nonbelief
Lacking religious conviction
Nonbelief is the absence or lack of belief, particularly in religious or spiritual matters.
Where disbelief suggests active rejection, nonbelief is more neutral—simply not holding a belief rather than opposing one: Her nonbelief wasn't hostile; she just never found religion compelling.
The term appears in discussions distinguishing atheism from agnosticism.
Rejection of deities
- irreligionAbsence of faith
- secularismSeparation of faith, state
- humanismPhilosophy prioritizing earthly reason
- freethoughtReason-based belief formation
godlessness · nontheism · antitheism · apostasy · deconversion · disaffiliation · unchurched · lapsed
Inability to accept something
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
- distrustAbsence of confidence
suspicion · reservation · dubiety · mistrust · unconvinced · rejection · denial · dismissal
Basis or justification
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- empiricismKnowledge through observation
- scienceSystematic study through observation
naturalism · materialism · rationalism · skeptic · freethinker · debunking · Dawkins · Hitchens
State of being unsure
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- open-mindednessAcceptance of differing viewpoints
- inquiryRequest for information
- searchAct of seeking
suspension · withholding · undecided · neutrality · tentativeness · exploration · probing · reserve
atheism
Rejection of deities
- irreligionAbsence of faith
- secularismSeparation of faith, state
- humanismPhilosophy prioritizing earthly reason
freethought · godlessness · nontheism · antitheism · apostasy · deconversion · disaffiliation · unchurched · lapsed · none
incredulity
Inability to accept something
- skepticismDisposition toward doubt
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
distrust · suspicion · reservation · dubiety · mistrust · unconvinced · rejection · denial · dismissal · refusal
reason
Basis or justification
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- empiricismKnowledge through observation
science · naturalism · materialism · rationalism · skeptic · freethinker · debunking · Dawkins · Hitchens · scientism
uncertainty
State of being unsure
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- open-mindednessAcceptance of differing viewpoints
- inquiryRequest for information
search · suspension · withholding · undecided · neutrality · tentativeness · exploration · probing · reserve · noncommittal
- belieffaith, creed, dogma, theism, atheism
- religious attitudesatheism, devout, faith, piety, reverence
- religious skepticismatheism, agnosticism, freethought, irreligion, godlessness
- Unbeliefatheism, agnosticism, irreligion, godless, faithless
- freethoughtfreethought, free thought, free inquiry, rationality, critical thinking
- irreligionatheism, agnosticism, antitheism, freethought, godlessness
nonbeliefbelief
Trust held as true
credence · conviction · acceptance · assent · certainty
nonbelieffaith
Trust without proof
belief · religiosity · theism · devoutness · piety