Complements

September 1, 2013 by kmabarrett

I do not consider it an insult, but rather a complement to be called an agnostic. I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure — that is all that Agnosticism means.

— Clarence S. Darrow

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On This Day In:
2021	Back To Paying Dues
	Keep Rollin’
2020	Diets And Lifestyle Changes
	Pay Attention
	Just Not Sure, And That’s Okay
2019	The Right Questions
	Day 3: Still Difficult
2018	A Thought For Those Continuing To Support President Trump
	Day 36: Pushing On
2017	Imagining Humor
2016	So Go On And Deal With It
2015	From A Letter To A Friend
2014	Your Part (Here)
2013	Complements
2012	Sound And Light
2011	Two Politicians Visit A Farm…
2010	Labor Day And Honorable Men

Posted in Faith Family and Friends, My Journal, Philosophy, Quotes | Tagged Clarence S. Darrow, My Journal, On Agnosticism, On Faith, On Religion, Philosophy, Quotes | 32 Comments

32 Responses

on September 2, 2013 at 11:07 pm | Reply omanalabri2013

I want to say that I believe in GOD and He is existing …..
thank you all the best
- on September 3, 2013 at 9:11 am | Reply kmabarrett
  
  I too believe in God, but it is by faith and not by science. I have no controlled experiment which I have conducted to establish evidence which is repeatable by third parties (as is required by science).
  
  I do “feel” my faith has predictive value (which is also another condition of science). Unfortunately, the predictive value may only be provable from the “other side”.
  
  Thank you for your comments and all the best to you, too!
  
  Salam Alaikum
  - on September 3, 2013 at 11:00 am | Reply omanalabri2013
    
    Wa Alaikum Salam brother Kmabarrett..
    I think both of us are agreed that this universe is controlled by A God …
    and this believes come from both faith and science
    Have a nice day….
    - on September 3, 2013 at 11:27 am | Reply kmabarrett
      
      Yes. But it took me a long time to get here.
on September 2, 2013 at 11:04 pm | Reply omanalabri2013

” I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure” maybe because of this sentence…..
on September 1, 2013 at 5:21 am | Reply mandasiefert39

I am right there with ya Kevin!
- on September 2, 2013 at 4:35 pm | Reply kmabarrett
  
  Perhaps. Perhaps not.
  
  In my life, I have been a firm Catholic; an atheist; an agnostic; a deist; and most recently a practicing Catholic sadly disappointed by my Church.
  
  I remain a person of Faith, although mostly educated as a scientist.
  
  If I am unique in my beliefs, it is because I see no need to push my faith on others (particularly through violence). I can explain my faith and explain my Religion, but I am not convinced it is the only way to God. Only that it is my way…
  
  This quote represents me – or at least me for a fair portion of my life. I respect “true” agnostics because they make no claim to deny me my faith, as unfortunately, too many atheists do.
  
  I understand atheism. I simply do not agree with it. Many atheists live good (and even holy) lives. Hopefully, my God will be as forgiving for me (with all of my doubts and weaknesses) as for those who lived better (more generous) lives than me, but simply did not believe.
  
  And thank you for the comment! 🙂
  - on September 2, 2013 at 4:41 pm | Reply mandasiefert39
    
    you are welcome, and thanks for taking the time to answer my comment.
    - on September 2, 2013 at 4:43 pm | Reply kmabarrett
      
      The honor is to serve…
      - on September 2, 2013 at 4:44 pm | Reply mandasiefert39
        
        yes,you are right. ; )
        
        on September 2, 2013 at 4:47 pm | Reply kmabarrett
        
        So, now you’ve piqued my curiosity… What faith, if any, are you? Or are you agnostic or atheist?
        
        on September 2, 2013 at 4:50 pm | Reply mandasiefert39
        
        Well, not completely athiest, but not really anything but just loving, believing in nature.
        
        on September 2, 2013 at 4:55 pm | Reply kmabarrett
        
        Wicca, Druid or simply polytheistic?
        
        on September 2, 2013 at 4:57 pm | Reply mandasiefert39
        
        Wiccan, I see you have done your homework….
        
        on September 2, 2013 at 5:03 pm kmabarrett
        
        A little. Otherwise, how can say the water is cold if I don’t put my toe in it?
        
        Actually, my son’s girlfriend is a practicing Wiccan – an a very loving and kind person. Although I know too little of your faith / practice, if she is representative, your faith brings many positive vibrations (or ripples as I choose to call them) to the universe.
        
