atheism

Noun

atheism (usually uncountable, plural atheisms)

1. (usually, strictly) Belief that no deities exist (sometimes including rejection of other religious beliefs).
   • Near-synonyms: antireligiousness, irreligion, irreligiousness
   • For atheism to be rationally justified it is only necessary that it be more probable than not or at least more probable than theism. Certainty is no more required in the case of atheism than it is in the case of scientific theories.2002, Michael Martin, “Should atheists be agnostics?”, in Julian Baggini, editor, The Philosophers' Magazine, number 19, →ISSN, archived from the original on 20 Dec 2002, page 18

   Synonyms:

   ;, Epicureanism, antireligiousness, irreligion, irreligiousness

   Antonyms:

   theism, religion

2. (broadly, usually) A lack of belief in deities, or a belief that there is insufficient evidence to believe in a god.
   • Near-synonyms: irreligion, irreligiousness, nonreligion, nonreligiousness
   • The theory of Secularism is a form, not of dogmatic, but of skeptical, Atheism; it is dogmatic only in denying the sufficiency of the evidence for the being and perfections of God. It does not deny, it only does not believe, His existence.1857, James Buchanan, Modern Atheism: under its forms of Pantheism, Materialism, Secularism, Development, and Natural Laws, Boston: Gould and Lincoln, page 365

   Synonyms:

   ;, Epicureanism, irreligion, irreligiousness, nonreligion, nonreligiousness

   Antonyms:

   theism, religion

3. (usually, very loosely) Absence of belief that any deities exist (including absence of the concept of deities).
   • What can parents do, and mothers more especially, […] with regard to the atheism that is natural to all the children of men?1829, John Wesley, Sermons, on Several Occasions, 10th edition, volume 2, page 373
   • Atheism, in its basic form, is not a belief; it is the absence of belief. An atheist is not primarily a person who believes that a god does not exist; rather, he does not believe in the existence of a god.1979, George H. Smith, Atheism: The Case Against God, Buffalo, New York: Prometheus, →ISBN, →LCCN, LCC BL2747.3.S6 1979, page 7

   Synonyms:

   ;, Epicureanism

   Antonyms:

   theism, religion

4. (usually) Neglect of one's obligations to God; behavior incongruent with belief in God (regardless of belief in the strict sense).

   Synonyms:

   godlessness

5. (historical, rare, usually) Absence of belief in a particular deity, pantheon, or religious doctrine (notwithstanding belief in other deities).
   • Domitilla, Flavia, niece of the emperor Domitian (81-96). She and her husband, Flavius Clemens (consul in 95 and cousin of Domitian), were probably Christians; charged with atheism and adoption of Jewish ways, they were punished (95) with death (Clemens) and exile (Domitilla).1995, Richard P. McBrien, editor, The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism, HarperCollins, →ISBN, keyword Domitilla, Flavia, page 431
   • Sacrificial religion becomes redundant – which is why Christianity did indeed have a reputation in the ancient world for atheism: it rejected the key duty humans are thought to owe to the gods, namely sacrifice.2010, Ross Thompson, Buddhist Christianity: A Passionate Openness, O-Books, →ISBN, page 260
6. (proscribed, sometimes, usually) A rejection of all religions, even non-theistic ones.
   • Some worldviews are based in a belief in God; others are not. Buddhism, Taoism, atheism, Marxism, and existentialism are examples of worldviews that are nontheistic.2009 June 2, Ed Gungor, What Bothers Me Most about Christianity: Honest Reflections from an Open-Minded Christ Follower, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 13
   • Buddhism and atheism do agree on the view that there is no God. But Buddhism and atheist materialism totally disagree on the points such as “What is life?”, “Is there any Super natural?” etc.2013 December 16, Yalith Wijesurendra, Buddhist Answers: For the Critical Questions: A bridge from religion to science and reason, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 254