative.
The concept of God helps us come to terms with questions about the finality of death, the injustices of our world and the burning questions of our purpose but as John S rightly states we ought to be suspicious of believing something that we desperately want to believe.
Yeah as an agnostic I find myself almost envious of the faithful, it would be nice to have the comfort of a higher power, and I see with some of my relatives the positive impact religion has had on them. I try to keep an open mind and heart but I just can't make myself feel it..
You're not animated by a Duracell AAA battery.
This system that all works together in the cycle called life on this life giving planet is just random and from nothing. The celestial beauty is just rocks and random lights floating around the great nothing.
The numerous sightings in the skies that defy physics and every law possible is just ET in a spaceship. Your ability (maybe?) to create and think is nothing special.
Sure buddy.
I identify with thiscityis 25:57
Thank you ... sadly parent can push their faith on children before they can understand and then have to deal with heavy emotional and spiritual problem for years once they are older
Hi. I submit to you that everyone is religious and everyone teaches their particular religion to their kids. For example, an atheist is really a 'natural panthiest.' Atheists claim that matter, left unaided, created everything. Most atheists subscribe to the big bang theory. They worship their god, which is an explosion in space. They stand in awe of the power that brought matter from nothing.
Yet, atheists are the children of chaos, of meaninglessness, the universe leaving them void of meaning and conscience. They are only a chemical reaction. Moreover, the children of chaos have no foundation for morality as morality is simply a word for 'special treatment.' That is, without God, we are simply another life form. Boil a potato; boil a person: it is all the same. According to the religion of atheism, people are not a special form of life, so there are no rules on how to treat others.
Certainly, many atheists choose to live nicely with others, yet do not mistake that with a moral law. According to atheism, there is no higher authority than people. Therefore, whatever people decree becomes their morality. For example, Herod slaughtered kids under 2 years of age; yet, if you are an atheist, you have no moral foundation to even call Herod wrong.
Yet, the moral law is written on your heart. Hell is eternal, but Christ died so that we can know and love God. Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..you however have no proof that there is no God..how can you declare with 100 % certainty that He doesn't exist..relying only with your own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein who is way more intelligent than you are, though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things.
Question everything including your own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the validity of your own belief... the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of your stance. You have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof.
The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
@@mikeygarcia8271 Hi. Were you addressing that last post to me? You wrote, "how can you declare with 100 % certainty that (God) doesn't exist." I know the Lord, so how could that be a question for me?
Moreover, it sounds like you, too, have a belief in God. What do you believe about the afterlife? Is there a heaven or hell? If so, how does a person get to heaven? Thanks! Jesus Christ is the light of the world.
@@kenshiloh It's for Dominic..Time to sow seeds brother..We're living in the last days..you were born for a time like this..keep on sowing the seeds..even if you're rejected..the important thing is we are sowing the seeds..leave everything else to God.The seeds you sow..God will grow.
I consider myself a passionate (analytic) agnostic as championed in this video. Like Kuhn, I very much would like "god" to exist and ultimately provide some meaning to our world and our lives, but like Searle and many others, I remain highly skeptical that a God Hypothesis is a cogent path to follow. However, it is a bit surprising (and somewhat disappointing) that Kuhn commits one of the very fallacies talked about in another of his other videos in this series, and right in front of Simulation Argument guru Nick Bostrom no less! Presuming that an all-powerful (blah blah blah) Creator God is the only theodicy in town is a huge fallacy! Like Susskind advocates, we should be uber-agnostic about the origins of this universe, and what it all means, if anything. It is very possible that everything was created by a far less than perfect God. It is possible that we are living in a Simulation. At least the Simulation Hypothesis can be cogently formulated and analyzed (at least in comparison to other creation stories), and readily answers the Problem of Evil, and the Fine-Tuning Problem as well. Anyway, as a final word, my passion for the agnostic position can be boiled down to one simple statement: God May Exist. That statement is categorically true. And what's more, any addition to that statement breaches a religion. And that religion should be passionately, vehemently, and most critically challenged.
'When you're dead, you don't know you're dead, but for the others it's sad..the same is when you're stupid' 😻
"Being dead is like being an idiot, it's only painful for othes" - Ricky Gervais.
😄
Love this quote 👌😂
@Andreea _"When you're dead, you don't know you're dead, "_
When you are dead, you will know you are dead, as you will start seeing things in different dimension, so your analogy above is simply falsifying the realm you haven't seen or experienced and it exhibits dishonesty and those who have given thumps-up for your comment weren't thinking through.
@@micheal74rich This is your ideology, I think that after you die there is nothing. So my statement is true (for me of course, if you have other beliefs that's your business). After all no one died and came back to tell us what's in there so whatever we believe in here is just a speculation. We'll see at the right time🥲or not🥲
@@andreea5927 c1: _"This is your ideology, "_
I can say the same line at C1 for your line _"I think that after you die there is nothing. "_ come on, we all are on the same boat.
Even scientists admit, sometime things happens beyond our realm of understanding, but you to say something like this _"after you die there is nothing. "_ that puts you an awkward position.
C2: _"for me of course, if you have other beliefs that's your business"_
Your line c2 is fair statement, but your first post on this tread is premature, that is all I want to tell you.
''I'm suspicious when we believe what we want to believe''
@@Techno.love23 sounds like nihilism is slowly gonna be your go to
@@jyeviolegrace2143 that isn't nihilism, it is self-reflection. you should try it some time.
@@scambammer6102 pff tell that to my adhd angst driven brain again?.
@@scambammer6102 never said nihilism was bad..
@@jyeviolegrace2143 New one or i for got for ADHD AND HDTV Channels my thinking memories 🥴🥴😂. well i get what your getting at and being nice about it. A good adhd way of being.
