A Glossary of Rational Thinking
by David M.
Fitzpatrick
Last updated
Tuesday, 30 August 2005
Here are many Atheist-related terms defined.
Atheism: The denial of the existence
of God or any gods. It is the opposite of theism, the belief in a god or
gods. The prefix a- indicates negation. This is often used
interchangeably with any non-religious person (Agnostic, Freethinker, Humanist, etc.).
Agnosticism: Agnostics do not know
whether or not there is a God or gods, and do not believe that any
exploration into the matter can lead to any conclusive answer on the
subject.
Freethinking: The practice of
rejecting authority and doctrine, particularly of the religious variety, in
favor of rational, scientific, logical inquiry and speculation.
Humanism: A system of thought that
centers on human beings and their values, capacities, and worth. In an
antireligious sense, Humanists place the human above any belief in an unprovable god or gods.
Materialism: A philosophical
doctrine that matter is the ultimate reality; consciousness is merely a
phenomenon explained by physiochemical changes in the nervous system.
Antireligious materialism is hostile toward the theological doctrines of
organized religion.
Positivism: The doctrine that
contends that sensory perceptions are the only admissible bases of knowledge
and precise thought.
Skepticism: Denies the possibility
of attaining knowledge beyond that of human perception. |
