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?
Awokens. Or Ancient Astronaut Theorists are my comfortability words
Smart post, a bit too smart to matter on a day to day. Non-religious, Atheist, Agnostic, Normal. Call it what you will, the name is there to make the idea easier to comunnicate, lest you have to give a full monologue every time some one asks you what you believe in.
I don't mind it, but rational or free-thinker are good words that fit all fantasy beliefs.
I am mostly comfortable with the word, and I use it to describe myself when the occasion calls for it...when someone asks, or the subject of religion comes up.
I'm not at all comfortable with the term. I'd rather not apply labels to myself at all, because it puts me at risk of being held to account both by others who wear the same label and those who don't, and because it can suggest faithfulness to a particular viewpoint for the sake of maintaining the reputation of that viewpoint and those who claim to hold it rather than merely being convinced of that viewpoint for the time being. In the case of 'atheism' that viewpoint would presumably be that there are no gods—whatever gods are—making it appear to be as much a "faith" as any other.
I'm not comfortable with the word because I can't prove that God doesn't exist.
I think pretty much everyone prays for help from time to time - just in case.
I am perfectly comfortable with the term. I don't care for the phrase godless heathen, but that's just me.....now that I think about it......Godless heathen seems to be a more accurate description of my situation. Either way, they are just terms to differentiate between believers and non believers. We do need some way to tell us apart. They could just as well call us Georges and themselves Jims. It wouldn't make much difference to me. Let's just agree to allow the Jims their fairy tales, while us Georges follow reasonable thought