Wouldn't it more appropriate to refer to the atheists here as ANTITHEISTS?

Question

Certainly, they don't seem to show much apathy to the whole idea of god. Quite the contrary.

Answer 1

Bingo!

Answer 2

I agree with you that the term atheist is not a very good one. It defines people by something they do not believe in. That would be the same as calling believers irrationalists or antirationalists.
A better term would be freethinkers: people who do not accept anything that cannot be proven. But I am afraid that, historically this term is already token.
I do not show antipathy to the idea of a god. That would be too much honour for a theory that, though it has had and still has some rewards is not valid anymore. If people want to believe in gods, prophets, banks or teddy bears, that is their business. That is not a problem. But it certainly becomes a problem when people who can not prove what they believe in, try to force it upon other people who prefer to believe something else or try to believe as little as possible. In that case you can count on a lot of apathy from my side and from every people with a democratic heart.
Short: god: no problem. Religious imperialism: no way.

I am very happy for you that you believe your religion is bigger than the religion of others. Is that expressed in miles or in furlongs?
I hope you realize that the size of a religion does not say anything about the existence of a god. Or did she not exist before people existed? And if your relgion gets a little bit smaller, would that mean that she exists a little bit less?

Have a nice day.

Answer 3

Anti-theists burn churches and murder priests. Nobody here is advocating that. (Many people here are atheists who are also anti-religious.) There's a huge moral difference between atheists and anti-theists.

During the each of the Catholic Inquisitions there were a few underground freedom fighters who would occasionally assassinate the worst of the Church's Inquisitors. Some people think such anti-theists were part of an organized group called the Illuminati. Others think of them as individual heroes, who acted alone because, in a civilization that routinely used torture, membership in outlaw groups would be suicidal. The Church always failed to identify whoever was assassinating the worst of their eccleastical henchmen, so I generally imagine those anti-theists were incredibly brave solitary individuals. I find it incredibly comforting to know that, throughout human history, whenever tyranny has reared its evil head, there have been courageous individuals who were willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of the future of the human species. It may be illegal, but it is not immoral to murder someone who systematically manipulates religion to satisfy his own murderous inclinations. That's what real anti-theists do -- analogous to the French underground taking out a particularly vicious Nazi war criminal. ...a necessary evil.

To repeat for emphasis: there are no anti-theists here.

Answer 4

I'm an atheist because there are no gods, and no possibility of any gods. It's really very simple. "Anti-theist" is a bit bloated, and implies we all go around publicly denouncing religion. I'm sure many atheists do. I admit to having no use for organized religion, but I really don't care what others believe, and I don't have the right to try to turn someone away from whatever gives them a little comfort.

The only time you'd get a fight is if you try to get biblical fairy tales taught as science in my public schools, or made into draconian laws. I didn't sign up to live in a Christian version of Iran.

Answer 5

Actually, since my best friend is an atheist (and I'm a normal, non-RRR Cult Christian), I can tell you that you're being unfair to atheists. They only seem anti-God when pseudo-Christians are stupid enough provoke them into arguments on that topic. Otherwise, they pay as much attention to God as anyone generally pays to a dust mote. He's not part of their lives, and therefore not even on their radar.

To any obnoxious pseudo-Christians reading this -- grow a brain and leave the atheists alone... and I'm betting you won't hear a single anti-God peep out of them!

Answer 6

The name would be apt for some but not all of us.

One showing "apathy" toward the idea of god would more correctly be termed an agnostic. Atheists are more firm in the belief that there is no god, not apathetic toward the notion.

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Answer 7

Wouldn't it more appropriate to refer to the atheists here as ANTITHINKERS?
Certainly, they do seem to show much apathy to the whole idea of thinking. Quite the contrary.

Answer 8

The terms are quite equivalent as long at anti-theism is not construed as against the individual who believes in God. We are against the belief not the individual. Actually, I celebrate the freedom of individuals to believe as they wish. But I also celebrate my right to be against any given belief.

Answer 9

Seeing as though I am not AGAINST people who actually believe in any god, just the idea, I would say Atheist suits me fine.

Answer 10

Because we don't believe in a 'God'? Some of us do at least try to be nice while saying it. Some of us are violent. Its like Christians on here. Some are nice about proclaiming their faith in a deity. Or they judge, they scorn others who don't. We do it to, its human nature to NOT agree. And why should we believe in what you do when you continuously bash us down? Isn't that giving the wrong message about your religion? That is what drove me from Christianity! People who are constantly bashing other beliefs or lack of beliefs! Its almost like the Bible is telling you to do it...Wait, it is.