Understanding the Roots and Significance of ‘Atheism’
Throughout history, the evolution of the English language might have taken a different path, perhaps leading us to describe ourselves as atheal or to declare an atheonism. The word atheism, its origins, and its precise meaning are subjects rich with complexity and often misunderstood nuances. To truly grasp what atheism signifies, it’s essential to explore its etymology and the historical context behind its usage.
The term atheism is derived from the ancient Greek word αθεότης (atheótēs), which translates as ‘without God’. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, atheism is defined as ‘disbelief in, or denial of, the existence of a God.’ An atheist is someone who does not believe in any deity or divine being, whether it be the Christian God, Hindu gods, Norse deities, or Greek mythological figures.
The earliest recorded use of the word atheism appears in the Oxford English Dictionary with a citation from Arthur Golding and Sir Philip Sidney’s English translation (published in 1587 but composed earlier) of Philippe De Mornay’s A Woorke Concerning the Trewnesse of the Christian Religion: ‘Athisme, that is to say, vtter Godlesnes.’
Interestingly, during the Renaissance, alternative terms with similar meanings emerged. Atheal, also signifying ‘without God’, was used in the early seventeenth century, reflecting the linguistic experimentation of that period. Similarly, the Tudor historian Polydore Vergil, in the sixteenth century, employed the term atheonism: ‘Godd would not longe suffer this impietie, or rather atheonisme.’
However, both atheal and atheonism eventually faded into obscurity, leaving atheist and atheism as the predominant terms to describe individuals who reject belief in deity. A crucial distinction lies in the language surrounding atheism: it is primarily about the absence of belief rather than the assertion that no gods exist.
Consider the subtle difference between these statements:
- 1. An atheist does not believe in God.
- 2. An atheist believes there is no God.
The first statement aligns with the core definition of atheism: a lack of belief in a deity. The second, however, implies a positive belief that no gods exist, which is a different stance. This distinction is vital because an atheist does not necessarily assert ‘God does not exist’; rather, they simply do not accept the claim that a deity exists.
To illustrate this point, imagine a hypothetical scenario involving an outlandish claim: I believe there is a tiny teapot orbiting the Sun somewhere in space. This teapot is invisible and unobservable with current technology. Since I cannot prove its existence, I ask you to accept my belief. You, however, reject the idea because there is no evidence supporting it. You are not asserting that the teapot does not exist; you are simply not convinced of its existence. This position is akin to atheism: it is a rejection of the belief in gods, not a positive assertion that gods do not exist.
Therefore, atheism is best understood as a stance of non-belief, rather than a belief system claiming the non-existence of deities. Yet, throughout history, this stance has often been met with hostility. For example, in 1811, the young Romantic poet Percy Shelley co-authored a pamphlet titled The Necessity of Atheism at Oxford University, which led to his expulsion for challenging Christian doctrines. Ironically, those who expelled Shelley might themselves have been atheists in their own right—at least when considering the gods they did not believe in, such as Shiva, Thor, or Zeus. Shelley simply took the rejection one step further, questioning the very existence of divine beings altogether.