I'm a philosophical agnostic because I've thought seriously about the implications of human limits. The more I learn, the more I know that I don't know. And the kinds of assertions made by theists and atheists are the kinds of things humans simply cannot know.
I’m Agnostic because it’s not ignorantly believing there is something, nor are you ignorantly believing in nothing. It’s a perfect balance, I think.
That is a good thing For You, Not For A lot of people, And For Me, I can't live my Entire life in A doubte, so that Is Just your opinion.
Hitchens know by now that God is real. Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..atheists however have no proof that there is no God..how can an atheist declare with 100 % certainty that God doesn't exist..relying only with his own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein--- though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things.
Atheists must question everything including their own own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of such stance. Atheists have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof--we have seen Him our visions..while others during NDE [near death experience]
The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
@@mikeygarcia8271, Bruh.
@@almighty1829, Bruh. I’m not living in doubt. Did you read my comment?
@@mikeygarcia8271 I'am atheist theres No religion True, and the god never communicated with Human.But We all agnostic about the cause who Created the universe.
This is an exceptional documentary
Robert, your final summary was simply exquisite. I wholeheartedly agree. We keep pushing, and we never yield. Open-minded and learning to the last. I feel glad I am not alone in this pursuit.
Thank you.
I sometime wonder why all these smart people aren't interviewing Robert?
@@johnaugsburger6192 Agreed
@@johnaugsburger6192 He is them may be🧐Gearing up for a new one.
Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..you however have no proof that there is no God..how can you declare with 100 % certainty that He doesn't exist..relying only with your own limited understanding to rationalize such belief?
Even Einstein who is way more intelligent than you are, though he did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.
Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things. Question everything including your own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the validity of your own belief... the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of your stance.
You have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof...we saw Him in visions ..even atheists did see in visions others during NDE [ near death experience] and they were transformed by the experience..and their lives were changed dramatically..some went on becoming servants of Christ because of what these atheists saw.
The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
I have no idea, and neither does anybody else.
They have ideas, they are just wrong!!!
I just became an Agnostic, today. I argued for Christianity, but everyone called me a hypocrite, everyone told me their religion is true, every Christian told me i should believe in their Christian beliefs instead of believe my own Christian beliefs i had. I got confused and upset, depressed about whether i was a Hypocrite, clown, and a dummy. Now i have realized that we can never know the truth fully.
Hey sorry for the late reply but do you know agnostic theism ?
Exatamente! Religions were created by people which lead them into their own interpretations sacrate books.
@@LazyMonk777 if there is a god its quite likely that they are not a religion on earth
I am convinced that passionate agnosticism is the only intellectually honest worldview.
Then why are people who claim to be "only" agnostic, consistently the most intellectually dishonest people I've ever spoken to?
@@LastBastian Every christian i know have been dishonest consistent enough to reconsider. and ya in a way of many shapes and forms of changing minds if they don't get the answer they will make one up and make an opinion insted of truth.
@@trafficjon400 Yes, I definitely see irrationality from theists. But I've spoken to a number of them who actually seem pretty intellectually honest and reasonable.
Whereas, I've spoken to many "only" agnostics, or "passionate" agnostics, as you put it, and so far, every single one has demonstrated themselves intellectually dishonest, illogical, and irrational.
Now, I'd truly love for this trend to end.
...But I'm still waiting.
@@LastBastian Then, I don't think you've actually met an agnostic. How can someone who claims to not being able to fully believe in certain concepts... to be dishonest? or illogical? or irrational? Isn't that completely contradictory to the concept of agnosticism? He neither believes nor denies the existence of god so he is being honest that he, as a mere human might have or might have not been created by a higher power. He has already admitted that he doesn't know thus he cannot be dishonest, illogical or irrational. He does not fully support any argument after all. It is the state of not being fully certain. An agnostic never truly believes nor is committed to any beliefs, It is not just the lack of belief but the uncertainty of anything at all.
@@poike5299 Well first off, I *am* an agnostic (by certain definitions) second, I've probably spoken to hundreds of "only" agnostics.
And that is specifically who I am referring to. The *"only"* agnostic types.
I certainly agree, simply admitting when you don't fully *know* something, is very intellectually honest. That's great, and that is the version of agnostic I personally fall under. The:
gnostic = claiming to know (if god exists)
agnostic = not claiming to know (if god exists)
It's all the other stuff that "only" types like to throw in, that is the problem.
Like dishonesty misrepresenting atheism.
Like claiming illogical positions such as:
"nothing *CAN* be known of the existence of God"
-Most proposed gods are all powerful types who *by definition* have the ability to make themselves known if they like. So to claim they *cannot* be known, is to claim you know they can't exist. It's an illogical, paradoxical, self defeating position.
Many claim agnosticism is some magical position *between* having belief and not having belief.
-This is illogical. You have belief or you do not. Belief exists, or it does not. You can't not believe and *NOT* not believe at the same time. etc…
Unless you can explain the position between existing and not existing? Because so far, nobody has.
"A person who claims neither faith (belief) nor disbelief"
-Same as above. Disbelief is either a refusal or a the simple *inability* to believe. Which most claim to be the case. They are unable, or unwilling to believe, yet claim they do not have disbelief. ...it is illogical.
Then there are cases of adding random or illogical things to the term. No offense but you give some examples here:
"He has admitted he doesn't know thus he *cannot* be dishonest, illogical, irrational."
-Admitting one doesn't know a specific thing, does *not* prevent one from being dishonest, illogical, or irrational about any number of things.
"He does not fully support any argument after all"
-You are making and supporting an argument right now.
"An agnostic never truly believes nor is committed to *ANY* beliefs"
-You seem pretty committed to this belief.
-Being agnostic certainly does not prevent people from believing things in general.
"not just the lack of belief but the uncertainty of anything at all."
