What is Agnosticism

What is Agnosticism?

What is Agnosticism

Agnosticism is not a religion, as agnostics do not follow a God, or any other deities. Agnostics do not consider themselves as atheists either, but more of “a middle ground” between believers and non-believers. Many agnostics consider themselves undecided about the existence of God. There is no proof for them that God exists, but since they cannot prove God’s existence, they choose to walk the middle ground.

History of Agnosticism

Scientist Thomas Huxley coined the term agnostic, after meeting several other scientists who had the same beliefs around the existence of God as he did. Huxley, as a scientist, felt that believers of God needed to prove God’s existence by scientific data. No data was strong enough for him to assert the existence for God, and this is the reason he considered himself an agnostic.

Types of Agnostics

There are specific types of agnostics: zero-data agnostics, unknowability, data vs. data agnostics and data vs. principle agnostics.

  • Zero data agnostics – believe that proof may exist of God’s existence OR non-existence, but this proof has yet to be found.
  • Unknowability agnostics – there is no evidence that God exists, therefore no proof of God’s existence.
  • Data vs. Data agnostics – these agnostics posit that both believers and non-believers of God’s existence have the same evidence. For this reason, no group has the upper hand.
  • Data vs. Principle agnostics – this group of agnostics would like the believers to prove the existence of God. Since God’s existence has not been proven, there is no argument that God exists.
Agnosticism vs. Atheism

Agnostics cannot prove or disprove in God’s existence, whereas Atheists do not believe in a God. Atheists may deny there is a God, whereas an agnostic may simply not believe in God, because they simply do not know (by proof or lack of) if a God exists.

1 comment

  • Alison Lesley
    1:20 am

    “What makes your god so stupid?” I think this is a good way to respond to those who claim perfection in nature, the universe etc. proves that god exists. The main premise in my idea is the exact opposite. The proof that god does not exist is in the fact that any idiot could have created something better than the cosmos we were born into. Less pain and suffering. More happiness and fulfillment. Limitless food and energy that eliminates any need to fight and kill other creatures as a means to survive. And so much more. There is nothing grand about the reality around us at least in terms of what is good for humanity. The world we enter is one where forces are continually trying to kill us in a struggle for life we are destined to lose. You would have to be a saddest or complete idiot to create the type of existence we humans must endure. I believe this might be the best evidence yet that there are no gods. Couldn’t be unless those gods are super dumb.

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