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Isaac Asimov's Guide To The Bible. An agnostic atheist historian analyzes the history of every line of every book in the bible. Asimov is a good writer and he m

Isaac Asimov's Guide To The Bible. An agnostic atheist historian analyzes the history of every line of every book in the bible. Asimov is a good writer and he makes the bible a fun read.

OnlyMortal 5y ago
He was a fantastic writer.
code_runner 5y ago
This sounds super interesting. Did it have any impact on your own beliefs?
- ericfrazier 5y ago
  Like Asimov I am an agnostic atheist and was so when I read this work. The interesting thing about his Guide To The Bible is there is no snarkiness. He examines it from a historical perspective giving the factual historical accuracy of each line based on what the historical records actually show from the time. Plus, he was a language expert and the background information he provides in his book on how some of the words were translated from Hebrew to Latin and then to English, etc., is stunning. If anything, this book furthered my agnostic atheism.
yucky 5y ago
>agnostic atheist I don't think I've seen these words used together. I've always understood the difference to be that an atheist is as sure in his beliefs as the religious zealot, each with the same amount of proof backing their opinions up. An agnostic realizing this lack of proof simply says "I don't know".
- issa 5y ago
  I've always thought the words were essentially identical. An atheist or an agnostic can be sure that the God of Abraham doesn't exist and also be sure that the world doesn't ride on the back of a turtle. But both agnostic and atheist would be open to changing their minds if there was new evidence of either.
- sn9 5y ago
  Gnosticism and theism are orthogonal and can be mixed and matched. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic_atheism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic_atheism
- parksy 5y ago
  Atheism is a rejection, non-acceptance, or indifference to theism, which boiled down to its essence is just a non-acceptance of deities being the creator or essence of reality. One can be atheist and hold hard-line rationalist views about the nature of reality, but one can also have spiritual beliefs and be atheist. Agnostics believe that in some way, metaphysical intelligences are involved in the creation or fabric of the universe, but the very nature and depth of this involvement is in varying degrees indecipherable, unknown, and not-yet-known. Agnosticism doesn't require either the acceptance or rejection of theism. Put together it technically means the person doesn't believe in a theistic god but holds agnostic views about broader metaphysical concepts. More colloquially I've noticed a lot of people use the atheist agnostic / agnostic label interchangeably to indicate they haven't made their mind up one way or the other, but it's possible to be either atheist agnostic or theist agnostic.
  - spicymaki 5y ago
    Agnosticism does not mean you believe in a metaphysical intelligence that is involved with the creation of the universe. An agnostic believes the answer to the ultimate creation of the universe is unknowable due to the lack of data. I would take it a bit further and say it is impossible to ever know. Even if a powerful being were to appear and perform miracles, I would claim that the evidence is still not sufficient. As Arthur C. Clarke says: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
    - parksy 5y ago
      Ah, you're right, I misremembered. Has been a long time since I delved into this stuff. The main gist I guess is the two terms are an axis rather than exclusive. Thanks for the correction and apologies for any misinformation.
- ericfrazier 5y ago
  Agnostic atheist: Someone who lacks belief in a specific religion or god but doesn't rule out the possibility of those religions or gods being true and real. They don't personally believe but aren't egotistical enough to speak in absolutes regarding the unknown.

Isaac Asimov's Guide To The Bible. An agnostic atheist historian analyzes the history of every line of every book in the bible. Asimov is a good writer and he makes the bible a fun read.

OnlyMortal 5y ago

He was a fantastic writer.

code_runner 5y ago

This sounds super interesting. Did it have any impact on your own beliefs?

ericfrazier 5y ago
Like Asimov I am an agnostic atheist and was so when I read this work. The interesting thing about his Guide To The Bible is there is no snarkiness. He examines it from a historical perspective giving the factual historical accuracy of each line based on what the historical records actually show from the time. Plus, he was a language expert and the background information he provides in his book on how some of the words were translated from Hebrew to Latin and then to English, etc., is stunning. If anything, this book furthered my agnostic atheism.

yucky 5y ago

>agnostic atheist I don't think I've seen these words used together. I've always understood the difference to be that an atheist is as sure in his beliefs as the religious zealot, each with the same amount of proof backing their opinions up. An agnostic realizing this lack of proof simply says "I don't know".

issa 5y ago
I've always thought the words were essentially identical. An atheist or an agnostic can be sure that the God of Abraham doesn't exist and also be sure that the world doesn't ride on the back of a turtle. But both agnostic and atheist would be open to changing their minds if there was new evidence of either.
sn9 5y ago
Gnosticism and theism are orthogonal and can be mixed and matched. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic_atheism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnostic_atheism
parksy 5y ago
Atheism is a rejection, non-acceptance, or indifference to theism, which boiled down to its essence is just a non-acceptance of deities being the creator or essence of reality. One can be atheist and hold hard-line rationalist views about the nature of reality, but one can also have spiritual beliefs and be atheist. Agnostics believe that in some way, metaphysical intelligences are involved in the creation or fabric of the universe, but the very nature and depth of this involvement is in varying degrees indecipherable, unknown, and not-yet-known. Agnosticism doesn't require either the acceptance or rejection of theism. Put together it technically means the person doesn't believe in a theistic god but holds agnostic views about broader metaphysical concepts. More colloquially I've noticed a lot of people use the atheist agnostic / agnostic label interchangeably to indicate they haven't made their mind up one way or the other, but it's possible to be either atheist agnostic or theist agnostic.
- spicymaki 5y ago
  Agnosticism does not mean you believe in a metaphysical intelligence that is involved with the creation of the universe. An agnostic believes the answer to the ultimate creation of the universe is unknowable due to the lack of data. I would take it a bit further and say it is impossible to ever know. Even if a powerful being were to appear and perform miracles, I would claim that the evidence is still not sufficient. As Arthur C. Clarke says: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
  - parksy 5y ago
    Ah, you're right, I misremembered. Has been a long time since I delved into this stuff. The main gist I guess is the two terms are an axis rather than exclusive. Thanks for the correction and apologies for any misinformation.
ericfrazier 5y ago
Agnostic atheist: Someone who lacks belief in a specific religion or god but doesn't rule out the possibility of those religions or gods being true and real. They don't personally believe but aren't egotistical enough to speak in absolutes regarding the unknown.