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Agnosticism

Religion typically includes belief in a higher power, and many religious people believe in the existence of a god or gods. These gods are usually said to be quite powerful, influencing every aspect of human life. However, some people do not believe in the existence of higher powers, mainly because there is no evidence to support the idea. The existence of gods is a highly subjective view, which has been the center of heated debates over the years. Agnosticism sums up this belief that it is impossible to prove the existence of a god or gods; therefore, these higher powers might not exist (Le Poidevin 12). Some agnostics believe that there is no god because there is no proof, while others could be convinced if there was sufficient proof. Greek philosopher Protagoras is credited as the first agnostic, and others such as Huxley and Ingersoll support his ideas. Many other famous figures like Mark Twain, Albert Einstein, and Charles Darwin were also self-proclaimed agnostics. After learning more about the topic of agnosticism, I agree with the idea for various reasons.

The first reason why I support the idea of agnosticism is that belief in a god or gods is highly subjective. In examining people who talk about their faith in a god, their support for their beliefs is based on personal experiences. Their judgment is highly subjective and does not apply to everyone. For example, a person may believe that god is responsible for their success, while another could claim that they are successful because they worked hard. It all boils down to personal ideas. Religion is a very personal thing, and trying to convince someone that their beliefs are right or wrong will likely lead to arguments. The existence of a god or gods is a matter of personal opinion; therefore, it is difficult to prove whether god exists or not. Every individual should believe what they think is right.

The second reason why I support agnosticism is that there is little or no evidence about the existence of a god or gods (Sherkat 443). In today’s world, people want proof before they can completely agree with an idea. Unfortunately, it is difficult to prove the existence of god because no one has seen any god. There is no material evidence that can be pointed out as sure proof that god exists. People who believe in gods say that the gods have done a lot for them in life, but there are valid counterarguments for that. For example, when a person says that god exists in heaven, there should be proof of heaven’s physical location and people who have seen the gods in person. Agnostics say that there is no evidence that god exists, and I agree because I haven’t seen any evidence as well.

Another reason why I agree with agnosticism is that people manipulate the idea of a god or god to manipulate others. When I listen to religious teachers telling their followers about what god says and what he wants them to do, it is easy to see that they do this for some gain. Staunch believers can easily be manipulated by this idea of an invisible god sending them instruction. Perfect examples of this include many cultists throughout history. A person starts telling others about a god who wants them to do something, and soon, such a religious teacher wields a lot of power and influence over their followers. Most of the time, the gullible believers would go so far as to kill themselves and give up all of their possessions in the name of following god. Instead of believing some false ideas, people should seek evidence such as hearing from god in person before they make up their minds. Agnosticism is a practical view because it demands evidence over blind belief.

Works Cited

Le Poidevin, Robin. Agnosticism: A very short introduction. OUP Oxford, 2010.

Sherkat, Darren E. “Beyond belief: Atheism, agnosticism, and theistic certainty in the United States.” Sociological Spectrum 28.5 (2008): 438-459.