AGNOSTIC PIETY

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 33:18-3

Ne! Testament Reading: A"ts 1#:-3
Text: Galatians $:8-% &'o(me(l)* !+en )ou did not ,no! God* )ou !e(e in -ondage to
-eings t+at -) natu(e a(e no gods. -ut no! t+at )ou +a/e "ome to ,no! God* o( (at+e(
to -e ,no!n -) God* +o! "an )ou tu(n -a", again to t+e !ea, and -egga(l) elements*
!+ose sla/es )ou !ant to -e on"e mo(e0&
On"e t+e )oung T+omas 1en() 1uxle) 2ound +imsel2 at a loss among a g(ou3 o2 +is
2(iends: all o2 t+em +ad some so(t o2 dogmati" 3+iloso3+) !it+ a(guments at t+e (ead)
to de2end it4 All (e5oi"ed to 3la"e t+emsel/es in t(ied-6-t(ue "atego(ies7 8ut 3oo(
1uxle) did not 2eel it !as so eas) to ma,e u3 +is mind* and as a (esult +e +ad no neat
"on/i"tions no( (ead) la-el 2o( t+em7 8ut +e 2elt +e !anted to gi/e +is 3osition* su"+
as it !as* a name7 1e de"ided t+at t+e "+ie2 t+ing a-out +is /ie! !as t+at +e 2elt
,eenl) +is la", o2 ,no!ledge a-out t+e g(eat 9uestions o2 3+iloso3+) and (eligion7
Gnosis* ,no!ledge* !as !+at +e did not -oast7 1e !as de"idedl) no gnostic* t+e
an"ient la-el "laimed -) t+ose &in t+e ,no!7& So !+) not "oin a ne! te(m !it+
3(e"isel) t+e o33osite denotation0 1e "+(istened +imsel2 an agnostic7 T+e 3(e2ix &a-&
negates !+ate/e( 2ollo!s it* 5ust as an at+eist is one !+o -elie/es t+e(e is no t+eos* no
God7
:+at is t+e di22e(en"e -et!een at+eism* no! t+at I;/e mentioned it* and agnosti"ism0
In 3o3ula( usage* an agnosti" is one !+o +olds o3en t+e t+eo(eti"al 3ossi-ilit) t+at
t+e(e is a God* -ut +e o( s+e -elie/es t+e(e is no !a) o2 2inding out one !a) o( t+e
ot+e(7
T+is* 2o( !+at it;s !o(t+* is not !+at 1uxle) meant7 1e (e"ogni<ed t+at de2inition o2
agnosti"ism as sim3l) one mo(e -(and o2 dogmatism* a -elie2 t+at +e "ould not 5usti2)7
1e !as !it+out ,no!ledge on t+e ultimate 9uestions* in"luding t+e 9uestion !+et+e(
one ma) ,no! a-out God7 =a)-e )ou "an4 1e 5ust didn;t )et see +o!7 8ut +e;d -e
+a33) to listen to )ou( a(gument7
I +a/e "alled t+is se(mon &Agnosti" Piet)*& and t+at 3+(ase* !+i"+ I did not "oin*
a33eals to me -e"ause o2 its !ide (ange o2 a33li"ations7 I !ant to "onside( a 2e! o2
t+ese -(ie2l) !it+ )ou7
'i(st* as 1uxle) "laimed* agnosti"ism mig+t in and o2 itsel2 -e deemed a ,ind o2 3iet)7
Its essen"e* a2te( all* is intelle"tual +onest)7 1uxle) !a(ned t+at it !as s+ee(
immo(alit) and 2(aud to a""e3t a "on/i"tion on inade9uate e/iden"e7 You da(e not
3e(mit )ou(sel2 t+e luxu() o2 -elie/ing somet+ing 5ust -e"ause )ou li,e t+e sound o2
it* t+e im3li"ations o2 it7 You a(e de"ei/ing )ou( sel2 !+en )ou -u) t+e (eligious 3it"+
o2 some s3i(itual -a(,e( 5ust -e"ause i2 t(ue it 3(omises 3ea"e o( sal/ation7 T+e 3oint
is* +o! do )ou ,no! it;s t(ue in t+e 2i(st 3la"e0
