Why do the words "evolutionist," "secularist," and "atheist" even exist?

Question

Think about it.

Right over your heads. Oh well.

Answer 1

"Do describe groups of people who have trouble thinking for themselves."

The mighty LOLRUS rises up out of the deep and spears me with his tusks.

The words exist because humans like to label stuff. But I get your gist - I truly do.

Answer 2

Atheist is a real word. The others are becoming real through common usage.

They aren't synonymous. I'm a secularist, but I'm not an atheist. I'm an "evolutionist" but I believe it's the birth process of the Earth, so I practice a religion, just not one of the Abrahamic ones. I'm Wiccan.

Answer 3

These words are needed because we need words to create meaning and definition. I can tell you to bring me a chair, and know that you are going to bring me something to sit on that typically has four legs and a back. However if I said bring me a cup, you would bring me something to drink liquid out of. I can call a chair a cup and a cup a chair, but then our shared meaning is gone and you will not understand what I am asking for. Each of these words, (evolutionist, secularist, and atheist), has a separate shared meaning that gives definition to what a person is trying to express. While all of these words can, and frequently due, have a negative connotation they are needed to give meaning.
I hate the word racist, but find that I still have to have it in my vocabulary so that I can communicate with others around me by using a single word and not have to define the concept.

Answer 4

I don't know. Theism, just like astrologism and other things of that nature requires names, for they are a type of philosophy. But atheism, secularism and evolutionism are not. The first two are retarded in the sense that we don't label the opposite of most beliefs, like as a Mormon, I would not be labeled non catholic or non protestant, same for secularist. Evolution, however, is a theory of science, not a belief system.

None of the three are belief systems, nor doctrine of any sort, as the suffix -ism implies.

Is this an Atheist manifesto thing.....? ;)

Answer 5

Atheist is a category for people, like "republican" or "pessimistic." Whatever. I know what you're saying, but... whatever.

You're right about one thing, though: 'Evolutionist' isn't a word. You're not an evolutionist; it isn't part of your personal identity. If you're an evolutionist, it means you're not a total tool of your religion and you choose to believe in the theory that's a proper scientific theory, and that has real evidence.

Or it might just be because your parents didn't indoctrinate you from birth. Whichever.

Answer 6

Evolutionist isn't a word. Evolution isn't a belief system, its a science. As for secularist and atheist, you already know.

Answer 7

Oh, I get it. This is a rhetorical question.

Why does any word exist? Words exist to describe objects and phenomena. Do you deny the existence of evolutionists, secularists, and atheists?

Answer 8

For the same reason that the words "chair" and "table" exist, to describe things. Or in this case people. An "evolutionist" is someone who believes in evolution. If there was no word for it, we would be forced to say "someone who believes in evolution" every time. That's quite the mouthful.

Answer 9

For every action,there is an equal and opposite reaction. -Newtons 3rd Law of Motion

Answer 10

To make people feel intelligent when they fill their sentences with polysyllabic words.

Now... think about this... why does the word monosyllabic have so many syllables???