Am I a “Christian Agnostic”??
Brandan Robertson on Uncertainty in Faith
It’s election week, and as significant as that is, I lack the bandwidth to say anything terribly thoughtful about it other than pointing you to previous episodes about Trump/election-related anxiety, most of which should be applicable to our current moment (listen here and here). Instead, please enjoy a reprieve from election insanity with this thoughtful, in-depth conversation with author, pastor, and speaker Brandan Robertson.
Brandan occupies a very interesting corner of modern Christianity: urban, progressive, and soaked in modern pluralism. This is our second time chatting (the first was off-mic), and I’ve really enjoyed both conversations. As you may have guessed, he has taken to describing himself as a “Christian agnostic,” and as soon I saw him embrace this label in some of his online content/sermon clips/whatever it was I can’t remember because my brain has been fried by Election Season… I was intrigued!
Despite coming from different backgrounds and serving different communities, Brandan and I both embrace a form of Christianity that acknowledges fundamental uncertainty about metaphysical claims while finding deep value in Christian practices and community. I especially resonate with Brandan's articulation of how agnosticism creates space for authentic faith rather than diminishing it. When we remove the pressure to be certain about our answers to various theological propositions, we create space for genuine exploration and wonder. He noted that his interest in agnosticism emerged partly from the embracing of “mystery” in the work of writers like Richard Rohr and Rob Bell. Looking at our evangelical backgrounds, Brandan described a mindset where, "If you would have asked 12-year-old Brandon, I swear to God I would have said I know all of the answers to all of life's questions." This kind of certainty, we agreed, often masks deeper insecurities and can prevent genuine spiritual growth.
We also agreed that agnosticism doesn't mean complete skepticism about all religious claims but honestly acknowledges the limitations of human knowledge when it comes to ultimate questions. There's a difference between saying we can know nothing about God (strong agnosticism) versus acknowledging that our knowledge is limited and provisional (a more moderate position we both seemed to favor). This approach seems to align better with actual human experience. Brandan mentioned that when he talks with non-religious people, especially in his New York City context, identifying as a "Christian agnostic" opens up conversations rather than shutting them down. People can relate to someone who says "I have faith but I also have questions" more than someone claiming absolute certainty.
I particularly appreciated how this framework allows for what I called "trying to live a Christian life in a way that would also make sense if I'm wrong about Christianity." While some might see this as hedging or lack of commitment, both Brandan and I saw it as a more honest and sustainable approach to faith — one that can weather doubts and challenges without crumbling.
By loosening our grip on certainty, we might actually find a more resilient and authentic faith that can engage honestly with both belief and doubt, tradition and innovation, knowledge and mystery.
This topic was the tip of the iceberg of our conversation, and we went on to discuss selective Christianity, religious commitment and martyrdom, trends in progressive Christianity, and how Joel Osteen is so frustratingly good at simple, repetitive religious messaging. So, am I a Christian Agnostic? I guess you’ll have to LISTEN NOW to find out… (Sorry)
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