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atheism
[ ey-thee-iz-uhm ]
noun
- disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or a supreme being or beings.
- the philosophical position stating that there is no supreme being or beings.
atheism
/ ˈeɪθɪˌɪzəm /
noun
- rejection of belief in God or gods
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Other Words From
- an·ti·a·the·ism adjective noun
- pro·a·the·ism noun
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Word History and Origins
Origin of atheism1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of atheism1
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Example Sentences
They include unexpected details, such as where Burke was conceived or how psychedelic artist Alex Grey’s first LSD trip converted him from atheism to “radical transcendentalism.”
Consider that if you had a simple nighttime dream in which you met God, you’d be more likely to wake up, shake your head, and tell the story as a funny anecdote than you’d be to ditch your atheism.
He defied the atheism of communism and the empty religious practices of Putinism.
Atheism is highest in Europe, where there are established churches involved in the political process.
She is not public about her atheism, just as many of us are not public about our faith.
They all encourage her to spin her atheism into some form of belief.
In many ways, she seems a lock for the win, but her atheism puts her entire character in question.
A little or superficial knowledge may incline a man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth him back to religion.
He may, perhaps, be unhappy in his atheism, and wish to hear all my arguments to enable him the better to arrive at the truth.
The speculating atheist, the theist will tell us, may be an honest man, but his writings will cause atheism in politics.
So atheism, and the disbelief of the existence of the soul after death, characterized that materialism.
His uncompromising atheism is the very heart and core of his system and clarifies the whole situation.
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Related Words
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About This Word
What does atheism mean?
Atheism is the belief that there is no supreme being or deity. In other words, atheism is the denial of the existence of God or of any gods.
A person who holds such a belief can be called an atheist. The word atheist can also be used as an adjective to describe such beliefs or things involving such beliefs. The adjective atheistic can be used in the same way.
The word atheism means something different from agnosticism, which is the belief that it is impossible to know whether or not a supreme being exists. When asked if God or gods exist, an atheist would answer “No,” while an agnostic would answer “It is impossible to know.”
Example: Atheism isn’t the belief that God is bad—it’s the belief that God doesn’t exist.
Where does atheism come from?
The first records of the word atheism come from the 1580s. It ultimately comes from the Greek áthe(os), meaning “godless.” In atheism, the beginning part a- means “without” and the main root is based on a word meaning “god” (the words theology and theist are based on the same root). The noun suffix -ism indicates doctrine or belief system.
Historically, being known as an atheist has been dangerous—many atheists have even been tortured or killed, such as in societies that require adherence to a specific religion. Even today, people who embrace atheism face discrimination. Many atheists support policies that ensure that religious freedom applies even to those who do not follow any faith.
Did you know … ?
What are some other forms related to atheism?
What are some words that share a root or word element with atheism?
What are some words that often get used in discussing atheism?
What are some words atheism may be commonly confused with?
How is atheism used in real life?
The word atheism is the most common way of referring to the belief that a god or gods do not exist.
Atheism should never be used a political partisan boogeyman. This country was founded on the value of religious freedom for individuals of all faiths or none at all. RT if you agree. @MarshaBlackburn @VoteMarsha
— Secular Coalition for America (@seculardotorg) September 25, 2020
William Barr is wrong. Atheism does not result in moral decay. "The most secular countries in the world today fare much better on nearly every measure of peace, prosperity, and societal well-being than the most religious countries," writes @phil_zuckerman. https://t.co/597R00hHkf
— American Atheists (@AmericanAtheist) November 13, 2019
Mutual respect between theists & atheists will greatly improve when we wholeheartedly embrace freedom of & freedom from religion. This means schools may teach children about all religions & atheism, but may not impose/indoctrinate any one in particular.
— Impiety (@NoHolyScripture) October 27, 2019
Try using atheism!
True or False?
The word atheism refers to a fear or distrust of religious people.
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