So does agnosticism serve as a middle path between the two beliefs of theism and atheism, contrary to the common belief, that it is an alternative to atheism, people are mistaken by the narrow definition of atheism in their minds.
Agnosticism is about knowledge, and it is separate from the realms of belief, which constitute the domain of theism and atheism. Agnostic means “without knowledge “but somehow we have started it using exclusively with respect to the issue “Do god exist or not?” .Dilemma over the use of term agnosticism arises when we assume that it is used in the context of a person who is undecided about the existence of god, if this were to be true then it would serve as a third way between theism and atheism, however this assumption is far from being true.
Contrary to the general notion of agnosticism, it is based upon the two principles which are needed to be studied closely before nay concrete conclusions can be drawn out. Firstly it supports the idea of empirical and logical means to acquire knowledge about the world and Second principle which it follows is that we have a moral duty of not asserting claims for ideas which we cannot adequately support through evidence. Therefore the term “agnostic” may be used in context of a person who cannot claim, if any god exists.
Thus there are two kinds of people ,some people are not sure of something but they believe it anyway and in other case people cannot support the proof so this becomes the reason enough to not bother believing.
Therefore agnosticism is no third way between theism and atheism but an issue which is compatible with both. Majority of people who believe themselves of being theist or atheist might be justified in calling themselves as agnostics, because a theist is adamant in his belief but also adamant in the fact that his beliefs are based more on faith than on absolute knowledge. Agnosticism may be referred to a state where one is not sure about the existence of god ,but people take can take this stance for different reasons and apply it in different ways creating two sets of agnosticism weak and strong on the lines of weak and strong atheism .If someone is a weak agnostic he states that “I am not sure whether god exists or not”, but he does not rule out the possibility of there being any theoretical god ,or the fact that someone might be knowing about the existence of god .Most of people we know fall into this category .whereas a strong agnostic claims that he is not sure of the existence of god but he also believes that no one can claim about the existence of god ,though this stance can be difficult to defend.
Thus people with weak agnosticism are easily accepted in the world because they respect the feelings of other people and don’t try to impose their beliefs on others, but people with strong agnosticism are not easily accepted in this world as they indirectly come a conclusion that they know something about god which others do not, which is not easy for others to accept. Whatever the beliefs agnosticism is not the middle path between theism and atheism though this argument can go on for ever.
Agnosticism is about knowledge, and it is separate from the realms of belief, which constitute the domain of theism and atheism. Agnostic means “without knowledge “but somehow we have started it using exclusively with respect to the issue “Do god exist or not?” .Dilemma over the use of term agnosticism arises when we assume that it is used in the context of a person who is undecided about the existence of god, if this were to be true then it would serve as a third way between theism and atheism, however this assumption is far from being true.
Contrary to the general notion of agnosticism, it is based upon the two principles which are needed to be studied closely before nay concrete conclusions can be drawn out. Firstly it supports the idea of empirical and logical means to acquire knowledge about the world and Second principle which it follows is that we have a moral duty of not asserting claims for ideas which we cannot adequately support through evidence. Therefore the term “agnostic” may be used in context of a person who cannot claim, if any god exists.
Thus there are two kinds of people ,some people are not sure of something but they believe it anyway and in other case people cannot support the proof so this becomes the reason enough to not bother believing.
Therefore agnosticism is no third way between theism and atheism but an issue which is compatible with both. Majority of people who believe themselves of being theist or atheist might be justified in calling themselves as agnostics, because a theist is adamant in his belief but also adamant in the fact that his beliefs are based more on faith than on absolute knowledge. Agnosticism may be referred to a state where one is not sure about the existence of god ,but people take can take this stance for different reasons and apply it in different ways creating two sets of agnosticism weak and strong on the lines of weak and strong atheism .If someone is a weak agnostic he states that “I am not sure whether god exists or not”, but he does not rule out the possibility of there being any theoretical god ,or the fact that someone might be knowing about the existence of god .Most of people we know fall into this category .whereas a strong agnostic claims that he is not sure of the existence of god but he also believes that no one can claim about the existence of god ,though this stance can be difficult to defend.
Thus people with weak agnosticism are easily accepted in the world because they respect the feelings of other people and don’t try to impose their beliefs on others, but people with strong agnosticism are not easily accepted in this world as they indirectly come a conclusion that they know something about god which others do not, which is not easy for others to accept. Whatever the beliefs agnosticism is not the middle path between theism and atheism though this argument can go on for ever.
