atheists
They reject divinity
Atheists are people who don't believe in any god or gods.
The term ranges from those who actively reject theism to those who simply lack religious belief.
Some atheists identify strongly with the label; others prefer "nonreligious" or "secular." The atheists in our philosophy club had lively debates with the believers.
Reason as knowledge source
- empiricismKnowledge through observation
- naturalismWorldview excluding the supernatural
- materialismPrioritizing goods over spirit
- humanismPhilosophy prioritizing earthly reason
secularism · freethought · positivism · existentialism · nihilism · absurdism · determinism · physicalism
One lacking religious faith
- unbelieverOne lacking faith
- disbelieverOne who denies truth
- nontheistPerson without god-belief
- godlessLacking belief in deities
irreligious · secular · freethinker · infidel · heathen · heretic · apostate · lapsed
Disposition toward doubt
- doubtLack of firm belief
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- inquiryRequest for information
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
logic · reason · scrutiny · debunking · analysis · investigation · falsifiability · empirical
Mark of dishonor
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
blasphemy · apostasy · closeted · marginalized · misunderstood · demonized · scapegoated · ostracized
Study of right conduct
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- dignityInnate personal worth
- equalitySame status for all
justice · altruism · solidarity · tolerance · inclusivity · humanitarian · philanthropy · integrity
State of being unsure
- undecidedNot having chosen
- noncommittalNot expressing clear opinion
- open-mindedReceptive to different ideas
- searchingLooking to find
questioning · ambivalence · suspension · indeterminacy · gnosticism
Religion losing social significance
- disestablishmentWithdrawal of official status
- civilMinimally polite
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
- advocacyPleading for a cause
outspoken · militant · Dawkins · Hitchens · Harris · coming-out
rationalism
Reason as knowledge source
- empiricismKnowledge through observation
- naturalismWorldview excluding the supernatural
- materialismPrioritizing goods over spirit
humanism · secularism · freethought · positivism · existentialism · nihilism · absurdism · determinism · physicalism · reductionism
nonbeliever
One lacking religious faith
- unbelieverOne lacking faith
- disbelieverOne who denies truth
- nontheistPerson without god-belief
godless · irreligious · secular · freethinker · infidel · heathen · heretic · apostate · lapsed · unchurched
skepticism
Disposition toward doubt
- doubtLack of firm belief
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- inquiryRequest for information
evidence · logic · reason · scrutiny · debunking · analysis · investigation · falsifiability · empirical · verification
stigma
Mark of dishonor
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- distrustAbsence of confidence
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
persecution · blasphemy · apostasy · closeted · marginalized · misunderstood · demonized · scapegoated · ostracized · excommunicated
ethics
Study of right conduct
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- dignityInnate personal worth
equality · justice · altruism · solidarity · tolerance · inclusivity · humanitarian · philanthropy · integrity · autonomy
uncertainty
State of being unsure
- undecidedNot having chosen
- noncommittalNot expressing clear opinion
- open-mindedReceptive to different ideas
searching · questioning · ambivalence · suspension · indeterminacy · gnosticism
secularization
Religion losing social significance
- disestablishmentWithdrawal of official status
- civilMinimally polite
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
advocacy · outspoken · militant · Dawkins · Hitchens · Harris · coming-out
- nonbelieversagnostic, agnostics, nonbeliever, nonbelievers, unbeliever
- freethinkersfreethinker, freethinkers, secularists, rationalist, rationalists
- French demographicspopulation, birth rate, death rate, fertility rate, life expectancy
- demographicspopulation density, population growth, age distribution, population, gender ratio
- believersbeliever, believers, adherent, devotee, theist
- French peopleParisians, Bretons, Normans, Alsatians, Corsicans
atheiststheists
People affirming divine existence
believers · monotheists · polytheists · deists · worshippers
atheistsagnostics
Doubters of divine knowledge
true believers · fundamentalists · zealots · doubters · seekers