What Is the Agnostic Worldview, and How Is it Different from Atheism?
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“I wouldn’t call myself an atheist. I’m more of an agnostic.”
“So does that mean you believe in God?”
“. . . Maybe?”
What is an agnostic, exactly? If agnostics aren’t atheists, does that mean they believe in God? How should Christians approach witnessing to an agnostic? Are there different kinds of agnostics within agnosticism?
That’s a lot of questions to tackle, so let’s start from the top.
Do Agnostics Believe in God?
Agnosticism’s defining belief is that it doesn’t have a belief about God. Perhaps he’s out there, but perhaps he isn’t—an agnostic doesn’t know enough yet to decide.
So does that mean agnostics are more or less atheists? What’s the difference between believing God doesn’t exist and believing there isn’t enough evidence to decide?
What Is the Difference between Agnosticism and Atheism?
Atheists are convinced that God doesn’t exist. Many want to convince others of this as well, so much so that some may ridicule believers. Richard Dawkins, Lawrence Krauss, Stephan Hawking, and Sam Harris are some famous examples. Atheism is adamant that God isn’t real (Dawkins, for instance, would consider himself 98.6 percent certain that God doesn’t exist). Many atheists believe Christianity is not only false, but harmful—and they’re quite vocal about it, writing books, engaging in debates and interviews, and even protesting.
In contrast, many agnostics embrace uncertainty, either because they’re still in the process of sorting out evidence, or they don’t believe it’s possible to prove either way, or they don’t care enough to know. There’s a wide spectrum of reasoning within agnosticism, and it varies from person to person. Here are some examples to chew on:
“I do not consider it an insult, but rather a compliment to be called an agnostic. I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure—that is all that agnosticism means.” – Clarence Darrow
“I love the idea of God, but it’s not stylistically in keeping with the way I function. I would describe myself as an enthusiastic agnostic who would be happy to be shown that there is a God.” – Carrie Fisher
“I don’t believe in heaven and hell. I don’t know if I believe in God. All I know is that as an individual, I won’t allow this life—the only thing I know to exist—to be wasted.” – George Clooney
“I began asking, 'How can we know Christianity is true?' Sadly, none of the adults in my life offered an answer. Eventually, I decided Christianity must not have any answers, and I became an agnostic.” – Nancy Pearcey
“I think of myself as a positive agnostic. I don't know, therefore I'm open. I don't know, therefore I'm interested.” – Grace Slick
As you can gather from these examples, the majority of agnostics view their belief as a personal opinion. Odds are you’ll never run into an agnostic evangelist!
So, if agnostics are less vocal about their beliefs, does that mean they’re easier to witness to?
How Do You Witness to an Agnostic?
When it comes to apologetics and evangelism, atheists take the limelight. It seems more dramatic when someone directly opposed to God’s existence comes to faith. But while atheists make up 4% of the U.S. population, agnostics make up 5 percent—and many of them may be receptive to the Gospel.
Agnosticism is defined by its uncertainty about beliefs, and the reasons for that uncertainty are very individualized. One agnostic might question whether the Bible is historically accurate. Another might question why a good God would allow death and suffering in the world. Yet another might distrust “organized religion.” Many agnostics have all these questions and more.
It’s impossible to address all the possible reasons for agnosticism in a short article. However, here are three helpful things to consider while witnessing to an agnostic.
Do They Feel a Sense of Urgency?
Some agnostics used to be believers (or used to be atheists) and are going through a searching period of reconsidering what they believe. These agnostics are in transition, and they are actively trying to find a new “home” of belief. Some of these have a sense of urgency and are hungry for truth. Others are willing to take their time, and figure they’ll sort it out…eventually.
Other agnostics believe God’s existence cannot be objectively proven or disproven. These agnostics are grounded in their agnosticism and comfortable in that uncertainty. They don’t see any possibility of that belief changing, since there isn’t any evidence that could change it.
Still, other agnostics believe that, while it might be possible to prove or disprove God’s existence, finding the truth isn’t really a priority for them. If God exists, they figure he’s chill enough to just let them live life how they want.
These different types of agnostics often overlap, and they aren’t always clear-cut, but they highlight a common problem within agnosticism: a lack of urgency.
If God truly is a perfectly good and all-powerful God who cares about us at a personal level, doesn’t that change everything? Doesn’t that mean there is a grander purpose in life than “do what you want”? Doesn’t that mean we’re preparing for eternity? If there is a possibility that you’re throwing away eternal joy, do you really want to bet against God’s existence?
Until an agnostic recognizes the stakes of their belief or lack thereof, they may never make a choice—which is, in itself, a choice. We can’t sit on the fence in eternity.
Why Do They Doubt?
Some agnostics are like Nancy Pearcey. They’re deep thinkers with tough questions, and most Christians they know are unable to give strong answers. That causes the agnostic to doubt the Bible, Christianity, and ultimately God.
Apologetics are incredibly valuable in reaching agnostics. There are excellent books, articles, sermons, and even podcasts about the reliability of Scripture, the scientific evidence for the Creator, the intricacies of theology, the meaning of the Christian life, and more. In fact, it was the work of thoughtful apologists (such as C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton) that led Nancy Pearcey back to faith in Christ.
However, “debating” with an agnostic isn’t always the solution—or even particularly helpful—in bringing that agnostic to Christ. Some agnostics will continue to raise argument after argument, no matter how obscure, to question God’s existence. That’s because no matter how many barriers break down in their minds, their hearts remain closed to the Gospel.
Is the Heart Open?
Agnostics vary widely in why they are uncertain about God, and it’s always wise to ask questions and hear why someone believes what they believe. This is as much about understanding where someone’s heart is as where their logic is.
Evangelism isn’t simply about logically persuading people God exists and he should be obeyed. Evangelism is about helping people recognize how much they need God and how much he loves them. It’s about opening their hearts. And sometimes, those hearts have scars blocking the way.
Many agnostics have experienced hurt at the hands of Christians—e.g., through a “Christian” family member who twisted Scripture to justify abuse or a toxic church filled with gossip and hypocrisy. Some agnostics associate Christians more with divisive political figures than with Christ. Still, others have experienced a great deal of evil and loss, and can’t bring themselves to trust a God who would allow that.
These are not walls that can be broken down with a logical argument. These are walls that can only be opened with Christ’s love. And if there is an agnostic in your life, then you’ve been given an opportunity to show them that love in action.
Witnessing through love cannot be faked. If you view someone as a “project” or a spiritual achievement to unlock, they will notice. But if you show genuine care for them in all areas of their life, they will be more open to hearing how you genuinely care about their relationship with God. Such witnessing usually isn’t a one-and-done conversation. In fact, it often requires a lot of conversations—including conversations between you and God.
No argument or act of kindness is enough to bring someone’s heart to God. Such witnessing prepares the way, but only the Holy Spirit can lead someone through that final step. So pray with patience. Pray for wisdom. Pray for good soil in the heart. And take comfort: the Spirit’s work is evidence like no other.
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