What is an atheist?

Question

It seems there's some confusion/misinterpretation on this forum on what atheism means.

Please give a SIMPLE definition (not a misconception).

Ms. Taurus... I'm doing fine, thanks.

^_^

Most, not all!, of you understand it.

Answer 1

One without belief in the existence of a god or gods. Of course there is also strong atheism, weak atheism, implicit atheism, explicit atheism, & ignosticism.

Strong atheism: the belief that no deity exists. It is a form of explicit atheism, meaning that it consciously rejects theism.

Weak atheism: the absence of belief in the existence of deities, without the belief in the non-existence of deities.

Explicit atheism: refection of a belief in a god. This deliberate rejection of theism presupposes familiarity with theistic belief.

Implicit atheism: absence of a belief in god without explicitly rejecting or denying theism. This form does not require familiarity with the idea of a god.

Ignosticism: the view that the question of the existence of God is meaningless because it has no verifiable (or testable) consequences and should therefore be ignored. It is often considered synonymous with theological noncognitivism (the argument that religious language, and specifically words like "god", are not cognitively meaningful).

Answer 2

An atheist means a person who is not a theist. From the Greek prefix a- (means "not") + theist (which means a believer of a god or gods).

Most people say that an atheist means a guy who don't have any sort of a belief system. This is a misconception. Atheism is quite general on what the guy doesn't believe - the existence of a god or gods.

Many philosophers and theologian have different vies on what an atheist is. Prominent atheists have defended for many years the view that an atheist is a person who lacks theistic belief. Baron d'Holbach for example argued, "All children are atheists -- they have no idea of God"

For G.W. Foote, an atheist is one without God. Joseph McCabe, author of dozens of books and articles pertaining to atheism, defined atheism as "the absence of theistic belief.

Chapman Cohen, President of Britain's National Secular Society and a prolific defender of atheism. Cohen wrote: If one believes in a god, then one is a Theist. If one does not believe in a god, then one is an A-theist -- he is without that belief. The distinction between atheism and theism is entirely, exclusively, that of whether one has or has not a belief in God.

Paul Edwards proposes a definition of atheism that falls midway between the negative definition (the absence of theistic belief) and the positive definition (the outright denial of theism). An atheist, according to Edwards, is a person "who rejects belief in God" for whatever reason. This definition allows Edwards to include as atheists those who maintain that the concept of God is incoherent or that the proposition "God exists" is meaningless and hence neither true nor false. By classifying noncognitivism as a species of atheism, Edwards rehabilitated an important atheistic position.

According to Anthony Flew, the prefix "a" in "atheism" should have the same negative meaning as in words like "amoral," "atypical," and "asymmetrical." "In this interpretation," Flew argues, "an atheist becomes: not someone who positively asserts the non-existence of God; but someone who is simply not a theist."

Answer 3

Denying God’s Authority

“Sometimes atheism refers simply to the practical rejection or ignoring of God,” notes The Encyclopedia Americana. For this reason, The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary gives the following second definition of “atheist”: “A person who denies God morally; a godless person.”

Yes, atheism may entail a denial either of God’s existence or of his authority or of both. The Bible alludes to this atheistic spirit at Titus 1:16: “They profess to acknowledge God, but deny him by their actions.” The New English Bible

Such rejection of God’s authority can be traced back to the first human pair. Eve acknowledged God’s existence; yet, she wanted “to be like God, knowing good and bad.” The implication was that she could ‘be her own boss’ and create her own moral code. Adam later joined Eve in this denial of God’s authority.

Is this attitude prevalent today? Yes. A subtle atheism is manifested in a quest for independence. “People today are tired of living under the eye of God,” observes the book One Hundred Years of Debate Over God

Answer 4

Atheists deny that there are/is not God/ess/es. Antitheists are against the idea that there is a God and try to prove theists wrong. Agnostics are neutral, like switzerland, they dont believe anything. The literal Greek translation is "one who does not know" This doesnt mean they are stupid.

Answer 5

The word litterally means "without god" which pretty much encompasses religion itself since a religion requires a belief in a deity.

Answer 6

the opposite of a theist - and a theist is someone who believes in a god as described in theology or writ. Atheists don't deny there's a god since that can't be proven, but also, they don't believe in a personal god since that can't be proven either.

Answer 7

An atheist is someone who does not believe in any gods/goddesses, and does not believe in or participate in any religious rituals like prayer, baptism, going to church, etc.

Answer 8

A person who either:

- Actively believes that there are no deities (strong atheism)

or

- Does not believe in any form of deity or deities (weak atheism)

Answer 9

Someone who doesn't believe in the existence of any god(s).

Answer 10

Ditto Gazoo...