Religion

edhopper

(37,390 posts) Sun Apr 19, 2015, 12:20 PM Apr 2015

Derogatory words for "atheist" [View all]

I can't think of any. Maybe "heathen" but that is used for anyone who believes in something different.
As far as i can tell, most who want to curse non-believers just say "atheist".

Yes there is militant-atheist and fundamentalist-atheist, but those aren't about being any atheist, just an outspoken one. Like saying dumb-blonde.

122 replies

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Derogatory words for "atheist" [View all] edhopper Apr 2015 OP

Other than heathen I can't think of one. hrmjustin Apr 2015 #1

It's just an interesting observation edhopper Apr 2015 #2

Infidel? Cartoonist Apr 2015 #4

Again edhopper Apr 2015 #6

Like rurallib says Cartoonist Apr 2015 #7

There you go. TexasProgresive Apr 2015 #8

pagan or unbeliever come to mind rurallib Apr 2015 #3

The only one I've seen is "faitheist". rug Apr 2015 #5

There's also "apologist." okasha Apr 2015 #21

That's right. And "accommodationist"! rug Apr 2015 #22

And "religionista," sometimes preceded by "rabid." okasha Apr 2015 #24

You find apologist offensive? LiberalAndProud Apr 2015 #68

I find it offensive okasha Apr 2015 #117

I agree with okasha. It is often used as a tool to attack non-believers cbayer Apr 2015 #122

There are lots of derogatory words used in these useless battles. cbayer Apr 2015 #9

+1 Chemisse Apr 2015 #84

"Rabid" as a modifer for atheist used to be popular but seems to have fallen out of fashion.. Fumesucker Apr 2015 #10

Heathen and Pagan don't really work TexasProgresive Apr 2015 #11

You know edhopper Apr 2015 #12

Godless is often used as a rather nasty way to refer to us LostOne4Ever Apr 2015 #13

My submission is - though broader in meaning that just atheists- No Vested Interest Apr 2015 #14

Anti-theist Lordquinton Apr 2015 #15

Richard Dawkins describes himself as an anti-theist. cbayer Apr 2015 #16

The creator of Fatheist describes himself as such Lordquinton Apr 2015 #17

Agree that the terms can be turned on people. cbayer Apr 2015 #18

I dunno, why don't you confer with Rug Lordquinton Apr 2015 #19

Ok, I guess you don't want to have a discussion with me about it. cbayer Apr 2015 #20

Rug said pretty much the same thing I did Lordquinton Apr 2015 #32

I see your point and would only say that I did not take offense, but cbayer Apr 2015 #38

Well, quinton, if you disagree with something I've said, why don't you just post it here? rug Apr 2015 #23

I hear the silence. hrmjustin Apr 2015 #26

Sorry Justin Lordquinton Apr 2015 #34

Damn you have a life! hrmjustin Apr 2015 #36

Read what I said to Ms. Bayer Lordquinton Apr 2015 #33

"I hear the silence" AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #52

Well if someone puts "fucking" in front edhopper Apr 2015 #25

That would be a big clue! cbayer Apr 2015 #27

Then there is the other adjective TexasTowelie Apr 2015 #28

Yep, that could be a double whammy. cbayer Apr 2015 #29

Do you have a link or verifiable quote of Dawkins describing himself as an anti-theist? AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #51

I've only ever seen him describe himself as a 'de facto atheist' Rob H. Apr 2015 #54

Me either. I have always seen him qualify the question around the lack of absolute certainty. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #56

They gain by portraying people who disagree with them as "extremists." trotsky Apr 2015 #79

In my opinion, the definition of an "atheist" should be ladjf Apr 2015 #53

Uh oh. Now you've done it. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #57

Are all people born without religious ideation? cbayer Apr 2015 #58

Can you source this bullshit? truebrit71 Apr 2015 #61

Back down cowboy. cbayer Apr 2015 #62

Still waiting for a quote where he identifies himself as an anti-theist. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #63

Still waiting... truebrit71 Apr 2015 #65

What do you think the definition of anti-theism is? cbayer Apr 2015 #74

You're not wriggling out of this one, cbayer. trotsky Apr 2015 #75

That's irrelevant...I'd like the source to that quote please... truebrit71 Apr 2015 #76

It's totally relevant. Is there some reason that you don't want him identified as cbayer Apr 2015 #81

Defend your claim, or retract it. trotsky Apr 2015 #83

So NDT is an atheist. Goblinmonger Apr 2015 #85

He most certainly is, GM, using the new standard cbayer has decreed should be applied. trotsky Apr 2015 #88

