AGNOSTIC
What is an AGNOSTIC? An agnostic is by definition of the word is from two Greek words, "a" meaning NOT, and "gnosis" meaning KNOWLEDGE. Therefore, an agnostic is one who does not know. In reference to God (In this website this writer is referring to the true and living God; however, the agnostic would say the same about any god of any sort.), the agnostic either says, "I don't know if there is a God", or he says, "We [meaning, of course, himself] can not know if there is a God." If this describes you, then you are an agnostic.
Descartes, a French philosopher of the 17th century said,
"I think, therefore I am." The problem with this idea, which is--of
course--basically agnostic, is that you can not REALLY know anything
else. You may be a thinking being, but you can not be sure of the
existence of your own body let alone of anything else. If
you were really logical, you would have suspend any judgment of
anything else other than your own existence as a thinking being. You
may object saying, "But I can see other being like myself, and/or I can see
myself in a mirror." Are you sure? Do you REALLY know
that it is you that you see in the mirror? For that matter, do
you really see the mirror? This is, of course, the result of
Descartes' position taken to its logical extreme. This is the philosophical
position known as "Idealism." Everything we see, feel, etc. is the
apparent result of the idea in our minds. You may reply, "Of course,
I do not believe that."
Well, then, take the opposite position, that of
"realism" or materialism. Then you are saying that everything outside
of yourself is real and only material things--things that I can see, touch,
feel, or sense in some way or another--have existence. If you take
this position, then logically you must deny the theory of
electricity, for you can't see it; you must deny the existence of
the atomic theory, for you can't see an atom--although it is said that
with new instrumentation, one can see an atom (you are only seeing what the
instrumentation gives you); and you must deny the existence of abstract
things such as beauty, justice, mercy, love (except on the purely erotic
level which you would be forced to say is nothing more than chemical in nature).
You can say I can observe these things or the results of
electricity, etc. Yet, you are really denying the basis of
science itself. Science is based on rational, observations using
investigation and reasoning that proceed from axioms, postulates, intuitions,
etc. of the MIND. If you say that you can not know--which
is the REAL meaning of agnosticism, then you can not know anything
scientific because all science is based on rational thinking which thinking
is the very antithesis of the meaning of agnosticism.
"Whoa," you reply; "I am not agnostic about what I can
see, observe, experiment over, etc.; I am only agnostic as to the existence
of a supreme Being." Now we are really getting to the root of
the problem. You are then not an agnostic, but a skeptic. Your
doubt is narrowed to the existence of God. You may say, "I doubt
any such existence because I can not observe God." On that basis you
must doubt the existence of many things of which we have already
mentioned above. Even if you say that you can measure electricity,
what about the atom? What about the abstract things such as love, mercy,
beauty, etc.? You can not put a meter to them and measure them. Do
you REALLY question the existence of such? If you are
relying on an evolutionary process, will this not lead to your most basis
ideas disappearing and evolving possibly into nothing, or worst for you into
a supreme Being? So, in reality you as an agnostic can not be sure
of anything outside of yourself. You may talk all you want about
scientific discovery and what you can observe, but there is really nothing
you can be sure of. So, why not curl up in a ball and suck your thumb;
oops, you can not be sure you have a thumb. You think you do; you observe
that others do, but are your observations justified? You really can
not be sure you have a past; you have memories, but what is the certainty
of them? You can thus be only sure of the now. In
the next instant this now will only be a memory; and can you be sure
it ever existed?
To even state "like sensations" not really possible
for the agnostic, for how can he even know that sensations are alike?
How can an agnostic know that any other bodies exists let alone any consciousness
within those bodies? How can an agnostic know that any fellow-men whom
he may think he sees have minds like his own? In reality you do not
know if you take the agnostic position. Logically, you are forced--if
you are intellectually honest--to be skeptical about everything, and
perhaps, you should be skeptical of your own existence.
Now, we come to the real problem. Your skepticism
in not really a product of your thinking. It is the result of a
deep seated intuition that if you acknowledge a supreme Being, God,
that you will in some way or another have to answer to that Being. The
Apostle Paul said it correctly and accurately, "And even as they did not
like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate
mind, to do those things which are not convenient." (Romans 1:28) You
may deny the Bible, but Paul describes the agnostic and skeptic's heart and
mind very well.
The more rational and reasonable position is to acknowledge
at least the existence of God. Rational thought is based on rational
principles, and those principles are something you believe. There
is no proof or scientific evidence of such principles--which, incidentally,
are immaterial and the product of our minds (although this writer holds
that they are in people's minds as the result of the Supreme Being,
God.). If you are ready to admit the existence of God, then you
are ready for the step given in Hebrews 11:6--"But without faith it is impossible
to please Him [God]; for he that cometh to God MUST BELIEVE THAT HE
IS, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
Him." Having reached this point, you should now be ready to read
How to Be Saved.
The few who refuse to consider the logical results of their skepticism and/or agnosticism, will still have to face the Supreme Being whether or not you believe such exists or not. Your skepticism and/or agnosticism are a BELIEF, regardless whether you want to acknowledge it or not. It is as much a belief as this writer's in the Supreme Being, God. What you may do about it from now on is, of course, up to you. Your position is logically untenable. Anything you think about that you perceive to be outside of yourself is inferred, not known.
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