# Sick of the term "atheist", is there a better alternative? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 15, 2006, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831 "2006-09-15T13:57:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/21 "2006-09-15T15:16:19Z")
I generally go with “I’m not religious” for people who I know\* are \* religious; they can take it as they like. I think a lot of them take it as “I don’t attend church regularly, but don’t eat babies for lunch or turn into a vampire at night.” Whatever. It doesn’t seem to offend people, and they’re generally willing to leave it alone. However, I love “heathen” and may start to use it among those who have a sense of humor about religion (few and far between though they are). ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/22 "2006-09-15T15:18:33Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] Well, what is this “God” in which / in whom you disbelieve? [/QUOTE] There were no disbelievers until there were believers. It is the believers who define the god, not the other way around. > [@](#): > > And how is the universe as viewed by the believers different from the one you believe in? Considerably more magic. ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/23 "2006-09-15T15:41:53Z")
I’m an atheist, although I’m also a “priest” in the [Church of Spiritual Humanism](http://www.spiritualhumanism.org/) (OK, it’s a lark). But I use that word only when specifically discussing that subject with like-minded or similarly-minded people. Otherwise, I simply don’t talk about what I do or don’t believe. If asked, my wife (who still clings to shreds of her RomanCatholic-Episcopalian traditions) and I both just say, “We don’t go to church.” That pretty much ends all conversation about it. ---
**Author:** ![fraglimit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ebca7d/32.png) [@fraglimit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fraglimit)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/24 "2006-09-15T15:54:20Z")
[QUOTE=mrrealtime] No wonder no one likes athiests, the very word basically says I am anti-god. Its like calling oneself “everyoneisanidiotexceptme” and expecting to win friends and influence people. Not only does the term extend a nasty middle finger up at the vast majority of the population, it also gives creedence to the religious majority by declaring that it is no more than whatever a theist isnt, thereby being essentially defined by religion. I for one, do not wish to continue to indulge the religious nut bars of the planet by allowing them to define me as something that is no more than what they arent. There HAS to be a better term for us. Enlightened? Too arrogant. Darwinians? There are probably athiests that dont accept everything Darwin taught. If anyone can help out please do! What is a proactive, empowering word to describe those of us who are un-shackled by a religious faith, and are prepared to face reality with no predisposition? [/QUOTE] I submit “agnostic” . You are unshackled by religious faith and prepared to face reality. What ever it may be. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/25 "2006-09-15T16:11:57Z")
[QUOTE=mrrealtime] No wonder no one likes athiests, the very word basically says I am anti-god. [/quote] It says you don’t believe in gods, and for me, at least, it’s perfectly accurate. What’s the problem? > [@](#): > > Its like calling oneself “everyoneisanidiotexceptme” and expecting to win friends and influence people. I think this is complete crap. ‘Atheist’ is a term that religious people came up with, as far as I know, and the atheists certainly weren’t giving the church the middle finger in that scenario. I see it as a reclaimed term and the simplest and most honest description of my views on religious topics. There are other terms out there, like humanist, but for some of us that’d be intentionally soft-pedaling things and I’ve got no desire to confuse people about what I think. > [@](#): > > There HAS to be a better term for us. Enlightened? Too arrogant. Darwinians? There are probably athiests that dont accept everything Darwin taught. In addition to that, Darwinist would be a HORRIBLE idea. A lot of religious kooks are already trying to convince people that evolution is a godless idea put forth by people who want to eliminate morality. (Same goes for the Big Bang.) That’d be a perfect way to convince their audience that they’re right. > [@](#): > > What is a proactive, empowering word to describe those of us who are un-shackled by a religious faith, and are prepared to face reality with no predisposition? So “atheist” is a middle finger to people, but you want everybody to know that you’re “unshackled,” and can view reality objectively, unlike religious people? By comparison, atheist is polite. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/26 "2006-09-15T16:27:45Z")
I’ve heard some suggestions that the word “Bright” be used as alternative to “Atheist” and a Google search of the two terms turns up a bunch of websites, including [atheistempire.com](http://atheistempire.com). On the other hand, several of them seem to be saying that “Bright” is a term they’d rather not use. I figure I should refer to a person’s beliefs or attitude toward religion by whatever term he or she prefers. On the other hand, “Bright” to me suggests something a bit more nebulous and New Agey than the rationality I’ve come to associate with the Atheists. Thomas Jefferson and company have often been referred to as “Deists” in that they believed a god of some sort, just not necessarily the Judeo-Christian one. “Adeist” is a possible alternative, and it would be closer to what the OP seems to be trying to convey than “Bright”. On the other hand, I can’t see that it has any advantage over “Atheist”. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/27 "2006-09-15T16:37:31Z")
I’m happy with “atheist.” Why not? It’s a simple descriptor, and if there’s negative baggage attached to the term, that’s not my fault. If the posters to this thread can’t come up with anything better, you can be sure that’s because there _is_ nothing better. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/28 "2006-09-15T16:43:21Z")
