In a perfect world there would be no atheists, but it's not, and as long as people believe ancient theistic crap, they need to know that there are atheistic non crap believers in the world. But if there was a God, he could straighten this out, easily !

I don't want to redefine who I am. People come up with many terms to make themselves seem more respectful because they fear rejection or negative consequences. I embrace the word atheist.

In the late '80s early' 90s those who learned that I did not believe in GOD labeled me a bad person.
Now, most who know me understand that I am a very good human! Some say that I have a better chance of going to "heaven" than most Christians!!!
They totally don't get it but, I'm not offended.

I am a logophile. Words help us understand and "atheist" is simple and descriptive (as long as we agree on the definition of course!)

Atheist has a bit of shock value so why not?

Completely comfortable

I have no problem with the atheist label in general. I do expand on that by saying that I am atheist/evidentialist/rationalist because it describes my position in the scheme of things much better than the single word 'atheist'. I hold no beliefs other than the mundane that we all use to navigate our world. I require evidence in order to seriously consider anything, and any discussion must be rational or I won't engage.

I do not feel that we need a label. Everyone is born an atheist and then some are taught to be believe in something making them a theist. I have no problem identifying myself as an atheist, but it is not something I think about or let dictate my actions. For example, I would never say something like, "I would never go to your church because I am an atheist." However I would say, "I have no interest in attending your church service. It does not appeal to me." If someone asks me if I am atheist, I also answer yes because by definition that is what I am.

I feel fine identifying with that word - even though I don't discuss my views often with my family.

I also understand the baggage that unfortunately comes with it. So I can see several different sides of this whole discussion.

Though I don't utter it to just anyone, I'm fine w/the term. It's honest, straight-forward, and means what it says. Shout it from the mountain tops!

I'm fine with it, and think we should be open about it, so that the word loses some of its baggage with the general (religious) public. The more people that are public that they are atheists, the more that will be comfortable with the word, until eventually we no longer need it as we will be the majority.

David Silverman talks about this in his book, and points out that most people don't understand many of the other words used by atheists (eg. humanist, freethinker, etc.), so will assume you believe in a god until you explain otherwise.

I went to a Catholic School (Christian Brothers) from 1953 to 1962. My mother was a Catholic by virtue of the fact that HER mother (a Lutheran from Denmark) married an Irish Catholic here in Australia. My Dad was nominally Methodist, but of course way back then in the Protestant/Catholic wars, if a Methodist wanted to marry a Catholic, Catholicism always won out!

When I matriculated from Year 12 at the age of 16 and went to Teachers College, I read EVERY book in a number of libraries about Comparative Religion! I learnt so many things that the Christian Brothers had neglected to tell me about other religions --- although I will NEVER accuse my wonderful teachers of any of the awful things that are thrown about today!

I very soon came to the realisation that there were huge numbers of religions in the world, including a number that had immense followings! They could not ALL be right, and I decided that on the balance of probabilities, NONE of them were!

I have no problem at all about calling myself and atheist. I have been a paid up member of the Australian Skeptics for decades and a paid up member of the Australian Atheists for almost as long!

I employ a lot of people and have done for a very long time, and all my staff know my attitude to gods. They accept it and we often laugh about it together!

At the same time, I have people who work for me who are religious and I welcome them --- provided their beliefs do not affect their work performance --- and I am yet to see a case where it did!

OK

I've been an Atheist all my life, well Satanist for 20 years(which is not a bad thing, still Atheist, I just follow the guidelines of Satanism) I just recently found out that people are nervous around Atheists, and to me, the word Atheist doesn't flinch me, my family has known since I was able to walk that I did not believe in God, Santa, or the Tooth Fairy lol

I prefer the term agnostic for myself. Any religion I can name can be disproven but I can't say for certain that there isn't some higher power out there that doesn't care about who wins the football game and gives little worry to whether or not we get hit by an asteroid. In simple terms, while most existing religions can be proved false I can not in full faith there is no god at all because there still might be one out there somewhere busy playing with his other ant farms or whatever. That's just my take on it.

I don't much care about it, it doesn't tell you much about me as a person. That's pretty much my only contention with the word.

I feel atheist is defining my core, but leaves out how religiously literate I am.

I am ok with it even though I prefer to be called agnostic. I am an atheist in the sense that I don't believe in a god. However, I am not an atheist if by atheist you mean that you can know that there is no god. I think it is fundamentally unknowable.

It is just a label

I've identified as an Atheist for my entire adult life. I agree that it's an odd word, considering there is no word for people who don't believe in Santa, the tooth fair, the Easter Bunny, etc. But I see no reason to be uncomfortable with it. The religious may not like it, but I use the word with pride.

Sometimes I'm uncomfortable with a specific situation, so I say I'm non-religious instead, just because that seems to be easier for people to get their heads around.

I have no problem at all using the word atheist and I don't feel that I've conceded any ground to the religious. I agree that the state of not believing should be the "default" state, and maybe someday it will be.

I'm proud to call myself and be called an atheist.

YES!

I'm comfortable with the word, but it does carry a stigma with many people. I often find myself trying to explain what it means then answering a million questions after, it can be exhausting.

I understand your plight, but i honestly think its because as an intellect people we tend to need labels for all things, i guess for understanding and clarity towards it. Words like texting, aren't that old. But not believing in a doctrine that's shoved down the throats of billions entices the need of a label. What's sad is how misrepresented the non-believer community is, i honestly thought you all were satanic, but thats the southern Baptist talking????