From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!floyd!cmcl2!philabs!sdcsvax!sdccsu3!sdcvax!lwall
Newsgroups: net.misc
Title: Re: Re: Agnostics on the net
Article-I.D.: sdcvax.127
Posted: Fri Jan 21 18:41:10 1983
Received: Thu Jan 27 21:03:56 1983

I think we should distinguish two kinds of agnostics:

   a)  Those who think there is insufficient evidence to evaluate the
       existence of God.

   b)  Those who hope there is insufficient evidence to evaluate the
       existence of God, but aren't interested in finding out because they
       think they are better off without Him regardless.

I think the vast majority of agnostics fall into category b.  The telltale
sign of a category b agnostic is that he wants God to perform some tricks
to prove Himself right now, while at the same time he refuses to consider
any of the historical evidence, which cannot help but take the form of
documents, which we shall undoubtedly be forced to label as "scripture".
I fear that Jesus had some rather severe things to say about people who
excused themselves on the basis of lack of evidence.  People tend both
to believe AND disbelieve not on any rational basis, but on an emotional
one.

				A somewhat rational believer,
				but afraid not to at least look for Him,
				Larry Wall