schemeagnosticism

Schemeagnosticism is a philosophical stance that neither affirms nor denies the existence of a god or gods. It is distinct from atheism, which actively denies the existence of deities, and theism, which affirms their existence. A schemeagnostic does not believe it is possible to know whether a god or gods exist or not.

The term "schemeagnosticism" is a neologism, combining "scheme" (referring to a plan, system, or divine order) with "agnosticism" (the view that the existence of God, the divine, or the supernatural is unknown or unknowable). It suggests a position of uncertainty not just about a deity's existence, but about the very framework or "scheme" by which such an existence might be understood or proven.

Unlike classical agnosticism, which often focuses on the limitations of human knowledge in proving or disproving God's existence, schemeagnosticism may extend this doubt to the coherence or conceivability of any such divine scheme. It implies a skepticism about whether any proposed "divine plan" or "cosmic order" is knowable or even logically sound.

Those who identify as schemeagnostic might find traditional religious or even atheistic explanations for the universe and humanity's place within it to be ultimately unconvincing or beyond verification. They maintain a position of suspended judgment, acknowledging the profound questions about existence without committing to any specific answer regarding divinity or its potential role in the universe. This stance allows for an openness to future discoveries or revelations while refusing to embrace current claims as definitive truths.