I could swear that we had a thread debating the merits of “bright” on this board, but I can’t find it. I hope that parts of my last post didn’t come off too strong, but I like “atheist” as a term - it’s accurate and unlike some of these other terms, non-judgmental. It says nothing beyond what it means and I don’t think it’s any more “middle finger”-y than the term Christian. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/29 "2006-09-15T16:48:33Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **AHunter3** > Well, what is this “God” in which / in whom you disbelieve? There were no disbelievers until there were believers. It is the believers who define the god, not the other way around. [/quote] If some of the anthro and archeo folk are right, y’all don’t necessarily predate them. > [@](#): > > And how is the universe as viewed by the believers different from the one you believe in? Considerably more magic. [/quote] OK, so what’s a good adjective for the kid of thinking or world-perceiving that doesn’t involve magical thinking or references to magic? That would be an adjective that could define atheists without the definition being phrased in terms of what atheists _aren’t_. That’s where I was trying to go with “empiricist”. Not sure it would be applicable to all atheists though. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/30 "2006-09-15T16:56:21Z")
It doesn’t exactly fit, but I’ve always thought “apostate” had a nice ring to it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/31 "2006-09-15T17:13:15Z")
[QUOTE=pravnik] It doesn’t exactly fit, but I’ve always thought “apostate” had a nice ring to it. [/QUOTE] That one’s gotten kind of loaded, though. It’s big with the militant Muslim terrorist crowd. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/32 "2006-09-15T17:18:32Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] That one’s gotten kind of loaded, though. It’s big with the militant Muslim terrorist crowd. [/QUOTE] Oh, didn’t realize that. I just kind of visualized an exchange like: “So, where do you go to church?” “Me? I’m an apostate.” “Oh, that’s…nice. Do they go on Sundays too?” ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/33 "2006-09-15T17:37:01Z")
So if you are agnostic are you a Lite-Bright? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/34 "2006-09-15T17:53:25Z")
[QUOTE=AHunter3] If some of the anthro and archeo folk are right, y’all don’t necessarily predate them. [/QUOTE] Can you elaborate? It seems incomprehensible to me that the concept of “atheist,” meaning “without god,” could exist before the concept of “god” existed. > [@](#): > > OK, so what’s a good adjective for the kid of thinking or world-perceiving that doesn’t involve magical thinking or references to magic? That would be an adjective that could define atheists without the definition being phrased in terms of what atheists _aren’t_. I don’t know. That wasn’t what you asked. The prefix “a” makes “without” necessarily a part of the definiton. It is essential to the description of an atheist that he _not_ be a believer in god. An atheist is defined by what he is not. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/35 "2006-09-15T18:00:18Z")
It is what it is. I disagree that we’re flipping off the rest of the world. Just flipping off the concept of god. Huge difference. Atheist works for me. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/36 "2006-09-15T18:09:08Z")
[QUOTE=pravnik] “So, where do you go to church?” “Me? I’m an apostate.” “Oh, that’s…nice. Do they go on Sundays too?” [/QUOTE] One of my very good friend’s uses “Apathetic” when queried about what religion he is, and I had the opportunity to use it when some Jehovah’s Witnesses came to the door. It was a mom and 2 daughters and the exchange went like this: JW: So may I ask what religion you belong to? Me: I’m Apathetic JW: (furrows brow) I don’t think I know that one (while her daughter rolls her eyes) I loved it and even though I’m a stronger atheist than what it connotes, it’s now my stock answer. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/37 "2006-09-15T18:10:45Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] Originally Posted by **AHunter3** > [@](#): > > If some of the anthro and archeo folk are right, y’all don’t necessarily predate them. Can you elaborate? It seems incomprehensible to me that the concept of “atheist,” meaning “without god,” could exist before the concept of “god” existed. [/quote] Sorry, I must’ve misread. I thought you were saying the atheists came first. (Not that they would have been called atheists, but harkening back to a time before religious beliefs) ---
**Author:** ![mrrealtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@mrrealtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrrealtime)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/38 "2006-09-15T18:25:24Z")
Well…I had been starting to read about [Epicurious](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicurian) in Stanley’s history of Philosophy. An “Epicurian” sort of sounds sophisticated and worldly, and makes absolutely no reference to religious people. I have a Lucretious book as well, once I get around to reading that I might go for “Lucretian”. The only problem is it seems a bit difficult to pronounce. But then, that mabey adds to the mystique. ---
**Author:** ![mrrealtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@mrrealtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrrealtime)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/39 "2006-09-15T18:26:26Z")
sorry thats [Epicurus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicurian) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831/40 "2006-09-15T18:30:20Z")
[QUOTE=mrrealtime] sorry thats [Epicurus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicurian) [/QUOTE] None of those beliefs are common to all atheists, and your link makes it clear that Epicureanism is theistic! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sick-of-the-term-atheist-is-there-a-better-alternative/372831.md?page=3)