-You seem pretty certain of that.
Honestly, your description of agnostics makes them sound even more befuddled and irrational than I even alluded to.
There's a theist in every atheist and an atheist in every theist.
I didn’t choose to be an agnostic, but I’m an agnostic by nature, or skeptical about any claims beyond human senses. I feel that many things are simply beyond humans’ ability to comprehend, just as it’s impossible for a dog to understand quantum physics. Unanswerable questions are, for example, the concept of infinity, the manifestation of something out of nothing in reference to how the universe started out of the vacuum of space, how was life started from dead matter, is there a conscious supernatural being that designed and created the universe? So agnosticism, or skepticism go beyond simply not knowing if there’s a god or not, but in realizing that it’s impossible to know anything beyond the realm of the human senses. And I am completely comfortable in not knowing. I feel freedom in guiding my own life without the restraint of having to follow other people’s rules.
So you want complete freedom. And because of that you reject theism in form that was offered to you.
@@zbyszeks3657 Which random high control group do you want to subject yourself to? The Amish? Jehovah Witnesses? Islam? Mormonism? Pick your poison.
This sums it up beautifully
I’m 5 minutes in. This is one of the few videos I’ve found on RUclips that actually… do what agnostics do! Ask questions and listen to answers and go “MAYBE! Let’s keep looking!”
There is a famous story in Buddhism:
One day a guy who never believed in God comes up to Buddha and asks him: Is there a God?
And the Buddha says: Yes.
Later that day a guy who always believed in God comes up to Buddha and asks him: Is there a God?
And the Buddha says: No.
A follower of the Buddha who overhears both conversations comes up to him and asks: I've heard you say to one man that there is a God and to the other that there is none. So which is it? Why did you do it?
And the Buddha says: I told the non-believer that there was a God because he never truly considered the idea and I told the believer that there was no God because he never considered that there could be no God. If I told them what they already knew they wouldn't have been able to learn anything, so I just nudged them in a way that would allow them to progress.
So Buddha was playing God 🤔
@@therealexistentialist Buddha was teaching compassion and understanding. Truth wasn't his teaching, attitude was. You go to the Buddha to learn compassion and proper attitude, truth you come upon yourself once those are properly established.
@@therealexistentialist how has bro come to that conclusion lmfao
Im a believer in god but resent and disagree with religion and faith in cult religious activities. Maybe im an Agnostic.... but im quite fond of Christmas because it makes everyone Happy.
Does not make me happy
Christmas (as far as I’ve seen) is seen as a Seasonal Holiday at this point rather than a religion thing.
Christmas is a tradition. Even some rabid atheists celebrate it even though they don't dare speak its name lmao
This video makes me feel so seen and understood
No argument can prove that God doesn't exist because somethings existence Isn't determined by argument. Having faith in something also doesn't determine that it exist, in the end it's more about realization.
realize faith is realization? better have it he said or go to hell! is EVIL IN ALL SHAPES AND FORM MADE BY CROOKS CRICKED MONSTERMEN. Grace is power though.
What about CHILDREN?
Has Mr. Kuhn considered interviewing children on this topic?
They seem to KNOW without the need to implement their intellect.
Where did they come from?
How did they get here?
Who and where were they before arriving here?
It would make a FASCINATING episode or SEASON!
I'm agnostic and don't really give a damn religious or atheistic types want label that one way or another frankly.
As a theist and former atheist and former agnostic. Agnosticism is the only path to knowledge and truth. I found theism unattractive and unconvincing. Then atheism became unconvincing. The agnostic period of my life made me study a lot on these issues. Ultimately, I came back to theism by studying philosophy.
What made you to convince God is real and the faith is not just about believing?
@@frantiseknovotny2674 It is still about believing. I am confident in my belief. I do not claim God to be a fact per se. But I believe there is a God for multiple reasons. A lot of it is the argument from contingency, as well as fine-tuning after and applied to that. Also that I have reason to think that there is a largest thing in the universe and parallelism leads one to believe there is a greatest being. Not necessarily in an ontological argument sense but cut and dry. Also watching debates and atheists not making good arguments that atheism is true. I have not seen nor heard one argument convincing me that atheism is true. But I have heard convincing arguments for theism. (Above examples)
Philosophy ? honestly ? WOW
@@gowdsake7103 honestly
There's a quote I think of when it comes to both Atheists and the super religious...
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes..."
Except that there are plenty of both atheists and theists who certainly do not deal in absolutes.
The overwhelming majority of theists profess certitude in not only the existence of a God of one stripe or another, but that they and theirs have absolute certainty in its will and intentions. Atheists claim certitude that no God exists nor may exist. In your scenario, most theists and all Atheists, by the very meaning and definition of the term, would qualify as Sith.
Question evrything, including your own belief. Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..you however have no proof that there is no God..how can you declare with 100 % certainty that He doesn't exist..relying only with your own limited understanding to rationalize such belief?
Even Einstein who is way more intelligent than you are, though he did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.
Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things. Question everything including your own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the validity of your own belief... the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of your stance.
You have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof...we saw Him in visions ..even atheists did see in visions others during NDE [ near death experience] and they were transformed by the experience..and their lives were changed dramatically..some went on becoming servants of Christ because of what these atheists saw.
The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
The most important question is how do you define God?
Which god ?
The creator and the Father.
@@dsstudio76 come on man, everybody should understand it is the woman who is the creator. The man just deposited the seed is the woman who does all the work.
You are so right
@RLK ... You are an excellent example of a 'passionate agnostic'. 😂
I liked the way Susskind set the context well for agnosticism.
I'm an agnostic but I still pray!!
Ummmm
Me too
Agnosticism is a personal stance that recognizes the profound and elevated awareness gained through questioning everything around us. It is deeply rooted in philosophical realism and practicalism, both of which provide rational arguments. Agnosticism asserts that crisis is not existential.
