agnostic

Agnostic refers to a position on knowledge about the existence of deities or the ultimate nature of reality. An agnostic maintains that questions about whether gods exist, or about the fundamental truth of religious claims, are unknown or unknowable given current evidence and methods. The term is primarily epistemological, distinguishing belief from knowledge: one may lack knowledge while holding various beliefs, or refrain from asserting any belief at all about the divine.

Etymology and origin: the word agnostic was coined in the 19th century by the English biologist Thomas H. Huxley, from Greek a- (without) and gnōsis (knowledge). It arose in response to debates about religion and science, and has since become a widely used descriptor in philosophy, theology, and lay discourse.

Variations and related concepts: agnosticism is often contrasted with theism (belief in God) and atheism (disbelief in God). People may identify as agnostic atheists or agnostic theists, indicating that they do not claim knowledge about God while still holding atheistic or theistic beliefs, respectively. Some philosophers distinguish epistemic agnosticism (the claim that knowledge about divine existence is unknown or unknowable) from methodological agnosticism (a skeptical approach that withholds judgment in the absence of sufficient evidence). There are also positions such as strong or weak agnosticism, reflecting levels of certainty about knowledge of the divine.

Usage and reception: in public discourse, agnosticism is often used to express epistemic humility or uncertainty rather than a definitive stance on belief. It is sometimes criticized as indecisive, though supporters argue it accurately reflects limits of evidence in areas of metaphysical inquiry.

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