Atheism Definitions And Types
Atheism Definitions & Dictionary for Atheists
Dictionary of essential definitions, terms, concepts, and ideas for atheists. There are many philosophical terms to define in order to best understand atheism and atheists. Collected in this dictionary are many of the key definitions for atheists and atheism.
Anti-ClericalismAnti-clericalism is a historical or contemporary movement that is opposed to the power and influence of religious institutions in secular, civil affairs.
AntitheismAntitheism is generally defined as being deliberately opposed to belief in the existence of gods but can also be defined as opposition to God or gods as well.AntitheistAn antitheist is one who is opposed to belief in the existence of gods but can also be defined as one who is opposed to God or gods as well.
ApatheismApatheism is defined as apathy towards belief and disbelief in gods. This definition of apatheism is derived from the fact that apatheism is a portmanteau of apathy and theism / atheism.ApatheistAn apatheist is a person who is apathetic towards belief and disbelief in gods. This definition of apatheist is derived from the fact that apatheist is a portmanteau of apathy and theist / atheist.
AtheismAtheism is defined as without theism, without belief in god or gods, the absence of theism, the absence of belief in gods.AtheistAn atheist is anyone who is not a theist. An atheist is thus anyone who does not happen to believe in the existence of any gods, no matter what the reason.AtheisticAtheistic means involving, advocating, or spreading atheism; concerning, relating to, or characteristic of atheists or atheism.
Critical AtheismCritical atheism is the position that theism or belief in gods is irrational and should be rejected by all. The definition of critical atheism is based on having made a critical evaluation of theistic claims and arguments then explicitly rejecting them. Critical atheism is thus based on a critical engagement with theism. Critical AtheistA critical atheist is one who asserts that theism or belief in gods is irrational and should be rejected by all. The definition of critical atheist means that one has engaged in a critical evaluation of theistic claims and arguments then explicitly rejects them.
Explicit AtheismExplicit atheism is absence of theism or the absence of belief in gods due to a conscious rejection of it.Explicit AtheistAn explicit atheist is one who consciously rejects theism and belief in gods.
Fundamentalist AtheismFundamentalist atheism is a rigid, intolerant, and dogmatic adherence to atheism or an atheistic ideology. The theory behind this definition is that there exists a religious fundamentalism which is atheistic and which atheists adhere to much like some Christians adhere their own fundamentalist Christianity. Fundamentalist AtheistA fundamentalist atheist is an atheist with a rigid, intolerant, and dogmatic adherence to atheism or an atheistic ideology. The theory behind this definition is that there exists a religious fundamentalism which is atheistic and which atheists adhere to much like some Christians adhere their own fundamentalist Christianity.
Godless, GodlessnessGodless is the state of being without gods. This definition of godless is almost identical to the broad definition of atheism.
Implicit AtheismImplicit atheism is the absence of theism or the absence of belief in gods without the conscious rejection of it.Implicit AtheistAn implicit atheist is one who lacks theism without consciously rejecting it.
Militant AtheismMilitant atheism means being militantly opposed to theism, theists, and religion. Militant atheism requires an extreme hostility towards religious theism that entails a desire to see religion suppressed by force.Militant AtheistA militant atheist is one who is militantly opposed to theism, theists, and religion. Militant atheists have extreme hostility towards religious theism that entails a desire to see religion suppressed by force.
Negative AtheismNegative atheism is any sort of atheism or non-theism where a person doesn’t believe in the existence of any gods yet does not necessarily make the positive claim that gods definitely do not exist.Negative AtheistA negative atheist is a person who doesn’t believe in the existence of any gods but who does not necessarily make the positive claim that gods definitely do not exist.
New AtheismNew atheism is defined in both positive and negative ways. The positive definition of new atheism is a modern, 21st century movement in atheism which is openly critical of theism and religion and which is less willing to be accommodating to religious beliefs, traditions, or institutions.New AtheistNew atheist can be defined in both positive and negative ways. The positive definition of new atheist is one who is part of a modern, 21st century movement in atheism which is openly critical of theists and religion and who is less willing to be accommodating to religious beliefs, traditions, or institutions.
NontheismNontheism covers a wide range of attitudes, all characterized by the absence of belief in any gods, the rejection of belief in gods, or the denial of the existence of any gods.NontheistNontheist covers a wide range of people, all characterized by lacking belief in any gods, rejecting of belief in gods, or deny the existence of any gods.