Excellent intellectual perspectives on this subject. Took me a while to understand what my true beliefs are, i am moving closer to who i am. Since i have doubts, (doubting Thomas), i feel that agnosticism befits me quite well.
I just discovered your channel. Love it and very informative
Hitchens know by now that God is real. Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..atheists however have no proof that there is no God..how can an atheist declare with 100 % certainty that God doesn't exist..relying only with his own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein--- though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things.
Atheists must question everything including their own own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of such stance. Atheists have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof--we have seen Him our visions..while others during NDE [near death experience]
The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
Well I'm glad to see a discussion on agnosticism as a potentially constructive approach to living and not just a blase position of uncaring neutrality. Agnosticism does not bow to the temptations of certitude which have more to do with comfort than knowledge. But I speak only for myself. If others truly feel their bedrock beliefs to be certainties, I can at best question them about it, but in each case we arrive at our own sense of what is or is not the case. I do think living with uncertainty without freaking out, despairing or becoming apathetic is a virtue in a world as surprising and unreliable as our own often is.
God is real. I used to be an agnostic..but I still prayed to Him..but one day..while I was praying in my room... I saw a vision of Christ on top of a hill while seated praying and was fully awake..I never looked back..Im here to tell you..Jesus is real..I saw Him with a woman who was also clad in a white garment and with a white veil on her head. She died the next day..I already knew of her impending death because her face beamed as she was standing face to face with Jesus. You can't declare with 100% certainty that there is no God..
You have no proof..while I and many others..even atheists themselves saw visions of God and the after life...and were transformed because of those spritual experiences. Will it not be reasonable to seek God..knowing that you're one and only soul is at stake?
We don't have a lot of time in our hands..we are living in the last days..actually the last days started in the first world war..and it has accelerated since the Jews return to their homeland in 1948 aftr two thousand years of exile aftr their expulsion from Israel in 70 A.D during the Roman invasion of Jerusalem.
silverskid: Amen! Oops, I mean Yes! I feel just as you do about this topic.
Agnosticism would have saved millions of lives throughout history…probably billions.
Suskin is always a breath of fresh air. Sees things for what they are. Doesn’t make up illogical reasons to explain it. And John Searle. Sheesh. I love this episode
Yes, I like to listen to both these guys.
I like to wear black myself. A black t-shirt and shorts is what I typically wear year round. Winter and summer, its simple and comfortable. People often look at me funny for wearing shorts in the dead of winter in a cold state. I just cannot stand the way that jeans feel, they are very uncomfortable and I'd rather be cold. I actually like being cold for a couple reasons. It gives me an opportunity to practice mind over matter, I'm at a point now where I can largely ignore the feeling of being cold. Secondly I think its beneficial to make yourself physically uncomfortable because it makes you appreciate it when you are not. I need to go grocery shopping today, I'm not looking forward to it. I don't enjoy being around other people. I spend virtually 99% of my time alone and feel very content alone. I never feel lonely, this actually concerns me a bit sometimes. I don't dwell on it though, I've accepted that I'm not a "normal" person. This comment if proof of that. ... flush
I was a reformed christian for 43 years... now I am agnostic
Born and raised catholic. Got confirmed and everything. Agnosticism is the one true answer.
Not understanding why Huxley's POV was not used to address some of the arguments.
I dream of going to Oxford University and having these discussions, to know someone with such a high philosophical respect towards an agnostic approach yet value the overall well-being of a sum of choice that comes with arguments holding virtue's towards overall?
This universe was created with a perverse software.
PERVERSE THAT CAME FROM NOTHING
There are more things in Heaven and Earth . . . Because there is much we that all don’t know, we are all at least partial agnostics.
thank you for this Robert ... i appreciate the time you take to do these interviews with the different people ... my favorite interview is the one you had with John Searle ... i also like the fact that he knew Bertrand Russell .. I seem to relate to John the most ... although i am a christian ... i had an experience back in my teens at a coffee house .. this was during the 70s when the Jesus Movement was going on ... and i did feel the hand of God touching me ... i obviously can't prove that ... but for me it was very real ... even to this day ... i am not a very good christian ... but i do believe ... if that makes any sense .. my desire is to be found in Him (in His son Jesus) on that day when this life comes to an end ..
Perhaps you should consider the trickster god idea? In addition, the materialistic non-theistic Jain doctrine and the Theravadin Buddhist perspective. this episode is perhaps the closest to truth that you have presented so far. Perhaps the agnostic position is the most rational and HONEST of worldviews? Somewhat strange that epistemology was not mentioned! Please keep asking the right questions. Many thanks.
"I think that attitude is exactly right. And I think that one should never, ever force oneself into a certain belief." I like that statement. How can anyone "force oneself" to believe something? If God loves us, reality must be more than forcing a belief.
I am an agnostic and have been one since the age of seventeen. How can anyone be sure one way or another? I am 83 and still searching for answers.
If God is real, Do you believe that he has the ability to Enter into Time and space, and Proclaim to everyone who he is?
@@NaturalHabitat._show
I believe God does have the ability to speak, but it seems like he doesn't.
@@lloydtucker5647 God is always speaking, you just have to open your heart, mind and ears to hear what he is saying. If u are not patient with God you will fool yourself into thinking he doesn’t care or hear your prayers.🙏🏼
Also, I asked that question because God did enter time, space, and matter over 2000 years ago in the form of a human being through a virgin, he died for us and then rose again, This is the greatest message God has ever spoken to the world.❤️
@@NaturalHabitat._show A tricky cruel way to make God. REPENT WITH A STICK IN YOUR EYE.
