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Agnosticism is the philosophical view that the (truth) values of certain claims—particularly theological claims regarding the existence of God, gods, or deities—are unknown, inherently unknowable, or incoherent, and therefore, (some agnostics may go as far to say) 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.

Agnosticism is distinct from, but compatible with, atheism. It is also compatible with theism. This is because agnosticism is a view about knowledge concerning God, whereas theism and atheism are beliefs (or lack thereof) concerning God. For example, it is possible to believe in God but to believe that knowledge about God is not obtainable.

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.

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@annika_jb Agnosticism is a concept, not a full religion, like Christianity. It is a belief related to the existence or non-existence of God
meganwilderr (Megan Wilder) Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:07:29 -0000
@annika_jb Agnosticism is a concept, not a full religion, like Christianity. It is a belief related to the existence or non-existence of God
http://tinyurl.com/2wk8fv Agnosticism / Atheism - Free Inquiry, Skepticism, Atheism, Religious Philosophy
catch_down (catch_down) Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:58:06 -0000
http://tinyurl.com/2wk8fv Agnosticism / Atheism - Free Inquiry, Skepticism, Atheism, Religious Philosophy
Maybe I'll just give up Agnosticism for Lent. (Does anyone actually know when that is?)
thomdunn (thomdunn) Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:06:14 -0000
Maybe I'll just give up Agnosticism for Lent. (Does anyone actually know when that is?)
RT @XIANITY: BREAKING NEWS: Atheist Richard Dawkins radically converted to extreme agnosticism.
solocristo (Ben Johnson) Sat, 19 Dec 2009 01:22:24 -0000
RT @XIANITY: BREAKING NEWS: Atheist Richard Dawkins radically converted to extreme agnosticism.
RT @XIANITY: BREAKING NEWS: Atheist Richard Dawkins radically converted to extreme agnosticism.
JesusFreak42 (Tobias von Staub) Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:54:42 -0000
RT @XIANITY: BREAKING NEWS: Atheist Richard Dawkins radically converted to extreme agnosticism.
RT @XIANITY: BREAKING NEWS: Atheist Richard Dawkins radically converted to extreme agnosticism.
mwilliamrice (Michael Rice) Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:32:24 -0000
RT @XIANITY: BREAKING NEWS: Atheist Richard Dawkins radically converted to extreme agnosticism.

 
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404 About Agnosticism - Dennis Halnon provides an explanation of what agnosticism is, what it means, and what it implies.
Meta Description: [ An explanation of what agnosticism is, what it means, and what it implies. ]

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Thomas Henry Huxley - Brief biography of Thomas Henry Huxley, inventor of the term agnosticism

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