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How comfortable are you with the word "Atheist" ?

We don't have a word for non-believers of Santa Claus or non-believers of The Tooth Fairy, yet we live in a world where those who don't believe in God(s) or supernatural religious philosophies are labelled Atheists. I think that the state of non-believing is the normal state of things as it doesn't need to be taught, unlike religions. I am consequently uncomfortable with using the word and I feel that I concede grounds to their insanity when I use it. What are your thoughts?

Chris90045 5 Sep 29
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562 comments (326 - 350)

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0

very comfortable like being called an American.

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It seems to be a double edge sword . You see a sun rise,, the birth of a child, healing of the sick, unexplained blessing , you would say there must be a God .. Then you see a child dying , war , famine , all kind of injustice and wander where is god . Does he exist , or why am I so blessed and others are not . Then we are taught not to question what god does ,its his will . The bible says seek and you shall find , so we seek an answer and God replies,"its my will ". I would still like to know why .

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It seems to be a double edge sword . A baby is born , the sun rises the sun sets both are beautiful . Unexplained blessing , the healing of the sick , you say there is a God . Then you see the death of an infant , sickness, disease all kind of injustice in the world . You wonder is there a God , does he exist . If so why is he allowing all this to happen. Why is everyone in such turmoil and I am so blessed . The bible teaches seek and you shall find so I asked God why he said its my will , . WILL FOR WHAT PURPOSE. Its a matter of trust , trusting there is a God and everything works for the good to those that love him . To love him or her is to know him , talk to him or her through our prayers and faith in him . Watch how he works in your life . The country prayed for healing of our land and Trump became president, now everyone seems to be pissed off he is . Faith and trust .

0

I love the word Atheist. I have to remind myself not to be so smug about it on the inside since I'm surrounded by deluded people. Ha ha ha!

0

I'm totally fine. I'm up in the air with the word agnostic though. People I encounter tend to use it to describe people who "haven't found Jesus", like if I only knew what they know, I am still saveable. That's just not true, though. I left religion, it wasn't that I just didn't get into it.

I am just honest about atheism and how nobody can be truly 100% certain. We can say there's no evidence, and act as though that's the same as there not being a god, but they're logically two different things. It's like saying no oranges are blue. That's awfully hard to prove. It's just as hard to prove as someone saying somewhere there exists a blue orange, but I can't tell you anything more about it.

0

Although I've referred to myself as an atheist at times, I'm not totally down with the word, which originally was employed only to condemn those who doubted religion. I wouldn't categorically deny the existence of something I cannot even conceive of, but I will remain skeptical. After all, I don't believe anyone knows everything there is to know, or even much, about this universe, existence, life, reality -- whatever -- and its origins.
In fact, I don't even know why my profile picture is sideways.

1

When I look at all the misery caused by religion, I thank god I'm an atheist.

2

honestly, Im from the bible belt, so calling myself an atheist here is like asking to be thrown in a viper pit.. so not that comfortable.

i do anyway, sometimes to do christians a heckin concern.. sometimes in a feeble attempt to educate.. Ive met two christians with an open mind as a result. theyre genuinely good, curious, and self driven people though, so very different from the masses.

the word atheist has gotten such a negative connotation over the years bc of the radicalization of super religions.. maybe we should rebrand to "Realism" and see who gets it

1

Having Catholic Schooling even on College. the first time I lied to a priest in the confessionary and I wasn't stricken by the Mighty Reach of God Almighty while still on 4th grade... the Faking and Lying On church Started. The Rest is History... Very Comfortable.

0

I agree with your point. I like non-theist better, if a label must be applied.

2

I don't think we should call our selves atheists as much as we don't call each other non-flat earthers, non-creationists, non-astrologers, etc.

0

I'm a new member here. I just usually say I'm a non believer. I live in the USA and sometimes some people have a look like you don't believe in god? They seem bewildered. That seems strange to me.

0

I am comfortable with the word, and I think it is needed because it seems like the norm is to have a believe in a deity. If a majority group was trying to install Bigfoot worship in our children's school, we would need a name for Abigfootists who were rational. I wish theists would come to their senses. Maybe some day they will join us, and the world can be as one.

1

Well, before Trump was elected, I was comfortable with it.

I work with Bible Belt Christians. If asked what my religion is, I no longer reveal that I am an atheist. Now, most fundamentalist types cannot deal with atheists, so I tell them I'm Jewish. They love Jews; makes them feel superior because they have jesus and Jews don't.

0

Nope. I'm not actually an atheist. I believe in many possibilities, but since I don't actually know what's out there, I define myself as agnostic, or more specifically, a pantheistic buddhist christian agnostic. (it comforts me to retain some belief in christ, illogical as that it.)

0

The word "atheist" carries an awful lot of baggage in the world. I prefer "agnostic." This word seems to make room for investigation while "atheist" seems so absolute and sure..... and militant.

0

Being an atheist is the human default position. We're all born atheists. We have to be taught that other nonsense. I'm totally comfortable with the word "atheist".

0

I am not comfortable with it. I think it implies a certainty that all the mysteries of the universe are known by only by me. It doesn't leave any room for doubt. I'm not that certain that I know the shape of the universe, or every entity in it. I just don't worship anyone.

0

I don't know, I oddly find it sexy; not going by a facade and letting yourself be the judge and knowing we're all equal. Often, thinking of a higher power can be quite overwhelming so kudos to all the atheists.

0

I tell them I'm Free Thinker now after been raised Catholic and learned what all religions are about. As an adult now, I realized that NO ONE on this earth knows what happens once we die, and even preachers and pastors and other religious leaders do not know. They BELIEVE their faith. And that's o.k. It's just not TRUTH.

0

Quite comfortable.

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Very comfortable

1

Simply not. Not unless I have to say the word for the Theist to understand. I enjoy the word Humanist or Free Thinker yet not as much Skeptic because I am not a skeptic as that denotes in a way to me anyway negativity as does Atheist denote being opposite of something when I would rather simply say I am for humanity, I am for logical discourse, factual data and I am not one to fall for mystical faith thinking which is hurtful to society so I try to come at it from that angle instead of having to say I am an Atheist which to many is a misnomer and misunderstood and leaves me open to direct attack when as they say....honey brings more flies than vinegar and to help others to me is more important than pushing something in the face of another and many 100 percent Atheist speaking people....(yes, I am an Atheist and a kind one) ....seem to be as dogmatic as the Fundamentalists and that is a turn off and just spending life fighting...well, I had rather love and speak the truth in love if I can borrow a phrase written in the Theists texts they oft do not use. Speak the truth in love is so important to me and being patient in the face of adversity and never reveal your entire position until it becomes very necessary. Peace to you all.

1

It depends upon the situation in which I find myself at the moment. I tend to use atheist, agnostic, and secular humanist interchangeably even though there are obvious differences. If the situation calls for going into any detail at all, I will define my terms more carefully. I lack a belief in the divine, therefore I am an atheist. I am open to the possibility that some kind of entity may exist that could be called God, therefore I am an agnostic. I believe in living an ethical life, therefore I am a secular humanist.

1

Completely! It has Latin and Greek roots a-thista meaning without a doctrine or assumption of belief. Perfect description of me!

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