Semantics (labels, words & definitions)

[Jason Jarred]

***Updated 28/08/08***

Atheism

the belief that Gods do not exist, or the absence of belief (disbelief) that a God exists.
This is the entirety of the definition of atheism, and the *only* single commonality between all atheists. All other spiritual beliefs, political beliefs, moral values, attitudes, and shoe size can be any possible combination you could think of.
A person is either Theistic or Atheistic, those who claim simply not to know or care could be called Atheist by default as they do not actively believe in a God. Atheism can be considered the default position.

Theism

noun [U]
the belief that there is only one god, who is completely separate from those things (the Earth, people, etc.) he has created, rather than being part of them

Nontheism

Nontheism is a term that covers a range of both religious and nonreligious attitudes characterized by the absence of—or the rejection of—theism or any belief in a personal god or gods. It is in use in the fields of Christian apologetics and general liberal theology. "Nontheism" should not be confused with "irreligion".

Comment: As far as I can see, atheist and non-theist are essentialy the same thing, but nontheism may have a broader context than atheism.

Polytheism

noun [U] SPECIALIZED
belief in many different gods

Deism

noun [U]
the belief in a single god who does not act to influence events, and whose existence has no connection with religions, religious buildings, or religious books, etc.

Agnosticism

The philosophical view that certain truths are unknowable. Agnosticism is not a position on belief (ie non belief in God due to it being unknowable), but a position on the knowability of belief.

Gnosticism

The philosophical view that certain truths are knowable, or known by certain people.
Gnosticism is not a position on belief (ie belief in God due to it being knowable), but a position on the knowability of belief.

Irreligious

adjective FORMAL DISAPPROVING
having no interest in religion, or generally opposed to religion

Jedi

Someone who wears a roab and swings a lighting fixture.