The problem is that the term “atheist” has a rich history as a pejorative. Atheists were not looked on kindly. Most people who were actually willing to brand themselves with a pejorative were probably quite antireligious. People who weren’t antireligious weren’t willing to brand themselves with a pejorative, so they co-opted the word “agnostic” and used it to describe them.
I know a number of atheists who call themselves agnostics, and it’s clear to me that the only reason is that they have a negative view of what an athiest is and do not want to associate themselves with Hitchens-like antireligiousity.
In the case of your hypothetical woman, wouldn’t it follow that someone who is not 100% sure that they have chosen the right religion is also “agnostic?” Many people have some serious problems understanding the importance (or lack thereof) of certainty in belief systems.
The problem is that the term “atheist” has a rich history as a pejorative. Atheists were not looked on kindly. Most people who were actually willing to brand themselves with a pejorative were probably quite antireligious. People who weren’t antireligious weren’t willing to brand themselves with a pejorative, so they co-opted the word “agnostic” and used it to describe them.
I know a number of atheists who call themselves agnostics, and it’s clear to me that the only reason is that they have a negative view of what an athiest is and do not want to associate themselves with Hitchens-like antireligiousity.
In the case of your hypothetical woman, wouldn’t it follow that someone who is not 100% sure that they have chosen the right religion is also “agnostic?” Many people have some serious problems understanding the importance (or lack thereof) of certainty in belief systems.