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]

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[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 person. However, all these combinations are similar, in that to be an agnostic theist one must encompass doubt in the existence of God or the ability to prove that there is a god.

There are a number of Christians called Christian Agnostics, who differ from agnostic theists. Christian Agnostics believe that God exists and that Jesus has a special relationship with Him and is in some way divine. Their agnosticism is defined by the inability to know for certain, much else beyond the very basic tenets of the Christian faith. This belief system has deep roots in Judaism and the early days of the Church. The good news to early Christians was that Jesus is alive and that he conquered death. To know much more beyond 1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your mind, and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself is difficult at best. These then are Christian Agnostics. [2]

The belief in God can have a wide swath of reasons for believing, such as the belief in a personal god or singular god. However, there can also be doubt based upon the authenticity of all other religions (In other words, a belief and philosophy that there are so many religions that either all or none must be correct). An agnostic theist may have a belief with admittedly several flaws in its ability to be proven, but persist in believing it out of personal philosophy. Agnostic theism can also exist in the belief of Voltaire’s god in deism or in any distant non-interacting god belief.

Agnostic theism could possibly also include theists who have some doubt in their own religious beliefs, due to scientific criticism. Although science cannot disprove religion, it sometimes conflicts with some creationist interpretations of the Bible and other religious texts.

A believing agnostic theist's polar opposite could be another agnostic atheist who has no way of proving or disproving a god or many gods and therefore disbelieves in him or finds it highly unlikely for such a supernatural being to exist.

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 God or gods sufficiently for it to be considered known.

  • According to fideism this logic statement was used:
  • Christian theology teaches that people are saved by faith in the Christian God (i.e., trust in the empirically unprovable).
  • But, if the Christian 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 the Christian God's existence is possible.
see also Sola fide

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Introduction to Agnosticism: What is Agnostic Theism? Believing in God, but not Knowing God
  2. ^ Weatherhead, Leslie (1972). The Christian Agnostic. Abingdon Press. ISBN 978-0-687-06977-4. 

[edit] External links

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