Atheism in Five Minutes - Teemu Taira
1. What Does the Term “Atheism” Mean?
Atheism in Five Minutes - Teemu Taira
Nathan G. Alexander [+]
Independent Scholar
Nathan G. Alexander is a writer and historian from Canada. He is the author of Race in a Godless World: Atheism, Race, and Civilization, 1850-1914 (NYU Press/Manchester University Press, 2019).
Description
This chapter first looks at the ancient Greek roots of the word “atheism,” and raises questions about both the “a-“ and the “theism” parts of the word. Next, the chapter considers the word’s various definitions through history and the distinction between “positive” and “negative” atheism. Finally, the chapter examines how we should decide which definition of “atheism” to choose.