An agnostic is defined as a person who is unsure about whether or not a deity exists. They tend to be “on the fence” about spiritual matters and are open to evidence for the existence of God and against the existence of God. Agnostic Christianity is a growing school of thought, though, so I figured that it would be a good time to address the topic. So, what exactly is an agnostic Christian?
An agnostic Christian is an agnostic who still practices aspects of the Christian faith. Although they go through the motions, may attend church, pray, and call themselves Christians, they remain unsure or unconvinced about the existence of God. While they do believe in the existence of Jesus Christ, they often believe that Jesus wasn’t a holy person or the Son of God.
In today’s post, I’m going to start by breaking down the beliefs held by agnostics and Christians. Then, I’m going to address some of the most common questions relating to agnostic Christianity, how it differs from agnostic atheism, and where agnostic Christians practice their religion. Hopefully, I’m able to give you a broader perspective and understanding on the matter.
Everything You Need To Know About Agnostic Christianity
With nearly 2.4 billion followers, Christianity is the world’s largest religion. That accounts for about 31% of the world’s population! Although Jesus lived and taught over 2,000 years ago, the Christian church did not come about as we know it until well after his death, when his apostles and followers traveled throughout the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, spreading Jesus’ teachings.
The catholic church was founded around 100 years after Jesus’ death. Since Christianity was spreading so rapidly, the early leaders of the religion believed that having a central organization to govern the religion, ordination of ministers, etc., was vital if Christianity was going to spread further. Those of you wondering where the term catholic comes from means “together” or “unified” in early Latin. So, the Catholic Church literally translates to “The Unified Church.”
Agnosticism is a school of thought that has always been around. For as long as humans have believed in God(s) and/or religion, there have always been those who doubt whether or not it’s all real or not. After all, it’s human nature to doubt almost everything. Just look at how many conspiracy theorists there are in our own government!
By definition, an agnostic atheist is a person who practices Christianity but who lacks complete faith in the existence of God or doubts that Jesus was God’s Son. Many agnostic Christians grew up going to church or grew up in Christian households. They may still attend church and participate in religious ceremonies such as Communion, Baptism, and others.
Now that we’ve cleared up some of the history around agnostic Christianity let’s take a more detailed look at what both Christians and agnostics believe so that you can get a better understanding of how these two thought patterns converge.
What Do Christians Believe?
There are many different sects and denominations of Christianity, including:
- Catholicism
- Baptist
- Presbyterian
- Episcopal
- … and many others…
Despite the many denominations of Christianity, though, almost all Christians share a similar core belief that holds the faith together. This is the belief that Jesus Christ was (and is) the eternal Son of God who was placed on this earth to die for humanity’s sins and give true believers a path to salvation and heaven.
Some denominations choose to speak on the more loving and compassionate acts of Jesus, while others prefer the “fire and brimstone” method of preaching. Most churches try their best to balance the Old Testament views of an “angry God” with the New Testament views of a “loving God.”
Christians believe that their faith in God, good works, and salvation through Jesus will allow them to go to heaven after they die, where they can live in eternal peace and happiness.
What Do Agnostics Believe?
Agnostics are simply those who doubt the existence of God. They often question the idea of organized religion and tend to be more accepting of other religions and schools of thought. Despite their lack of complete faith, though, many agnostics are spiritual. They still pray, may believe in the alternative “New Age” spirituality, or believe in the idea of a higher self.
What’s The Difference Between Agnostic Atheism And Agnostic Christianity?
The two most prevailing forms of agnosticism are agnostic Christianity and agnostic atheism. Although they may sound a bit similar, they actually differ from each other in one key area. Namely- their attitude towards God.
Agnostic atheists are more convinced that God does not exist and tend to lean more strongly towards atheism. In fact, atheism is likely their go-to choice of terminology if someone were to ask them what they believed. However, despite their opposition to the idea of God, most agnostic atheists are still open to being convinced otherwise.
On the other hand, agnostic Christians are more convinced that God probably exists, but they aren’t completely sure. Many agnostic Christians take the stance of Deism or Humanism, believing that even if a God exists, our human life on earth is more important. They believe that we should focus on humanity before concentrating on ideas of God and religion.
Do Agnostics Pray To God?
Yes! Many agnostics do pray to God or Jesus. Many also regularly attend church services. You’ll find that a majority of agnostic Christians are actively searching for the knowledge that could convince them that God does, in fact, exist.
Do Agnostics Believe In Jesus Christ?
Most agnostic Christians do believe that Jesus was a real person and do their best to follow Jesus’ teachings on morality and how a Christian should live their lives. However, many agnostic Christians doubt the divinity of Jesus. They tend to view Jesus as a teacher or a moral compass, not as God in the flesh.