A highly disputed term that can have any number of meanings.
The following are three colloquial definitions as understood and used by the average American:
1) Someone who believes that there is no God/Gods
2) That asshole who spends all of his time arguing with or scoffing at Christians about their beliefs.
3) A socially-depraved menace to society bent on burning our churches and brainwashing our children into joining their cult which is really based on worshiping Satan and may be headed by the Jews in their attempt to control the world's money and media in order to enslave us all... (I can go on)
But it's only fair to explain atheism as defined by atheists. After all, they are the ones who identify with the term. So what do THEY believe?
Generally, there are two strains of atheism, as used by atheists:
1. "Strong" atheism- The belief that there are no Gods
2. "Weak" atheism- The lack of belief in Gods
The vast majority of atheists fall into category 2. You're hard-pressed to find an atheist who is absolutely certain that there is no God.
There is a confusion about the terms "agnosticism" and "atheism" and it's important to make the distinction clear.
Agnosticism is a position concerning knowledge of Gods. Agnostics either:
1) believe that there is no way to know for certain whether or not there are Gods
2) are undecided on the issue because they currently lack sufficient evidence
Meanwhile, atheism/theism are positions concerning what you do and do not believe regardless of any claims to knowledge. Thus, fusions between the two are likely:
Agnostic atheist- I do not believe in any Gods because 1) or 2)
Agnostic theist- I believe despite 1) or 2) for any number of reasons (fear of hell, hope, comfort, feeling that there must be some great power/first cause, etc.)
Most self-proclaimed "agnostics" are also atheists. It's very common to hear someone who calls him/herself an agnostic say,
"I don't know whether or not there is a God, so I am neither a theist nor an atheist". But like the second strain of atheism, they do NOT have belief in any Gods. If they did believe, then they wouldn't be undecided! Thus, they are undecided and without belief (agnostic atheist). In much the same way, you can say that all infants and animals are also agnostic atheists!
Now, I say this is true for MOST self-proclaimed agnostics because I have yet to hear someone call him/herself an agnostic AND claim to believe in a God. This is because most self-proclaimed agnostics think of agnosticism as a third-choice between atheism and theism. I'm of the personal opinion that this is largely due to the many negative connotations surrounding the term "atheist" (see colloquial definitions above)
I apologize for the obscene length of this definition (inb4 tl;dr!), so I won't go into detail concerning this next point:
Atheism is NOT a religion. For the same reason, theism is also not a religion. You need more than mere belief/disbelief in a God(s) to be aptly identified as a religion.
The following are three colloquial definitions as understood and used by the average American:
1) Someone who believes that there is no God/Gods
2) That asshole who spends all of his time arguing with or scoffing at Christians about their beliefs.
3) A socially-depraved menace to society bent on burning our churches and brainwashing our children into joining their cult which is really based on worshiping Satan and may be headed by the Jews in their attempt to control the world's money and media in order to enslave us all... (I can go on)
But it's only fair to explain atheism as defined by atheists. After all, they are the ones who identify with the term. So what do THEY believe?
Generally, there are two strains of atheism, as used by atheists:
1. "Strong" atheism- The belief that there are no Gods
2. "Weak" atheism- The lack of belief in Gods
The vast majority of atheists fall into category 2. You're hard-pressed to find an atheist who is absolutely certain that there is no God.
There is a confusion about the terms "agnosticism" and "atheism" and it's important to make the distinction clear.
Agnosticism is a position concerning knowledge of Gods. Agnostics either:
1) believe that there is no way to know for certain whether or not there are Gods
2) are undecided on the issue because they currently lack sufficient evidence
Meanwhile, atheism/theism are positions concerning what you do and do not believe regardless of any claims to knowledge. Thus, fusions between the two are likely:
Agnostic atheist- I do not believe in any Gods because 1) or 2)
Agnostic theist- I believe despite 1) or 2) for any number of reasons (fear of hell, hope, comfort, feeling that there must be some great power/first cause, etc.)
Most self-proclaimed "agnostics" are also atheists. It's very common to hear someone who calls him/herself an agnostic say,
"I don't know whether or not there is a God, so I am neither a theist nor an atheist". But like the second strain of atheism, they do NOT have belief in any Gods. If they did believe, then they wouldn't be undecided! Thus, they are undecided and without belief (agnostic atheist). In much the same way, you can say that all infants and animals are also agnostic atheists!
