A few weeks ago, I posted a short video on my YouTube channel reacting to an atheist’s reason for rejecting God. Essentially, his reasoning all boiled down to the existence of Hell and the question of “How can a good God allow Hell to exist and allow people to go there?” I gave my response, explaining how his rejection of God is based on a giant misunderstanding of how Hell work, and a few weeks after posting that video, I got an atheist in the comments who wished to debate me about how free will can exist when God knows everything.
We commented back and forth for a bit, and while I also went off on a sort of tangent about how atheism can’t support the existence of free will (which I’ll do a post on at some point; my backlog of post ideas is ridiculous), he went on a massive side quest about how atheism is superior because it’s a monoclaim philosophy. The commentor wrote:
You also brought up atheism. But atheism and agnosticism are monoclaim philosophies. Atheism says: God does not exist. Agnosticism says: we don’t know. That’s it. Compare that with organized religions. Most religions don’t stop at “God exists.” They make a million claims. God exists, and He wants us to stay virgin till marriage. God exists, and He wants us to gather at place XYZ once a week. God exists, and He wants us to have children. God exists, and property should be distributed a certain way. God exists, and don’t eat certain foods. God exists, and men and women should behave differently. God exists, and this scripture is divine. God exists, and this prophet is correct. God exists, and this is the only path. God exists, and there is heaven. God exists, and there is hell. God exists, and the universe was created in a specific sequence. That’s a million claims, not one.
Some monoclaim theists exist too. People who simply say: “I think God exists.” They don’t claim to know what He wants. They don’t assume He’s loving. They don’t assume He interferes. They’re open to the possibility that God could be indifferent, cruel, absent, or impossible to understand. But they’re rare. Most believers belong to organized religions that go far beyond “God exists.”
It’s an interesting point, but if we think about it, atheism and agnosticism can’t really be “monoclaim philosophies.” As the commentor said, atheism makes the claim that God doesn’t exist, and agnosticism makes the claim that you simply don’t know either way. However, while these are single claims, if you are to follow them down the logical rabbit hole, they don’t stay that way for long.
When you make a claim as big as “God doesn’t exist,” then logically, you must start explaining other aspects of reality, such as “How did the universe get here? Why is morality a thing?” One major claim about reality must lead to other major claims about reality.
Similarly, agnosticism also has to make major claims about reality after its central claim of “I don’t know if there’s a God.” Once again, it also has to explain how we got here, how morals exist, etc.
Ultimately, the argument that atheism/agnosticism is somehow better than belief in a God or gods because it just claims one thing is ridiculous. No matter if you’re an atheist, agnostic, Hindu, Christian, Muslim, whatever, the claim that you base your beliefs on must naturally lead to other claims to explain other aspects of our existence.
For instance, if you say there is no God and the question of morality comes up, then you must make some big claims to figure out where they came from. Did we evolve morals? Are morals subjective or set? Who/what determines morality? What if one person’s sense of morality doesn’t align with mine?
However, if you believe there is a God and you’re asked the same question, it’s likely easier to answer since you can point to that being as the final arbiter of morality instead of coming up with some theory about how chemicals in our brains evolved to allow us to create morality. It’s still a big claim that you’re making, especially when you get into specific things God wants us to do, but it’s one that makes a lot more sense.
Until next time,
M.J.
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The Tanuki Corner 
*Afternoon Prayer For Every Family Around The World This Afternoon*
Merciful Father,
In this afternoon hour, as the sun stands high over nations in every time zone, I bring every family on earth before You.
*1. For Families Under Pressure*
You see every home carrying a weight too heavy to name. For the family counting coins to make it to month’s end, be Jehovah Jireh. Open doors to provision, jobs, and help from unexpected places. Cancel shame, cancel fear. Let no table go empty today. _Philippians 4:19_
For the family drowning in debt, bring wise counsel, open windows, and supernatural rest from the pressure.
*2. For Families in Health Battles*
Lay Your healing hand on every sick room, every hospital ward, every bedside. Touch bodies with chronic pain, cancer, heart conditions, mental exhaustion, and hidden sickness. Strengthen caregivers who have not rested in weeks. Replace anxiety with Your peace that passes understanding. _Isaiah 53:5_
Protect the elderly and the little ones from illness this season.
*3. For Families with Broken or Strained Relationships*
Heal marriages on the edge of collapse. Restore fathers and mothers to their children. Reconnect siblings who have grown distant. Soften hard hearts. Give courage to apologize, strength to forgive, and wisdom to rebuild trust. Let love be the loudest voice in every home again. _1 Corinthians 13:7_
Break cycles of anger, silence, and abuse. Replace them with patience, kindness, and honor.
*4. For Families Facing Grief, Loss, and Loneliness*
Draw near to those mourning a parent, a child, a spouse, a friend. Be the Comforter in empty chairs and quiet rooms. For families who feel forgotten, remind them they are seen and loved by You. _Psalm 34:18_
For single parents carrying both roles, give supernatural strength and surround them with community.
*5. For Families Battling Fear, Addiction, or Spiritual Attack*
Break every chain of addiction, depression, and fear in the home. Let no spirit of division, confusion, or destruction take root. Cover every doorpost with Your protection. Assign angels to stand guard over children as they return from school, over parents as they travel home, over every family member tonight. _Psalm 91:11_
*6. For Families Seeking Direction*
For families making hard decisions — about school, work, relocation, marriage, health — give clear direction. Remove confusion. Make crooked paths straight. Let unity, not strife, guide every choice made this afternoon. _Proverbs 3:5-6_
Lord, let this afternoon be a turning point.
Let miracles interrupt routines. Let conversations change. Let prodigals come home. Let peace sit down at every table.
Bless every nation, tribe, and household — rich or poor, big or small, strong or struggling. No family is outside Your reach.
We entrust every family to You. Cover them, keep them, and cause Your face to shine upon them.
In the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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I see it much more simply: Agnosticism refers to *knowledge*, and atheism to *belief*.
We are all agnostic, as it’s not currently possible to *know* if a god exists. An atheist doesn’t *believe* a god exists.
Although some atheists will claim “god doesn’t exist,” most atheists adopt the null position until credible evidence is presented. In other words, we’re simply not convinced that theistic claims are true.
I am an agnostic atheist. I can’t know, and I also don’t believe. It’s the job of the claimant to prove the claim, not that of the skeptic to disprove it.
______________________
#atheism #faith #god
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