Should the term atheist even exist?

I though the teapot orbited the planet Gong! Darn it!! I've starred this stoopid question because it is getting some fine replies. George Orwell's "Newspeak" in 1984 showed that reducing the variety in language would reduce the breadth of opinion that could be held. I don't think that eliminating the word 'atheist' would stop people abandoning God. "Unbeliever" is a useful word too.

You bring up a great point, I think that this world is over tagged with different labels that mean absolutely nothing.

It seems to me that the labels are more of a status thing or a way to make people feel more important or part of a group.

As far as the word atheist goes I don't think it's more or less provocative as saying that your are a boyscout, catholic, christian, or satanist.

To me it's just a label because when it comes down to it whatever you believe is your belief and it's none of my business, and not for me to judge.

Interesting.

There is no definition for not believing in dragons because precious few carp on about their disbelief in dragons. There are no books to solidify one's disbelief in them. And, finally, very few , if any, visit forums to say, "Wow. Those dragon believers are a silly lot, aren't they? It's so freeing not to believe in dragons, amirite?"

In order to propose eliminating a term, you really have to start behaving in a way that mirrors the , uhh, lack of a definition.

The other premise, albeit shaky, is that perhaps the default position * is * the propensity to believe in "something greater". This would be an expected characteristic of a created being. If belief is the default position, and I'm not saying it is - this is just a premise , then the disbelief of the default would require a definition.

Perhaps the term exists because it is just assumed that most people believe in a higher power, or at the very least, a spiritual realm. Even the Neanderthals buried their dead with flowers and other items, indicating a spiritual belief. As knowledge and science have expanded, some have let go this belief, while others have never held it at all. And so, a word exists to help define those who do not subscribe to the belief in a supreme entity.

You're right, from a sort of 'hey, religion is ridiculous' stand point. But from a 'most people believe in crazy thing X' standpoint, you're wrong. Sorry.

We're called 'atheist' b/c the great stupid masses tend to believe in similar stupid things, called 'gods'. Masses decide how the language goes in their usual blind stupid way. Of course, you also decide how the language goes so if you want to start calling them 'moronologists' or something, hey, great. After all, 'thumpers' has caught on handily.

The word "atheist" literally translates to "without god."

It's only a bad connotation if somebody says so.

But as an atheist, I don't believe everything I hear anyway.

There are not too many people who do believe in teapots orbiting Venus, so you need a name neither for them, nor for those of a contrary opinion.

Of all atheist hobbyhorses, this is one of the silliest. (Notice the way I needed an adjective there.)

The term should exist for I see no reason why it shouldn't. Some people of course find the term distasteful but that is no reason for deleting the term from our language...I can think of more contentious terms that should be deleted....

It is a word which categorizes people, without full explaining what they are like, People who are atheist don't spend all day wondering how to get one over on the theist. I spend my time, reading nature books, and photochemistry.

Someday it won't. Someday when humanity functions as a cohesive unit while openly acknowledging that we only have our own instinct and critical thinking skills to navigate life with.

OK that won't ever actually happen but we can dream.