# So tell me, what defines a True Atheist?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-what-defines-a-true-atheist/781222>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [March 2, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-what-defines-a-true-atheist/781222 "2017-03-02T18:07:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 18

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**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-what-defines-a-true-atheist/781222/341 "2017-03-22T20:29:16Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> Did Religion create the belief in the supernatural? 😕😕:dubious::dubious:

No, I am saying religion created “atheist”. It is right there in the word: **a** theist. The word suggests by its very existence that belief is prior to unbelief. It ties unbelief to religion, by saying _those people do not accept the fucked-up_ bouillabaisse \* of myth and doctrine that we live by, so we must call them “not-usses”\*.

“Atheists” are just people. Most of them never even give any particular thought to the bullshit labels that doctrinaires want to slap them with. Those particular labels are only useful for identifying _the enemy_. Less of that would be a good thing.

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**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-what-defines-a-true-atheist/781222/342 "2017-03-22T23:03:49Z")

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> [@eschereal](#):
>
> No, I am saying religion created “atheist”. It is right there in the word: **a** theist. The word suggests by its very existence that belief is prior to unbelief. It ties unbelief to religion, by saying _those people do not accept the fucked-up_ bouillabaisse \* of myth and doctrine that we live by, so we must call them “not-usses”\*.
> 
> “Atheists” are just people. Most of them never even give any particular thought to the bullshit labels that doctrinaires want to slap them with. Those particular labels are only useful for identifying _the enemy_. Less of that would be a good thing.

That’s pretty much my position also. Maybe we should start calling theists and deists ‘non-logical reasoners’. or ‘willing-to-suspend-common-sense belief justifiers’. In other words, define _ **them** _ by what they are lacking.

As I have said before, I don’t think of myself as Atheist. I don’t define myself by things I don’t do or believe in. I don’t call myself a non-smoker, a non-stamp collector, or a non-car enthusiast, either, despite all those being just as valid as atheist.

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**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-what-defines-a-true-atheist/781222/343 "2017-03-22T23:38:04Z")

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> [@Wallaby](#):
>
> I don’t call myself a non-smoker, a non-stamp collector, or a non-car enthusiast, either, despite all those being just as valid as atheist.

They’re not just as valid. Here’s a good post that lists some reasons why:

> [@Ask the Atheist](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-atheist/737704/28):
>
> Non stamp collectors have never been barred from holding public office. The 1961 supreme court ruling in Torcaso v. Watkins makes it moot, but the constitutions of these eight states still forbid atheists from holding office: Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Even though they are unenforceable, it would be nice to have these amended…can’t happen in today’s theistic political climate.
> 
> Until recently atheism has polled as the highest rated deal breaker for electability. Since they didn’t ask, the non-collection of stamps might be similarly unpopular, but I’d give the pollsters the benefit of the doubt on not thinking it worth asking. I have a standing bet with a queer catholic friend that we will have a gay or lesbian president before we elect an out atheist. We both consider that if either of us has to pay up, it will be a win.[Article with links to poll data](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/06/22/new-gallup-poll-shows-that-atheists-are-no-longer-the-least-electable-group-in-america/).
> 
> Stamp collecting is never considered when awarding child custody, nor the suitability of potential adoptive parents.
> 
> I’ve never had a girlfriend or her parents throw a conniption fit because I don’t collect stamps, nor has a potential online dating partner made stamp collection a condition of meeting me.
> 
> Furthermore, stamp collectors are not conducting organized campaigns to have their beliefs taught in science classes, nor to control the ability of non stamp collectors to marry or adopt children.

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18863633&postcount=28](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18863633&postcount=28)

We also don’t have people starting threads titled _So tell me, what defines a True non-stamp collector?_

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**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-tell-me-what-defines-a-true-atheist/781222/344 "2017-03-23T00:43:44Z")

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> [@x-ray\_vision](#):
>
> They’re not just as valid. Here’s a good post that lists some reasons why:  
> [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18863633&postcount=28](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18863633&postcount=28)
> 
> We also don’t have people starting threads titled _So tell me, what defines a True non-stamp collector?_

I don’t disagree with your description with what is happening. I think it goes back to what _ **eschereal** _ posted:

“Those particular labels are only useful for identifying the enemy.”

It’s discrimination based on even less factual context than any other form. It is discrimination based upon something that is _ **completely made up** _ and nothing else. We should treat it with the utter contempt it deserves - up to the point where they impinge upon our rights (as in the post you linked to).

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