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New Definition for "Atheism"

I am a college instructor in the Buckle of the Bible Belt in NC and deal with non-stop anger and auspiciousness from students due to my open atheism.

I was at a dinner party the other night and was asked if I were a Christian. My response to the question was, "I am not superstitious." In retrospect, it feels like the simplest and most accurate explanation of my atheism.

Would "the absence of superstitious beliefs" accurately define your atheism?

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Permalink Reply by Alona Naga on February 20, 2011 at 11:26am

I thought hillsborough was the buckle? but yes that would accurately define me at least.

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Permalink Reply by Edward Teach on February 20, 2011 at 11:36am

LOL... It may have a few buckles ;-) I'm in Morganton

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Permalink Reply by Will Faithless Sophia on February 20, 2011 at 1:13pm

I think "the absence of superstitious beliefs" otherwise known as jumping to conclusions when simpler more realistic explanations are available is the definition used by the Brights. Atheism just means to not believe in god(s).

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Permalink Reply by John D on February 20, 2011 at 1:59pm

Yes - I use this phrase as well as saying "I don't believe in anything supernatural". This is really the definition of "materialism" but most people are too stupid to know the difference between materialism and materialistic... so I avoid using this word in public.

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Permalink Reply by Edward Teach on February 20, 2011 at 2:19pm

I think it does a nice job of calling a spade a spade and it by-passes the strawman definitions for atheism.

How ya been?

I'm sick as hell with the flu. I had it coming though... Every time I sin, I get sick!

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Permalink Reply by Brian George on February 20, 2011 at 6:33pm

I was stationed at Fort Bragg for a couple of years and lived in both Hope Mills and Fayettville. There's some scary thinking folks in that area. My wife and I kept to ourselves and never talked about religion to anyone!

As a simple reply, not being superstitious is okay in my book. In fact, I've said the same thing when I wanted to be sarcastic with the questioner. Kind of like when I was younger and people would ask me if I smoked. I would reply, "Only when I catch on fire". Lack of superstition is more a by-product of my atheism rather than the defining element.

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Permalink Reply by Edward Teach on February 20, 2011 at 8:07pm

Lack of superstition is more a by-product of my atheism rather than the defining element.

True nuff, but it sort of puts the concept of god in it's appropriate place... along side unicorns, fairies, goblins, werewolves and all other fanciful creations of the human imagination.