Nontheism

'Nontheism' is a term that describes anyone who is not a theist. In other words, a nontheist is anyone who does not have a specific belief in a god or deity. It usually refers to anyone who does not have any religious belief. This is a lot like atheism, but the two terms are often used in different ways.

Origin of the term

The term "nontheism" was first used by G. J. Holyoake in 1852.^[1] He used it because of the bad associations with the term atheism.

"Mr. [Charles] Southwell has taken an objection to the term Atheism. We are glad he has. We have disused it a long time [...]. We disuse it, because Atheist is a worn-out word. Both the ancients and the moderns have understood by it one without God, and also without morality. Thus the term connotes more than any well-informed and earnest person accepting it ever included in it; that is, the word carries with it associations of immorality, which have been repudiated by the Atheist as seriously as by the Christian. Non-theism is a term less open to the same misunderstanding, as it implies the simple non-acceptance of the Theist's explanation of the origin and government of the world."

Nontheism in society

Today, about 2.3% of the world's population describes itself as atheist. About 11.9% is described as 'nontheist'.^[2] Between 64% and 65% of Japanese describe themselves as atheists, agnostics, or non-believers,^[3][4] and up to 48% in Russia.^[3] The percentage of such people in European Union member states ranges between 6% (Italy) and 85% (Sweden).^[3]

Related pages

• agnosticism
• atheism
• secularism
• antitheism
• theism