Difference Between Agnostic and Gnostic

Main Difference – Agnostic vs Gnostic

Agnostic and Gnostic are two words that we encounter in religion. They have completely opposite meanings. Both terms come from the same origins – from Greek gnōstos meaning known. So, both agnostic and gnostic deal with knowledge. They refer to the knowledge regarding the existence of a God. Agnostic refers to a person who believes that nothing is or can be known about the nature or existence of god. Gnostic is the opposite of this noun. Gnostic believes that the existence or nature can be known. This is the main difference between agnostic and gnostic.

Agnostic – Meaning and Usage

In a religious context, an agnostic is a person who believes that there is no way of knowing whether God exists or not. Having no way of knowing about the existence of God implies that they have seen no evidence, or proof to support the existence of god.

Many people confuse agnostic with an atheist. The difference between atheist and agnostic is that an atheist is a person who doesn’t believe in God whereas an agnostic is a person who is not sure whether God exists or not. Therefore, an agnostic is neither a disbeliever nor a believer of God.

There are two types of agnostics; atheist agnostics and theist agnostics. Atheist agnostics are people who do not believe in god and thinks that existence of God cannot be known. Theist agnostics are people who believe in God but think that existence of God cannot be known.

Agnostics can be introduced as rational or free thinkers; they are not ready to simply accept theories of divinity and divine power.

Gnostic – Meaning and Usage

Gnostic is the opposite of Agnostic. Gnostic is a person who believes that we can know whether the God exists or not. There are two types of gnostics as well. An atheist Gnostic is a person who doesn’t believe in God and believes that we can know that God doesn’t exist. A theist Gnostic is a person who believes in god and believes that the existence of God can be known.

Gnostic is also an adherent of Gnosticism. Gnosticism is the thought and practice especially of late pre-Christian and early Christian centuries characterized by the belief that matter is evil and that emancipation comes through gnosis.