I've never been one for labels. When it comes to religion or belief, or lack of belief, I don't worry about picking atheist, agnostic, humanist, skeptic, etc. I guess I prefer to say I'm a non-believer when in dialog with someone. It seems to be to the point about what I feel. I guess one could say that this too is a label. It's all semantics. What do you feel about your own position concerning what you believe?
22
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I say I prefer not to have dogma, but have no problem with others having theirs'. However I do believe in separation of church and state. If they ask if I am Christian or believe in god, my reply is the existence of a god or absence of one has no effect on me one way or the other. But wouldnt want to deny others their beliefs or philosphies of life, as long as their practice doesnt impede me to be free to have mine.
gigihein
Level 8
Jan 2, 2021
8
I mostly agree with you, however I believe much(not all) of what comes from religion, in general, does harm to followers and society. So I am ok with working to reduce their power and the hold over their sheeple.
@Canndue I can understand your take, but to me all conflict whether internal or with others is when we think we are right and they are wrong, on any topic. Making others wrong has never been productive in my view. It just makes the conflicts and divisions greater. Again this is from my view and I respect yours is different.
I really can't say that I'm in the labels either, but if I had to choose one I would think it would have to be "machine wash permanent press setting, air dry" 
oldFloyd
Level 8
Jan 2, 2021
10
lol, Mine would be "manufactured from totally natural materials, apart from a few teeth"
Kinda like the “ do not remove under penalty of law” myself
It depends on the person and the situation: agnostic atheist, atheist, non-believer. I think sometimes it is important to identify as an atheist because people realize that I don't fit their stereotype of an evil atheist.
Joanne
Level 7
Jan 2, 2021
7
You saying you don’t eat babies? Best turn in your union card.....
. For instance, It was assumed, by an atheist, because I am an atheist, that I would like porn--and I don't.
I just say, "I don't believe in the supernatural."
editor20
Level 6
Jan 2, 2021
5
Having read some of these responses I think I might just start going with "scientist". If they ask me to elaborate I'll just explain that I'm willing to go with any belief for which there is some evidence.
Cyklone
Level 7
Jan 2, 2021
5
Are there no religious scientists?
@Canndue I'm sure there are, but I suspect they haven't applied their critical reasoning skills to their belief. Many who have, throughout history, say that there is no longer room in their universe for a god. I mainly like this because it reflects my experience. I was a believer of something before I went to Uni (believed in a god but not the whole xtian model). Once I studied critical thinking at Uni and applied it, I found I could no longer accept the concept of a soul or of any supreme being.
@Canndue Yes, Uni means University, it's a common abbreviation here. I was reared in a baptist home and was a very strong believer for a long time, not just religious. Overseas travel "loosened" the brainwashing and tertiary education, particularly Philosophy, smashed it. I've frequently thought since that one of the best ways to cure religious brainwashing is to teach the person to think better, but of course some people will never question.
You can't escape labels, it's like a game of dodgeball. Even tho it may fit, I never liked the term atheist because it defines one in terms of theism, as if that is THE measure. Atheist implies some absence. It says nothing about what I believe, and yet it is a seemingly sufficient end-of-discussion for believers.
nicestuff
Level 7
Jan 2, 2021
4
I don’t much care what other people might call me, but I don’t identify myself as atheist, agnostic, or theist because I see all of those terms as positions relative to belief in a literal god, and I am no brand of religious literalist. I have taken to calling myself a religious figuratist. But that’s not likely to suit many others on this site.
skado
Level 9
Jan 2, 2021
4
Suits me. I.more often call myself a
Grinch.
For me it depends upon the situation. I moved to a fairly conservative area of MN 2 years ago. If I’m in a work situation I just say I’m not religious and most people leave it at that.
My friends all know I’m atheist. I miss where I lived before and felt free to be fully out as an atheist
Marcie1974
Level 8
Jan 2, 2021
3
@Wisterious I like “quietly take action.”
It’s a perfect response. But you should feel free to be out as an atheist, anywhere.
I will show who I am wherever I am. I don’t fear harassment about what I believe in or who I am. NYC and outlying areas are very liberal like and do not have large religious populations, but other parts of the country including N. Carolina, where I visit a few friends there formerly from NY ARE very religious leaning.
Some T-shirts I wear shows my opinion of religion.........And I have worn them in Carolina as well.
@SeaRay215ex I like the boomerang shirt.
I guess i view being out as an atheist as being a good citizen, and good example in a respectful and dignified manner.
