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'''Agnosticism''' is the [[philosophy|philosophical]] view that the [[truth]] values of certain claims—particularly [[theology|theological]] claims regarding the existence of [[god (monotheism)|God]], [[gods]], or [[deity|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 [[strong atheism]] (also called ''positive atheism''), which denies the existence of any deities. However, the more general variety of [[atheism]], [[weak atheism]] (also called ''negative atheism'', and sometimes ''neutral atheism''), professes only a lack of belief in a god or gods, which is not equivalent to but is compatible with agnosticism.
Agnostics may claim that it isn't 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 [[philosophical scepticism|skepticism]] towards religious statements.
Some point out the fact that there is nothing distinctive in being an agnostic because even theists do not claim to know that a god exists, only to believe there might be gods, and many even agree there is room for doubt; and atheists in the broader sense do not claim to know there are no gods, only to not believe there might be gods as theists do.▼
▲Some
==Variations==
Agnosticism has suffered more than most expressions of philosophical position from terminological vagaries. This often stems from the distinction (or lack thereof) between the words "[[belief]]" and "[[epistemology|knowledge]]". Some consider them to be the same. (Eg: "I believe god exists" = "I know god exists" = "I affirm the truth-value of the statement 'god exists'"). Others consider them to be different (Eg: "I believe god exists" can still mean "I don't know if god exists" or "I cannot affirm the truth-value of the statement 'god exists'").
Data collection services [http://adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html#Nonreligious], [http://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2122.html] often display the common use of the term, distinct from atheism in its lack of disputing the existence of deities. Agnostics are listed alongside [[secularism|secular]], [[irreligion|non-religious]], or other such categories.
Other variations include:
* [[Strong agnosticism]] (also called hard agnosticism, closed agnosticism, strict agnosticism)—the view that the question of the existence of deities is unknowable by nature or that human beings are ill-equipped to judge the evidence.
* [[Weak agnosticism]] (also called soft agnosticism, open agnosticism, empirical agnosticism)—the view that the existence or nonexistence of God or gods is currently unknown but isn't necessarily unknowable, therefore one will withhold judgement until more evidence is available.
* [[Apatheism]]—the view that the whole question of God's existence or nonexistence is beneath consideration or concern.
* [[Apathetic agnosticism]]—the view that the whole question of God's existence or nonexistence cannot yet be properly answered, and therefore one should free oneself from a fruitless search.
* [[Ignosticism]]—the view that the concept of God as a being is scientifically meaningless because it has no verifiable consequences, therefore it cannot be usefully discussed as having existence or nonexistence.
* Model agnosticism—the view that philosophical and metaphysical questions are not ultimately verifiable but that a model of malleable assumption should be built upon rational thought. Note that this branch of agnosticism differs from others in that it does not focus upon the question of a deity's existence.
* [[Agnostic theism]]-the view of those who do not claim to ''know'' God's existence, but still ''believe'' in his existence. Whether this truly is agnosticism is disputed.
==Some philosophical opinions==
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Huxley's agnosticism is believed to be a natural consequence of the intellectual and philosophical conditions of the [[1860]]s, when clerical intolerance was trying to suppress scientific discoveries which appeared to clash with a literal reading of the [[Book of Genesis]] and other established [[Jewish]] and Christian doctrines. Agnosticism should not, however, be confused with [[natural theology]], [[deism]], [[pantheism]], or other science positive forms of [[theism]].
By way of clarification, Huxley states, "In matters of the intellect, follow your reason as far as it will take you, without regard to any other consideration. And negatively: In matters of the intellect, do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable" (Huxley, ''Agnosticism'', 1889). While A. W. Momerie has noted that this is nothing but a definition of [[honesty]], Huxley's usual definition goes beyond mere honesty to insist that these metaphysical issues are fundamentally unknowable.
===Charles Darwin===
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==External links==
* [http://www.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/humftp/E-text/Russell/agnostic.htm What Is An Agnostic?] by Bertrand Russell, [1953].
* [http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/cgi-local/DHI/dhi.cgi?id=dv1-03 ''Dictionary of the History of Ideas'':] Agnosticism
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