Please tell me the definition of atheist?

Question

Tell me what your definition of an atheist is, because obviously some people do not know. I am truly curious as to why, even if a person IS an atheist, do they think it is a bad thing?

This is an answer from a question tonight and as he says, he is not an atheist. Can you tell me what he is describing, then?

When I close my eyes and look deep into myself I find my inner strength, my will to go on no matter who life brings me. When I open my eyes I see my loving family and caring friends.

I don't ever depend on a super natural being to help me in my time of need, not because I am prideful or arrogant.

I just in myself.

P.S. I am not atheist, I just don't see enough proof to make me believe in a higher power, wither that be Zeus, hades, Jesus, God or another high being.

Answer 1

An atheist is someone who doesn't believe in the existence of any god or gods.

"I am not atheist, I just don't see enough proof to make me believe in a higher power, wither that be Zeus, hades, Jesus, God or another high being." <-- this is like saying, "I'm not an artist, I just paint for a living." If you too are unconvinced that there is a 'higher power,' then you are atheist. That's what atheism is.

Answer 2

An Atheist is someone who believes that no gods exist.

Atheists come in two main flavors: Weak Atheists who don't have a belief in a god, and Strong (or Positive) Atheists who believe there are definitely no gods. It's a little more subtle than the split for Agnostics. Atheists sometimes recognize a third group as well, Apatheists (apathetic Atheists), who don't believe in god but don't really care about the whole issue. Beyond these classifications, Atheists (and sometimes Agnostics and Deists) have several significant subsets of beliefs and outlooks on life. A Humanist is one who believes in the positive power of Humanity to do good in the world. A Rationalist believes in the use of reason to solve problems. A Naturalist (or Materialist) rejects all supernatural claims for the actions of the universe. The Nihilist minority believes that all life is pointless, and that none of it will matter after we are dead. Objectivists, followers of the philosophy of author Ayn Rand, state that truth is objective and not subject to the desires of man, reason is the only way to perceive the world, and each person should act in their own self-interest without infringing on the rights of others.

Answer 3

As already stated here, but it bears repeating, an atheist is someone who does not think that any god or gods exist. Nothing more, nothing less. It is not a belief system, it does not require faith, and it does not come with a handy little code for morality. Atheists are just people like everyone else, except they do not hold faith in a god.

Atheism is not the same as believing in "nothing".. there are many things to believe in and stand up for in this world that do not require putting faith in a fairy tale.

Atheists are thought of as bad people for one simple reason: it says so in holy text, such as the Bible. It's pretty sad.

Answer 4

Atheist is when u believe in Atheism

As a philosophical view, atheism is the belief in the nonexistence of gods,[1] or the rejection of theism.[2] In its broadest sense, it is the absence of belief in the existence of gods, sometimes called nontheism.[3] Although atheists are commonly assumed to be irreligious, some religions, such as Buddhism, have been characterized as atheistic.[4][5]

Many self-described atheists share common skeptical concerns regarding supernatural claims, citing a lack of empirical evidence for the existence of deities. Other arguments for atheism are philosophical, social or historical. Although many self-described atheists tend toward secular philosophies such as humanism,[6] rationalism, and naturalism,[7] there is no one ideology or set of behaviors to which all atheists adhere.[8]

The term atheism originated as a pejorative epithet applied to any person or belief in conflict with established religion. With the spread of freethought, scientific skepticism, and criticism of religion, the term began to gather a more specific meaning and was sometimes used to describe oneself.

Answer 5

The simple literal meaning of an atheist is one who does not believe in a divine power, supreme being, grand architect, God, Jehovah, Allah, Yahweh, or whatever. This person does not believe in any religious dogma whatsoever.

This is opposed to anyone who is either a monotheist or polytheist.

A monotheist believes in one god. A polytheist believes in a host of gods.

Answer 6

—Synonyms Atheist, agnostic, infidel, skeptic refer to persons not inclined toward religious belief or a particular form of religious belief. An atheist is one who denies the existence of a deity or of divine beings. An agnostic is one who believes it impossible to know anything about God or about the creation of the universe and refrains from commitment to any religious doctrine. Infidel means an unbeliever, especially a nonbeliever in Islam or Christianity. A skeptic doubts and is critical of all accepted doctrines and creeds.

Answer 7

A person who doesn't believe in a supernatural being, god or any other higher powers.

Every atheist is different after that, some believe in evolution, some don't and so on.

Answer 8

One who lacks belief in the existence of gods. One doesn't have to state unequivocally "gods do not exist" to be an atheist.

I'd need to know something else from that person to be able to tell if they're also an agnostic - do they think they are capable of and ever likely to possess certain knowledge regarding the existence or nonexistence of gods? If not, they are an agnostic as well as an atheist.

Answer 9

"A" = not
"Theist" = believe in god.
"Atheist" believes not in God. More to the point, then, the atheist claims there isn't even any kind of god to believe in, (which I consider a kind of arrogance, as the person obviously has not been everywhere in this universe to ascertain whether or not one is here.) But there is both your definition and practical use of "atheist."

Answer 10

Well, good, That means you have a brain, hon... And therefore, I'll recommend THE best book on the subject I have ever read "The God Delusion" just recently off the best seller list (NY Times.) Super tight arguments, really great stuff, worth every dime.... Ya gotta be smart to be able to understand it, and looks like you qualify