God help me, I love the internet. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #95

How ironic that cbayer and others in her group skepticscott Apr 2015 #114

Do you have a source for your quote or not? truebrit71 Apr 2015 #87

What quote? Are you making the argument that Dawkins is not an anti-theist? cbayer Apr 2015 #96

Cbayer - "Richard Dawkins describes himself as an anti-theist" truebrit71 Apr 2015 #99

Ok, you win. He doesn't describe himself or consider himself an anti-theist. cbayer Apr 2015 #103

It's run its course because YOU say so? truebrit71 Apr 2015 #105

Gee...someone in the bayer family skepticscott Apr 2015 #115

Nice non-apology you've got there. Shame if something were to happen to it. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #112

Thanks for admitting that you simply make shit up skepticscott Apr 2015 #116

Well, that was fun, wasn't it? bvf Apr 2015 #119

No, cbayer. You are wrong. Truebrit71 doesn't win - the truth does. trotsky Apr 2015 #121

Not truebrit71's argument. trotsky Apr 2015 #100

A self-admitted wise person once said Goblinmonger Apr 2015 #89

Brilliant. Well done, GM. n/t trotsky Apr 2015 #90

You said he DESCRIBES HIMSELF as an anti-theist. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #92

The ghost of christmas past is paging you. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #94

"exactly as he describes himself, no more no less" trotsky Apr 2015 #101

So, no, you don't have a source for it? Goblinmonger Apr 2015 #66

"Richard Dawkins describes himself as an anti-theist." trotsky Apr 2015 #73

Well, this needed to happen. Goblinmonger Apr 2015 #91

BWAH HA HA HA HA HA trotsky Apr 2015 #98

Oh, Trotsky, I don't think the internets are yours to award Heddi Apr 2015 #111

Perfect. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #113

POINTS! beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #120

Richard Dawkins describes himself as an anti-theist. AlbertCat Apr 2015 #67

It is well established that he is anti-relgion. If you need a quote with that particular term, I cbayer Apr 2015 #80

But that wasn't your claim. You have made a false claim. trotsky Apr 2015 #82

I can't help you. AlbertCat Apr 2015 #104

"I doubt you can help anybody"? cbayer Apr 2015 #106

You're done? beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #118

Where did he do that, cbayer? trotsky Apr 2015 #72

Julia Sweeney has an answer to this thread Yorktown Apr 2015 #30

You have it right. trotsky Apr 2015 #39

Agree and I think that is the point to some extent. cbayer Apr 2015 #42

In marketing terms, the 'branding problem' of atheism comes from attack ads Yorktown Apr 2015 #47

I can't disagree, but wherever it comes from, there is clearly a branding problem. cbayer Apr 2015 #49

WTF? trotsky Apr 2015 #48

The only one I've seen around here is 'incurious'. AtheistCrusader Apr 2015 #31

Miserable Fat Atheist Bastards. Iggo Apr 2015 #35

see post #12 edhopper Apr 2015 #40

Nice! Iggo Apr 2015 #41

I was amused to be called a "Satanist" Kelvin Mace Apr 2015 #37

Kevin....where did you PassingFair Apr 2015 #43

Its original Kelvin Mace Apr 2015 #44

I'm stealing it....but I'll give you an attribution whenever I do. PassingFair Apr 2015 #45

Help youself Kelvin Mace Apr 2015 #46

There is nil desperandum Apr 2015 #50

Which poll are you referring to? cbayer Apr 2015 #59

Salon nil desperandum Apr 2015 #64

Do you recall where you saw the Salon article? cbayer Apr 2015 #69

Sure nil desperandum Apr 2015 #70

Lol, I posted that article today but did not recognize that it was the one you cbayer Apr 2015 #78

Apparently nil desperandum Apr 2015 #86

Yes, the unelectability factor is really important. cbayer Apr 2015 #93

Trust nil desperandum Apr 2015 #107

I think there is truth to that. cbayer Apr 2015 #108

May nil desperandum Apr 2015 #109

I'm not a believer so I have nothing to reconcile at all. cbayer Apr 2015 #110

well I do believe the term "assholes" has been used right here. Warren Stupidity Apr 2015 #55

"Calling an atheist an asshole because he is an asshole is not a critique of atheism." rug Apr 2015 #71

My mother used to use "pagan" to describe... Smarmie Doofus Apr 2015 #60

Well, now you've done it. Warpy Apr 2015 #77

Do you see that happening here? cbayer Apr 2015 #97

I do. In post #16. n/t trotsky Apr 2015 #102