irreligious
Lacking spiritual belief
Irreligious describes someone indifferent or hostile to religion—not merely nonreligious but actively unconcerned with spiritual matters.
An irreligious person might ignore religious observances entirely or hold contempt for religious belief: He came from an irreligious household where faith was never discussed.
The word carries more weight than secular, suggesting a deliberate turning away from religion rather than simple absence of it.
Rejection of deities
- godlessnessLack of belief
- unbeliefLack of faith
- nonbeliefLack of religious faith
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
godless · nontheist · antitheist · materialist · naturalist · secularist · humanist · rationalist
Absence of feeling
- indifferenceLack of interest
- unconcernedFeeling no worry
- disengagedNot participating or invested
- uninvolvedNot taking part
nonchalant · lapsed · nominal · nonpracticing · unchurched · disinterested · detached · casual
Lack of firm belief
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- agnosticismDoubt about divine existence
inquiry · unconvinced · noncommittal · tentativeness · open-mindedness · undecided · hesitation · ambivalence
Irreverence toward the sacred
- sacrilegeViolation of the hallowed
- profanityVulgar or obscene speech
- desecrationViolating something sacred
- irreverenceDisregard for what's honored
impiety · heresy · iconoclasm · defiance · mockery · scorn · contempt · disrespect
Reason-based belief formation
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- humanismPhilosophy prioritizing earthly reason
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- liberalismPhilosophy valuing reform, tolerance
progressivism · individualism · autonomy · independence · reason · logic · empiricism · self-determination
Opponent of orthodoxy
- hereticChallenger of official doctrine
- iconoclastAttacker of cherished beliefs
- rebelAuthority defier
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
unorthodox · contrarian · outsider · dissident · apostate · renegade · reformer · questioner
Separation of faith, state
- worldlyExperienced in practical affairs
- temporalRelating to chronology
- earthlyOf this world
- civilMinimally polite
civic · humanistic · lay · laic · nonclerical · governmental · public · separation
Non-monotheistic religious practice
- heathenIrreligious nonbeliever
- polytheistMultiple-deity believer
- animistBeliever in universal souls
- pantheistEquates god with nature
neopagan · Wiccan · druid · earth-centered · pre-Christian · indigenous · tribal · syncretist
atheism
Rejection of deities
- godlessnessLack of belief
- unbeliefLack of faith
- nonbeliefLack of religious faith
disbelief · godless · nontheist · antitheist · materialist · naturalist · secularist · humanist · rationalist · Dawkins
apathy
Absence of feeling
- indifferenceLack of interest
- unconcernedFeeling no worry
- disengagedNot participating or invested
uninvolved · nonchalant · lapsed · nominal · nonpracticing · unchurched · disinterested · detached · casual · lukewarm
doubt
Lack of firm belief
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
agnosticism · inquiry · unconvinced · noncommittal · tentativeness · open-mindedness · undecided · hesitation · ambivalence · freethought
blasphemy
Irreverence toward the sacred
- sacrilegeViolation of the hallowed
- profanityVulgar or obscene speech
- desecrationViolating something sacred
irreverence · impiety · heresy · iconoclasm · defiance · mockery · scorn · contempt · disrespect · transgression
freethought
Reason-based belief formation
- rationalismReason as knowledge source
- humanismPhilosophy prioritizing earthly reason
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
liberalism · progressivism · individualism · autonomy · independence · reason · logic · empiricism · self-determination · intellectual
dissenter
Opponent of orthodoxy
- hereticChallenger of official doctrine
- iconoclastAttacker of cherished beliefs
- rebelAuthority defier
maverick · unorthodox · contrarian · outsider · dissident · apostate · renegade · reformer · questioner · challenger
secularism
Separation of faith, state
civil · civic · humanistic · lay · laic · nonclerical · governmental · public · separation · pluralist
paganism
Non-monotheistic religious practice
- heathenIrreligious nonbeliever
- polytheistMultiple-deity believer
- animistBeliever in universal souls
pantheist · neopagan · Wiccan · druid · earth-centered · pre-Christian · indigenous · tribal · syncretist · spiritist
irreligiousreligious
Of faith or worship
devout · pious · churchgoing · worshipful · faithful