A Few Things I've learned since coming out...

[Stump]

and openly acknowledging I'm an agnostic...

1) Most of the so-called "believers" know absolutely jack shit about the Bible. Most haven't read it and actually think I'm lying when I quote verses that don't adhere to the idea of a loving Deity.

2) You will be ostracized for your belief. I have been called a devil-worshiper, and one coworker actually thinks I'm currently under demon possession.

3) Some "believers" are actually agnostic but are too afraid to tell anyone. I can relate to this very well as telling my wife was one of the hardest things I've ever done...telling my mom will be worse. I've been called brave by a select few, and some even admit I could be right...but usually only when we're alone. Going to church and "playing the role" is the worst feeling in the world, I couldn't handle it any longer. I feel sorry for these people.

4) I also learned that everyone's interpretation of God is the "right" one.

5) No one believes they are going to hell. Many others are most definitely on their way, if not most other people, but not them.

Feel free to add to this list...I just needed to vent as I'm the only openly agnostic person in a workplace of about 70...pray for me. O8)

[citygal]

1. Point #2 made me laugh...

just because you said some coworker thinks you are "currently under demon possession." Ya, agnosticism will do that to you.

And I wholeheartedly agree with #5. I think there are lots of people who should fear death because what they have done on this earth will eventually catch up with them, if not on earth than later...I personally think the Buddhists have it right.

BTW - There are also a lot of people who don't really understand what agnostic even means. They might think you mean atheist, which can really get super duper religious people nuts.

But hang in there!

[HeresyLives]

2. Scary on the outside of the closet hmmm?

People you thought were rational will draw back in horror. Some will even make the sign of the cross towards you, warding off the 'evil eye' I guess

You will drop from the 'A' list for parties, well basically, right off the list altogether

People will spend an enormous amount of time trying to 'save you'

Pamphlets will arrive, unwanted, in your mail

You will openly be called the 'anti-christ'

Your whole way of life will be condemned by 'christians' who sleep around, do drugs, snitch to the boss, and lie about pretty much everything.

Remind them all of the biblical quote 'the truth shall set you free'

[Trajan]

3. I Don't think I could not tolerate that kind of friction ...

... for long in the workplace ... I would get sick of it ...

My mom, a rigid but still Democrat catholic, has accepted my long term atheism, but still 'prays for me' , just in case ... There is alot of love between us, and that is what matters to us ....

In fact; All of my RW fundy family members have stopped bothering me about it, long ago .... We kind of have a 'no talk' rule about politics and religion ... We like it better that way ...

[Stump]

4. It's OK...

I kinda like it, I love watching the reactions and the puzzled looks I get at my tough questions. It does disturb me when I'm condemned to hell...not that I care what they think, but the straight-faced, calm assertion of my eternal torment is disturbing...

[Ron Green]

5. Wow, where do you live?

I've proclaimed agnosicism (and atheism, for that matter) all over the U.S., and never had the experience you describe. Maybe you could find different people to work with.

[Stump]

6. Lynchburg, VA

Home of the Thomas Road Baptist Church aka. Jerry Falwell, Inc. That explains most of it. Hardcore Bible thumpers around here. The moderates here would probably seem like fundies to most of the rest of the country. I had to take my Obama sticker off my car for threats of vandalism. That's no shit. It's like that around here. But fuck leaving, someone has to be the voice of reason...

[raccoon]

7. "Some "believers" are actually agnostic but are too afraid to tell anyone."

I think you're right. I think a lot of them are.

I attend a Protestant church, and I'm certainly not fundamentalist.

Lots of times I wonder if the other people really believe what they say they believe--such as the Jesus story actually happened, etc.

[edhopper]

8. Just wait

You've decided you're agnostic, which I gather means you are unsure whether God exist or not. You are still open to either possibility. You may remain so. But if, in your further thinking on the subject, decides that there is little or no evidence that God exists, and you conclude you are an atheist (not saying you will, just could be), well just see how those people react to you then.
Whole lotta fun.

[Stump]

9. "Burn him at the stake!"

Pretty sure of it, remember, I've already been accused of demon-possession. :evilgrin:

[Firespirit]

10. Depending on your definition, I think (hope) most people are technically agnostic

Nobody seems to agree on the meaning of the word, so for me, I've decided to consider everyone agnostic unless they're 100 percent certain there is a deity, or 100 percent certain there isn't (both views are indefensible and irrational IMO). Some people are obviously more agnostic than others, in either the theistic or atheistic direction.

If your coworkers believe in demon possession, they are probably 100 percenters, unfortunately. :(

Regarding 4)... I think that absolutist exclusivist beliefs are generally the province of Christian sects. You'd probably be able to find them in any religion, but they're frowned upon. I have recently joined the Neopagan community and they have the tenet that "whatever god(s) and traditions work for you are right." Dogmatism is not cool.

In any case, best wishes to you. Stay safe!

