While the separate terms agnostic and Christian have a well-defined context in Western history, philosophy, and theology, the concept of “Agnostic Christian” is a relatively new idea. This expression juxtaposes two seemingly contradictory ideas, but with an ironic force that is intended to focus attention, in a critically postmodern way, on each term in a play of meaning and thought.

Defining The Term

The terms 'Chistian Agnostic' and 'Agnostic Christian', are poorly defined, but involve the idea of doubt and unsettledness within or against the context of a Christianity-based faith framework. The lack of clarity precludes an absolute definition.

Some basic observations still can be made about the term’s use and the positions of those using it. People calling themselves Agnostic Christians or using the expression to describe a faith position share some common sentiments. While this list is not exhaustive, some or all items may apply to those using the term Agnostic Christian, or to thinkers sharing similar insights:

A reaction against many claims by religious fundamentalists regarding knowledge of a fixed or final “Truth.”

A belief that religious values and human experience should inform each other and progress together. The Agnostic Christian thinker is wary of the strict fundamentalists who force experience into an ideology or system – who force “life” to fit theology.

A respect for and tolerance of a variety of faith traditions and philosophical positions.

A suspension of belief that the human mind can know, beyond doubt, that there is One final and fixed Truth in the universe. This position is independent of whether a fixed Truth exists or not, but rather a comment on our ability to know if such a truth exists beyond doubt. A more formal expression is “epistemological humility.”

A general liberal position on social, cultural, political, and religious issues.

A sincere belief that the Christian tradition has value and benefit, but that a critical look at the history of Christianity is needed to move forward. The violence and gray areas of the faith should not be glossed over and various traditions within Christianity need to admit past sins and myriad transgressions, such as abuses during the Crusades and Reformation.

A position that truth, or God, is in process and not fixed in time. That is, truth is not settled, like an eternal law, but progresses as our consciousnesses progress. Truth, or God, grows with the cosmos.

A focus on Christ’s humanity, and all this implies, is important. Some traditions focus more on salvation theology and the Godliness of Christ, but the Agnostic Christian will talk a lot about the humanity of Christ.

A desire to reconnect with Christ’s known teachings about compassion and love while doubting a faith in fixed dogma.

A respect for the power of doubt and its proper place in one’s personal faith journey.

Some agnostic Christians are more extreme, or aggressively and philosophically critical than others. Along with the above seven positions, others could be added that mark off the more extreme cases:

A belief that there is a difference between “God” and God. That is, that what is said about the God of literature/the Bible could be quite different than what may or may not be said about a transcendent Being, if one exists.

A belief that the God of the Bible is perhaps fallen, or imperfect, and, via Christ, knows sin in a most existential way – from the inside out.

A postmodern sense of “carnival,” or extreme play, about what is traditionally thought of as Christianity. The use of critical irony is a mark of this type of Agnostic Christian.

See also

Agnostic Theism

Agnosticism

Atheism

Belief

Deism

Doubt: Philosophy and ethics

Epistemology: Belief

Existence of God: Agnosticism

Faith

Fideism

Knowledge

Sola fide

Theism

Truth

Further reading

Miles, J. Scholarship in God: A Biography and Christ: A Crisis in the Life of God

External links

An article about Christian agnosticism

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