@@NaturalHabitat._show UTTER TOSH
Just for starters if god created everything and directs everything prayers are by definition useless
I grew up a very militant atheist in a catholic family (i know, the rarest of stories haha). I did a lot of psychedelics a lot in my 20s. In general, agnostic just encompasses how i feel. I could have seen the eyes of god and heard the trumpets, and all that would happen is being in awe. Being in awe alone means you cant describe whats happening, there is a level of ignorance that cant be crossed. Or it can all be large and grandois hippy halucinations or exploring the inner world like carl jung. No matter what happens, there is a base level of ignorance. Even in math and science, theres a huge basis on theories and axioms, and we can bring of Godel into that too, or quantum mechanics.
I recently had a professed atheist accuse me, and by me I mean all agnostics, of being an atheist, but being a coward that wished to not offend theists. When I protested, he insisted to know what I believed concerning God, I explained to him that belief did not even enter into it for me. Belief is the domain of theists and atheists, agnosticism is not about belief, it is about knowledge. The amount of knowledge on this subject is insufficient to make any meaningful determination on it. Atheism and theism require a belief in something that is not properly evidenced, agnosticism acknowledges the true fact that verifiable evidence does not exist to make a decision on the question with even the slightest degree of certainty. I do not believe that I know better than everyone else, I also do not believe that anyone else knows better than I. Until one side or the other can present a superior, more logical and reasoned argument, or some event occurs that provides more conclusive knowledge on the subject, here I shall remain.
Guess like being an atheist doesn't make you immune from being "irrational".
And, what's even worse is that they wanna believe anybody who isn't religious are an "atheist" by default, because irreligion is synonymous with atheism to them.😔
@@americanliberal09, Lots of things are like that these days, most people use all manner of labels, stereotypes, any shortcut in order to avoid actually thinking.
@@jerryjohnston3844 Agreed.
Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..atheists however have no proof that there is no God..how can an atheist declare with 100 % certainty that God doesn't exist..relying only with his own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein--- though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things.
Atheists must question everything including their own own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of such stance. Atheists have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof--we have seen Him our visions..while others during NDE [near death experience]
The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
What has BELIEF got to do with atheists ?
I like Leonard Susskind’s comment - that we may be asking the wrong question. Maybe we should start from human experience, rather than metaphysics. How do we explain life changing religious/spiritual experiences? That is the ‘evidence’ which needs unbiased investigation and evaluation. That’s why I prefer those without prior commitment to either theism or atheism ie. strong agnosticism.
Yes, I like Lenny. I've probably watched all of his instruction videos and I really like his ability to analyse situations.
The possibility of god exists Or not is not 50/50
Ummm really ? has any god ever been demonstrated ?
You should start a new channel - closer to the question mark
OPINIONS ??????
You’re doing a good job.
Continue on
Cosmos. Consciousness. Creator.
(Just a thought)
"Morality has come out of matter"well said
I admire your truth seeking pursuit.
Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..you however have no proof that there is no God..how can you declare with 100 % certainty that He doesn't exist..relying only with your own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein who is way more intelligent than you are, though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things.
Question everything including your own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the validity of your own belief... the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of your stance. You have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof.
The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
Add in the fact, yes the fact, that supernormal events occur (see Leslie Kean's recent reports about Stewart Alexander's physical mediumship) and there is all the more reason to move from atheism to agnosticism. Imagine the most hardcore atheist who comes face to face with and talks to his long-departed, now briefly re-materialized mother. Indeed, how many atheists remain convinced of their position after a much more common, far less "miraculous" NDE?
I'm agnostic (apathetic even)
My belief system starts with me and ends with me, self-belief ❤
Doubting the existence of god is what makes you give all you've got in life. Either way is a win/ win situation!!
that's assuming you need outside motivation. some people just strive for excellence regardless of the outcome. IKR?
Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..you however have no proof that there is no God..how can you declare with 100 % certainty that He doesn't exist..relying only with your own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein who is way more intelligent than you are, though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things.
Question everything including your own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the validity of your own belief... the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of your stance. You have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof.
The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
That’s one of the realest things I’ve heard 💯
12:24 The guy frames agnosticism as if it would mean to be indecisive, and that one is better off in choosing either side.
To be blunt, I find this rather nonsensical. And who knows what he thinks of his other side. If I don't know the answer to a true dichotomy, it's definitely not a reasonable thing to do, to commit to either side just for the sake of it. It's flat out irrational. I feel it's a very solid position to hold, when one says that he is an agnostic. One remains rational and honest this way. It's the opposite of being indecisive.
The God hypothesis gives a better explanation for those who already believe in a God, presupposing the bald assertion of purpose behind existence. It just doesn't convince those, who lack that belief. Belief is not a choice, it's completely random (random as in being ignorant about the natural factors which lead to a certain belief) or up to God respectively, whether or not you grow up in an environment indoctrinating you for hopefully the right inclination (all though to be fair, growing up without a belief in a God is nothing like the systematic indoctrination of a religion). To say that one doesn't know, is doubting the reliability of heritage, which is a reasonable thing to do. The majority of Christians would probably confirm this, when it comes to Hindus from India or Muslims from Pakistan, while making a case for special pleading when it comes to their own upbringing.
The bible supports a notion like this too in Matthew 11:25-27, that you don't choose to believe. Jesus is the alleged arbiter of my belief in God. It just so happens that he didn't choose me to believe in God. And it still stands either way, you can't know the answer, because you can't tell what's going on in your head, if you interpret something as a revelation from God, whether or not that's actually the case. One has to interpret experiences. One cannot access the experiences of others, who might experience the same thing, without attributing it to God. One does not get around that. Interpretation of personal experience is hearsay for everybody else. It's unreliable. How would one be able to know? It's a coin toss.
