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Anecdotally (but just as valid as your comment) i've found the polar opposite. I know loads of people who have left religion later in life and plenty of old ath

by hunta2097 5y ago

Anecdotally (but just as valid as your comment) i've found the polar opposite. I know loads of people who have left religion later in life and plenty of old atheists who never did.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
xupybd 5y ago
I'm trying not to come off as argumentative so please don't see this as disagreement only curiosity. My naive hypothesis would be that people tend more agnostic as they get older, not more atheistic. Is that a trend you've noticed?
- lalaland1125 5y ago
  I'm pretty sure most people who identify as "atheist" and "agnostic" have pretty similar views about God and the possibility / improbability of its existence. The main difference is simply a difference in opinion of what words mean. People who use the term "agnostic" are usually going by the formal philosophical definitions of atheism (where atheism requires evidence against God). People who use the term "atheist" are usually using the more informal definition of atheism (where atheism is simply a lack of belief).
  - terrorOf 5y ago
    Wrong. It is f*king 21st century. come on.
  - hunta2097 5y ago
    Yeah I consider myself atheist but if Jesus came down from heaven and started performing (scientifically tested) miracles then I guess I'd change my mind. That makes me, in the strictest sense, agnostic. Seeing as no miracle has ever been proven I'd say the difference will remain academic.
    - nwatson 5y ago
      Many/most Christians take the Bible as a partial historical record of God's action in past times, and I'd hope that big chunks come across as eyewitness accounts of what real people saw and experienced ... see e.g. Gospel of Mark or Book of Acts. There are more esoteric parts, but many portions are relatable. With regard to miracles, the New Testament purports to record many that Jesus and his followers performed, with explicit intent to exhibit Christ's authority over all that plagues humanity. With His ascension they've ceased or become much more rare (I grew up in Pentecostalism, whose adherents believe they're frequent and routine, but I don't think this myself). So ... right now in 2021 there are tons of disaffected American Evangelical Nationalists, Trump-mongering liars willing to take every QAnon and political conspiracy, meld it with their beliefs and their need to hold on to "The Big Lie" that Trump won the 2020 November election. Their "apostles and prophets" are in a huge echo chamber across the airwaves, YouTube, Facebook, their mega-churches, convincing themselves that Trump is still president, that he will return as President in 2021 July, or August, or by the end-of-the-year. And they have a huge following, and they have inroads to Trump himself and to the Republican political jello (which has no structure, no policy). They could make things uncomfortable in the next two to twenty years or longer. And they've convinced themselves they have the "spiritual technology" and can control God (though they won't put it quite that way) and can decree their political, economic, social will to control the mechanics of American government and society. They are dangerous. ... and per the New Testament apocalyptic literature, at some point will rise a population so given to their delusions they'll be allowed to operate as they want, i.e., to perform those miracles and perform those wonders. So, don't take miracles at face value if ever they happen in your lifetime. For the worst of the worst right now w.r.t. the Trumpian clamor, check out the "Elijah Streams" YouTube channel where Steve Shulz and his menagerie of false prophets bray for all. For someone who dissects their messages and compares it with Christian scripture, check out Chris Rosebrough (quite conservative) and his "Fighting for the Faith" YouTube channel. EDIT(s): spelling
      - hunta2097 5y ago
        It's so refreshing to hear a moderate religious view.

Anecdotally (but just as valid as your comment) i've found the polar opposite. I know loads of people who have left religion later in life and plenty of old atheists who never did.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

xupybd 5y ago

I'm trying not to come off as argumentative so please don't see this as disagreement only curiosity. My naive hypothesis would be that people tend more agnostic as they get older, not more atheistic. Is that a trend you've noticed?

lalaland1125 5y ago
I'm pretty sure most people who identify as "atheist" and "agnostic" have pretty similar views about God and the possibility / improbability of its existence. The main difference is simply a difference in opinion of what words mean. People who use the term "agnostic" are usually going by the formal philosophical definitions of atheism (where atheism requires evidence against God). People who use the term "atheist" are usually using the more informal definition of atheism (where atheism is simply a lack of belief).
- terrorOf 5y ago
  Wrong. It is f*king 21st century. come on.
- hunta2097 5y ago
  Yeah I consider myself atheist but if Jesus came down from heaven and started performing (scientifically tested) miracles then I guess I'd change my mind. That makes me, in the strictest sense, agnostic. Seeing as no miracle has ever been proven I'd say the difference will remain academic.
  - nwatson 5y ago
    Many/most Christians take the Bible as a partial historical record of God's action in past times, and I'd hope that big chunks come across as eyewitness accounts of what real people saw and experienced ... see e.g. Gospel of Mark or Book of Acts. There are more esoteric parts, but many portions are relatable. With regard to miracles, the New Testament purports to record many that Jesus and his followers performed, with explicit intent to exhibit Christ's authority over all that plagues humanity. With His ascension they've ceased or become much more rare (I grew up in Pentecostalism, whose adherents believe they're frequent and routine, but I don't think this myself). So ... right now in 2021 there are tons of disaffected American Evangelical Nationalists, Trump-mongering liars willing to take every QAnon and political conspiracy, meld it with their beliefs and their need to hold on to "The Big Lie" that Trump won the 2020 November election. Their "apostles and prophets" are in a huge echo chamber across the airwaves, YouTube, Facebook, their mega-churches, convincing themselves that Trump is still president, that he will return as President in 2021 July, or August, or by the end-of-the-year. And they have a huge following, and they have inroads to Trump himself and to the Republican political jello (which has no structure, no policy). They could make things uncomfortable in the next two to twenty years or longer. And they've convinced themselves they have the "spiritual technology" and can control God (though they won't put it quite that way) and can decree their political, economic, social will to control the mechanics of American government and society. They are dangerous. ... and per the New Testament apocalyptic literature, at some point will rise a population so given to their delusions they'll be allowed to operate as they want, i.e., to perform those miracles and perform those wonders. So, don't take miracles at face value if ever they happen in your lifetime. For the worst of the worst right now w.r.t. the Trumpian clamor, check out the "Elijah Streams" YouTube channel where Steve Shulz and his menagerie of false prophets bray for all. For someone who dissects their messages and compares it with Christian scripture, check out Chris Rosebrough (quite conservative) and his "Fighting for the Faith" YouTube channel. EDIT(s): spelling
    - hunta2097 5y ago
      It's so refreshing to hear a moderate religious view.