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I've seen questions addressed to "atheists and nonbelievers" and I'd like to know what the difference is. Aren't they the same thing?

2007-02-21 06:53:35 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

16 answers

Well yes, atheists are non-believers.. but generally, christians refer to all non-believers as anyone who does not ascribe to their faith.

That could include (but not be limited to):
Pagans
Buddhists
Agnostics
Jews
Muslims
Hindus
Atheists

2007-02-21 07:08:43 · answer #1 · answered by Kallan 7 · 0 0

Apparently, those who are christian cannot separate themselves from their beliefs for a second in order to answer this question correctly... This is not an overarching statement, it is one based on the answers that have already been written for this question.
I think "nonbeliever" is in the eye of the "believer." He or she is posting a question to atheists and those who don't believe in the god of the believer, or the poster. An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in any god. So to someone who is religious, they may incorrectly lump these two into the same category, but they are in fact different.

2007-02-21 07:06:47 · answer #2 · answered by greecevaca 4 · 0 0

they are both points of reference in regards to a religious belief system. so because to be an atheist or non-believer, you have to be compared to the dogma of the given religion first.

to me, I dont see the need to compare my beliefs with that of the others, so I am neither an atheist or non-believer.

I just live life separate from the need to identify with a god/ghost/myth/ideal.

I am me, and the rest of the world is wack!

no person can know how we should live. only we can know how we (personally) can live. and no human in my opinion can comprehend an omnipotent being (if such a thing even exists), so any revelations about god/s is purely from that persons social/cultural/personal perspective. and has no part of who I am.

though I do wonder why billions of people tithe, and the christian groups still want everyone to feed the hungry. well wouldnt all the billions of revenue gained each week fix that problem? contradiction. you see, contradiction is as human as you can get, and this human contradiction cannot ever believe that it knows about the will of omnipotence.

let the buyer beware...

2007-02-21 07:07:03 · answer #3 · answered by SAINT G 5 · 0 0

An atheist doesn't believe in gods. Who knows what a nonbeliever is but I assume they mean one who doesn't believe in gods as well. But then maybe they mean a nonbeliever is one who doesn't believe in the christian god.

2007-02-21 07:05:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Religious use the word nonbeliever as an insult. They mean nonChristians. By saying nonbeliever they actually are saying "you don't believe in anything" which isn't true.

2007-02-21 07:01:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

an atheist is someone who does not believe in god(s).

a "non-believer" is a condescending term used by xtians to try to imply that they know the truth and atheists (or non-xtian deist cults) simply don't believe it. Its sorta like how retarded Republicans call the Democratic Party the "Democrat Party". Its just a childish and petty way to get under someone's skin. Hey, Xtianity is all about the love right?

Note: yes, I know I'm being hypocritical by using Xtian to show my lack of respect for their religion. But it bothers them, apparently quite a lot...while their use of "non-believer" doesn't bother me in the slightest.

2007-02-21 07:06:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

An atheist is one that doesn't believe that God exists. A nonbeliever can be anyone ranging from a Hindu, Muslim, Pagan, Buddhist, or atheist who doesn't know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives.

2007-02-21 07:02:10 · answer #7 · answered by blessedman 6 · 0 2

It means a couple of things such as non religious secular folks such as Atheists, Agnostics, FreeThinkers, Humanists and it also means non Christians such as Pagans, Muslims, Buddhists, Taoists, Shintoists, and all other religions of the sorts.

2007-02-21 07:01:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

atheists believe that there is no god

whereas agnostics believe that there's no way to determine if god exists or does not exists

you can also believe in other gods, like pagans.

in general, a believer is someone who believes in one god - the one in the christian/catholic bible.

therefore, atheists and non-believers are in the same category but the latter is not exclusive to one group. in another word, atheists belong to a general category of non-believers. or you can look at atheists as a subcategory of a non-believer.

2007-02-21 06:59:37 · answer #9 · answered by interlude 4 · 0 1

Athiest = no god at all
You can be a non believer in many religions, But still believe there is a source of higher being

2007-02-21 06:57:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

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