I2 !e a33(oa"+ed !+at one !(ite( "alled t+e &s3i(itual su3e(ma(,et& !it+ su"+ a
"(iti"al attitude* !e mig+t !ind u3 !it+ a lig+te( load* an em3tie( "a(t* at t+e "+e",out*
-ut !e "ould at least 3a) 2o( !+at !e !e(e -u)ing4 >i,e 1uxle)* !e mig+t not -e a-le
to im3(ess ou( 2(iends !it+ !+at dee3 "on/i"tions !e +a/e* -ut !e !ould -e +onest4
And 1uxle) added* i2 !e a33(oa"+ -elie2 t+is !a)* !e !ill -e a-le to loo, one da)
into t+e 2a"e o2 t+e T(ut+ o( o2 God un2lin"+ingl)7 :+at else "ould a God o2 T(ut+
(e9ui(e o2 us0
T+e agnosti"* one mig+t add* is -eing not onl) intelle"tuall) +onest* -ut intelle"tuall)
+um-le as !ell7 O2 t+e P(omet+ean ,no!ledge o2 +ea/en and t+e gods +e sa)s* li,e
t+e Psalmist* &Su"+ ,no!ledge is too !onde(2ul 2o( me. it is +ig+7 I "annot attain it7&
T+at is* I !ould sa)* agnosti" 3iet)7
8ut i2 t+e agnosti" is t(ul) o3en as +e sa)s +e is* as 1uxle) said +e !as* +e !ill soone(
o( late( get a(ound to see,ing sin"e(el) a2te( t+e 3ossi-ilit) t+at God exists and
(e!a(ds t+em !+o diligentl) see, +im* as t+e :(ite( to t+e 1e-(e!s 3ut it7
Pe(+a3s t+e 3ious agnosti" !ill 3(a)* &God* i2 t+e(e is a God* +el3 me7& o( &God*
assuming )ou exist* (e/eal )ou(sel2 to me7& T+is ma) seem to )ou* C+(istian o(
agnosti"* a (at+e( anemi" 3(a)e(7 :+et+e( it is o( not* I !ill "onside( in a moment7
8ut 2i(st I must (ead )ou su(el) t+e most ela-o(ate agnosti" 3(a)e( e/e( "om3osed7 It
o""u(s in a !onde(2ul 2antas) no/el "alled C(eatu(es o2 >ig+t and ?a(,ness* -) Roge(
@ela<n)7 In it t+e(e is a "+a(a"te( !+o is a +a(dened agnosti"7 1e +as long sin"e
des3ai(ed o2 ,no!ing God7 Yet -) t(ade +e is a "+a3lain4 1e(e a(e t+e last (ites as
gi/en -) t+e agnosti" to a man a-out to die:
&Inso2a( as I ma) -e +ea(d -) an)t+ing* !+i"+ ma) o( ma) not "a(e !+at I sa)* I as,*
i2 it matte(s* t+at )ou -e 2o(gi/en 2o( an)t+ing )ou ma) +a/e done o( 2ailed to do
!+i"+ (e9ui(es 2o(gi/eness7 Con/e(sel)* i2 not 2o(gi/eness -ut somet+ing else ma) -e
(e9ui(ed to insu(e an) 3ossi-le -ene2it 2o( !+i"+ )ou ma) -e eligi-le a2te( t+e
dest(u"tion o2 )ou( -od)* I as, t+at t+is* !+ate/e( it ma) -e* -e g(anted o( !it++eld* as
t+e "ase ma) -e* in su"+ a manne( as to insu(e )ou( (e"ei/ing said -ene2it7 I as, t+is in
m) "a3a"it) as )ou( ele"ted inte(media() -et!een )ou(sel2 and t+at !+i"+ ma) not -e
)ou(sel2* -ut !+i"+ ma) +a/e an inte(est in t+e matte( o2 )ou( (e"ei/ing as mu"+ as it
is 3ossi-le 2o( )ou to (e"ei/e o2 t+is t+ing* and !+i"+ ma) in some !a) -e in2luen"ed
-) t+is "e(emon)7 Amen7&
1e(e is someone sending out a 3(a)e( as a message in a -ottle to !+om it ma)
"on"e(n4
8ut !+at o2 t+e mo(e t)3i"al agnosti";s 3(a)e(0 It ma) -e a 2ox+ole 3(a)e(. it ma) -e a
disinte(ested (e9uest o2 an in9ui(ing s3i(it !+o !ould not !ant to negle"t a God i2 a
