Handy freethought definitions

agnosticism - philosophical view that that the truth of certain ideas, such as the existence of deity, is unknown and/or unknowable

strict agnosticism holds the view that any ultimate reality (such as "God") is unknown and probably unknowable

empirical agnosticism holds the question to be unknown at present but not necessarily unknowable

apathetic agnosticism holds that the question is meaningless because there are no consequences either way

model agnosticism believes the question is not verifiable but that rational model can be achieved.

anticlericalism - opposition to involvment of clergy in other spheres of public life, especially politics; also, opposition to clerical authority within a religion by members of that religion, especially that of the hierarchy of the religion

antitheism - direct opposition to theism

apatheism - the position that the existence or nonexistence of god(s) is not important to one's daily life.

atheism - lack of belief in deity or deities, or disbelief in theism (by the strict definition of "theism").

implicit (weak, negative, soft, agnostic) atheism is the disbelief in the existence of deities.

explicit (strong, positive, hard, gnostic) atheism is the denial of any and all deity, or of one or more deities in particular.

agnostic atheism argues that the existence of deities is unknowable, that such knowledge is unimportant or irrelevant, and therefore refraining from making absolute claims of their existence of nonexistence is the best course.

deism - a system of thought advocating natural religion, emphasizing morality, and denying the interference of the Creator with the laws of the universe

pandeism - combines pantheism with a deistic view of the divine

panendeism - combines panentheism with a deistic view of the divine

disbelief - mental rejection of something as untrue; refusal or reluctance to believe

freethought - unorthodox attitudes or beliefs, specifically deism (18th century)

humanism - (1) devotion to the humanities; (2) humanitarianism; (3) a doctrine, attitude, or way of life centered on human interests or values; especially, a philosophy that usually rejects supernaturalism and stresses an individual's dignity and worth and capacity for self-realization through reason

ignosticism - the position that the existence or non-existence of a deity or deities is meaningless because it has no verifiable consequences and should therefore be ignored. Also called theological noncognitivism.

materialism - belief that physical matter is the only or fundamental reality and that all being and processes and phenomena can be explained as manifestations or results of matter, and that the only or the highest values or objectives lie in material well-being and in the furtherance of material progress.

naturalism - belief that scientific laws are adequate to account for all phenomena

nonbelief - lack, absence, or reverse of religious belief

nontheism - lack of belief in a personal deity

rationalism - reliance on reason as the basis for establishment of religious truth; a theory that reason is in itself a source of knowledge superior to and independent of sense perceptions; or a view that reason and experience rather than the nonrational are the fundamental criteria in the solution of problems

secular humanism - humanistic philosophy viewed as a nontheistic religion antagonistic to traditional religion

secularism - belief that religion and the state should be completely separate, with neither the state interferring in religion nor religion interferring in the state

skepticism - attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object; doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain; the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism characteristic of skeptics; or doubt concerning basic religious principles (as immortality, providence, and revelation)

theism - belief in the existence of a deity or deities, or, more strictly, belief in the existence of a deity or deities viewed as the creative source of man and the world who transcend(s) yet is/are immanent in the world

monotheism - belief in a single deity

eutheism - belief that the universe and its creator are both inherently good

dystheism - belief that the proponderance of evil in the universe makes eutheistic belief implausible

maltheism - belief that the universe and its creator are both inherently evil

monism - belief that everything is essentially one essence

dualism - belief that everything is essentially two opposing essences

pluralism - belief in many varied essences

dualism - a belief in a deity of good opposed by an equal or nearly equal deity of evil

polytheism - belief in many deities

monolatry - belief that there are several dieties but only one that should be worshipped

henotheism - belief in one supreme deity while recognizing the existence of other deities

kathenotheism - belief that there are several deities who alternate as the supreme being

panentheism - belief that deity contains the universe, and is also something greater

pantheism - belief that equates deity with the universe and everything in it; also, worship of all deities of different creeds, cults, or peoples indifferently; also, toleration of worship of all deities

transtheism - belief that deity trascends the universe yet is immanent within it

unbelief - incredulity or skepticism, especially in matters of religious faith; lack of faith or belief in religious matters (c. 11th century)

unitarianism - denial of the Christian doctrine of the trinity

universalism - doctrine that each person can, must, and will find their own way to salvation, liberation, enlightment, etc.