nontheistic
Lacking divine belief
Nontheistic describes beliefs, practices, or philosophies that don't involve a god or gods.
Buddhism is often described as nontheistic because it focuses on enlightenment rather than deity worship.
The term is neutral—it simply indicates the absence of theism without implying atheism's active rejection: a nontheistic approach to spirituality, nontheistic meditation practices.
Lacking belief in deities
- irreligionAbsence of faith
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- unbeliefLack of faith
- freethoughtReason-based belief formation
antireligion · apostasy · godlessness · infidel · heathen · irreligious · nonbeliever · faithless
Enlightenment-seeking Eastern religion
- JainismIndian religion emphasizing nonviolence
- meditationFocused attention practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- TaoismPhilosophy of the Way
Confucianism · naturalistic · transcendence · contemplative · dharma · sangha · interconnectedness · philosophical
Nonreligious ethical philosophy
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- dignityInnate personal worth
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- compassionConcern for others' distress
reason · human-centered · self-determination · meaning-making · flourishing · values · altruism · empathy
Basis or justification
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- critical thinkingObjective evaluation of information
- empiricismKnowledge through observation
philosophy · inquiry · analysis · objective · enlightenment · cognition · intellectual · reasoned
Government religious neutrality doctrine
- nonreligiousNot involving worship
- secularNonreligious, worldly
- civicPertaining to community affairs
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
neutrality · disestablishment · governmental · constitutional · public sphere · temporal · worldly · civil
State of being unsure
- doubtLack of firm belief
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- inquiryRequest for information
- undecidedNot having chosen
open-mindedness · ambivalence · suspension · indeterminacy · unknowable · noncommittal · tentative · uncommitted
godless
Lacking belief in deities
- irreligionAbsence of faith
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- unbeliefLack of faith
freethought · antireligion · apostasy · godlessness · infidel · heathen · irreligious · nonbeliever · faithless · areligious
Buddhism
Enlightenment-seeking Eastern religion
- JainismIndian religion emphasizing nonviolence
- meditationFocused attention practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
Taoism · Confucianism · naturalistic · transcendence · contemplative · dharma · sangha · interconnectedness · philosophical · animism
secular humanism
Nonreligious ethical philosophy
compassion · reason · human-centered · self-determination · meaning-making · flourishing · values · altruism · empathy · purpose
reason
Basis or justification
- logicScience of valid reasoning
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- critical thinkingObjective evaluation of information
empiricism · philosophy · inquiry · analysis · objective · enlightenment · cognition · intellectual · reasoned · argumentation
church-state separation
Government religious neutrality doctrine
- nonreligiousNot involving worship
- secularNonreligious, worldly
- civicPertaining to community affairs
pluralism · neutrality · disestablishment · governmental · constitutional · public sphere · temporal · worldly · civil · profane
uncertainty
State of being unsure
- doubtLack of firm belief
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- inquiryRequest for information
undecided · open-mindedness · ambivalence · suspension · indeterminacy · unknowable · noncommittal · tentative · uncommitted · searching
nontheistictheistic
Accepting divine existence
monotheistic · polytheistic · deistic · pantheistic · theist