Even though they mean essentially the same thing, do you think that one carries a more negative connotation then the other?
What do you associate with each of these words?
2007-03-23 11:21:36 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Maiden ... the term is "non-theist", not "NON-ATHEIST". Learn to read, please.
2007-03-23 11:27:52 · update #1
Atheist seems more to-the-point... Atheist literally means "No-God" since Theos was the Greek word for God, thus Theist means, in essence, Godist. A-theist means no-Godist, literally. non-theist.... it could mean a disbelief in God but not so much a "there is no God" statement..... non-theist just seems more agnostic.
2007-03-23 11:38:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would associate nontheist with Agnostic more than Atheist.
Think of it this way. When Columbus came back to Spain there were some who believed he found a new route to the West Indies. These would be analogous to theists. There would be some who believed he could not possibly have found a new route to the West Indies. These would be analogous to Atheists. Then there would be those who weren't sure and were willing to wait until more exploration had taken place. These would be analogous to your nontheists or Agnostics. They deny the claim but not the possibility of the claim.
Having said that, it wouldn't bother me to be called a nontheist or an Agnostic or a Skeptic or a Rationalist or even a Freethinker. The only thing the other terms have going for them is that they are in the dictionary and, hence, the spell checker.
2007-03-23 11:24:01 · answer #2 · answered by Dave P 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most people don't know what non-theist means - more know atheist so that word would generate more of a reaction than non-theist.
I associate the same thing with both - one who is not inclined to a particular religious belief or a particular form of religious belief. One who denies the existence of a deity or divine beings.
2007-03-23 11:27:27 · answer #3 · answered by misskate12001 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ive never heard the word Nontheist, and Ive been an Atheist for years.
"Nontheist" even comes up on Spell Check as wrong...
2007-03-23 11:24:58 · answer #4 · answered by Clarkie 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I like "atheist". "Nontheist" sounds too snobby. "Atheist" does tend to carry more of a negative connotation, mainly because theists gave it one. But I think we're progressing on taking away some of that negativity.
The bumper sticker on my car says "Proud to be atheist", and I am.
2007-03-23 11:23:49 · answer #5 · answered by nondescript 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Nontheist is one who does not believe in gods, but still accepts various other "spiritual" ideas.
An Atheist is someone who lives their lives with logic and reason and thus has no acceptance of "spiritual" ideas.
2007-03-23 11:25:15 · answer #6 · answered by boukenger 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, they don't mean the same thing.
An atheist does not believe in God.
A non-theist does not use God in his calculation of
how to run his life. They may or may not believe in God
or they may not care... That is, God is outside of his
or her experience or ability to interpret.
2007-03-23 11:25:06 · answer #7 · answered by Elana 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't mind either. "Non-believer" is what I don't like, because it implies that people who aren't Christians don't believe in anything, which is a load of bull.
2007-03-23 11:24:38 · answer #8 · answered by . 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no - I agree with you they mean essentially the same thing
2007-03-23 11:24:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, they feel the same to me. It would all depend on who's addressing us and how they're addressing us.
2007-03-23 11:43:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