Who are agnostics?

Agnostics are defined as individuals who claim that the existence of God, or the divine, cannot be known or has not been proven. This viewpoint is characterized by a degree of skepticism regarding religious claims about the existence of a higher power. Agnostics do not necessarily affirm or deny the existence of God; rather, they maintain that such knowledge is uncertain or unknowable.

This understanding is distinct from the other options presented. Those who deny the existence of God fall into the category of atheists, while devout believers are committed to a particular faith and claim a definitive understanding of God’s existence. Individuals who actively study religious texts may be scholars or practitioners, but this does not pertain to agnosticism, as their focus may be more on the teachings and interpretations rather than on the question of God's existence itself. Thus, the characterization of agnostics is accurately captured by the assertion that they believe God's existence cannot be known.