Who knows what "agnostic" really means?

Question

Far too many people have a backasswards idea of what it means to be an agnostic.

This isn't an attempt to reform, convert, or sway anyone away from whatever his or her belief system may be. This is an attempt to educate those, especially those claiming to be agnostic, on the true meaning of the term.

Have fun, but check back :)

Answer 1

im agnostic and its people who believe that there is no possible way of knowing if there is or isnt a god

Answer 2

Agnosticism, doctrine that the existence of God and other spiritual beings is neither certain nor impossible. The term, derived from agnostikos (Greek for “not knowing”), was introduced into English in the 19th century by the British biologist Thomas Henry Huxley. The agnostic position is distinct from both theism, which affirms the existence of such beings, and atheism, which denies their existence.

Although usually regarded as a form of skepticism, agnosticism is more limited in scope, for it denies the reliability only of metaphysical and theological beliefs rather than of all beliefs. The basis of modern agnosticism lies in the works of the British philosopher David Hume and the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, both of whom pointed out logical fallacies in the traditional arguments for the existence of God and of the soul.

Answer 3

It means they are skeptical or neutral about the existence of God...but they haven't ruled it out entirely...not to be confused with an atheist who declares their belief in the non-existence of a Higher Being. What I love the most about these concepts is when in speaking to someone within this framework; I usually discover they do believe...but not in a traditional sense. They do abhor any and all religious affiliation, however. It should never be confused with religious dogma.

Answer 4

An agnostic does not deny the existence of God and heaven but holds that one cannot know for certain whether or not they exist.

The term agnostic was fittingly coined by the 19th-century British scientist Thomas H. Huxley, who believed that only material phenomena were objects of exact knowledge. He made up the word from the prefix a-, meaning "without, not," as in amoral, and the noun Gnostic.

Gnostic is related to the Greek word gnsis, "knowledge," which was used by early Christian writers to mean "higher, esoteric knowledge of spiritual things"; hence, Gnostic referred to those with such knowledge.

In coining the term agnostic, Huxley was considering as "Gnostics" a group of his fellow intellectuals"ists," as he called them who had eagerly embraced various doctrines or theories that explained the world to their satisfaction. Because he was a "man without a rag of a label to cover himself with," Huxley coined the term agnostic for himself, its first published use being in 1870.

Answer 5

Since Agnostic is a world view instead of a religion it does not contain any dogma. In other words, each Agnostic gets to define their own level of belief/disbelief.

That might not be your view, but it is what several of my Agnostic friends have told me.

Answer 6

I always thought an agnostic was someone who doesn't necessarily believe in a higher power, but does not deny the possible existence of one. Ie, they do not categorize or profess their beliefs in this area because they do not feel they've been given a compelling reason to commit to anything (of this nature).

Answer 7

As far as I know, agnostic means you really don't know what to believe in or not believe in. It is a belief system based on nothing but unbelief. The only agnostic I know says there might be a god, but I don't know who he is if there is one...

Answer 8

I'm am agnostic, and it kind of means seeing is believing. I don't believe in God or Gods because I personally haven't experienced any anything I consider holy, ethereal, or divine, but I do think it's possible that for such a thing to exist.

Answer 9

Etymology: Greek agnOstos unknown, unknowable, from a- + gnOstos known, from gignOskein to know -- more at KNOW
1 : a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable; broadly : one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god
2 : a person unwilling to commit to an opinion about something

Answer 10

Why do I have a feeling that you have an alterior motive for asking this question???

ag·nos·tic ( P ) Pronunciation Key (g-nstk)
n.

1. a. One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.
1. b. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
2. One who is doubtful or noncommittal about something.

Answer 11

Gnosa = to know in Greek. Put an "a" in front of it and you get knows nothing, or doesn't know.
According to answers.com:
1. "One who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God.
2. One who is skeptical about the existence of God but does not profess true atheism.
3. One who is doubtful or noncommittal about something.