Knowledge, belief & agnosticism (Agnosticism)

by David Turell , Thursday, July 24, 2008, 14:32 (5966 days ago) @ dhw

Here are some possible answers to my question: 1) God doesn't care; 2) God is incapable of action; 3) action would spoil his fun; 4) it's all part of a plan we can't understand (so there's no point in trying); 5) God isn't there. Our atheists will have no problem choosing, but in the words of a kindred Fool, the rest of us are "left darkling". - dhw: I would pick number 4 in your list of suggestions. Stefan Einhorn's book, "A Concealed God", covers this well. If there is a God, He is concealed. As all religions point out, you must know Him by His works, and He, thanks to Pascal,requires that famous leap of faith. That is the sticking point for agnostics. One can accept proof "beyond a reasonable doubt" per Adler, but there is no absolute proof. There was enough 'proof' for Flew. This is where internal innate patterns of thought take over. Do you want to accept partial proof on not? There will never be absolulte proof. That is the way the game is played. There are no other rules.