Also, there is overwhelming amounts of compelling data to support a naturalistic view as an inference to the best explanation, without invoking a creator God. I just don't buy it that an inference to the best explanation is sufficient evidence for God. One needs actual data to make a solid inference. How one is weighting mere philosophical (non empirical) evidences and to which evidences one has access to, determines the outcome of a belief. In theological circles interpretations are very different and full of added assumptions right of the bat, which, if anything, makes me doubt their reliability.
Truth is alive, free, thrilling, and always moving. When truth becomes crystalized, dogmatized, and institutionalized then the facts are all that's left to ponder. Ya, ya.. The bible will do you well in your search for truth, but why should people continue to press forward in the March of Progress with a trumpet blast from the middle ages when all we want most is this 'Living Truth' to be closer to.
Superb episode!
Christians I believe are “living to die”hoping for this magical afterlife instead of trying to live every moment of every day knowing that in the end you will return to the basic elements that all living things are made of…end of story. Only memories of you remain in the living world.
A belief of opinions with no to little truth leaves the tooth fairy with out a real job.
Exactly, and I believe they do the so called "Right Things" because they believe God is Watching. Not just because it's the "Right Thing" to do...
Exactly!
It is weird that no one mentioned about agnostic atheism. I think "not believing a god exists and not knowing if a god exists or not" is not contradictory.
It is not contradictory.
This channel is weird like that. I've seen other videos where they just seem to want to perpetuate centuries-old religious propaganda that atheism is always a dogmatic position, when in reality is rarely is.
You are one of those luckiest thirty thousand peoples who was able to experience this beautiful piece of the universe.
I know that i dont know
So how. CAn you know 🤣
We are so screwed , and id hate to have it any other way.
m.ruclips.net/video/tBjToPgqt6k/видео.html
Wow! What a great video! I have been an agnostic my entire life, even though I went to catholic school and church. When old enough, and on my own, I dropped out of church. Too much hoopla and no proof. As an agnostic I can believe in a God my own way, without any particular religion and or ritual that goes with it. I believe there is a god, and I believe in re-incarnation. I believe our universe is a complex machine, orchestrated by someone, or something. I believe we are all here for a reason, yet unknown. Based on my own experiences, I do believe there is some type of life after we die here on earth. However, I also think that everyone has a right to believe in what they want to believe. Like they say.... whatever floats their boat to get through life. Me, I keep an open mind, and I thank my creator for being here on earth, every day, just in case there is a creator. If not, what does it matter after my body is dead? Again, thanks for a great video!
I am happy to see you at least trying to get it right. Most of my life I also hedged my bets. I was raised in the Catholic faith and said that I believed in God BUT there was always a tiny bit of doubt in my mind and heart - until 16 years ago. In January 2008 God gave me a job description that says " I am sending you out by the power of My Spirit to Release those bound by Fear, to Proclaim Forgiveness, and to show Love to ALL men". Ironically, I don't have to like you but it is necessary that I Love you. This is a request, NOT a command. Contrary to very popular belief God DOES NOT COMMAND. I could easily say no to my job at any time and I KNOW that God will NEVER stop Loving me UNCONDITIONALLY. As for the so called Commandments, God said that He actually gave us the 10 COMMITMENTS. He says that if you are truly looking for Him then you will find it impossible to do anything mentioned in the so called commandments. I could explain further about God's Perfect System which has reincarnation and Free Will as major components. Just ask me. I don't wish to write a book here. I am available to help you with your Fears anytime.
As for hedging your bets about a God yes or no, trust me there is a God and He KNOWS what is in your mind and heart. Please don't try to deceive Him. There would still be no reason for Fear but I think that we can both agree that to try something like that with someone who Loves you UNCONDITIONALLY....is not cool.
Bless you 🙏❤️
To argue for permanent agnosticism is to deny the biblical injunction that says no man can serve two masters.
That said, what exactly is wrong with that kind of compartmentalization? Oh, on an Ocham's Razor consideration, you have to juggle two basic worldviews instead of concentrating on one. What else? In favour of it is that you have membership in a tribe of sorts. That might be worth any cognitive down-side to this compartmentalization
I think the only position that one can take is to decide how eager you are to believe in an architect of this universe. Considering we are here (big bang, evolution, consciousness) , I think chances are good. The next question then is whether an afterlife is part of the equation in the architect's project - associated with that constant nagging for a purpose in life. Eventually, you get to a point where you believe what you want to - for me, consciousness and life are on another dimension, outside this simulation constructed of matter and laws. You cannot not prove an afterlife, so why not just embrace it as a comfort that life exists where space-time does not.
I think pure agnosticism is indefensible. Everything has to hinge on the claim that Gods/Goddesses exist. We don't know what we don't know so it takes a topic about "something" to give any meaning to not knowing. From this perspective, the question becomes do you "believe" the claim that a God exists and that question is why pure agnosticism is indefensible. You either believe a God exists or you don't, where agnosticism only addresses that there are gaps in our knowledge and also why everyone wants to know what you mean by agnosticism.
I like the curtain analogy, where in front of the curtain, we have only natural explanations and every time we move the curtain back with new knowledge, we keep finding more natural explanations. As a result, there is nothing that supports intelligence being involved on the grand scheme of existence and an expectation of future natural explanations since that is the only thing we have found with every step of the curtain being moved back. As an atheist, I don't want to assume that every time the curtain moves back it will be only be support for natural causes even though that is my suspicion, so I add agnosticism to my atheist label to identify that I don't believe the claim, but I don't completely know that the claim is false. The primary reason I don't believe the claim is that the evidence and reasoning used by theists is very poor. Even looking at holy books, I don't see advanced intelligence but rather human ignorance. I can certainly imagine a scenario where all existence, at least in this dimension is completely natural, yet a God is still able to exist in an alternative dimension that doesn't require a natural explanation. I think that is what the one theist meant by not being able to just stay agnostic and why I don't think pure agnosticism can be maintained, you are going consider other things and move towards some level of atheism or theism. Even if you ask a person who has no interest in seeking answers to the question does a God exist, there will be no belief that one does exist as they answer "I don't know".
