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What is an atheist?

18 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    The word "atheism" can be broken down into parts. The prefix "a-" means "without" in this context, and the word "theism" means "belief in a god or gods". So "atheism" therefore means "without belief in a god or gods".

    There are different kinds of atheism. Being "without belief" in deities is considered "weak" atheism as it is the absence of a positive assertion. "Believing" that deities do not exist is called "strong" atheism because it is a positive assertion.

    There are also agnostics, those who consider themselves and/or humanity as incapable of possessing absolute answers regarding the existence of deities. In that sense, agnostics are also weak atheists as they are "without belief".

    There is also "ignosticism" which asserts that the question "does god exist" isn't worth asking because it is as illogical as asking "what color is Thursday". It is a nonsensical question that cannot possibly yield meaningful results and is therefore irrelevent.

    Source(s): The Wikipedia article is an excellent resource on atheism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheism Here is "Atheism 101" by Austin Cline: http://atheism.about.com/od/aboutatheism/p/atheism... Here is the website for one of the leading atheist organizations: http://www.atheists.org/ Search for books on atheism at: http://worldcat.org/search?q=atheism+the+case+agai...
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Someone who has decided they are sufficient in themselves and has no need of God. In other words, they want no God above them, they are their own god.

    Have you ever heard the saying "There are no atheists in foxholes"

    Life is so easy and abundant and people are so independent, why bow down to a greater force? Just see whose name people cry out ,whether they want to or not, when they are hanging from a cliff or in deep trouble. "Oh God!" They cry, because the very fibers of their being knows that they were created by God, but they choose to deny Him.

    That is what an atheist is to me, someone who Chooses to deny God's existence.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    An atheist is a person who does not believe that there are any gods of any sort, whether "supreme beings" or not.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Simply put, someone who doesn't believe in God or ANY higher being. In my OPINION, it seems more of a belief that there is no God. About as enthusiastic about it as someone who does believe in something. That's nothing but my personal experience though.

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    'Weak' Atheist: "One who lacks belief in god(s)."

    'Strong' Atheist: "One who believes there is no god."

    Atheistic Agnostic: "One who believes there isn't sufficient evidence to say whether there is a god or not, but thinks that it's highly improbable."

    That's all the 'atheist' definitions I know. :P

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    A person who does not believe in God.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    THIS IS REligion here

    someone who doesnt believe

  • 1 decade ago

    Someone who doesnt believe in ANY kind of God at all, none.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    One who denies the diety of God

    Does not believe that God exist

    They just believe in themselves.

  • 1 decade ago

    One who knows that there are no god(s)

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