Atheist or Non-Theist: Is There a Difference?

ATHEISM: a disbelief in the existence of deity

Many people who do not believe in the existence any sort of supreme being(s) are very reluctant to label themselves as Atheists. This is somewhat understandable- considering the stigma which has always been, and still is, attached to that particular term.

While I personally have no problem calling myself an Atheist, I actually prefer the broader term of Freethinker- which, as per the definition atop this blog, encompasses not only Atheists & Agnostics & the like but also certain types of Theists. It is my personal belief that Atheists alone will have a hard time making Earth a better place- but a true conglomeration of Freethinkers might have a pretty good shot at it...

Some terms for the philosophies of nonbelief have definitions that are markedly different than the term atheism- humanism & secular humanism, for example:

HUMANISM: a doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interests or values; especially : a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual's dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason

SECULAR HUMANISM: humanistic philosophy viewed as a nontheistic religion antagonistic to traditional religion

For the most part, the definition of atheism still applies to the above terms?

Lately I have come across the term non-theist somewhat frequently- I have to admit that this one confuses me a bit. "I do not consider myself an Atheist, I prefer to think of myself as a Non-Theist", or so they say...

NON-THEIST: one not having or involving a belief in God, especially as a being who reveals himself to humanity

Aw, c'mon... well, in truth, the term non-theist could be applied to adherents of Buddhism & other religions that do not involve a deity. But the beautifully simple definition of atheism still applies here, does it not?

Mark T.

God's Location?

A freethought poem written by a member of the Cleveland Freethinkers, Don Boos...

Where is God?
by Don Boos

"Is there really a god?" you ask yourself,
As you take your bible off the shelf.

This is alleged to be God's word,
Written by scribes who claim to have heard...

The voice of God, or so they said,
But the voice was only within their head.

When people hear voices others cannot hear,
They are mentally ill is what we fear...

But when they claim the voice is God,
They're viewed as holy rather than odd!

So in your search for God you find,
God exists in one place... and thats in men's mind!

Cross Carrying Chuck

Looks like this guy just wants attention, and if he doesn't get it? Then a disaster will strike your town! I'm also pretty sure that when Jesus had to carry his cross in the bible, that it didn't have training wheels...

Child Abuse

Now children, we are going to take you through a museum, a building designed with the intent of imparting knowledge upon the masses through displays, representations, recreations, and rendered media, all of which have been exhaustingly researched and critiqued by millions of dedicated and well-meaning scientists, archaeologists, paleontologists, etc.; what we want you to do, is to look at everything you see, and whatever clashes with what we have told you actually happened, because we have a book that tells us so, we want you to reject it, and to laugh at it, because it is stupid!

Michael