Now, I say this is true for MOST self-proclaimed agnostics because I have yet to hear someone call him/herself an agnostic AND claim to believe in a God. This is because most self-proclaimed agnostics think of agnosticism as a third-choice between atheism and theism. I'm of the personal opinion that this is largely due to the many negative connotations surrounding the term "atheist" (see colloquial definitions above)
I apologize for the obscene length of this definition (inb4 tl;dr!), so I won't go into detail concerning this next point:
Atheism is NOT a religion. For the same reason, theism is also not a religion. You need more than mere belief/disbelief in a God(s) to be aptly identified as a religion.
Bob: Hey Fred!
Fred: Hey Bob!
Bob: You know, in all our many years of friendship, I've never asked you a simple question. Do you believe in God?
Fred: I'm an atheist-
*violence*
Bob: WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!
Fred: Hey Bob!
Bob: You know, in all our many years of friendship, I've never asked you a simple question. Do you believe in God?
Fred: I'm an atheist-
*violence*
Bob: WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!
by SpankyMuffin February 23, 2009
Get the Atheist mug.There are two types of atheists, but the word refers to one who lacks belief in Gods, angels, etc. A lot of atheists are respectful to what religious people believe while many others are not. The intolerant ones tend to bash religion-particularly Christianity at any chance they get and assume that all Christians are arrogant and prejudice. (Just to be fair, yes, some Christians are like this, but they cannot call themselves Christians when their attitude goes against what Jesus taught and think they can use his words to pass judgment. But there are plenty of others who actually care how someone feels.)
Christian: "I believe God and Jesus are guiding me and will help me."
Tolerant Atheist: "Religion is not really my cup of tea, but that's cool."
Christian: "I believe God and Jesus will help me."
Intolerant Atheist: "Shut up you stupid Bible thumper! Your God isn't real!"
Tolerant Atheist: "Religion is not really my cup of tea, but that's cool."
Christian: "I believe God and Jesus will help me."
Intolerant Atheist: "Shut up you stupid Bible thumper! Your God isn't real!"
by jklsh June 28, 2012
Get the Atheist mug.Thinking for oneself, exercising common sense; being brave enough to follow one's heart without fear of the "power" of a "higher being".
There is a common belief that atheism is evil; this is a big mistake. Atheists don't believe there is a god, therefore they don't believe in the devil; so, atheists cannot be satanic because they don't recognize satan as a god counterpart. These intelligent people, usually highly educated, may be among the most spiritual, self sufficient, and grouded people in the world.
by garci_a January 15, 2006
Get the atheism mug.An atheist who zealously pushes atheism or attacks religion to the point of being as annoying as the people who annoy him.
by What's the frequency, Kenneth? December 23, 2014
Get the devout atheist mug.Non-believer. May coincide with religious atheism, as neither transgender or religion has material proof. Both beliefs based on subjective "faith". Just as the religious fundamentalists are no longer burning unbelievers for blasphemy, so neither are gender atheists required to comform to gender faith ideology belief. Gender atheists eschew words "cis" and are horrified by slur "terf" for legitiamate gender critical parents, professionals and anyone who questions orthodoxy.
by Charly Angleworm December 19, 2017
Get the Gender atheist mug.The cause of the persecution and extermination of all religion and religious people in Albania, as well as the persecution of Moslems, Jews, Orthodox Christians, Catholic Christians, ETC., during the Cold War.
Many atheist states have persecuted the religious in the way many atheists have condemned Christians for doing back in the Middle Ages.
Need I say more?
Many atheist states have persecuted the religious in the way many atheists have condemned Christians for doing back in the Middle Ages.
Need I say more?
Quote: "From year 1967 to the end of the totalitarian regime, religious practices were banned and the country was proclaimed officially atheist, marking an event that happened for the first time in world history."
Making an atheist state will not solve the problems of the world.
Making an atheist state will not solve the problems of the world.
by TarkanAttila22 December 31, 2009
Get the atheist state mug.I am an atheist. I don't believe in heaven, hell, spirits, or souls. I think of after-death as the same state as pre-birth. I have no creed, no rituals, no voices telling me to do crazy shit. Atheism is not a religion. Religious people like to call it one because their narrow minds can't imagine living without at least ONE delusion. If atheism was a religion then disbelief in Zeus would be a mythology, and clear would be a color.
by aslanmane December 25, 2010
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