RPE - Agnosticism
Agnosticism set
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What is agnosticism?
The view that we cannot know for certain whether God exists
What is an agnostic?
A person who believes that the existence of God is unknown o…
What is theism?
Belief in one or more gods
What is atheism?
Lack of belief in any god or gods
What is the difference between atheism and agnosticism?
Atheism is about belief
Can someone be both agnostic and atheist?
Yes
Can someone be both agnostic and theist?
Yes
What is agnostic atheism?
Not believing in God while accepting that God's existence ca…
What is agnostic theism?
Believing in God while accepting that God's existence cannot…
Why might someone be agnostic?
They may think there is not enough evidence to know whether …
What is evidence?
Information or reasons used to support a claim
What is the burden of proof?
The idea that the person making a claim should provide evide…
How might the burden of proof relate to agnosticism?
An agnostic may say there is not enough evidence to reach a …
What is knowledge?
Information or understanding that is believed to be true and…
What is belief?
Accepting something as true without necessarily having compl…
What is uncertainty?
Not being completely sure about something
Why might an agnostic question religious arguments?
They may believe the evidence is not conclusive
What is the cosmological argument?
The argument that the universe requires a first cause or exp…
What is the design argument?
The argument that order and complexity in the universe sugge…
What is the argument from religious experience?
The argument that people's experiences of God provide eviden…
Why might an agnostic question religious experiences?
They may believe these experiences could have natural or psy…
What is the problem of evil?
The question of how evil and suffering can exist if God is a…
Why might the problem of evil make someone uncertain about God?
They may struggle to reconcile suffering with belief in an a…
What is natural evil?
Suffering caused by natural events such as earthquakes and d…
What is moral evil?
Suffering caused by human actions
What is the free will defence?
The idea that God allows humans to have free choices
What is science?
A method of investigating the natural world using evidence a…
Can science prove that God exists?
Science generally cannot prove supernatural claims
Can science prove that God does not exist?
Science generally cannot prove that a supernatural God does …
What is agnostic uncertainty?
Accepting that there may not be enough evidence to know whet…
Can an agnostic still follow a religion?
Yes
Can an agnostic have moral beliefs?
Yes
What is secularism?
The separation of religious institutions from government
What is humanism?
A worldview that focuses on human wellbeing
How is humanism different from agnosticism?
Humanism is a wider worldview
What is an agnostic view of the afterlife?
An agnostic may say there is not enough evidence to know wha…
What is an agnostic view of miracles?
An agnostic may remain uncertain and ask for evidence
What is an agnostic view of prayer?
An agnostic may be uncertain whether prayer communicates wit…
What is an agnostic view of religious scriptures?
They may see them as important religious texts but question …
Why might an agnostic value open-mindedness?
It allows them to consider different explanations without cl…
What does 'agnostic' literally relate to?
Not knowing
What is the difference between certainty and probability?
Certainty means being completely sure
Why might an agnostic avoid saying 'God definitely exists'?
They believe there is not enough evidence for certainty
Why might an agnostic avoid saying 'God definitely does not exist'?
They believe God's non-existence cannot be known with certai…
What is philosophical scepticism?
Questioning whether claims can be known with certainty
How can philosophical scepticism relate to agnosticism?
Both can involve questioning whether certain knowledge is po…
Who was Thomas Henry Huxley?
A nineteenth-century thinker who popularised the term agnost…
What does an agnostic believe about the existence of God?
They may believe it is unknown or cannot currently be known …
Is agnosticism a religion?
No
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