Antitheism (from other Greek. Ἀντί - against and θεός - God) is an active opposition to theism . This term has a different scope: in a secular context, opposition to belief in any deity is usually implied, and in a theistic context it means disagreement to believe in a monotheistic god or gods of the pantheon .
Content
Opposition to theism
While atheism in the broad sense simply means the absence of faith in the existence of a god or gods of the pantheon and supernatural forces , then antiteism means an active denial of theism. The very possibility of a broad discussion about the existence or non-existence of gods and supernatural forces is criticized. Antitheists are opposed to any theistic ideas, as the main cause of controversy, strife and war.
Atheism
The label "antitheist" is usually assigned to those who believe that theism has only a detrimental effect. One example of such views was demonstrated by Christopher Hitchens :
I am not so much an atheist as an antitheist. I not only believe that all religions are versions of the same untruth, but I also believe that the influence of churches and the effect of religious faith are certainly harmful.
Original textI'm not even an atheist so much as I am an antitheist; I not only maintain that all religions are versions of the same untruth, but I hold that the influence of churches, and the effect of religious belief, is positively harmful [1]
See also
- Atheism
- Anti-Catholicism
- Anti-clericalism
- Anti-protestantism
- Anti-Mormonism
- Anti-islam
- Religious intolerance
Notes
- ↑ Christopher Hitchens | Book Excerpt Archived on September 15, 2009.