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Agnostic Quote by Jim Herrick

“Agnostic" is a much more recent word than "atheist", coined by Thomas Huxley in 1869 to mean "without knowledge of God" and acquiring the usage of "being doubtful about the existence of God.” quote by Jim Herrick
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“Agnostic" is a much more recent word than "atheist", coined by Thomas Huxley in 1869 to mean "without knowledge of God" and acquiring the usage of "being doubtful about the existence of God.”

Jim Herrick

About This Quote

Source Article: Dictionary of Atheism and Agnosticism, 2005

The term "agnostic" is newer than "atheist", created to describe a lack of knowledge about God's existence, emphasizing doubt rather than denial.

In simple terms: Agnostic means not knowing about God, a newer term than atheist.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the nuance between doubt and denial.

Themes

philosophy religion language history

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

definition clarification

When to use this quote

  • theological debate
  • academic writing
  • personal belief exploration

Key Concepts

epistemology semantic evolution belief systems

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does "agnostic" mean to you?
  • Why does terminology matter in belief discussions?
A Different Perspective

Agnosticism can be ambiguous; some may conflate it with atheism.

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