AGNOSTICISM IN MODERN KAZAKHSTAN: HISTORY AND NARRATIVES

Ғылыми мақала

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the phenomenon of agnosticism in modern Kazakhstani society with an emphasis on its socio-cultural features. The theoretical part of the work covers the historical origins and philosophical foundations of agnosticism as an ideological position that differs from atheism and religious faith. Particular attention is paid to issues of self-identification, religious indifference and epistemological boundaries of knowledge about the transcendent.

Also, this paper examines agnosticism in contemporary Kazakhstan from religious and philosophical perspectives. Authors analyze the origins of agnostic views in the country, specifically in the city of Almaty, their development during the post-Soviet period, and their current perception. Agnosticism is presented as a worldview shaped by conditions of religious pluralism and globalization. The study includes an analysis of narratives, interviews, and religious-philosophical texts. Special attention is given to youth, among whom this phenomenon is especially widespread.

It is shown that agnosticism is not a rejection of faith, but a form of personal search for meaning and self-determination. The work addresses issues of religious identity, freedom of belief, and the transformation of spiritual values. Qualitative methods of analysis are employed. The findings may be useful for philosophers, theologians, and sociologists. The research also opens new perspectives for further studies in the field of religious philosophy in Kazakhstan.