Differences between Agnostic and Atheist
Agnostic vs. Atheist
Agnosticism and atheism both address the belief in a God or deities, but they are distinct concepts. Atheism pertains to belief, while agnosticism pertains to knowledge.[1][2] An atheist does not believe in a god or gods.[3] An agnostic, on the other hand, asserts that the existence of any divine being is unknown or fundamentally unknowable.[4][5] The terms are not mutually exclusive; a person can be an agnostic atheist, lacking belief in a god while also holding that the existence of one is unknowable.
The term "atheist" originates from the Greek *atheos*, meaning "without gods," and has been used since the 16th century. It signifies a lack of belief in any deities. The word "agnostic" was introduced by biologist Thomas Henry Huxley in 1869.[4][5] It is derived from the Greek *agnōstos*, meaning "unknowable," to describe a position of not claiming to know about matters for which there is no scientific evidence, including the existence of a god. Huxley considered agnosticism a method of inquiry based on evidence rather than a creed. [4]
Comparison Table
| Category | Agnostic | Atheist |
|---|---|---|
| Core Principle | The existence of God is unknown or unknowable. [4] | Disbelief in the existence of any deities. |
| Etymology | From Greek *agnōstos* ("unknowable"). | From Greek *atheos* ("without god"). |
| Central Question | [2]| Addresses what is believed. | |
| Stance on God's Existence | Does not make a definitive claim about existence or non-existence. | A rejection of the belief that any deities exist. |
| Overlap | Can be an agnostic theist (believes but doesn't claim to know) or an agnostic atheist (doesn't believe and doesn't claim to know). | An atheist can also be agnostic, lacking belief without claiming absolute knowledge. |
A common misconception is that agnosticism is an intermediate position between theism and atheism. However, the two terms address different aspects of belief. Atheism is about the lack of belief, whereas agnosticism is about the limits of knowledge. Therefore,[1] an individual can be an agnostic atheist, meaning they do not believe in a god and also maintain that the existence of such a being cannot be definitively known. Conversely, an agnostic theist believes in God but admits that this belief cannot be proven with certainty.
Arguments for atheism often include the lack of empirical evidence for deities, the problem of evil, and inconsistencies in religious texts. Agnosticism, as formulated by Huxley, is rooted in the principle of not claiming certainty on matters that are not demonstrably proven.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "youtube.com". Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "study.com". Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ↑ "dictionary.com". Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "wikipedia.org". Retrieved December 15, 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "ebsco.com". Retrieved December 15, 2025.
