Although I think the title sums things up pretty well, a little setup:
My roommate and I were headed home last weekend when I made a comment about being the only “agnostic pagan” anyone was likely to meet. She replied that anyone as superstitious as I am can’t possibly be agnostic, since superstition implies a belief that there is something “out there” that can “get” you if you don’t behave certain ways or follow certain rituals (throwing spilled salt over your shoulder, for example).
My response was that I could believe in karma and still not be sure whether or not there is a Divine Power that’s watching over us all, so I didn’t think the one necessarily precluded the other. (And I don’t think I’m that superstitious, but that’s a whole other thread.)
Discuss?
In my understanding, an agnostic is one who claims that it cannot be known whether or not a God exists. There are atheistic agnostics (those who believe it cannot be known whether or not a God exists, but do not believe that there is a God), and theistic agnostics (those who who believe it cannot be known whether or not a God exists, but believe that there is one).
To me, it is clear that both forms of agnosticism are compatible with many kinds of superstition. You do not have to know whether there is a God to think there is some evil magic in a black cat crossing your path, that copper bracelets have healing powers, or that horseshoes over your door drive ghosts away. Arguably the magic of a black cat or the benign/malign influences of the stars need not represent or be caused by an intelligent, conscious, omnipotent deity; therefore to believe in such superstitions requires no belief that the existence of God can be known or proven.
What he said (very nice danimal).
Well, seeing as how both of the previous replies agree with my position, I don’t have much to add. However, I would like to clarify a distinction that manu people don’t make (a distinction which Danimal hinted at). Agnosticism is an epistemological position, that is, it deals with what we can know. Atheism, theism, and superstition are ontological positions, that is, they deal with what is. Since agnosticism and superstition deal with different areas, there is no contradiction in holding both.