I find it difficult to use phrases like, "I do not believe in God" or "I am an atheist".
Why? Well, certainly not because I do believe and not because I am a theist. The former sounds simply silly to me: it's rather like saying, "I do not believe in little green men made of jelly who live at the bottom of my garden". Were I to utter such a statement most people would commend me for my non belief yet still write me off as a madman for saying so anyway.
As for the latter? Well, I just do not wish to describe myself in the negative. I might not be a murderer but i do not feel the need to constantly label myself as a non-murderer. It's taken for granted that I am not until it is shown that I am. Therefore the use of the term atheist gives credence to the assumption that being religious is the norm and the others are deviant, when it is, in fact, the other way around. Those of religion should refer to themselves as 'anormal'.
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7 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I prefer, if the situation actually calls for it:
Polite: "I do not ascribe to such things."
Sarcastic: "I consider such things claptrap."
AnneWimsey
Level 9
Sep 10, 2018
0
If pressed, and willing to answer, I simply say ‘I’m not religious.’ To me, that would exclude anything they practice that’s centered around religion, including the belief in a god. ...and notice I did not mention “God,” but “a god,” as in one of several, or many, or the last one standing. No need to deny the existence of a non-existent entity 
I find no need to introduce myself as atheist, as though picking a fight.. If in the presence of what appears to be an honest person, I may describe myself as A-theist, or ‘non religious,’ to speed up a possible friendship or keep from wasting our time..
Those stuck on semantics are too wishiwashi for me, say what you think and mean what you say, and we’ll go from there 
Varn
Level 8
Sep 10, 2018
0
omg. Glad I live in a heathen country. I have never heard anyone refer to the phrase " I am an atheist" as a negative term. how oppressive for you.
MsDemeanour
Level 8
Sep 10, 2018
1
Well the religious are the norm. A pretty big majority in the world does believe in some form of deity. I have no problem with that, it's just a word and many people don't even know what it means. Some think 'atheist' means the same as 'satanist'. Who cares? It's a fitting description.
Dietl
Level 7
Sep 10, 2018
0
yes they should. but let's face it, they have the ball right now, and they're running with it. if the most vocal folks were atheists, there would be no need for the word at all. however, religion is so prevalent, and so vocal, and so invasive, that there IS a need for the word, to describe the concept. is this how it should be? of course not. is it necessary at the moment? yes, i think so. we're not post-theism yet.
g
genessa
Level 8
Sep 10, 2018
1
How exactly do you describe yourself when a direct question is put to you?
Marionville
Level 10
Sep 10, 2018
0
For myself, even before I decided I was agnostic, if someone asked me my religion, I'd shrug and say that I'm sort of "Christian-ish, with strong leanings toward Buddhism." Now I'd that I've decided I'm fully agnostic, that's what I say I am.
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