The word agnostic comes from agnosticism. Agnosticism is most often defined as the view that the existence of God, the divine, or the supernatural is unknown or unknowable. In other words, we can never be sure of the existence of these things, nor can we definitively deny them.
Strictly speaking, agnosticism is the philosophical doctrine stating that humans cannot know of the existence of anything outside of their own direct experience. The word was first coined in 1869 by T.H. Huxley at a meeting of the Metaphysical Society in London. Huxley, a biologist pushing forward Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, created the term as a rejection of Gnosticism, which claimed great knowledge of spiritual matters that Huxley believed humans could not possibly know.
Today, the term is used colloquially to refer to skepticism about religious subjects in general. Now that we have the background out of the way, we can explore how the word agnostic is used in modern English.
Primary Religious Meaning: Agnostic Definition
An agnostic is most often defined as a person who is skeptical about the existence of God or a god. Such a person neither believes nor disbelieves that a god exists; they simply say that they do not know, and further, they may believe that it is impossible to know.
Example: “In my youth, I always went to church because my parents made me go, but I was always agnostic, even then.”
Agnostic vs. Atheist: What is the Difference?
An agnostic is frequently confused with an atheist, but they are not the same thing:
- Agnostic: Believes that the existence of God is unknown or unknowable (“I don’t know” or “It cannot be known”).
- Atheist: Believes or asserts that God or gods do not exist (“I do not believe”).
Accepting evolution or science in general does not automatically make someone an atheist or an agnostic. For instance, renowned astrophysicist Carl Sagan described himself as an agnostic, believing that the ultimate question of God’s existence sits outside the purview of empirical science.
Broad Philosophical Meaning: Beyond Observable Phenomena
In a broader, less common philosophical sense, an agnostic refers to a person who holds the view that anything beyond natural, observable phenomena cannot be known by humans.
Under this definition, human beings can never know anything about an ultimate reality beyond the physical material universe that our senses can detect, whether that refers to the supernatural, an afterlife, or an almighty creator.
General Everyday Usage: Having a Noncommittal Attitude
In everyday conversations, to be agnostic about something means to have a doubtful, neutral, or noncommittal attitude toward a specific subject, outcome, or decision.
Note that in all cases, the word can function as both a noun and an adjective (e.g., a person is either “an agnostic” or “agnostic about” a topic).
Example: “I’m fairly agnostic about the chances we will ever abolish the electoral college.”
Modern Technology, Business, and Industry Usage
Beyond religion and philosophy, agnostic has become a hugely popular term in information technology, computing, software design, and modern business. In these fields, being “agnostic” means that a product, system, or strategy is designed to work seamlessly without being tied to a specific platform, brand, or environment.
Common modern variations include:
- Platform / Hardware Agnostic: Software that runs smoothly across different operating systems (such as Windows, macOS, and Linux) or hardware configurations.
- Vendor / Brand Agnostic: A business approach or consulting strategy that does not favor or depend on a single supplier or manufacturer.
- Device Agnostic: Web applications or digital content designed to look and function identically on smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.
- Industry Agnostic: Solutions, skills, or methodologies that apply equally well across any commercial sector (e.g., healthcare, finance, or retail).