I have been an Apathetic Agnostic for 23 years. I have no fear of death. When we die, we go back to sleep. If there are gods, they probably do not care about us, and at the same time, why should we care about them?
If I have lived a good life, and I try to live one, and god does happen to exist, then for me to be thrown into hell would only prove that god is evil. And if god is real, then maybe I would be accepted.
Either way, It will be an eternal sleep.
I think being agnostic about God's existence is one thing. But no reason to be agnostic about myths about God. Obviously Jesus's mother wasn't a virgin, the angel Gabriel didn't visit Mohammed in a cave and so on. And if you take away all the myths whether God exists or not really makes no practical difference.
To what extent must we be agnostic to the beliefs of others. Is their gnosis any of our business? Is it pro or counter evolutionary. Is it charitable to go beyond the group dynamics of belief?
Being a believer or a non-believers are clear cur However, there is a community of dishonest people who outnumber believers and non-believers and agnostics combined. I am referring to those who say that they are believers and yet in a very private corner of their hearts their is a doubt. These are cowards who are trying to hedge their bets but I have news for them. God knows your mind and heart. I am blessed in that I KNOW, without a shadow of a doubt, that God IS.
I don’t think they are cowards. People have different opinions than yours and I’m not going to sit there and place a negative label on them. You have no idea what brought someone else to their viewpoint just like I don’t pretend to understand yours.
What's behind the curtain? Some knowledge and another curtain. Thank you CTT another very good video.
I consider myself an agnostic and not an atheist because I recognize that I don’t know everything about the universe. I know for sure that the present concept of God is wrong. My agnosticism derives from acknowledging that I might not be capable of conceptualizing a universal God. As long as we have questions about the universe humans will keep making Gods.
I have two beliefs: "All religions must be tolerated... for every man must get to heaven in his own way." - Epictetus*
"In the Beginning Man created God" - Ian Anderson*
I think as far as knowledge goes we are doomed because in the end we have to take 'something' to be 'existing always'. No further questions asked!!
This thing can be God or (laws + energy). After we have reached this stage, we can't question anymore. This inexplicable certainty is the fate of all human quest for knowledge.
In this sense, everything (whether God or ever existing laws+energy) is Supernatural because both these options defy logic/explanation.
What is behind the curtain? Oz ofcause!
But I think the imagination that lies beyond the curtain invites us to experience the land of Oz.
My argument against agnosticism goes as follows: by stating that one doesn't know about something,one presupposes that they are talking about something knowable, but the human mind has evolved in such a way that it enables us to interact with and understand only what lies within the realm of our natural universe, which makes science the suitable means whereby we can do that, since it's based on methodological naturalism and endeavours to investigate and understand only the phenomena that are governed by the laws of nature. However, our minds also enable us to imagine, wonder about, and invent the supernatural (Not metaphysics, which belongs to philosophical terminology). Along this line of reasoning, just because we can ask such questions like whether there's a creator of our universe, which arise from our deepest psychological and social needs (e.g., connecting to a higher power, fairness, certainty, etc.), and we can feel as such and transcend, doesn't necessarily indicate that there must be answers Waiting to be discovered. Even when we think about and assign verbs such as originate from, transform, create, begin, etc., these are verbs that describe and denote processes that take place in and pertain to our physical universe. As though trying to extend our knowledge by means of assimilation beyond the boundaries (not the limits) of knowledge itself.
Let's take the verb create, for example. Since we can conceptualise and mentally represent it, it becomes obvious that we are referring to a process that occurs in nature. e.g., stars are created from interstellar gas, animals create their habitat,and an enormous civilization has been created by humans, etc., principally because to create something means to do so using something else. In other words, you need something to create something else, and if the creator is something, it follows then that the creator is not a supernatural entity, which makes it a biological organism governed by the laws of nature; therefore, if there were any creator, it would be our universe; i.e., nature is the real creator.
In a store you see someone, but do you actually know the person?
The reason why there isn't a satisfactory answer to the question of "why do children suffer" is because it wasn't framed correctly. I am a Buddhist and in my religion we believe that all souls are reborn into different lives and lived experiences. The soul achieves perfect harmony once it has lived through all forms of suffering and attains enlightenment this way. Life is about balance, too much happiness is bad for the spirit...too much suffering is as well, suffering is key to understanding the universe, thats why buddhists dont shy from hard work, it pushes them to embrace it and understand it.
It should be noted that the English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley created the word 'agnostic' in 1869, and said "It simply means that a man shall not say he knows or believes that which he has no scientific grounds for professing to know or believe."
As a skeptical theist the problem can be summed to this. The religious theists generally have the burden of proof of historical evidence for their beliefs. The just as dogmatic group, the atheists have to argue experience is purely physical. Therefore metaphysical categories like morality, ideas, reason, etc. stem from purely physical functions like neurons in your brain. The result of this would be that morality is purely an imaginary thing we create to order ourselves and there is really no such thing as good and evil. It is merely a story we tell ourselves on repeat.
If, in the highly improbable event, I were to meet St Peter at the pearly gates, I would propose the exact same question I ponder now:
"Why am I here?"
Whatever way we are here , I have come to believe if we were to know why we are here , if whatever put us here knew , we would know. OR it's only to be an experiment .
"Nick's how -to-think guidance is good. But his approach will not appeal to theists or atheists." It appeals to me, a theist, and I wager it would appeal to Dr. Graham Oppy, a prominent, extremely level-headed atheist philosopher, who definitely should be among the rotating experts in these episodes.
