2006-09-10 17:05:03 · 19 answers · asked by Sammy 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It means they consider the notion that humans can possess knowledge regarding whether or not deities exist to be truly impossible. They say "There is no way to know. Absolutely none."
Now... they may believe anyway, they may NOT believe anyway... but they believe or not-believe while freely admitting that they have no way of knowing for sure.
2006-09-10 17:08:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Actually, this is a common misconception. Agnostic, in the way it was first meant, means someone who is not a Christian. Therefore, practioners of Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, etc. are agnostics. The word was invented by Thomas H. Huxley
"The term agnostic was fittingly coined by the 19th-century British scientist Thomas H. Huxley. 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 God'"
Recently, however, this word has become synonomous with atheists, the lack of belief in a God.
2006-09-11 00:16:25 · answer #2 · answered by fantasyfootballxpert 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From Wikipedia:
Agnosticism is the philosophical view that the value of certain claims as truth—particularly theological claims regarding the existence of God, gods, or deities—are unknown, inherently unknowable, or incoherent and thus irrelevant to life. The term and the related agnostic were coined by Thomas Henry Huxley in 1869, and are also used to describe those who are unconvinced or noncommittal about the existence of deities as well as other matters of religion. The word agnostic comes from the Greek a (without) and gnosis (knowledge). Agnosticism is not to be confused with a view specifically opposing the doctrine of gnosis and Gnosticism—these are religious concepts that are not generally related to agnosticism.
Agnostics may claim that it is not possible to have absolute or certain spiritual knowledge or, alternatively, that while certainty may be possible, they personally have no such knowledge. Agnosticism in both cases involves some form of skepticism towards religious statements. Some claim that there is nothing distinctive in being an agnostic because even theists do not claim to know God exists, only to believe it, and many even agree there is room for doubt; and atheists in the broader sense do not claim to know there is no God, only not to believe in one.
2006-09-11 00:10:51 · answer #3 · answered by Kaitelia 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Agnostic, from the greek, "a gnostia" meaning "without knowing".
Agnostics do not believe in deity, nor do they believe in deity. They recognize that humans are incapable of knowing the existence or nonexistence of a deity, and thus, the question of "Is there a god" is rendered as meaningless as "What is the color of the smell of the other side of this here mobius strip."
Anyone who says agnostics believe in a god need to look up the word 'agnostic'.
Belief in a deity, regardless of its form, is theism. Agnosticism and Theism are mutually exclusive.
2006-09-11 00:20:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An agnostic is unsure of their religious beliefs, rather, they feel such things are unknowable. It's not a lack of committment like most people will probably say here, it's allowing yourself to realize that there may be no answers out there for our questions.
2006-09-11 00:12:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An agnostic person has not decided whether or not to believe in God.
2006-09-11 00:08:45 · answer #6 · answered by David W 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It means that since there is no way to prove whether or not there is a God, the statements of "there is a God" or "there isn't a God" are both unprovable, so they don't take a stand on the topic on either side.
2006-09-11 00:10:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means that for that person, the jury is still out with respect to whether gods do or do not exist.
2006-09-11 00:11:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's like I don't know that aliens exist. They might exist, and they might not exist. I'd like them to exist, but that doesn't reflect the truth because I don't know it. So instead of believing in aliens I admit that I don't know.
Plus I don't think it really matters, I'm living for this life not the afterlife.
2006-09-11 00:12:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
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
2006-09-11 00:09:49 · answer #10 · answered by iDefy 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