Agnostics who accept God’s supposed love experience greater well-being

Contemporary philosophers have routinely claimed that agnostics, who lack belief God exists, can nonetheless adopt alternative attitudes toward a supposed act as substitutes for belief, and may thereby reap benefits associated with theistic belief. This study tested this hypothesis empirically in an online sample of self-identified agnostics (N = 360). Previous findings anxious attachment to is negatively related agnostics’ well-being while secure positively were confirmed extended. Anxious predicted unique variance life satisfaction, depression, self-esteem hierarchical regressions, difference-in-means tests indicated securely attached fared better than their insecurely counterparts these variables. Two novel more direct measures acceptance or resistance God’s love also demonstrated significant associations gratitude, self-esteem, even after controlling attachment.