Agnostic theism

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Agnostic theism, also known as Spiritual Agnosticism is the philosophical view that encompasses both theism and agnosticism. Per theism, an agnostic theist believes that the proposition at least one deity exists is true, but, per agnosticism, believes that the existence of gods are unknown or inherently unknowable. The agnostic theist may also or alternatively be agnostic regarding the properties of the god(s) they believe in. ^[1]

[edit] Views of agnostic theism

Agnostic theism is Belief but without Knowledge, as shown in purple and blue (see Epistemology).

There are numerous beliefs that can be included in agnostic theism, including Fideism, however not all agnostic theists are Fideists. It is possible to be a Christian agnostic, an Islamic agnostic, a Zoroastrian agnostic or simply an agnostic, non-religious theist. Since agnosticism does not forbid belief in a deity, it is compatible with most theistic positions.

The classical philosophical understanding of knowledge is that knowledge is justified true belief. By this definition, it is reasonable to assert that one may hold a belief, and that belief may be true, without asserting that one knows it. Agnostic theism could be interpreted as an admission that it is not possible to justify one's belief in a god sufficiently for it to be considered known. This may be because they consider faith a requirement of their religion, or because of the influence of plausible-seeming scientific or philosophical criticism.

The following argument is used^{[citation needed]} to justify Fideism within the context of Christianity:

• Christian theology teaches that people are saved by faith in God (i.e., trust in the empirically unprovable).
• But, if God's existence can be proven, either empirically or logically, to that extent faith becomes unnecessary or irrelevant.
• Therefore, if Christian theology is true, no immediate proof of God's existence is possible.

Christian Agnostics (distinct from Christian agnostics) practice a distinct form of agnosticism that applies only to the properties of God. They hold that it is difficult or impossible to be sure of anything beyond the basic tenets of the Christian faith; that God exists, that Jesus has a special relationship with him and is in some way divine, that God should be worshipped and that humans should be compassionate toward one another. This belief system has deep roots in Judaism and the early days of the Church. ^[2]

Agnostic Creationism is the belief that humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe were created in their original form by a deity of some form, but that, as in agnostic thought, the identity of said deity is unknown, or inherently impossible to prove.

[edit] See also

• Belief
• Deism
• Doubt: Philosophy and ethics
• Epistemology: Belief
• Faith
• Fideism
• Ietsism
• Knowledge
• Negative theology
• Pascal's wager
• Secular theology
• Sola fide
• Truth
• Unknown god

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Epistemology - from Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• AGNOSTICISM - from Dictionary of the History of Ideas

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