        Namaste 🙂
        
        on September 2, 2013 at 5:11 pm mandasiefert39
        
        Yes, you are correct. My hubby of 20 yrs. is pretty set on the idea that it is devil worship.
        
        on September 2, 2013 at 5:12 pm mandasiefert39
        
        Namaste, back at you.
        
        on September 3, 2013 at 6:51 am | Reply mandasiefert39
        
        are you not talking to me anymore because of what I said about my ignorant hubby said?
        
        on September 3, 2013 at 8:48 am kmabarrett
        
        Absolutely not! Sometimes life gets in the way of my blogging. LOL!!
        
        “Ignorant hubby” is correct though, from a traditional western Christian perspective. The practice of prayer leads to light. The practice of magic (traditionally) leads to darkness. Not because there is not “white” magic, but because power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
        
        The question frequently arises: how can a “modern” person, raised and educated in the scientific tradition, believe in magic? As a person of faith, I believe in miracles. They are few and far between, but they happen. And what is a miracle except “magic” by the hand of God.
        
        Creating vibrations in the universe – “praying” in the West, “chanting” to the Buddhist, or “incantations” to the Wicca, strike me as basically the same thing – an attempt to cast one’s influence over the universe.
        
        I also feel there is little difference between calling on God to smite someone for their evils to be every bit as “black” as any devil worship.
        
        By the way, I am not claiming Wicca to be devil worship. I am by no means an expert on that set of beliefs, so I simply can’t make that leap. Wicca strikes me as very dualistic – yin / yang, goddess and horned-one. This implies a sense of good and evil (good versus evil) to a binary mind (which most folks are). However, like the traditional yin / yang drawing, it is not one side or the other, there is a gradient, and furthermore there is the “opposing” dot in the middle of the “fullness” of the opposite.
        
        I have been meaning to study the Wicca beliefs more, as I have meant to study other faiths, but life is short and there are so many books to read (LOL).
        
        Namaste
        
        on September 3, 2013 at 9:01 am mandasiefert39
        
        He wont even acknowledge my wanting religion. And he is athiest…..HELP……What do I do??
    - on September 3, 2013 at 11:47 am | Reply kmabarrett
      
      A rock is a rock. Calling the rock a dog will not make it a fetch.
      
      If your husband is a true (and reasoned) atheist, there is nothing you can do to change his beliefs. More importantly, ask yourself: “Is he a good man?”
      
      If the answer is yes, (and presumably it is as you’ve been with him for 20 yrs) your faith can be strong enough for both of you.
      - on September 3, 2013 at 11:54 am | Reply mandasiefert39
        
        even Wicca???
        
        on September 3, 2013 at 12:06 pm | Reply kmabarrett
        
        LOL! You caught me… I don’t KNOW about your faith.
        
        I pray for my wife all the time and she prays for me, too. The universe (God) listens. It doesn’t always answer the way we would like, but it does listen. Maybe “listen” is the incorrect word, but it is close enough.
        
        If you believe in nature, when your husband passes on, he will be returning to nature. Ashes, dirt, whatever… But that is just his shell. The other him continues to echo. Whether it is his soul or simply your memories of him. The echoes grow faint, but they remain.
        
        While he lives, he is making those echoes. Your faith (and love) will help make his echoes last longer.
        
        Namaste
        
        on September 3, 2013 at 3:01 pm | Reply mandasiefert39
        
        Well, dammit he is making it so damn hard to make memories when he is ALWAYS being an ASS……???
        
        on September 3, 2013 at 3:25 pm | Reply kmabarrett
        
        Sounds like a happy marriage to me!! 🙂
        
        on September 3, 2013 at 3:31 pm | Reply mandasiefert39
        
        But he gets angry so easy, a lot!!
        
        on September 3, 2013 at 3:59 pm kmabarrett
        
        I am sorry if this sounds dismissive, but you really need to discuss this with your husband, not a stranger at a blog site. If you are unable to do this, you should contact your family and friends for their help. Beyond that, if you are feeling threatened, you should contact your local authorities.
        
        I am neither a relationship counselor nor a family friend who (knowing both of you) could possibly provide adequate guidance.
        
        on September 3, 2013 at 6:26 pm mandasiefert39
        
        I AM SO SORRY, I DID NOT MEAN TO COMPLAIN.
        I AM VERY, VERY SORRY. ; )
        
        on September 4, 2013 at 9:23 am kmabarrett
        
        No worries… I did not take your comments as complaints. When I was much younger, I did some volunteer work at a battered women’s shelter and I am perhaps overly-sensitized to phrases like “he gets angry so easy”. I’m glad you’re okay.
        
        on September 4, 2013 at 10:39 am mandasiefert39
        
        It is good that you did volunteer work such as that.
        I think a lot of women hide their “personal” lives when that stuff happens.
on September 1, 2013 at 4:06 am | Reply omanalabri2013

wow amazing
- on September 2, 2013 at 4:36 pm | Reply kmabarrett
  
  Thank you!
  
  May I ask why you feel that way?