antitheist
Opposes all religion
An antitheist actively opposes belief in gods or organized religion, going beyond mere disbelief.
Where an atheist lacks belief, an antitheist considers religious belief harmful and worth combating: He's not just an atheist—he's an antitheist who thinks religion poisons everything.
The term gained currency in the early 21st century, particularly among New Atheist writers.
Doubt about divine existence
- nonbeliefLack of religious faith
- irreligionAbsence of faith
- godlessnessLack of belief
- materialismPrioritizing goods over spirit
naturalism · empiricism · positivism · existentialism · nihilism · consequentialism · utilitarianism · Epicureanism
Religion losing social significance
- deconversionAbandoning religious belief
- consciousness-raisingIncreasing social or political awareness
- debateFormal argument on issues
- argumentationSystematic reasoning process
polemic · manifesto · pamphlet · lecture · podcast · documentary · campaign · advocacy
Combative advocacy stance
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
- polemicistAggressive debate writer
- DawkinsBritish evolutionary biologist
Hitchens · Harris · iconoclast · blasphemer · heretic · apostasy · desecration · profanity
Systematic uncritical belief instillation
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
- irrationalityAbsence of logic
- delusionStubbornly held false belief
mythology · theocracy · fundamentalism · extremism · fanaticism · cult · brainwashing · exploitation
agnosticism
Doubt about divine existence
- nonbeliefLack of religious faith
- irreligionAbsence of faith
- godlessnessLack of belief
materialism · naturalism · empiricism · positivism · existentialism · nihilism · consequentialism · utilitarianism · Epicureanism · Lucretius
secularization
Religion losing social significance
- deconversionAbandoning religious belief
- consciousness-raisingIncreasing social or political awareness
- debateFormal argument on issues
argumentation · polemic · manifesto · pamphlet · lecture · podcast · documentary · campaign · advocacy · outspoken
militancy
Combative advocacy stance
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
- polemicistAggressive debate writer
Hitchens · Dawkins · Harris · iconoclast · blasphemer · heretic · apostasy · desecration · profanity · sacrilege
indoctrination
Systematic uncritical belief instillation
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- superstitionBaseless belief in omens
- irrationalityAbsence of logic
delusion · mythology · theocracy · fundamentalism · extremism · fanaticism · cult · brainwashing · exploitation · oppression
- nonbelieversatheists, agnostic, agnostics, nonbeliever, nonbelievers
- Unbeliefagnosticism, irreligion, nonbelief, disbelief, godless
- freethinkersfreethinker, freethinkers, secularists, rationalist, rationalists
antitheisttheist
Accepts a deity exists
believer · apologist · God-fearer · faithful · religionist
antitheistzealot
Obsessive cause supporter
true believer · fundamentalist · devout · evangelical · evangelist