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Agnosticism Facts & Worksheets

The term "Agnosticism" comes from the Greek word "agnōstos," which means "unknowable," and refers to the belief that human beings have no way of knowing the existence of anything outside the events of their experience. Today, it is linked with religious skepticism and the rejection of traditional Christian beliefs.

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The term “Agnosticism” comes from the Greek word “agnōstos,” which means “unknowable,” and refers to the belief that human beings have no way of knowing the existence of anything outside the events of their experience. Due to the influence of modern scientific theories, the expression has come to be linked with religious skepticism and, more significantly, the rejection of traditional Christian beliefs. T. H. Huxley, a British scientist and Darwinian theory champion, coined the term “agnosticism” during a London meeting of the Metaphysical Society in 1869.

See the fact file below for more information about Agnosticism, or you can download our 24-page Agnosticism worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

INTRODUCTION

  • Agnostics believe that, due to the limitations of human knowledge, it is impossible to know anything objectively regarding the existence or nature of gods. A strong agnostic might hold such a view, yet the term “agnostic” is more commonly used to describe someone who does not have an opinion on the existence of gods.
  • Agnostics believe that God’s nature and attributes are beyond human comprehension. People who call themselves agnostics often say they cannot know for sure whether or not God exists or that even if they could, they would not have that knowledge. 
  • The term “agnostic” from the Greek “agnōstos,” meaning “unknowable,” was not used in English until the 1880s, although it is possible that Protagoras was the first self-proclaimed agnostic.
  • Agnosticism can mean different things to different people. These diverse viewpoints and terminologies make it more difficult to pin down precisely what an agnostic is and who an agnostic is. An agnostic’s beliefs are not limited to the secular realm; they can also be applied in religious settings.
  • To some extent, agnosticism is connected to the empiricism popularized by thinkers like John Locke and David Hume. 
  • T.H. Huxley (1825-1895), often recognized as the inventor of the term “agnostic,” was profoundly inspired by their beliefs. Human experience and scientific experimentation are highly valued within the empiricism paradigm. An agnostic is someone who, in principle, does not accept the truth of any claim without first seeing evidence that supports it.
  • According to Huxley, being agnostic was admitting that you couldn’t safely believe or reject religious or metaphysical orthodoxy. Today, Huxley’s concept remains integral to what it means to be an agnostic. According to Merriam-Webster, an agnostic is “one who believes that knowledge of ultimate reality (such as God) is impossible.” The agnostic is not bound by believing in the existence or non-existence of a god, gods, or higher power.
  • It requires examining the nature of religious faith itself to be grasped. Religions as diverse as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism share a common belief in a supernatural being who rules the universe and influences each person’s fate. These faiths hold that this transcendent greater power is well beyond any human’s ability to fathom. While agnostics don’t outright deny a God’s possibility, they advocate for the view that God’s existence can’t be proven scientifically or rationally. Therefore, some adherents of a religious Deity adopt the concepts of agnosticism by acknowledging that they cannot provide proof for the presence of this Deity.

BRIEF DEFINITIONS

  • Believers of all faiths can coexist peacefully with those who reject religion. Many defend that agnostics can believe in anything, not just a god. This kind of faith is known as “non-doxastic.” 
  • One of the finest approaches for an agnostic is to adopt a fictional perspective and approach religion as if it were a tale. On the other hand, agnosticism does not entail either a positive or hostile stance toward religion.
  • Depending on their position, agnostics may or may not try to find evidence for God’s existence. Agnosticism is not the same as having no interest in religion or spirituality.
  • It is essential to differentiate between agnosticism and apophaticism, which asserts that God is essentially unknown. Apophaticism is commonly thought to be a branch of theistic thought.
  • There is a distinction between agnosticism and religious non-cognitivism, which holds that the question of whether God exists, like all statements involving the term “God” or other religious terms, does not make sense because it does not refer to something that can be observed empirically and thus cannot have a meaningful answer. 
  • Even if they don’t believe in God, agnostics and non-cognitivists accept the possibility of a response regarding God’s existence having an answer.

NATURE

  • Huxley’s remark emphasizes that agnosticism is associated with uncertainty and that uncertainty is most visible in the world of religious orthodoxy. However, its less restrictive applications are now acceptable due to the term’s origin and widespread usage. 
  • 18th-century idealist George Berkeley was contrasted with extremes of pure materialism by Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin in his book Materialism and Empirio-Criticism (1908). 
  • Between the renowned German critical philosopher Immanuel Kant and the Scottish skeptic David Hume, he considered the “agnosticism” of these two thinkers as an attempt to find a compromise. These “agnosticisms” comprised assertions that it was impossible to know either the nature or the existence of “things-in-themselves”. 

KINDS OF AGNOSTICISM

Agnosticism Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Agnosticism across 24 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Agnosticism. The term “Agnosticism” comes from the Greek word “agnōstos,” which means “unknowable,” and refers to the belief that human beings have no way of knowing the existence of anything outside the events of their experience.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Agnosticism Facts
  2. The Other Side
  3. Types Of Agnosticism
  4. Uncertainty
  5. Curious Cat
  6. Point Of View
  7. Category Game
  8. The Man Behind
  9. Look For…
  10. Haiku or Poem
  11. Journal

Frequently Asked Questions

What is agnosticism?

Agnosticism is the philosophical position that asserts that the existence of God or the supernatural is inherently unknowable or that, at least, humans currently lack the capacity to know with certainty whether or not God or the supernatural exists.

How does agnosticism differ from atheism?

While atheism is the lack of belief in the existence of gods or deities, agnosticism is more about the epistemological stance on knowledge. Agnostics claim that the existence of God is unknown or unknowable, without necessarily taking a definitive position on whether God does or does not exist.

Can agnostics be religious?

Yes, agnostics can be religious. Agnosticism addresses the knowledge or certainty about the existence of God, but it doesn’t dictate one’s religious beliefs or practices. An agnostic might choose to follow a religious path while acknowledging the uncertainty of the existence of a deity.

Is agnosticism a “middle ground” between atheism and theism?

Yes, agnosticism is often considered a middle ground between atheism and theism. While atheists deny the existence of gods and theists affirm it, agnostics assert that the existence of gods is either unknown or unknowable, avoiding a definitive stance on belief or disbelief.

Are there different forms of agnosticism?

Yes, there are different forms of agnosticism. Some agnostics may lean more towards agnostic theism, acknowledging the possibility of a higher power without claiming to know for certain. Others may lean towards agnostic atheism, acknowledging the lack of evidence for a deity while not outright denying the possibility. Agnosticism can manifest in various shades depending on an individual’s beliefs and perspectives.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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