Positive AtheismPositive atheism is the positive that claim no gods exist or the denial that the claim “at least one god exists” is false.Positive AtheistA positive atheist is one who claims no gods exist or who denies that the claim ‘at least one god exists’ is false.
Practical AtheismPractical atheism is disbelief in or rejection of gods as a matter of practice if not necessarily theory. This definition of practical atheism focuses on the idea that one disregards gods and the existence of gods in day-to-day living but doesn’t necessarily reject the existence of gods when it comes to professed beliefs.Practical AtheistA practical atheist is one who disbelieves in or rejects the existence of gods as a matter of practice if not theory. This definition of practical atheist focuses on the idea that one disregards belief in gods and the existence of gods in day-to-day living but doesn’t necessarily reject the existence of gods when it comes to professed belief.
Pragmatic AtheismPragmatic atheism is the rejection of belief in gods because belief in gods is unnecessary for any pragmatic, important part of one’s life.Pragmatic AtheistA pragmatic atheist is one who rejects belief in gods because believing in gods is unnecessary for any pragmatic, important part of one’s life.
Strong AtheismStrong atheism is either the general position that denies the existence of any gods or the limited position that denies the existence of some specific god (but not necessarily others).Strong AtheistA strong atheist is an atheist who positively asserts that no god or gods exist. The definition of strong atheist is sometimes confused with the definition of atheist.
Theological NoncogntivismNoncognitivism, or theological noncognitivism, is the position that religious language – and specifically religious terms like ‘god’ – are not (cognitively) meaningful.
Weak AtheismWeak atheism is simply the absence of belief in gods or the absence of theism. This is also the broad, general definition of atheism.Weak AtheistA weak atheist is anyone who lacks belief in the existence of any gods. The definition of weak atheist is the same as the general definition for atheist.
Anti-religion, Anti-ReligiousAntireligion opposition to religion, religious beliefs, and religious institutions.Irreligion, IrreligiousIrreligion is the absence of religion and/or an indifference towards religion.
Definition of InfidelInfidel is defined literally as ‘one without faith’ and is today technically an archaic term referring to anyone who doubts or denies the tenets of whichever religion is most popular in a society.
FreethoughtFreethought the process of making decisions and arriving at beliefs without relying solely upon tradition, dogma, or the opinions of authorities.FreethinkingFreethinking is the process of applying reason, science, skepticism, and empiricism to questions of belief while eschewing reliance on dogma, tradition, and authority.FreethinkerA freethinker one who arrives at their beliefs through the use of reason, science, logic, and empiricism rather than by relying on dogma, tradition, and authorities.
Brights and the Bright MovementBrights is a movement created by by Paul Geisert and Mynga Futrell in 2003 to promote naturalism, the critique of supernaturalism, and educate people that those who adopt naturalism over supernaturalism deserve an equal place in society.
Ethical Culture MovementThe movement of Ethical Culture Societies was started by Professor Felix Adler (1851-1933) in New York City on May 15, 1876.
Examples
Atheism might plead a lack of evidence within its own field of observation. But Antitheism pronounces upon the things which are, and the things which are not within that field.– 1833 Chalmers, Bridgw. Treat. ii. iv. 405; Source: Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition. An antitheist–that is, one who deliberately opposed and hated God.– 1855 Geo. Eliot Essays (1884) 171; Source: Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition. The antitheist or anti-Christian world, which by violence, falsehood, sophistry, wars against the truth.– 1860 Pusey Min. Proph. 533; Source: Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition. “…I am not so much an atheist as an anti-theist. I am, in other words, not one of those unbelievers who wishes that they had faith, or that they could believe. I am, rather, someone who is delighted that there is absolutely no persuasive evidence for the existence of any of mankind’s many thousands of past and present deities.”– Christopher Hitchens, Is Christianity Good for the World?I say I’m an antitheist because I think it’d be rather awful if it was true … you would never have a waking or sleeping moment where you weren’t being watched, and controlled, and supervised by some celestial entity from conception until, well, not even until your death because it’s only after death when the real fun begins, isn’t it? It’d be like living in North Korea.”– Christopher Hitchens, on the Sean Hannity show “I’m not even an atheist so much as I am an antitheist; I not only maintain that all religions are versions of the same untruth, but I hold that the influence of churches, and the effect of religious belief, is positively harmful.”– Christopher Hitchens, Letters to a Young Contrarian“The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo. Criticism has plucked the imaginary flowers on the chain not in order that man shall continue to bear that chain without fantasy or consolation, but so that he shall throw off the chain and pluck the living flower.” – Karl Marx, A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right