How do you define agnosticism?

I don’t know.

As you said it, agnisticism literally means “without knowledge”. People simply don’t know if there is a god or not.

Then again, I’m not an agnostic, so I can’t tell instead of them.

I’m agnostic because I admit that I have no idea. Athiests will try to claim agnostics because we have a common disbelief in theology. While athiests tend to believe death is the end and there was no creator. I’m not so sure, I can think of multiple scenarios where that is not the case. In the end I don’t know.

An agnostic says you can’t be sure one way or another over the existence of God.

It can’t, by definition, be a belief system, because there is no determined belief other than inability to be sure.

An atheist is absolutely certain there is no God.

Agnostics question the existence of “God.” They neither believe nor disbelieve, and can’t because the universe is such a large place, and so many things are not known about it, that “God” or a god of some sort, JUST MIGHT exist in it. Agnostics may not consider themselves Theists, but, since they can’t rule him/her out entirely, they are then still believers to a certain degree. They draw all of the same conclusions about “God” not existing, the same as Atheists, but they can’t bring themselves to draw the final conclusion, that there is no “God.”

An agnostic person does not claim to possess knowledge of the existence of god(s).

I consider myself an agnostic atheist, as it would be intellectually dishonest to claim I know there is/are no god(s), but I do not believe that there are.

@kritiper since they can’t rule him/her (god) out entirely, they are then still believers to a certain degree.

I disagree. To allow for the possibility of something is not the same as to believe in that thing. To state that is the same as stating that one is either an atheist or a believer.

Well, some people try to define it as belief that we cannot know whether God / Gawd ((R) – Judeo=Christianity) exists.

I personally much prefer my own casual use of agnosticism as “I am not sure what supernatural and/or spiritual things exist.”

As such, I used to identify mainly as agnostic but with spiritual feelings.

Now, having had more spiritual experiences, have studied more and have talked with and have come to know more and more rational people with spiritual experiences and practices, I still feel somewhat agnostic but I’d say what I don’t know and am not entirely sure about is exactly what the spiritual experiences I and others have had are, precisely.

@Strauss The question was “How do you define agnosticism?” “You” as in me. And that’s how I define it.
A true Agnostic can’t rule the existence of god out, and neither can they rule the existence of a god in. So it’s like they believe 50% of the time. Ya know, 50/50?
And that is a point I strive to make. Agnostics need to make up their mind! Either believe or don’t! There is nothing wrong with drawing the final Atheist conclusion, unless they fear going to hell for it, again making them believers of sorts.

50/50 is the wrong way to look at it. You can’t make your mind up when there is no evidence. It’s unknowable, pointless to develop belief systems about but fun to speculate.

By the dictionary. The problem I see with a lot of people is lack of arguing skill. I think debate should be mandatory in high school.

It seems normal to just yell out anything and hope it sticks.

If you say “I think blank…” You should have a cogent, logical basis for it, instead of just “When I was 23 this happened and now I don’t like cantaloupe.”

If my beliefs don’t involve your contribution or involvement in any way, don’t expect me to put effort in defending them because it’s none of your business.

I know, people act like they are entitled to a debate with you, especially christians when they find out you are a heathen.

Ain’t nobody got time for that.

I guess you can call me an agnostic atheist. I don’t believe in a creator but hey, if you can prove it to me one way or the other. I define agnosticism to mean one is open to the possibility of a creator but without definitive proof they will not believe otherwise.
Maybe possibility vs. probability, anything is possible but not always probable.

Well for me personally it means that I don’t believe in God but in case there is then hey…i’m covered.

@ucme You’re “covered?” You mean like a insurance policy? Covered against what? Surely, if believing in some “God” was so important, and the writers of the Bible had thought it was so important, wouldn’t one of the 10 Commandments (or 12 or 15 Commandments) have been, “Thou shalt believe in God?”

What, and why, is there anything to supposedly fear?

(I’m not trying to cause a major argument here, only trying to emphasize the absurdity of those who claim they are Agnostics.)

@ARE_you_kidding_me With all of the overwhelming evidence available, in whichever way one chooses to look at it, drawing a conclusion to the question shouldn’t be a problem. Right??

@kritiper Covered in the sense that i’m on the fence but will get off just before a splinter pierces my arse cheeks.

@kritiper what overwhelming evidence

@ucme You continue to search for the answer to if there is or if there isn’t, don’t you? Because if you’re not questioning, you can’t be Agnostic.

@ARE_you_kidding_me That “God” does not exist.

Define “GOD”

“god (god; often god or even god, especially in speaking with reverence of the Divine Being.) ... 1. A being of more than human attributes and powers; a deity, esp. a male deity; anything worshiped by man as a deity, ... 3. God The Supreme Being; the eternal ruler or sovereign embodiment of some aspect, attribute, or department of reality; ... a supreme being conceived as a World Soul; as, the pantheistic god. ...” -from Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, 1960 ed.

(Although I don’t think average, usual, regular people worry too much about the exact definition of what “God” we are talking about in relation to the question asked.)

No one needs to defend themselves when it comes to their beliefs, unless they are trying to press on upon others. No body is OWED an explanation why I believe or don’t or am still thinking about it. Stop asking. Stop arguing. It’s a black hole of nastiness and oneupmanship the internet could do without.

@kritiper I search for nothing, seems you do though & you won’t find it here.

@ucme My search was complete years ago. That’s why I am Atheist. And why I understand Agnosticism so very well!

I’m pretty much on the same page as you @Seek

I have always defined agnostic as one who believes that a god being is possible, but has not seen or experienced any proof of that. If I should find proof in the future then my sentiment will be the following:

If a great creator be,
Love and thanks I give to Thee,
For the gifts of humor, life,
And the chance to live it right.