Monday, January 19, 2009 at 7:00AM | in Religion The false choice of agnosticism
International Teaching Centre, Baha'i World CentreFrom Pope Benedict's book on Christianity and the Crisis of Cultures:
Even if I throw in my theoretical lot with agnosticism, I am nevertheless compelled in practice to choose between two alternatives: either to live as if God did not exist or else to live as if God did exist. If I act according to the first alternative, I have in practice adopted an atheistic position and have made a hypothesis (which may also be false) the basis of my entire life...
(Hat tip: Andrew Sullivan)
Monday, January 19, 2009 at 7:00AM | in Religion 
Reader Comments (3)
I think the Pope missed the boat on this one. In addition to the important theoretical different between atheism and agnosticism, there is at least one very important practical difference.
In my experience (and here is a limit to my argument) an atheist outlook can encourage/justify a lifestyle where an open-minded investigation of religion with the possibility of future religious belief/action is forgotten or consciously left behind.
In contrast, an agnostic outlook can have the practical consequence of encouraging/justifying a life of (semi-)regular inquiries into religion with the possibility for religious belief/action always open.
Of course, it is always possible for the atheist to take up religion, but this will be contrary to the practical consequences of their theoretical position. An agnostic's conversion can be (in part) because of the practical consequences of their theoretical commitment.
This practical difference is too important to be ignored by the Pope's fallacious position.
And, finally, none of this is to mention the other practical differences between the two positions that aren't related to religious practice (or the lack thereof). These differences, while perhaps not of high relative significance to the Pope, can be very important to agnostics.
P.S. Great blog! It’s now a regular read.
I think the photo is one of the interior of the Centre for the Study of the Sacred Texts, not the Seat of the International Teaching Centre.
Nevermind...it is actually the International Teaching Centre.