Religion is the easy answer to an unanswerable question
As a person who has been a devote agnostic since I was 12 I love how religious people sound more religious while my Atheist brothers and sisters sound like Light agnostics lol
Agnosticism or even atheism in knowledge allows experiential certitude.
Meaningless comment.
Agnosticism is not certainty.
Lenny seems like a pretty straightforward guy
God can only be discovered through the hearts of believers.
Then that’s not reality. God is hiding, except to those who don’t care? Hmmmm
A true believer strives to know the truth. If the strive takes him to peace it’s enough , because that guides him through life.
Reality, illusion, cosmos, quantum these are all word we names and patterns we named. Ok let’s got to equations, most of the physicist admit that almost all equations in physics has a loose end.
Though it heels 😍 but ‘can’t make whole
@@aneesvc A true believer thinks he already knows the truth.
@@aneesvc If a person tries hard he can make his emotions thoughts and delusions to PSYCHOSES. Not saying there is no creation. but creation seems to do what it wants no matter what we do. leaves us a little mistaken but then it said this and that and to be or not to or ignorance is Bliss..
I look at it like this. We are human. We are limited in our knowledge. The evidence for me, tends to indicate that an "omni-this and that" GOD most likely cannot exist. I acknowledge there are somethings greater than myself. I believe there could be much life outside of Earth and that some of that is more advanced than we are.
Thanks Robert for your effort. I also think like you.
He wants to know is that your opinion or 🥴🤣🤣🤣
Mr. Kuhn, the feeling "I am alive" IS THE SAME to all living things in all the history of earth.
The personality that develops inside each living organism disappears after death, but you continue to exist in the bodies of the other living organisms of course with other personalities.
Yes, the enemy who want to hurt is YOU just as the poorest or the wealthiest man on earth.
You are not going to any paradise neither any "god" exists, all these are absolute nonsense.
I too would like to believe in God because as a human I can understand this narrative more than I can understand a random universe with fine-tuned, immutable laws. But I cannot convince myself that this is the truth. This only convinces me that I haven't got the ability or the faculties to answer these questions.
Atheism and theism are both leaps of faith. I humbly have to say that I'm not intelligent enough to understand.
Maybe the point of life is the search.
Pfttttt nope
The point is to never find an answer, it’s to make the question deeper
1:19 her name plz??
Always had a weakness for brunettes, didn't you?
The more I listen to Nick Bostrum the more I find myself agreeing with his common sense.
Even atheists have seen God and the spiritual realm in their visions and during NDE and were transformed by the experience..you however have no proof that there is no God..how can you declare with 100 % certainty that He doesn't exist..relying only with your own limited understanding to rationalize such belief? Even Einstein who is way more intelligent than you are, though He did not believe in the God of the Bible..still believed in his heart that there is an Intelligent Being who created the universe..because he understood the intricacies and the complexieties in which the universe is made.Don't rely on your own limited human undertstanding on things.
Question everything including your own belief..otherwise it is nothing short of bigotry-to have a mind that is closed to the truth, declaring with 100% certainty the validity of your own belief... the non existence of God- even without verifiable proof to prove the validity of your stance. You have no proof..we who believe in God's existence have proof.
The universe is made with such unimaginable precision that Einstein is wise enough to admit that the universe is made by a Thinking Being..an Intelligent Creator..and by now I assure you that he already discovered who that Intelligent Being is.. that the One who made the universe is the God of his ancestors. Einstein is a Jew.
@@mikeygarcia8271 ... "We who believe in God's existence have proof". I think you are declaring that with 100% certainty, not I. My argument is I don't know. I leave the possibility open. NDE and Einstein and complexities of the universe,as you described, are not evidence for a God, but rather an incomprehensible journey taken up by both science and theology. Your belief is predicated on faith and nothing else, Heb.11;1.
@@davidsfuntimes9899 Yes I do declare that with 100% certainty because I saw it with my own eyes. And many others can attest to it..even many atheists saw it with their eyes and were transformed by the exprience. You know..in court ..there is a required number of credible witnesses to prove the innocence of an accused person before he would be set free by the judge.
You see..those who have witnessed the spiritual realm and saw visions of God are too many to count..many of them are also highly educated atheists in the medical field and were strong proponent of atheism at the time they had such experience..which makes them credible witnesses..dnt you think? So shouldn't it be logical to give the existence of God the benefit of the doubt? Knowing your one and only soul is at risk of being tortured in hell forever? Study the biblical prophecy..and you will know that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is real.
Something can never come from nothing..that's not how the natural world works..there is God..the Creator of the universe.
@@mikeygarcia8271 That is your personal view and I am not here to discount your visions. All I will say though is that what you saw will never hold up in a court of law today as evidence. It is nothing more than a dream/hallucination and a judge will not allow that to be used as evidence. The mind /consciousness is a mysterious thing.
@@davidsfuntimes9899 What about the sheer number of highly-educated atheists who shared their journey in the Spiritual realm in spite of being mocked by their families, friends, colleagues and the public? Should this not compelling enough to lead you to pause and to consider your stance on the reality of God's existence and the afterlife?
You can't say it's just an halllucination because they are educated anough to understand if they are just hallucinating or not. They can distingusih between hallucination and an authentic experience, between a mere dream and a real, open vision of God and the afterlife.
Besides..they were atheists when they had such experience. They cannot be convinced quiet easily because of their atheistic stance at the time they crossed that veil that separates the physical world from the Spirit realm.
Aren't they credible witnesses for standing up or upholding such conviction, a belief in God and the afterlife which they used to abhor and despise? Isn't their sudden transformation a verifiable evidence of the authenticity of their experience in seeing God in their visions?
What can you say about these highly-educated atheists who lived private lives but came out in the open to stand as witnesses to the reality of the after life..to the reality of God's existence?