An Agnostic Manifesto (Agnosticism)

by David Turell , Sunday, August 08, 2010, 23:32 (5003 days ago) @ George Jelliss

He challenges any atheist to send him their answer to the question: 
> "Why is there something rather than nothing?" Well I would ask him to 
> clarify what he means by these terms. Does "something" mean a material 
> something having mass? Is "nothing" something?-George's review of the Manifesto is quite thorough and complete from his point of view. However I consider the above comment as rather offhand. Proposed by Leibnitz over three centuries ago, it lies at the philosophic core of our discussion on this website. We've discussed Stenger's weird interpretation of 'nothing' before. The underlying question does not need word definition.
> 
> He asks for "Humility in the face of mystery". But I would ask for 
> humility in the face of lack of evidence. If there is a mystery we 
> should try our darndest to solve it, seek out the evidence with a 
> forceful determined attitude.-Yes, we should go as far as far as science will take us. But then there the wall of Godel's Uncertainty Principle. We can never know 'everything'. There is therefore a choice, a 'leap of faith' or no leap. Each of us chooses.
> 
> He mentions "the problem of consciousness" and allies himself with 
> the "Mysterians" who argue that we cannot know the nature of 
> consciousness while being within consciousness. As you will be aware 
> I consider this "problem of consciousness" to be overblown, but that 
> is a question we have discussed elsewhere.-Quite right. I am miles apart from George here.