Atheism For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Atheism is the simple but kind of startling idea that no god or gods exist. If you’re interested in exploring the topic, it helps to know some of the labels for different types and degrees of religious doubt, some of the most important thinkers in the history of atheism, and a few of the most fascinating spots on Earth for just saying no to God.

The label maker of religious doubt

• Atheist: Doesn’t believe a god or gods exist.

• Agnostic: Not sure whether a god or gods exist. Not the best person to lead a buffet line.

• Freethinker: Holds opinions based on independent reasoning without the undue influence of authority, doctrine, or tradition.

• Skeptic: Withholds judgment pending actual evidence.

• Humanist: Focuses on this natural world and this life. Sometimes used as a synonym for secular humanist. No, doesn’t worship humans.

• Secular humanist: A humanist who specifically adds, “I don’t believe in God.” Still doesn’t worship humans.

• Secularist: Used to mean someone who wanted to keep church and government separate. Now refers to a person who lives without religion.

• Antitheist: Believes religion poisons everything and prays for a future without it. I mean hopes.

• Apatheist: Doesn’t care whether there’s a God or not. Is annoyed that you asked.

• Accommodationist: An atheist who seeks common ground with the religious. Much hugging.

• Deist: Does not believe in God. Believes in “God.”

• Pantheist: Believes the universe and God are one and the same, but not exactly, and yes.

A few key figures in the history of atheism

• Epicurus: Greek philosopher. Felt that fear of the gods is the greatest obstacle to human happiness, and that human happiness is good. Do the math.

• Lucretius: Roman philosopher who described (and preferred) a world without gods, then wrote a 7,400-line poem about it.

• Jinasena: 9^th century Indian teacher who railed against intelligent design theory before it had a name.

• al-Rawāndī: 9^th century Islamic philosopher who called Muhammad a liar – out loud.

• Chang Tsai: 11^th century Chinese philosopher who said heaven doesn’t have a mind, and if we had one ourselves, we’d notice that.

• Jean Meslier: 18^th century French Catholic atheist priest. Yes, you read that right.

• Baron d’Holbach: 18^th century Enlightenment thinker, writer, enabler.

• Ernestine Rose: Courageous 19^th century social reformer, abolitionist, feminist, atheist.

• Robert Ingersoll: Great 19^th century agnostic orator.

• Bertrand Russell: Hugely important 20^th century atheist philosopher, teapot maker

• Madalyn Murray O’Hair: First president of American Atheists, plaintiff in the lawsuit that ended organized Bible readings in U.S. public schools, designated atheist boogeyperson for the late 20^th century.

• Richard Dawkins: Renowned evolutionary biologist, designated atheist bogeyperson for the early 21st century.

Places to watch in global disbelief

• Earth, current home to 2 billion nontheistic people.

• Ireland, where those who call themselves “religious” dropped from 69 percent to 47 percent in seven years – the largest drop on Earth (above).

• United States, where the religiously unaffiliated made up the single largest belief bloc supporting Barack Obama in 2012 and Joe Biden in 2024 (23 and 35 percent, respectively).

• Norway, where 80 percent of the population belongs to the Lutheran Church of Norway but as much as 72 percent don’t believe in God.

• Québec, once 83 percent Catholic and the most religious province in Canada, now 57 percent Catholic and second only to British Columbia for least religious province in terms of actual belief.

• United Kingdom, where there’s a state religion and religious education and prayer services in schools – and belief in God is currently down to 43 percent.

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