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Agnosticism has become a fairly common [[belief system]] in [[Western culture]] with 14% of people in the [[United States]], 32% of people in [[France]] and 35% of people in [[Great Britain]] self-identifying as agnostics.<ref>http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131</ref>

Agnosticism has become a fairly common [[belief system]] in [[Western culture]] with 14% of people in the [[United States]], 32% of people in [[France]] and 35% of people in [[Great Britain]] self-identifying as agnostics.<ref>http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131</ref>

== Comparing Agnosticism, Atheism, and Theism from an Acultural Standpoint ==

== Agnosticism debates ==

In the absence of any cultural, [[metaphysical]], and [[scientific]] history, as passed from one individual to another, the default position is a 'seeking theism'. Atheism and agnosticism are, at best, merely self-preserving coping responses to others' personally existentially unsatisfactory claims to having 'found God'. In their strongest forms, atheism and agnosticism are, for the individual, comparable respectively to what communist dictatorship and regressive anarchy are for the society: the presence of ontological disharmonies between individuals motivating, for lack of a complete basic knowledge of the world, an ''oppressive'' civil structure and a randomly destructive ''lack'' of civil structure.

 

''See also:'' [[Agnosticism debates]]

 

Despite there being more self-described agnostics in the world than self-described atheists (See also: [[Definitions of Atheist and Agnostic]])<ref>[http://www.internationalbulletin.org/issues/2015-01/2015-01-029-table.html Table on the projected global shrinkage/growth of various worldviews including atheism and agnosticism] (Source: Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary)</ref>, since at least the latter part of the 20th century, there have been more [[atheism vs. Christianity]] debates than atheism vs. agnosticism debates (see: [[Atheism debates]] and [[Christianity vs. atheism debates]]).  In recent times, however, there have been notable cases of atheists being unwilling to engage in debates (see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).

 

For a listing of notable agnosticism related debates, please see: [[Agnosticism debates]]

 

== Betrand Russell on agnosticism ==

== Betrand Russell on agnosticism ==

[[Image:998086u.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|An essay by the [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] Dr. James Spiegel describes Bertrand Russell as a "misogynistic and a serial adulterer; a chronic seducer of women, especially very young women, even in his old age."<ref>''The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief'' By James Spiegel, page 72, Moody Publishers, 2010</ref>]]

[[Image:998086u.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|An essay by the [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] Dr. James Spiegel describes Bertrand Russell as a "misogynistic and a serial adulterer; a chronic seducer of women, especially very young women, even in his old age."<ref>''The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief'' By James Spiegel, page 72, Moody Publishers, 2010</ref>]]