Difference between revisions of "Agnosticism"
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The word "agnostic" was coined by [[T. H. Huxley]]<ref>T. H. Huxley was also an early and influential supporter of Darwinism.</ref> from the Greek roots ''a-'' not, and ''-gnostic,'' knowing; the philosopher [[Herbert Spencer]] was influential in spreading its use. One nineteenth-century saw held that "There is no god but the Unknowable, and Herbert Spencer is his prophet."<ref>London, Jack (1913), ''Martin Eden,'' [http://london.sonoma.edu/Writings/MartinEden/chapter13.html Chapter 13]</ref> | The word "agnostic" was coined by [[T. H. Huxley]]<ref>T. H. Huxley was also an early and influential supporter of Darwinism.</ref> from the Greek roots ''a-'' not, and ''-gnostic,'' knowing; the philosopher [[Herbert Spencer]] was influential in spreading its use. One nineteenth-century saw held that "There is no god but the Unknowable, and Herbert Spencer is his prophet."<ref>London, Jack (1913), ''Martin Eden,'' [http://london.sonoma.edu/Writings/MartinEden/chapter13.html Chapter 13]</ref> | ||
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| + | ==Atheism and agnosticism== | ||
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| + | Some atheists bristle at the term ''atheist''. They say they aren't atheists, because they don't "believe that God does not exist" but rather "neither believe nor disbelieve". | ||
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| + | Many religious believers make no distinction among non-believers. If you're not sure that God exists, they combine the unsure and "surely not" into one lump. For these believers, an "atheist" is anyone who doesn't believe in God. | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 13:39, May 19, 2007
Template:Expand Agnosticism is the belief that God's existence or lack of existence is unknowable. Agnostics differ from atheists in that they do not deny God's existence.
The word "agnostic" was coined by T. H. Huxley[1] from the Greek roots a- not, and -gnostic, knowing; the philosopher Herbert Spencer was influential in spreading its use. One nineteenth-century saw held that "There is no god but the Unknowable, and Herbert Spencer is his prophet."[2]
Atheism and agnosticism
Some atheists bristle at the term atheist. They say they aren't atheists, because they don't "believe that God does not exist" but rather "neither believe nor disbelieve".
Many religious believers make no distinction among non-believers. If you're not sure that God exists, they combine the unsure and "surely not" into one lump. For these believers, an "atheist" is anyone who doesn't believe in God.
External links
- ↑ T. H. Huxley was also an early and influential supporter of Darwinism.
- ↑ London, Jack (1913), Martin Eden, Chapter 13