atheistic

American  

[ey-thee-is-tik] / ˌeɪ θiˈɪs tɪk /

Also atheistical

adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of atheists or atheism; containing, suggesting, or disseminating atheism.

   atheistic literature; atheistic people.

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Usage

What does atheistic mean? Atheistic is an adjective that’s used to describe things that involve atheism—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. Atheistic is used in this same way. For example, the writings of an atheist could be described as atheistic. The themes of a certain book or film that is thought to promote or deal with atheism could also be described as atheistic. The word is often used in a negative way by those who disagree with atheism. The word atheistic means something different from the word agnostic, which refers to or describes a person who believes 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.”A less common variant of atheistic is atheistical. Example: The film was criticized by church leaders due to what they interpreted as an atheistic message.

Other Word Forms

• antiatheistic
  adjective
• antiatheistical
  adjective
• antiatheistically
  adverb
• atheistically
  adverb
• atheisticness
  noun
• nonatheistic
  adjective
• nonatheistical
  adjective
• nonatheistically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of atheistic

First recorded in 1625–35; atheist + -ic

Explanation

If you are atheistic, you don't believe in God. Or in any gods for that matter. You’re also probably not interested in praying or participating in religious rituals. The French root of atheistic literally translates to “without god,” and that’s how atheistic folks choose to live — with no god talk affecting their decisions. Some people who are atheistic actually get together to discuss their lack of belief, called atheism. Atheistic is an exception to the rule about “i before e except after c,” so watch out for that.

Example Sentences

The Atheistic logic runs off from him like water; the great Fact stares him in the face.

From The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, May 1844 Volume 23, Number 5 by Clark, Lewis Gaylord

But it was called Atheistic, like the Sankhya philosophy, which admitted but one subjective Self, and considered creation as an illusion of that Self, imaging itself for a while in the mirror of nature.

From Chips From A German Workshop - Volume I Essays on the Science of Religion by Müller, F. Max (Friedrich Max)

The fault here, we suspect, is that both writers took their statement of Atheism, not from Atheistic writers but from their opponents.

From Theism or Atheism The Great Alternative by Cohen, Chapman

But these faults were conquered long ere I left the Atheistic camp, and they were the faults of my personality, not of the Atheistic philosophy.

From Annie Besant An Autobiography by Besant, Annie Wood

When thus applied, it is often associated with the recognition of the Divine existence, and cannot, therefore, be ranked among systems avowedly Atheistic.

From Modern Atheism under its forms of Pantheism, Materialism, Secularism, Development, and Natural Laws by Buchanan, James