By strict definition, it means 'without knowledge', refering to deities. That is, an agnostic does not claim to have any definite knowledge of the existance of deities/a deity.
It is often said that agnosticism is a stepping stone to atheism. There is truth to this, as often the transition from theism to atheism is travelled through agnosticism. However, this is not the only form of agnosticism. Agnosticism can also develop as a rejection of both atheism and theism, for a number of reasons. All three discuss divinity in different ways, so it is foolish to say that agnosticism is simply a stepping stone to atheism, or undecided secularism.
It is often said that agnosticism is a stepping stone to atheism. There is truth to this, as often the transition from theism to atheism is travelled through agnosticism. However, this is not the only form of agnosticism. Agnosticism can also develop as a rejection of both atheism and theism, for a number of reasons. All three discuss divinity in different ways, so it is foolish to say that agnosticism is simply a stepping stone to atheism, or undecided secularism.
He used to be Jewish, but after taking a philosophy course he became agnostic.
She calls herself an agnostic instead of atheist, because she finds them disagreeable.
She calls herself an agnostic instead of atheist, because she finds them disagreeable.
by Malfacteur December 11, 2003
Get the agnostic mug.Korrui Agnostium (KOR-ROO-ee AG-NAHS-tee-um) is the specific branch of Korrui that (though they can believe in the existence of, or even perform the practices of multiple) does not follow any gods or goddesses.
by Da Dank Bitch December 12, 2020
Get the Korrui Agnostium mug.by My Name Is Hugh...Mungus November 27, 2007
Get the agnostic mug.a word used to describe someone’s actions in a bad way, this can basically describe anything in a “ah that sucks” form
by shmucker May 26, 2020
Get the agrostic mug.One who doesn't actually understand the nuances in either side of any issue, so they take a position halfway between them while deriding both as extremists. They hope to appear moderate and reasonable without having to actually research the matter and form an opinion that doesn't boil down to trendy contrarianism and false equivalence.
They do absolutely nothing to improve the human condition. They're out to elevate themselves above all parties in any given argument by shitting on all of them, without doing anything to conclusively resolve the matter. They're worse than useless, they're actively obstructing progress.
They do absolutely nothing to improve the human condition. They're out to elevate themselves above all parties in any given argument by shitting on all of them, without doing anything to conclusively resolve the matter. They're worse than useless, they're actively obstructing progress.
by Destroyer of Ignorance February 3, 2010
Get the South Park Agnostic mug.The agnostic concluded that their was no way to tell if God or gods existed, thefore he stopped trying to find out.
by Chenlambec September 12, 2009
Get the agnostic mug.Someone who believes that knowledge is not possible for themselves, some to different extents. They may believe that knowledge is possible, but paradoxically, it's impossible for them to know. While one will confine this to the metaphysical, most famously, regarding the existence of God, others will believe that they can know nothing at all, as not even their senses can be trusted.
Agnostics are often well-educated, and even more often do they see themselves as such. An agnostic, by virtue of their belief, typically sees themself as a very skeptical and critical person, and indeed, they usually are. They are often more intelligent on average than those who believe they know things, or at least, so the stereotype goes. Because of this, they often develop a sense of superiority, by which they can logically and rationally transcend the arguments of less-intelligent theists, who tend to be the most vocal ones.
An agnostic esteems above all else the scientific method. It is the infallible absolute of the agnostic. Everything must be empirically demonstrable to an agnostic, or it cannot be known to exist. A typical argument an atheist would use against a theist would be: "Since you cannot prove the existence of your God, how do you know that he exists?"
An agnostic attempts to apply empiricism to absolutely every aspect of reality. A thing does not exist unless it can be "scientifically proven". A modern understanding of science is the typical rhetoric of the agnostic.
Agnostics are often well-educated, and even more often do they see themselves as such. An agnostic, by virtue of their belief, typically sees themself as a very skeptical and critical person, and indeed, they usually are. They are often more intelligent on average than those who believe they know things, or at least, so the stereotype goes. Because of this, they often develop a sense of superiority, by which they can logically and rationally transcend the arguments of less-intelligent theists, who tend to be the most vocal ones.
An agnostic esteems above all else the scientific method. It is the infallible absolute of the agnostic. Everything must be empirically demonstrable to an agnostic, or it cannot be known to exist. A typical argument an atheist would use against a theist would be: "Since you cannot prove the existence of your God, how do you know that he exists?"
An agnostic attempts to apply empiricism to absolutely every aspect of reality. A thing does not exist unless it can be "scientifically proven". A modern understanding of science is the typical rhetoric of the agnostic.
Theist: "Do you believe in God?"
Agnostic: "I do not, because it is impossible to prove the existence of God. In fact, I do not believe it is possible to prove the existence of anything, as everything we've known is a product or our subjective consciousness."
Theist: "Are you sure?"
Agnostic: "Yes, I am 100% sure."
OR
Agnostic: "If a thing cannot be proven scientifically, there is no way to know that it exists"
Philosopher dude: "But you are assuming the existence of knowledge, which in itself is a totally abstract concept that is entirely unprovable by those means. If you are to apply the scientific method to every facet of knowledge, with our current understanding of perception and cognition, it would be impossible to trust your own senses, and everything would be unprovable, and hence, you could know nothing at all, including the validity of the scientific method."
Agnostic: "Any ideas of yours cannot be empirically proven, so I need not listen to you."
Philosopher dude: *facepalm.
Agnostic: "I do not, because it is impossible to prove the existence of God. In fact, I do not believe it is possible to prove the existence of anything, as everything we've known is a product or our subjective consciousness."
Theist: "Are you sure?"
Agnostic: "Yes, I am 100% sure."
OR
Agnostic: "If a thing cannot be proven scientifically, there is no way to know that it exists"
Philosopher dude: "But you are assuming the existence of knowledge, which in itself is a totally abstract concept that is entirely unprovable by those means. If you are to apply the scientific method to every facet of knowledge, with our current understanding of perception and cognition, it would be impossible to trust your own senses, and everything would be unprovable, and hence, you could know nothing at all, including the validity of the scientific method."
Agnostic: "Any ideas of yours cannot be empirically proven, so I need not listen to you."
Philosopher dude: *facepalm.
by Philosopher dude December 27, 2010
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