God ma) -e ,no!n7 I +a/e said t+at su"+ a 3(a)e( ma) seem 3allid* -loodless7 I2 t+at
-e so* t+en t+e su(ging (ed -lood t+e 3(a)e( !ould la", !ould +a/e to -e 2ait+7
8ut I as,* is t+e 3(a)e( so la",ing in 2ait+ as it 2i(st seems0 No* I sa) t+e tentati/e
3(a)e( o2 t+e agnosti" "ontains t+e essential element o2 2ait+: t+e (e"ognition t+at &all
t+ings a(e 3ossi-le4&
I2 +e didn;t -elie/e t+at a God mig+t exist and mig+t deign to (e3l)* t+e agnosti"
!ould ne/e( 3(a) in t+e 2i(st 3la"e4
And +o! is an) ostensi-l) meatie( 3(a)e( t+an ou( agnosti" 3(a)s an) mo(e 3ious0 I2
it seems mo(e /entu(esome* i2 it da(es to claim t+is o( t+at 2(om God* does it not (un
t+e (is, o2 3(esum3tion0 T+en is it not less 3ious t+an t+e 3(a)e( o2 t+e agnosti"0
No! su33ose ou( 9uesting agnosti" s+ould 2ind !+at +e see,s7 Su33ose +e s+ould
3enet(ate t+e g(eat e3istemologi"al -a((ie( o2 s,e3ti"ism and "ome to -elie/e in God7
Is +e done !it+ dou-t0
?oes +e no! ,no! in t+e !a) 1uxle) denied +e ,ne!0 :ell* no* +e does not7
8e"ause 2ait+ and ,no!ledge a(e not t+e same t+ing7 :e +a/e 2ait+. !e )et la",
,no!ledge7 &:e !al, -) 2ait+* not -) sig+t*& sa)s t+e A3ostle Paul7
1e(e I t+in, o2 some !ise !o(ds -) 3s)"+ologist Go(don All3o(t* in +is little "lassi"*
T+e Indi/idual and 1is Religion: &It is "+a(a"te(isti" o2 t+e matu(e mind t+at it "an a"t
!+ole-+ea(tedl) e/en !it+out a-solute "e(taint)7 It "an -e su(e !it+out -eing
"o",su(e7 :e a(e not 3ositi/e t+at !e s+all -e ali/e tomo((o! -ut it is a good
+)3ot+esis to 3(o"eed on7 777 :+at man) un-elie/e(s do not (eali<e is t+at t+e matu(e
-elie/e(;s e)es a(e !ide o3en7 T+e latte( ,no!s t+at +e is 2inall) un"e(tain o2 +is
g(ound7 8ut +e 2eels* (easona-l) enoug+* t+at in a !o(ld !+e(e o3timisti" -ias and
2ait+ a(e la(gel) (es3onsi-le 2o( +uman a""om3lis+ment* it !ould -e sill) 2o( +im to
la3se into un3(odu"ti/e s,e3ti"ism* so long as +e +as a "+an"e o2 -eing "o((e"t7 T+e
-elie/e( is o2ten "lose( to t+e agnosti" t+an !e t+in,7 8ot+* !it+ e9ual "ando(* ma)
"on"ede t+at t+e natu(e o2 8eing "annot -e ,no!n. -ut t+e -elie/e(* -an,ing on a
3(o-a-ilit)* slig+t t+oug+ +e ma) deem it to -e* 2inds t+at t+e ene(g) engende(ed and
t+e /alues "onse(/ed 3(o/e t+e su3e(io(it) o2 a22i(mation o/e( inde"isi/eness7&
You see* 1uxle)* t+at mode(n ?iogenes loo,ing 2o( an +onest (eligious 3e(son* is
-eing 3aid +is de-t +e(e7 8e"ause t+e -elie/e(* as All3o(t 3aints +im* is not
dogmati<ing7 Rat+e( +e is 3u(suing a !o(,ing +)3ot+esis* !+i"+ seems mo(e and
mo(e to 3(o/e itsel2 3(agmati"all)7 8ut +e admits it is a !age(7 It is !+at Tilli"+ "alls
t+e existential (is, o2 2ait+7 It ma) -e t+at )ou +a/e sta,ed all on !+at !ill 3(o/e to -e
an illusion* -ut unless )ou sta,e all on somet+ing* )ou( existen"e !ill ne/e( -e
