Do you know anyone who

[Jebus]

is convinced that there is a god or gods, yet says that s/he has no idea of who or what that god is (or gods are) ? I have never met anyone with this belief system although I feel this viewpoint is a lot more sensible than believing in any of the religions I've ever heard of.

Is there a term for this belief? In a way they would be theists who are agnostic, although neither theist or agnostic would be a fitting term to describe them.

[Volenta]

At the minimum it's deism I guess. A god that would be responsible for the first cause.

The word that fits pretty well with your description is ietsism (wiki), a term coined by Ronald Plasterk, a former minister in the Netherlands. 'Iets' means 'something' in Dutch, and means that the person thinks there is at least something (not even necessarily a god).

[miniboes]

I guess I am a somethingist atheist then

[Volenta]

I guess I am a somethingist atheist then

Something supernatural I meant to say. I don't think you believe in that?

[miniboes]

I guess I am a somethingist atheist then

Something supernatural I meant to say. I don't think you believe in that?

I very much keep the option open, but I would never say it is true something supernatural exists as there is no evidence for it. I don't think somethingist atheist is a very useful term though.

[brimstoneSalad]

I'm open to the preternatural, but not the supernatural. The two are often confused.

Preternatural is that which is part of the nature of the universe (or multiverse), and has a logical consistency and bound, but which simply is not yet known of or understood; it just appears outside of known nature, but is in fact not really. Like a paradox, as opposed to a contradiction.

Supernatural is something that is beyond nature, and inherently illogical- it doesn't have to follow any rules, or have any consistency to it at all. It may outright violate logic itself, which makes it inherently false.

I wouldn't consider ietsism a form of theism. If it's held with too much certainty, though, that would be concerning. I would have to wonder as to its effects on thought and behavior.

[miniboes]

Preternatural is that which is part of the nature of the universe (or multiverse), and has a logical consistency and bound, but which simply is not yet known of or understood; it just appears outside of known nature, but is in fact not really. Like a paradox, as opposed to a contradiction.

That's a very nice term.

I wouldn't consider ietsism a form of theism. If it's held with too much certainty, though, that would be concerning. I would have to wonder as to its effects on thought and behavior.

Well, although irrational it brings no doctrine. It is not inherently immoral like Christianity and Islam. It has no jihad and probably does not really influence people's thinking all too much. To me it does not seem harmful at all.

I think the Christians making the god of the gaps argument should probably switch to ietsism as it does not directly contradict itself like the gods of the bible and quran.

[brimstoneSalad]

I think the Christians making the god of the gaps argument should probably switch to ietsism as it does not directly contradict itself like the gods of the bible and quran.

Yes, that would be a more intellectually honest position, but it's hard to get worse from the Christian position.

Well, although irrational it brings no doctrine. It is not inherently immoral like Christianity and Islam. It has no jihad and probably does not really influence people's thinking all too much. To me it does not seem harmful at all.

That it is irrational may be harmful in itself, since it reinforces the idea that it's OK to believe irrational things or engage in otherwise magical thinking. It's a mindset that, while it may be harmless if kept isolated in a little bubble, gives no such guarantees that it won't affect other things.

I don't think the brain is all that reliable at isolating patterns and ways of thinking like that. When you form habits of thought, whether rational or irrational, I suspect they inform the way you think generally as well to some degree. That would be my concern.

Much in the way that, when a person decides it's OK to lie about something, even a tiny thing, without clear boundaries the person begins to recognize lying as an acceptable means of dealing with the world around him or her and it becomes a habit.

[Neptual]

Please make the title thread more specific thanks!

[Jebus]

Please make the title thread more specific thanks!

I tried but couldn't think of a specific title that would fit into the very limited title space