[edhopper]

12. I am pretty much certain there is no diety

and I can defend it pretty well. I am also 100% certain there are no faeries, unicorns, Lock Ness monster, chukacabra, Hobits and other fanciful creations.
It should also be noted (per Dawkins) is that everyone is an atheist about some God.
Are you agnostic about Zeus, or Baal, or Odin?
I am an atheist because I see no reason or evidence to accept or accommodate the existence of a God in this universe.

[Firespirit]

13. I can't justify 100 percent certainty about anything unless there is proof

I do realize the implications of this, that it means believing that there is at least a tiny chance of virtually anything existing. I accept that. "I don't think X exists but I'll acknowledge the however small possibility that I might be wrong" is fine with me. I can't disprove the existence of something, but that doesn't automatically mean I must accept its existence wholeheartedly.

And, heh... future advice... don't ask a Pagan if they're "atheistic" about an historical Pagan god, cuz we operate from a completely different outlook from Abrahamic religions and their perspective of "one true god." There are some who believe literally that Zeus, etc., are individual entities, but most others that I've spoken to are henotheistic like myself and think that all the ancient deities including the Abrahamic Yahweh are aspects of a supreme power that is utterly unknowable by humans in its entirety, a sort of Absolute Infinity, and the various gods and goddesses are facets of it that humans can relate to. And with everyone being different, a one-size-fits-all religion, or one-size-fits-all god, is impossible.

We're an infuriating bunch, I know. :7

[More Than A Feeling]

17. You do realize that fundamentalists and evangelicals

do what you do (call everyone who doesn't say they know there are no gods "agnostic" even if they call themselves atheists using a different definition) so they can name atheism a faith, or try to push people into calling themselves something other than what they personally want to, right? Are those kinds of power plays and the group of people who use them what you want to associate yourself with?

[Firespirit]

19. I don't base my views on what fundies are thinking

The behaviors and attitudes of fundies have nothing to do with the thoughts I hold, either inspirationally or reactively. I don't particularly care if unsavory people use a word in the same way I do -- I know that they don't do it for the reason I do. I have my own self-image, and it is not "I am the anti-fundie." I don't let them determine who I am one way or another. They did that shit in the 1600s and it cost thousands of people like me their lives. When it comes to words like agnostic and atheist, with so many different ideas of what they mean, I think it's best to define the words and then say, "this is what agnostic and atheist mean to me, and by these definitions, I am ____." My spiritual community went through the same thing some years back with the words "witch" and "pagan."

As for those definitions, I think one can be a/theistic and agnostic at the same time. I have a concept of a scale of agnosticism, ranging from 100 percent certainty on the atheistic side, through agnostic atheism, no frickin' clue (halfway mark), agnostic theism, and 100 percent certainty of theism. Like for instance, if a liberal Christian generally believes in Deity but entertains doubts from time to time, that person might be 80% on the theistic end. They would identify as a theist, but would be a bit agnostic about it. The same could hold true for a person identifying as an atheist. You're thinking in black and white terms; nowhere did I say that a person could be a/theist only if they had absolute certainty in their views.

[varkam]

18. I think we're all agnostics, whether we know it or not.

Agnosticism, in my mind, has to do with knowledge. Can you know one way or the other? I don't think you can, at least not with respect to the god that is described in the bible. Atheism and theism, though, are different matters as they deal with belief and, when knowledge is unattainable, belief is all we have left.

[Stump]

11. An interesting video...

Makes some good points, feels like my situation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3gm5IS3veI&feature=related

[SidDithers]

14. I admitted to being an atheist at work and was called a heedon...

took a few minutes to figure out my co-worked meant heathen.

Not so bright, some of my co-workers.

Sid

[knitter4democracy]

15. Man, being ostracized is just wrong.

I may be a Christian, but I would never ostracize someone for his or her beliefs. One of my best friends is Pagan, and one of my other best friends is agnostic Quaker (now, there's an interesting faith community!). They don't try to convert me, and I don't try to convert them, and it's all good.

[Stump]

16. Explanation...

A good explanation of what an agnostic is...

http://www.control-z.com/pages/agnosticism.html

[YankeyMCC]

20. What I've learned

conflict a bit with your number 3, but you do say 'some' so that still may indeed be true, but my experience is that people I never thought cared much one way or another suddenly found religion or at least a belief in gods a core value and reacted as if I was rejecting them personally.

This primarily from my family...other things that I've "learned"

- Without religion I can't teach my son good from evil.
- It's ok for me to be atheist but it isn't right, and I have no right, to raise my son that way (from my Mother no less)
- I also found that most believers are totally unfamiliar with their own, never mind, other religious texts - not only that but even the basic theology and philosophies.
- No one is familiar with the important secularists in US and world history and the positive impact securlar ideas have had in shaping modern society both in the US and around the world.
(note: I acknowledge secular does not equal atheist but my point is so many assume great progress and good only comes from theistic ideas)

[Stump]

21. Indeed...

Some of my new harshest critics are people I've known for almost 10 years and never mentioned God or religion, but once I "outed" one in particular took it very personal. I don't really understand what my belief, or lack thereof, has to do with the way she feels.