Agnosticism
Agnosticism comes from two Greek words (a, “no”; gnosis, “knowledge”).
AGNOSTICISM Generally refers to the point of view that remaining noncommittal is preferable on questions where certainty is unattainable. Agnosticism is commonly included as one of the possible beliefs people may hold with reference to the existence of God or gods. For example, atheism refers to the denial of the existence of God or gods. Polytheism indicates belief in a plurality of gods. Pantheism refers to the belief that God and the universe are one. In this context, agnosticism refers to the view that there is not enough evidence to be certain whether or not God exists, so the best option is to suspend judgment and not commit to either the existence or nonexistence of God. This indifferent attitude is sometimes called “practical atheism.”
Agnostic (An). A term invented by Prof. Huxley in 1885 to indicate the mental attitude of those who withhold their assent to whatever is incapable of proof, such as the absolute. In regard to miracles and revelation, agnostics neither dogmatically accept nor reject such matters, but simply say Agnosco—I do not know—they are not capable of proof.
Agnosticism has always been an element in theology which wishes to observe the limits of divine revelation and to eschew speculation, and to recognize that talk of God contains analogical elements.
Universalism is the belief that everyone eventually will be saved.
It was first proposed by the unorthodox church Father, Origen (ca. 185–ca. 254). Origen and universalism in general were condemned as unorthodox at the Fifth Ecumenical Council of Constantinople (A.D. 553). The theology of universalism should be distinguished from the Universalist Church, an extreme anticreedal movement born in colonial America whose rejection of historic Christianity extended far beyond the doctrine of universalism itself. This group was a force in the liberal theologies of nineteenth-century North America and continues to the present.
One of the most influential twentieth-century theologians to embrace universalism was Karl Barth (1886–1968). Philosopher John Hick is a contemporary proponent of the view (see Hick). A small number of otherwise evangelical theologians, such as Clark Pinnock and John Stott, have embraced forms of universalism and/or annihilationism. Most liberal theologians and cults hold to some form of universalism or its cousin, annihilationism, the view that persons who cannot qualify for heaven simply go out of existence. The common principle throughout universalist and annihilationist theologies is that there is no eternal punishment.
