What Is Agnosticism?Agnosticism is the idea that the supernatural or divine is unknown, if not unknowable. After the enlightenment, which privileged reason and scientific method, provided the context for a selected species of agnosticism. It will not be that there have been no agnostics prior to the enlightenment though the term “agnostic” began to indicate a system of belief post-enlightenment. Throughout history, humans have often recognized the mysterious nature of the divine realm. Post-enlightenment, nonetheless, agnosticism became more closely related to the human inability to offer rational grounds for belief. Defining agnosticism by way of rational or mental grounding, then, is a comparatively recent phenomenon.Agnosticism will not be necessarily related to either belief or disbelief within the divine. Some agnostics may live “as if” a selected kind of god exists while acknowledging that they don’t know the divine. It is feasible, then, to search out agnostic theists who imagine within the existence of some higher power (maybe even practicing a particular religion) though they imagine knowing the divine is unattainable. Other agnostics are atheists living as if there isn’t any higher power. As such, it could be best to know agnosticism as a posture or orientation that shapes one’s expression in regards to the existence of the divine. Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/PhotoAlto/EricAudras