Agnosticism as a transient state before atheism
(2023) International Association for the Psychology of Religion Conference — Location: Groningen, The Nethermands
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- Authors
Karim, Moïse 
- Abstract
- Recent research shows that, among nonbelievers, agnostics are a distinct from atheists category in terms of personality, cognition, worldviews, and existential attitudes. This work addresses a further question: does agnosticism constitute a transient convictional status before atheism? Using EVS data from 17 Western European countries, we investigated this question both cross-sectionally (EVS 2017) and across three cohorts (EVS 1999 to 2017). Cross-sectionally, in more secular societies, the proportion of atheists among nonbelievers is higher—and agnostics’ one lower. From 1999 to 2017, in most countries, the proportion of agnostics among nonbelievers decreased—and inversely the one of atheists increased, a pattern that followed secularization. Nevertheless, the proportion of agnostics remain important. These findings suggest that the more secularism/nonbelief becomes socially normative, more people become or “come out” as clear atheists. Agnosticism seems partly a transient convictional status between religious faith and atheism and partly a sui-generis category.
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Citations
Saroglou, V., & Karim, M. (2023). Agnosticism as a transient state before atheism. International Association for the Psychology of Religion Conference, Groningen, The Nethermands. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/241408