Guest Author - Alicia Soueid

These are my personal definitions of terms commonly used in relation to atheism and agnosticism. Although some of these words may have more than one definition, these are the definitions I will be using in my writings unless I specify otherwise. I will add to this list as the need arises.


agnostic - someone who has doubts about the existence of a particular deity or deities, OR someone who has arrived at the conclusion that there can be no understanding or knowledge of the nature or existence of any entity or force that might have created the universe

agnosticism - a position of uncertainty or disbelief regarding the assertion(s) that the universe was created by an omnipotent, omniscient deity or deities who watch over us benevolently, OR a position of denial regarding the ability to determine the existence or nature or any entity or force that might have created the universe

atheism - a position of denial regarding assertions that the universe was created by and is watched over by a benevolent, omnipotent, omniscient creator

atheist - someone who has arrived at the conclusion that there is no omnipotent, omniscient creator of the universe, and hence no benevolent deity watching over us

deism - the belief that the universe was created by a deity or entity who is no longer or never has been active in the world, OR a belief that the universe was created by some unknowable force that is subject to natural laws, and that this force is metaphorically understood by men to be “God”

empiricism - the view that knowledge is acquired via personal experience and that there is no such thing as innate knowledge

Epicureanism - the belief that happiness can and should be acquired through a pursuit of simple pleasures within moderation and the avoidance of pain or sorrow, and the corresponding belief that morality consists in helping others pursue the same

humanism - the philosophical belief that all humans are linked together as a single species by their very nature and by their need to coexist with one another in order to maximize the benefits for individuals and groups, and that this universal link should supersede any tribal, ethnic, religious, or geopolitical differences that cause conflict between opposing groups

materialism - the belief that our existence does not transcend the material world, OR the belief that human happiness depends upon the fulfillment of material needs such as sustenance, housing, clothing, and other possessions

monotheism - the belief in and/or worship of one god

pantheism - the belief that god emanates through or is present in all things, OR the belief that god and the universe/nature are one and the same

polytheism - the belief in and/or worship of many gods

pragmatism - an approach to philosophical and mundane matters that stresses practical outcomes rather than abstract principles

rationalism - the view that matters of importance should be analyzed and solved using reason and logic rather than by appealing to emotion, authority, or tradition, and/OR optimism in the power of reason to solve problems and better mankind

secularism - the view that political and public matters should be kept separate from private religious concerns

skepticism - an approach to thinking about propositions that begins with a position of doubt or cautious consideration (depending upon the level of implausibility of the claim), expects evidence supporting a proposition to correspond to the degree of implausibility of the claim, and proceeds to acceptance or belief only after sufficient evidence has been provided and examined

superstitious - predisposed to assert, accept, and believe in supernatural explanations for unexplained phenomena

theism - the belief in and/or worship of one or many gods

utilitarianism - the view that morality should be based on pragmatism rather than on abstract principles