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The Global Insight

What is agnosticism and example?

Author

Michael Gray

Updated on February 25, 2026

Agnosticism was coined by biologist T.H. Huxley and comes from the Greek ágnōstos, which means “unknown or unknowable.” For example: While I now consider myself an atheist, I did attend church regularly as a child. If you’re not certain that god exists, you could describe yourself as agnostic.

Do agnostics believe in God?

Agnostic theism, agnostotheism or agnostitheism is the philosophical view that encompasses both theism and agnosticism. An agnostic theist believes in the existence of a God or Gods, but regards the basis of this proposition as unknown or inherently unknowable.

What is difference between agnostic and atheist?

Atheism is about belief or, specifically, what you don’t believe. An atheist doesn’t believe in any gods. Agnosticism is about knowledge or, specifically, about what you don’t know. An agnostic doesn’t know if any gods exist or not.

Is agnosticism a real word?

the doctrine or belief of an agnostic. an intellectual doctrine or attitude affirming the uncertainty of all claims to ultimate knowledge.

Who is a famous agnostic?

Celebrity atheists and agnostics

  • These celebrities identify as irreligious.
  • Chris Pizzello/AP. Zac Efron.
  • Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images. Julianne Moore The redheaded actress is an atheist who supports a number of progressive causes, including abortion rights and same-sex marriage.
  • ROBERT YAGER.
  • MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images.

What do u call a person who believes in God but not religion?

(Entry 1 of 2) 1 : a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (such 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.

Is it a sin to be agnostic?

What does an agnostic consider a sin? The Agnostic is not quite so certain as some Christians are as to what is good and what is evil. He does not hold, as most Christians in the past held, that people who disagree with the government on abstruse points of theology ought to suffer a painful death.

Which is worse agnostic or atheist?

Religion helps people, absolutely no doubt about it. Leading a theistic life can allow someone to believe in something greater than themselves, and it also helps alleviate fears of death.

Who invented God?

The earliest written form of the Germanic word God comes from the 6th-century Christian Codex Argenteus. The English word itself is derived from the Proto-Germanic * ǥuđan.

Which is the best definition of an agnostic?

The word originates with the Greek atheos, which is built from the roots a- “without” + theos “a god”. However, an agnostic neither believes nor disbelieves in a god or religious doctrine. Agnostics assert that it’s impossible for human beings to know anything about how the universe was created and if divine beings exist.

How can you use agnosticism in a sentence?

Examples of Agnosticism in a Sentence Clarence Darrow: I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure-that is all that agnosticism means. Thomas Huxley: Agnosticism simply means that a man shall not say he knows or believes that for which he has no grounds for professing to believe.

Do you hate religion or are you an agnostic?

Most Of Us Are Fine With Religion Being agnostic does not mean you hate religion. In fact, many agnostics (like myself) were raised religious, and still consider themselves culturally religious.

Who was the first person to believe in agnosticism?

Earlier thinkers, however, had written works that promoted agnostic points of view, such as Sanjaya Belatthaputta, a 5th-century BCE Indian philosopher who expressed agnosticism about any afterlife; and Protagoras, a 5th-century BCE Greek philosopher who expressed agnosticism about the existence of “the gods”.