AGNOSTICISM?
Agnosticism?
Agnosticism is the position of withholding belief about God because the evidence
is unclear or insufficient to decide.
Negative atheism:
Lacking belief in God without explicitly denying God’s existence.
Positive atheism:
Asserting that God does not exist.
Negative theism:
Lacking disbelief in God, often presuming God exists without strong evidence.
Positive theism:
Asserting that God exists.
THE ARGUMENT
It is easier to prove that you do not know a thing than that you do know it. That may draw you into agnosticism regarding God.
A believer may adopt some aspects of agnosticism. For example, they may be agnostic about whether God does miracles.
Where does agnosticism come in if you have a menu?
Negative atheism is the lack of belief in God.
Negative theism is the lack of non-belief in God.
Positive atheism is saying there is no God.
Positive theism is saying there is a God.
Agnosticism is what you have when you choose none of these—you consider the evidence too unclear to decide.
Anthony Kenny wrote that it is better to presume that you don’t know something than that you do, for it is easier to prove you don’t know a thing than that you know it (page 58, What is Faith?). He says this means it is better to presume agnosticism. Kenny argues that it is easier and more reasonable to assume God exists in the way negative theism does than to assume He does not, as Professor Antony Flew wants us to. Both Flew and Kenny agree that there is no evidence for God.
In reply, if there is no evidence for the existence or non-existence of the ghost upstairs, then it is clearly more reasonable to believe the ghost doesn’t exist. If Kenny thinks it is more reasonable and easier to believe in God because God explains things, then that is a denial that there is no evidence for God. Kenny must think that it is better to presume God exists in case He does. But we can’t go about honoring nature spirits we don’t believe in just because they might exist. And there is something fake about honoring a monarch who you think is not really a monarch. Same with these spiritual entities.
As for agnosticism, when it says there could be a God and there is no need to believe in God, it makes sense to simplify and just be an atheist. Reason bids us to go for simplicity. Agnosticism falls with theism because it has some theistic sympathies.
With anything, we must take two approaches. We must first avoid making errors. Second, we must seek the truth or the best explanation.
Which one comes first?
We have to weed out errors first so that we can see clearly enough and find the straightest road to the truth. Then we will have more confidence that we have attained the truth. You do not want to be thinking wrongly that you have the truth.
Agnosticism is too prone to errors, so clearly, you must have a preference for one of the four. If you are not looking properly at evidence, then you will not see that your agnosticism is just a label.
Interestingly, some define themselves as agnostic atheists. They are just atheists. By agnostic, they mean, “I am not totally certain if God does or does not exist.” This overlooks that knowing something does not mean you can prove it totally. You just need to avoid any reasonable doubt. By atheist, they mean, “I do not believe in God.” This is based on knowledge being very—though not necessarily totally—strong, and belief is somewhat weaker. Do not let yourself be distracted by those who say that knowledge itself is belief. We know that, but that is not how we use the terms.
Don’t let religion or anything fool you about what the word know means. Nothing is 100% knowable or certain. That does not even matter. What you want is a very high probability that something is true. That is what everybody means by know. If it is extremely improbable that God exists or loves you if He does, that says it all. Yet religion will come along and say, “But you don’t know,” meaning know in the unrealistic and 100% sense. This is gaslighting and trying to make you doubt yourself. And it is an insult if there is a God who has made us depend on probabilities. Possibilities do not count. Probabilities do. If there is a God, He is abused by religion for its own ends.
Conclusion
Agnosticism reflects the position of withholding belief about God due to insufficient evidence. While it promotes intellectual humility, it can also lead to indecision if it becomes a default label without careful examination. Reason calls us to evaluate the evidence and choose the most supported position—whether theism or atheism—based on probabilities, not absolute certainty. Agnosticism is valuable as a cautious starting point, but ultimately, seeking truth means moving beyond uncertainty to a reasoned conclusion.