Agnosticism: meaning, definitions and examples

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agnosticism

 

[ รฆษกหˆnษ’stษชsษชzษ™m ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

belief system

Agnosticism is the belief that the existence of God or the divine is unknown or unknowable. It is a philosophical position that asserts that one cannot know for certain whether God exists or not.

Synonyms

doubt, skepticism, uncertainty.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
agnosticism

A term used to describe the belief that the truth about the existence of God, or the nature of reality, is unknown or unknowable.

  • She embraces agnosticism, suggesting that humans may never know if a higher power exists
skepticism

An attitude of questioning or a critical approach towards ideas, statements, or beliefs. Often used in a broader sense than just religious beliefs.

  • Her skepticism was clear when she asked for evidence to back up the extraordinary claims
uncertainty

Used to describe a general state of lack of sureness or predictability regarding outcomes or situations.

  • The uncertainty of the weather made it hard to plan the outdoor event
doubt

Refers to a lack of certainty or conviction, often about a specific belief, decision, or piece of information.

  • He expressed doubt about the accuracy of the news report

Examples of usage

  • Many agnostics claim that the existence of God is beyond human comprehension.
  • Agnosticism acknowledges the limitations of human knowledge when it comes to matters of spirituality.
Context #2 | Noun

attitude towards knowledge

Agnosticism can also refer to a general attitude of skepticism or uncertainty towards knowledge or belief in general. It can be a stance of questioning and critical thinking.

Synonyms

doubt, skepticism, uncertainty.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
agnosticism

Used in philosophical or religious discussions to describe the belief that the existence of deities or the ultimate nature of reality is unknown or unknowable.

  • His agnosticism makes it difficult for him to accept any religious doctrine.
  • Agnosticism can be seen as a middle ground between atheism and theism.
skepticism

Represents a questioning attitude or doubt towards certain claims, often used in academic, scientific, or discussion about beliefs.

  • His skepticism about the new policy led to a thorough investigation.
  • Scientific skepticism is crucial for validating new theories.
uncertainty

Refers to a state of being unsure or having a lack of knowledge about future events, conditions, or outcomes, commonly used in various contexts like economics, decision making, or personal sentiment.

  • There is a lot of uncertainty about the economic forecast.
  • She felt a sense of uncertainty about her career path.
doubt

Expresses a lack of certainty or confidence in something, often used in everyday situations.

  • I have my doubts about the success of this project.
  • She looked at him with doubt in her eyes.

Examples of usage

  • Her agnosticism towards scientific theories led her to always seek more evidence before forming a belief.

Translations

Translations of the word "agnosticism" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น agnosticismo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค…เคœเฅเคžเฅ‡เคฏเคตเคพเคฆ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Agnostizismus

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ agnostisisme

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฐะณะฝะพัั‚ะธั†ะธะทะผ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ agnostycyzm

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ไธๅฏ็Ÿฅ่ซ– (ใตใ‹ใกใ‚ใ‚“)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท agnosticisme

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ agnosticismo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท agnostisizm

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ถˆ๊ฐ€์ง€๋ก  (๋ถˆ๊ฐ€์ง€์ฃผ์˜)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงู„ู„ุงุฃุฏุฑูŠุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ agnosticismus

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ agnosticizmus

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ไธๅฏ็Ÿฅ่ฎบ (bรนkฤ›zhฤซlรนn)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ agnosticizem

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ agnostรญk

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐะณะฝะพัั‚ะธั†ะธะทะผ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒแƒ’แƒœแƒแƒกแƒขแƒ˜แƒชแƒ˜แƒ–แƒ›แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ aqnostisizm

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ agnosticismo

Etymology

The term 'agnosticism' was coined by the English biologist Thomas Henry Huxley in the 19th century. Huxley used it to describe his own position on the existence of God, emphasizing the need for evidence and rational inquiry. Agnosticism emerged in response to the dogmatism of both religious belief and atheism, offering a middle ground of skepticism and intellectual humility. Today, agnosticism continues to be a significant perspective in philosophical and religious discourse.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,573, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.