What does nontheist mean?
A nontheist is someone who does not hold a belief in the existence of a deity or deities. Unlike an atheist, who rejects such existence, a nontheist may regard the question as open, irrelevant, or beyond reliable knowledge. The distinction can accommodate people who engage seriously with religious traditions and ethical systems without accepting the central supernatural claims of those traditions. As a result, nontheist is especially useful in philosophical discussion and in describing personal or cultural identities. It should not be taken to imply hostility toward religion: its defining feature is the absence of theistic belief, not a particular attitude toward religious practice, community, or morality. The term is used in both British and American English, although it remains more specialized than the more familiar word atheist.
nounA person who does not hold a belief in the existence of a deity or deities, without necessarily maintaining that no deity exists.
- A person who does not believe in the existence of a deity or deities, while making no necessary claim that such beings do not exist.
"She described herself as a nontheist, continuing to engage with religion without professing belief in God."
"The interview explored how his experience as a nontheist shaped his approach to spiritual but nonreligious traditions."
"Her essay argues that a nontheist position can coexist with moral commitments derived from religious teachings."
The regular plural refers to multiple people who do not hold theistic belief.
"The nontheists met to discuss the relationship between religion, ethics, and public life."
A nontheist can reject religious belief without claiming that God or the gods do not exist.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nontheist come from?
Nontheist was formed in the 19th century from the prefix non-, meaning not, and theist, a person who believes in the existence of a deity. Theist derives from Greek theos, meaning god, and ultimately belongs to the same Greek root found in words such as deity, theology, and theocracy. The prefixed form developed as a neutral alternative to atheist when the intended emphasis was the absence of belief rather than the rejection of a deity's existence.
Related word forms
How nontheist is actually used
The term is chiefly intellectual and explanatory, appearing especially in discussions of religion, philosophy, and identity. It is broader than the claim usually made by an atheist because it does not necessarily deny the existence of a deity.
Easily confused with nontheist
An atheist rejects the existence of a deity, whereas a nontheist simply does not affirm the existence of one and may leave the question open.
An agnostic holds that the existence of a deity is unknown or unknowable, while a nontheist does not hold such a belief.