atheism Hear it!

atheism Definition

athe·ism (āt̸hē iz′əm)

noun

  1. the belief that there is no God, or denial that God or gods exist
  2. godlessness

Etymology: MFr athéisme < Gr atheos, godless < a-, without + theos, god: see theo-

atheism Related Forms
a′the·is·tic adjective or a′the·is·ti·cal a′the·is·ti·cally adverb
atheism Synonyms

atheism

n.

irreligion, heresy, agnosticism, ungodliness, godlessness, impiety, unbelief, positivism, denial of God, nihilism, iconoclasm, disbelief in God, irreverence, pyrrhonism, rationalism, dogmatic, atheism, skeptical atheism, infidelity, antichristianism, materialism, skepticism, freethinking, disbelief; see also doubt 1.

atheism Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • promote: The secret directive issued after the meeting also called on the Department of Propaganda to carry out a campaign to promote atheism.
  • think: Both he and Suleymân appeared to think that atheism was a subject to make angels laugh.
  • include: To be secular, a school would be neutral on the subject of religion or belief, including atheism.
  • call: Marxists are wrong when they call atheism the prerequisite for Marxism.
  • say: By contrast, she says, atheism is more open, less condemning.
  • preach: The Guardian says: Dennett's latest book, Breaking the Spell, is a vigorous attempt to preach atheism to the unconverted.

Preposition: as

  • religion: I don't know what ' fundamentalist atheism ' would be... but again it smells of atheism as alternative religion.
  • belief: He defines atheism as 'the belief that there is no God or gods ' surely a negative definition if ever there was one.

Adjective modifier

  • militant: Indeed, it seems like the supreme irony that militant atheism has managed to acquire the mentality of a religion.
  • practical: How to come to terms with practical atheism in the United States?
  • own: For me, to emphasize the positive stance of my own atheism is crucial ( no pun intended ).
  • outright: If that seems to fall short of outright atheism, well, they have to start somewhere.
  • evangelical: Evangelical atheism, 2006-10-23 Richard Dawkins is an evangelical atheist.

Modifies a noun

  • cannot: Atheists have always been evil people with no regard for human life, like Stalin, so atheism cannot be true.
  • page: If you wish to mail me about anything other than my atheism pages, skip to the bottom.
  • ': We also still have some copies of our fabulous DVD Why Atheism â six films about people who do not believe in God.

Noun used with modifier

  • protest: Those who recognize God's presence in the face of God-forsaken Christ have protest atheism within themselves -- but as something they have overcome.

Preposition: in

  • school: And is there an opportunity here for the teaching of atheism in faith schools?

Preposition: from

  • reformation: The most recent consideration will be Atheism from the Reformation to the Enlightenment, eds.
atheism Quotes

Man is by his constitution a religious animal; atheism is against not only our reason, but our instincts.

—Burke, Edmund

Every luxury was lavished on you ö atheism, breast- feeding, circumcision.

—Orton,Joe originally John Kingsley

It is true, that a little philosophy inclineth Man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion. See Berkeley 79:7. 48

—Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

Freedom and not servitude is the cure of anarchy; as religion, and not atheism, is the true remedy for superstition.

—Burke, Edmund

Quand l'athe¤  isme voudra des martyrs, qu'il le dise et mon sang est tout pre"  t. When atheism wants martyrs, let it say so and my blood will be ready.

—Sade, Donatien Alphonse Fran c° ois, Marquis de

Browse dictionary entries near atheism

  1. Athapascan
  2. Athanasius
  3. Athanasian Creed
  4. Athabaskan
  5. Athabasca
  6. Athínai
  7. ATF
  8. Aterian
  9. atelier
  10. atelic
  1. atheist
  2. atheistic
  3. atheling
  4. Athelstan
  5. Athena
  6. Athenaeum
  7. Athenian
  8. Athens
  9. athermancy
  10. atheroma