The word 'atheist' is perceived as hostile in a way that its meaning is not?

Lil Rome has got me thinking about the negative impact of the word atheist and how it can be misunderstood as a cohesive group with subversive doctrine rather than just the absence of belief in gods.

I am in the UK where most people are atheist but find that the word 'atheist' is only used by people who have strong feelings about religion. It is seen as challenging and confrontational over here whereas saying 'I don't believe in a god' is not - most of my friends will say this casually. It's as though they claim a cultural identification - 'I don't believe in gods but if I did it would the Christian/Muslim/Hindu one' whereas saying 'I am an atheist' is like denying your culture and identity and standing out.

I have found that if, when the subject of religion comes up, I say 'I'm not religious' or 'I don't believe in a god' most people will say comfortably 'No, me neither.' but if I say 'I am an atheist' eyes widen slightly and people hesitate before saying something about not being religious themselves. The word is uncomfortable.

Why would this be?

Is this the case in the US too? I suspect saying that you have no religion or belief in a god may get you a wide eyed stare there too more than it does here but is the word 'atheist' even more of a red flag?

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Permalink Reply by Mary on September 26, 2011 at 11:44am

When folks tend to proselytize, and hand me written material with god stuff I hand them a copy of one of my favorite poems:

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul." ~~ William Earnest Henley

Sometimes it starts an intelligent conversation, sometimes not, but they usually quit the preaching.

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Permalink Reply by Param K on September 29, 2011 at 9:30pm

From a literal perspective, the Greek translation of "Atheist" (from "a" as the alpha-privative and "theos") is "without god" or "godless". Thus, with this in mind, it's natural that Atheism is considered pejorative. If I'm asked about my religion or my beliefs, I reply with "nontheist". I feel that "nontheist" implies not needing a god, instead of lacking a god.

I dunno if others are as semantic as I am, but I only analyzed it this way since I study the Classics.