Agnosticism is the view that humanity lacks the requisite knowledge or sufficient rational grounds to justify either belief: that there exists some deity, or that no deities exist.
First of all, Agnosticism in not a modern term, as some people may like to believe . It has been used in the oldest scriptures and philosophies. The Nasadiya Sukta in the Rig-Veda is agnostic about the origin of the universe. Sanjaya Belatthaputta, was a 5th-century BCE Indian philosopher who expressed agnosticism about any afterlife. Protagoras, was a 5th-century BCE Greek philosopher who was agnostic about the gods.
Nasadiya Sukta :
इयं विसृष्टिर्यत आबभूव यदि वा दधे यदि वा न ।
यो अस्याध्यक्षः परमे व्योमन्त्सो अङ्ग वेद यदि वा न वेद ॥७॥
Whence all creation had its origin,
he, whether he fashioned it or whether he did not,
he, who surveys it all from highest heaven,
he knows – or maybe even he does not know.
Secondly, Agnosticism is not about doubts! Or skepticism! One can only have doubts about things which are concrete (science), not abstract (philosophy). One has to understand this in the strict sense of its coining. It is the view that human reason is incapable of rationally justifying the belief that deities do, or do not exist.
Following are the different philosophies pertaining to Agnosticism :
1) Agnostic atheism : The view of those who do not believe in the existence of any deity, but do not claim to know of its existence/non-existence. (The belief and knowledge conundrum)
2) Agnostic theism : The view of those who do not claim to know of the existence of any deity, but still believe in such an existence.
3) Apathetic or pragmatic agnosticism : The view that there is no proof of either the existence or nonexistence of any deity, but since any deity that may exist appears unconcerned for the universe or the welfare of its inhabitants, the question is largely academic.
4) Strong agnosticism : The view that the question of the existence or nonexistence of a deity or deities, and the nature of ultimate reality is unknowable by reason of our natural inability to verify any experience with anything but another subjective experience. A strong agnostic would say, “I cannot know whether a deity exists or not, and neither can you.”
5) Weak agnosticism : The view that the existence or nonexistence of any deities is currently unknown but is not necessarily unknowable; therefore, one will withhold judgment until evidence, if any, becomes available. A weak agnostic would say, “I don’t know whether any deities exist or not, but maybe one day, if there is evidence, we can find something out.”
Further, there is a major difference between atheism and agnosticism. Agnostic atheism is an inclusive philosophy, but strict atheism is very different from agnosticism.
Many people assume that atheists believe that Gods can be proved not to exist, but this isn’t strictly true! Atheists are not the people who think that the non-existence of God can be proven! In fact, there is no term commonly used to describe such an atheist, since their position would be even more extreme than strong atheism. Such a person might be called an “untheist” or “antitheist”, maybe.
Following are the different philosophies pertaining to Theism :
1) Agnostic atheist : does not believe any God exists, but doesn’t claim to know that no God exists.
2) Agnostic theist : believes a God exists, but doesn’t claim to know that this belief is true .(The belief and knowledge conundrum)
3) Gnostic atheist : believes that no God exists and claims to know that this belief is true.
4) Gnostic theist : believes a God exists and claims to know that this belief is true.
So, in a nutshell :
Gnosticism : Knowledge of existence/non existence of God.
Agnosticism : No knowledge of existence/non existence of God.
Theism : Belief in existence of God.
Atheism : No belief in existence of God.
“Theism” or belief on the existence of God is very different than “Gnosticism” or knowledge in the existence/non existence of God. “Religion” is a totally different phenomenon than “Theism” and one does not need to insert religion every time one talks about the existence of God.
