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[German Version] I. History of Religions – II. Philosophy of Religion – III. Practical Theology – IV. Missiology I. History of Religions The term “agnosticism” originally referred to the impossibility of attaining certain metaphysical knowledge or, with reference to transcendent questions, to gain grounded judgments. The term stems from T.H. Huxley (1869; see also II). While for Huxley, agnosticism was epistemologically justified, the use of the term today is usually motivated in a variety of ways. The Sophist Protagoras of Abdera ( On the Gods, DK 80B4), who bases the uncertainty of knowledge concerning the gods not only epistemologically, but also on the brevity of life, provides a standard example of Western agnosticism. From the history of Indian religions, the Buddha, who denied information concerning metaphysical questions (existence of a soul, continued existence of the redeemed after death) because of the danger of error, the unfathomability of objects, and their irrelevance for salvation, is usually adduced. From China, Confucius is mentioned, who rejected engagement with metaphysical questions (death, souls of the ancestors) in favor of concentrating on the practical conduct of life. – Based on the various patterns of justification, agnosticism is used in the history of religions not only for the (epistemological) impossibility of transcendent knowledge (Skepticism), but also …

[German Version] As a term in the systematic study of religion, pagandom (like Ger. Heidentum) is inappropriate, since it inherently conveys connotations of religious “otherness” and the truth of Christian theology. As a descriptive historical term, it is useful for religions of antiqu…