aut+enti"ated7 >i2e 2o( )ou !ill -e me(el) t+e o-5e"t o2 t+e deta"+ed s"(utin) o2 t+e
-utte(2l) "olle"to(7
8ut t+e ines"a3a-ilit) o2 dou-t is not t+e onl) (eason t+at all 3iet) must -e in t+e end
agnosti" 3iet)7 A mo(e 3(o2ound (eason is t+at t+e God !e see, is T+eos agnostos7
E/en a2te( Paul on t+e A(eo3agus and t!ent) "entu(ies; !o(t+ o2 t+eologians +a/e +ad
t+ei( sa)* God* t+e (eal God* t+e God -e)ond t+e God-"onst(u"ts o2 Sunda) S"+ool* is
still t+e An,no!n God* a God 2inall) un,no!a-le7 &I 2ound an alta( !it+ t+is
ins"(i3tion* ;To an un,no!n god7; :+at t+e(e2o(e )ou !o(s+i3 as un,no!n* t+is I
3(o"laim to )ou7&
8ut on"e 3(o"laimed +e does not -e"ome an) less un,no!n7 'o( God is no me(e
3(o-lem t+at mig+t -e sol/ed !it+ enoug+ ingenuit)* li,e t+e 3(o-lem o2 s3a"e 2lig+t7
No* God is a =)ste()* !+i"+ ma) indeed -e (e/ealed -- indeed Besus C+(ist (e/eals
+im -- -ut !+o is (e/ealed 3(e"isel) as a =)ste()7 And t+e o/e(!+elming g(eatness o2
it is !+at nou(is+es t+e soul7 &Immo(tal* in/isi-le* God onl) !ise4 In lig+t
ina""essi-le* +id 2(om ou( e)es4&
?ion)sius t+e A(eo3agite "alled +im di/ine da(,ness* =eiste( E",+a(t a dese(t
in+os3ita-le7 Cal/in !a(ned t+at !e "an ,no! o2 God onl) !+at +e (e/eals to us7
S"+leie(ma"+e(* "alled -) s"+ola(s an &agnosti" 3ietist*& ag(eed !e "an ,no! not+ing
o2 God +imsel2 -ut "an onl) in2e( +is li,eness 2(om ou( (eligious ex3e(ien"e o2 +im7
:e "all +im "(eato( not -e"ause !e !e(e 3(esent at time;s da!n and sa! +im "(eating7
:e !e(e t+e(e no mo(e t+an Bo-7 Rat+e( !e "all God "(eato( -e"ause !e sense t+at
!e* li,e all t+ings* a(e a-solutel) de3endant u3on +im in e/e() moment7
T+e(e +a/e -een m)sti"s and 3neumati"s in e/e() age !+o* li,e t+e A3ostle Paul*
"laimed to +a/e t+e /e() mind o2 C+(ist* to +a/e 3enet(ated e/en unto t+e ?ee3
T+ings o2 God4 I !ill not -e so -old. I !ill ne/e( attain su"+ a +eig+t on t+e da(,
summit o2 Sinai7
8ut 2(om m) 3e("+ do!n -elo! I testi2) t+at t+e -est t+eolog) is t+e most modest7
T+e -est t+eolog) is t+e one t+at at least (e2uses to "a(i"atu(e God* to ma,e +im into a
3oo( idol* -) sa)ing un!o(t+) t+ings a-out +im4
1a/e )ou e/e( noti"ed +o! t+e g(eat "(eedal statements a-out God and +is C+(ist
"ontain at least as man) negations as a22i(mations0 :e ma) not ,no! !+at God is* -ut
!e !ill -e "lose( to t+e ma(, i2 !e do not imagine +im to -e* 2o( exam3le* -ound -)
time7
T+us !e a22i(m* o( (at+e( !e negate* sa)ing t+at God is ete(nal* t+at is atem3o(al7 :e
,no! at least t+at +e is not going to 3e(is+* so !e sa) +e is immo(tal7 :e "an -e 3(ett)
su(e t+at !+ate/e( else ma) -e t(ue o2 +im* +e is not de3endent on us 2o( an)t+ing* so
!e s3ea, o2 +is aseit)7 :e "annot ,no! t+e m)ste() o2 t+e In"a(nation* -ut !e "an at
least (eason t+at it did not entail t+e "on2usion o2 di/ine and +uman* o( t+e o-lite(ation
