I'm comfortable with it. but in some company it can be threatening. As in people will threaten you for being an atheist. I count my blessings for being free to say it. I know it isn't true for everyone and indeed, may not always be true for me.

I don't have a problem with it at all. Of course, I'm retired and don't have to worry about a boss or a job, my kids seem to understand, and I'm well-prepared for anyone who would question this choice or start to proselytize.

very comfortable

I can see the value in religion. It explains the inexplicable. It provides hope in hopeless situations. It provides comfort in mortality. It sets a moral code. Sometimes I envy the religious, because they have nothing to fear in death, and they genuinely believe that, through the power of prayer, they can avoid or get themselves out of bad situations. It must be reassuring to have that hope.

So I do wonder whether people, given no influence in either direction (including scientific explanation) would come to a state of religious belief on their own. Perhaps to explain why the sun rises and sets. Perhaps so that they can pray that their crops don't fail or the volcano doesn't erupt. Perhaps so that they can come to terms with their own approaching death, or the death of someone they care about.

It must have started somewhere. I believe human beings are naturally superstitious, and religion is just an extension of that.

Very comfortable. We (atheists) need to start telling people to normalize it so it's not so taboo.

I just say I’m a humanist. It’s all I know.

I'm happy with Atheist. Prefer Anti-theist though

I agree Atheism is the default position, but I wear it proudly if for no other reason that believers in Santa Claus don't try to dictate political & social issues as theists do. FFR is an important issue & I'll stand behind it any way I can!

Non religious is best for me personally although the term can be very subjective. As a musician. I'm very 'religious' about my music and the performance thereof.

This word has negative connotations and for things to really change the language has to come along and help change it. The "Brights" movement is one such program. It is international and has some important advocates.

It is said no one is born with a religion; one acquires it. Getting religion out of the public sphere is paramount to changing the impact of religion. FFRF is the main warrior to this ends. It is also supported by this site.

I consider myself a Secular Humanist but I will say that I am an Atheist without hesitation.

I think that every act we make every word we speak defines us and that is possible that it is no shock to anyone to admit to being an atheist. I am with you totally about the state of non believing -
I think it might be quite uninteresting because it doesn't really register as a 'doing' verb just passive and uninteresting except if someone is up for a fight to reclaim your soul for you. I suppose I would take issue with 'insanity' - I think people who genuinely believe and are comfortable with that belief and don't proseletyse have found a good way to ensure that they have positive mental health albeit one I wouldn't choose.

I have no response because that's a real thinker and can only compliment saying that that was very well put and I must agree on this point of view 100% and must say there's just an awful amount of stigmata that comes along with that word such as frowns, anger and then there's the Christian thing to do, HATE...

I have no response because that's a real thinker and can only compliment saying that that was very well put and I must agree on this point of view 100% ???? and must say there's just an awful amount of stigmata that come along with that word such as frowns, anger and and then there's the Christian thing to do HATE...

I will not identify as anything but as an atheist. Pagan, agnostic, non believers etc.. all of these terms aren’t quite descriptive enough as to the fact that I do not believe in a god and or gods. The term atheist makes me feel confident, which is important when dealing with the believers and is also a simple explanation. People hear “atheist” and feel as if we have these crazy beliefs, when we have the most simple explanation for them.

Comfortable, it translates to - 'without a god'

my contention has always been that no one knows. No one can know. I admit that anything could be the truth, from Druids to Scientologists. Religion is for people who have to know, thats why it exists.

Martin Amis, Christopher Hitchens' best friend said that he is agnostic because of the things we still don't know about the universe. I agree with that. I choose the term Anti-Theist because when you live in a world where Buddhists are committing genocide...thats sort of cancels out all of the above.

I'm pretty comfortable with it, and can see how people arrive to that conclusion with me. My only gripe is that I'm not actually atheist.

It's the perfect, unambiguous description of me. Why pander to someone's insecurity.

Always seemed weird to me to define yourself by something you're not. Whatevs though. I'm ignostic myself, so am safely left out of this particular debate.

I myself am very comfortable with the term Atheist. My family and my wife are not so comfortable with my position regarding Religions. I see the reasoning of the past to develop Religion for the control and comfort of the masses. The need to have an explanation for things unknown has always been a necessity for the young and ignorant. I remember asking my mother why the sky is blue and being told because God willed it so. Didn’t buy it then so I studied the science behind it and realized that I would have to find my own answers. I digress because while I saw the reasons for religion I also saw it’s ugly side, the hatred of others who do not believe as they do the wars, the slavery, the subservient conditions of women ingrained into the very fabric of society that is nurtured by all religions. Seems to me that oceans of blood have been spelt in the name of religions. I myself can certainly walk through this life as an agnostic or an atheist knowing I have no hate or blood on my hands in the name of a god/deity who divides humanity.

I get pride when people call me an Atheist... I mean yes I am!

Of course. I mean, the only thing that Atheist means is that I reject the claims made by theists. I think the best thing I've read is " I'm good, without God. I'm good without God." That comma makes all the difference but the meaning ultimately remains the same. We simply reject the claims of theists, that's all. There are other names for what we "are" but Atheist seems to fit.

It simply means not theist so I am fine with that