Taz writes:
In fact, I would even dispute the need for the word "atheist". Do we have a word to describe those who are not lawyers? Do we have a word to describe those who are not philosophers? Do we have a word to describe those who do not believe in UFOs as alien spacecrafts? Why do we have a word to describe those who do not believe in god(s).
If the majority of people in the world were lawyers we'd probably need a word for non-lawyers. If the majority of people in the world were philosophers we'd probably need a word for non-philosophers. If the majority of people in the world believed that UFOs were alien spacecraft we'd probably need a word for people less credulous. It seems that the
majority of people in the world have a belief in an invisible friend/disciplinarian; I think we need a word for those of us who are skeptical. "Atheist" serves that purpose well.
Cheers.