I like your shirts, but they can be viewed as inflammatory , sorta like the guy driving around with trump flags.
@Canndue I don’t care.
This is a free country and if someone is offended they have the right not to look at it.
When you see something on TV you don’t like, you can change the channel, and same goes when listening to radio stations. Trump is a dispicable piece of human garbage but I have no issue with supporters flying MAGA flags or wearing MAGA hats because it’s freedom of speech. So I’m fine with it if some call it inflammatory and it’s also because that’s the way I feel towards all religion.
@SeaRay215ex I love the T shirts. Number 3 is wrong by the way, The US is known as the arsehole nation 
Sorry, couldn't resist. 
Labels are defended here only by those who use it profusely with the most cockamamie replies that they, and only they, claim to be factual evidence but is actually bullshit. There are some semantics involved definitely because English is a great language that accepts anything all the time, but really, think about it, is there a word that describes your lack of believe in Santa or the tooth fairy? No, you just say I don't believe in (fill in the blank). Which instantly and semantically puts you in the category of a non believer. All that other labelling bullcrap you will hear from label users is just that, bullcrap.
Mofo1953
Level 9
Jan 2, 2021
4
Not believing in Santa Claus is easy. We KNOW who HE isn't. Jolly St. Nick DEFINITELY does not exist. 'God' is different, since IT might not be an 'thing' at all. We have no idea what we mean by 'god' in the first place. If we mean a 'divine entity,' then most certainly not. If we mean something else, who knows?
Totally agree with you mofo. Some folks are just determined to break it down land label to the nth degree. But as you said it adds no value. IMHO, these labels only serve to divide us (as the last 4 years have proven out). I prefer to focus on the things that unite us.
Always call myself a Broad Church Sceptic, pretty much the same as your non-believer I think. Because I am open to, and accepting of all positions, on the sceptic spectrum, from deist and pantheist to atheist. Since I do not see belief, or not, in a maybe non-existent, and certainly in those cases, non-communicating god, as important. The harm and danger which comes from religion, comes from the cultural baggage it carries with it. And especially the belief, that "my" cultural baggage, is better than anyone else's, because it is, some how, sanctified, or has more authority because it comes from a 'higher' outside source.
Fernapple
Level 9
Jan 2, 2021
4
Call it what you like. I am a former Catholic and church goer (up ‘til age 18) and I consider myself an atheist.
CuddyCruiser
Level 8
Jan 2, 2021
3
Everyone that know me know that I do not have a belief in any gods. So as a Theist that have a belief in dieties or gods, I am an Atheist with no belief in any.
As an agnostic, I neither believe nor disbelieve, since there's no evidence either way.
We can't even agree on what we mean by 'god.' Is it a fictitious "entity," all of creation, or energy itself (which would equal mass times the speed of light squared), or the theoretical 'universal consciousness,' or 'collective unconscious,' or something else?
It might all be hogwash, regardless of any definition anyone could come up with, or it might not.
That's why I'm agnostic. There's reason to believe there are such things as reincarnation and psychism, but even if there is, that doesn't mean there IS a 'god,' or there ISN'T!
Nope, no way of knowing.
You're right: it's all labels and semantics and definitions and theories.
Storm1752
Level 8
Jan 2, 2021
3
For me, it depends on the capacity in which I am meeting someone. For a friend, it may never really come up. For a potential romantic partner, I want whatever label that lets them know that they can keep on scrolling with their thoughts and prayers.
Krista4505
Level 4
Jan 2, 2021
3
It’s all a matter of degree. I think the compatibility and commitment to the relationship are most important.
Non believer is a good label, however in the long run it does not matter what one calls oneself, it is what one believes that is important. I have found a lot of so called christian people have no clue of what the word agnostic means. Some of them are just so uneducated.
Jolanta
Level 9
Jan 2, 2021
2
I used to tell people I was agnostic but they informed me I was an atheist. My atheist friends said I was I was two chicken to tell the truth about being atheist.
I write atheists on forms. I tell people who want to invite me to church that I'm an atheist. Atheist is a word the general public thinks they understand and allows me to avoid church invites and participation in nonsensical rites.
I tell myself I don't care whether there's a God or not. I see no purpose in believing or arguing about what box my belief should be put in.
Lorajay
Level 9
Jan 2, 2021
1
I have put NA or not applicable on forms. No one has ever asked
I'm a stranger here myself... ...
seattlepanda
Level 7
Jan 2, 2021
2
Stranger in a strange land?
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