What is Atheism?

May as well start with a basic definition…oh wait!?

1. Defining Atheism

I like to start with the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) because it is a historical dictionary of the English language. The OED defines an “atheist” as “one who denies or disbelieves the existence of a God.” This usage dates to the 1500s as, for example, found in the Psalms of David with Commentaries written by Jean Calvin. “The Atheistes which say…there is no God.” The word, of course, became popular by the twentieth century. Another use given by the OED is “one who practically denies the existence of a God by disregard of one's moral obligation in that respect; a godless person.”

Likewise, according to the OED, the word “atheism” means, “disbelief in, or denial of, the existence of a God” or, per the second sense, “disregard of duty to God, godlessness.” Its etymology is Greek (then French and Italian) from the obsolete word atheal (ἄθεος) which referred to that which is “most vile” and “heathenish.” Note the negative connotation in the second senses of both words…