Atheist, Non-theist--Theologians, claiming their belief system as the default, propagated the perception of those who didn't accept their orthodoxy as dissenters, to marginalize them. "Atheist" is by intent pejorative. And "non-theist" means the same. Must freethinkers passively accept a label devised by their enemies whose purpose was to discredit them?

Non-believer--Commonly refers to a disbelief in the existence of God. Using it thus implies that you accept its validity, gives undeserved weight to one assumption over all other assumptions. Better to just eschew the negative, affirm the positive meaningful "skeptic." What should be challenged is any categorization by a metaphysical allegation inaccessible to experimental test. Are you a skeptic? Don't adopt your adversaries' language!

--Freethought Forum
Humanist Fellowship of San Diego
October 2009