o2 eit+e( natu(e -) t+e ot+e(7 8ut !e a(e in dee3 !ate( e/en in ou( negations7 >et;s go
-a", to s+o(e7
Paul sa)s t+at t+e Galatians !e(e on"e in -ondage to -eings t+at !e(e not t(ue gods at
all7 In mode(n te(ms !e mig+t sa) t+e) !e(e la-o(ing unde( "e(tain delusions a-out
God7 One o2 t+ese mig+t -e t+at God is a ste(n tas,maste( !+o does not lo/e )ou* and
!+om )ou must a33ease7 8ut Paul sa)s !it+ a note o2 (elie2 t+at t+e) +a/e gone 3ast
t+at no!* to !+at All3o(t !ould "all a mo(e matu(e (eligious sentiment7 1a/ing
g(aduated 2(om t+ese "+ildis+ misa33(e+ensions a-out God* t+e) no! ,no! -ette(7
T+e) ,no! God7
8ut t+en Paul 3auses to (et(a"t !+at +e +as 5ust said* at least to modi2) it7 On se"ond
t+oug+t* t+e) +a/e "ome not so mu"+ to ,no! God as to -e ,no!n -) +im4 T+at is as
i2 to sa) t+at !+at !e "asuall) "all ,no!ing God is (eall) a matte( o2 -eing t+e o-5e"t
o2 +is ,no!ledge7 And !+) is t+is0 8e"ause God* -eing in2inite* "an ne/e( -e t+e
o-5e"t o2 )ou( ,no!ledge at all7 Onl) 2inite t+ings and limited "on"e3ts "an -e t+e
o-5e"t o2 ,no!ledge* "an -e g(as3ed and "om3(e+ended -) t+e +uman mind7
So )ou "annot ,no! God4 8ut God "an ,no! )ou4 God is al!a)s I* ne/e( it7 1e is
al!a)s t+e su-5e"t o2 ,no!ledge* t+e ,no!e(* ne/e( t+e o-5e"t o2 ,no!ledge7 Psalm
%C sa)s !e a(e no mo(e su-stantial t+an a d(eam !+en one a!a,es* a 3+antom in t+e
mind o2 God7
T+is is !+) (eligious ex3e(ien"e need not !ait u3on t+eolog)7 You do not need to -e
a-le to 2igu(e God out -e2o(e )ou "an -less and 3(aise +im7 8e"ause )ou "an ne/e(
2igu(e +im out at all4 1e is not an o-5e"t o2 )ou( ,no!ledge and ne/e( "an -e4 8ut )ou
"an (e"ei/e t+e gi2ts o2 God in g(ate2ul and +um-le 3assi/it)* -e"ause )ou a(e t+e
o-5e"t4
A(e +is !a)s* +is 3(o/iden"e* a m)ste() to )ou0 T+at;s as it s+ould -e4 Anless )ou
)ou(sel2 a(e God4 1e is not t+e o-5e"t o2 )ou( ,no!ledge* -ut )ou a(e t+e o-5e"t o2 +is
g(a"e4
1e(e is a 3assage 2(om Paul Tilli"+ t+at I +a/e (ead -e2o(e* mo(e t+an on"e7 I am
assuming it is not altoget+e( un2amilia( to )ou7 8ut I !ant to use it to illust(ate !+at I
mean t+is mo(ning7 DPaul Tilli"+* T+e S+a,ing o2 t+e 'oundations* 337 1E1-1E3F 1e
des"(i-es t+e a33ea(an"e o2 g(a"e to t+e need) soul7 1e st(esses t+at to a""e3t it one
+a(dl) need ,no! aug+t o2 !+en"e it "ame7 You need not t(ou-le )ou(sel2 as to t+e
natu(e o2 t+e God o2 g(a"e* o( !+et+e( )ou dese(/e it* o( on !+at -asis it "omes to
)ou7 T+e sou("e o2 t+is g(a"e* !+et+e( God o( )ou( su-"ons"ious Gas i2 one !e(e not
t+e doo( to t+e ot+e(4H is not a/aila-le to )ou as an o-5e"t o2 ,no!ledge7 8ut )ou a(e
a/aila-le to it* to +im* as t+e o-5e"t o2 +is lo/e4 A"t t+e 3a(t o2 an o-5e"t* !on;t )ou0
Sim3l) a""e3t it7
Ro-e(t =7 P(i"e* 1%%17