


Atheist- Lack of belief in gods.






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I prefer the term naturalist also.

Bright is another term that didn't catch on.

I wonder if some become atheists because they wish to make a statement about rejecting something rather than embracing something.

Also I wonder how many atheists are familiar with the term naturalist?  And if they are familiar with the term - do they really know all that it implies?  I think that people shy away from identifying with a philosophical outlook - it's like subscribing to something - and atheists generally are trying to show that they are not subscribed to something.

Perhaps you'd like to do a survey on it?  Asking participants if they are familiar with the term - what they know - if they identify - if they don't and why? 

I love the term. I do believe it describes much more than atheist. I also use the term humanist myself to better describe me.

Worldview Naturalism in a Nutshell






There are many atheists who don't accept that free will is an illusion....

"There are many atheists who don't accept that free will is an illusion…."

You'll find more than a few of them here, as well as dualists, as well as many who would parlay their non-belief into a religion itself… it does take all kinds after all.

I've never looked on atheism or agnosticism as labels or identities. Perhaps that's the rational skeptic in me; they are to me positions, each a single point of data, just negative defaults to positive claims. I don't self identify as a non-relish eater either, or a non-cantelope. …for the same reason.

Naturalism can also describe Deists, …or even Spinoza. Believers in non-supernatural god(s), …something I believe is covered under the position of atheism as a, "nope" as well.

As there are so many things not to believe and much of reality to accept; I think I'll just stick to the self-identifier "human", …I dare any to use THAT one as a weapon against me, or my world view.

"Naturalism can also describe Deists"

True enough, also reminds me of a joke;

An Atheist, an Agnostic and Deist walk into a bar and....

...and nobody could tell the difference.

Or, slightly modified:

  • An Atheist, an Agnostic and Pantheist walk into a bar.
  • The bartender asks, "So, what can I get you, sir?"

That's "ma'am" thank you.

And yes, I'm reviving this thread a bit. I think we don't hear much from this side of things, because this isn't where the "fight" is.

I also prefer the term. I don't know why it is not more popular.

(1) It's an unfamiliar term to many. Someone hearing it for the first time might confuse you with a naturopath, or perhaps they would think you are a nudist, since "naturism" is a term that nudists use for their social stance.

(2) When it is understood, the hearer, knowing that you are denying all supernatural things, will likely zero in on the implication that you deny his or her favorite imaginary friend. "So, you don't believe in god, so you're an atheist, right?" With the implication, so why didn't you say so?

I live in Australia - it might be different here than to other places - but I have friends who are various religious denominations - and I find that it's a positive way to introduce my world view that they seem to prefer to atheist - i think because it is a positive position.  I generally say that I believe that everything we have in this world is natural and can be explained by scientific methods.   No-one yet has gone on to ask if I believe in god or not.... probably because they'd rather not create the divide.

Yeah !

I'm a Naturist-Naturalist.

Goes very well together in my opinion.

Never heard of Naturopath, whats that?


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