How many ways are there to disbelieve in God?

At least six, according to a new study.

Two researchers at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga found that atheists and agnostics run the range from vocally anti-religious activists to nonbelievers who nonetheless observe some religious traditions.

“The main observation is that nonbelief is an ontologically diverse community,” write doctoral student Christopher Silver and undergraduate student Thomas Coleman.

“These categories are a first stab at this," Silver told the website Raw Story. "In 30 years, we may be looking at a typology of 32 types.”

Silver and Coleman derived their six types of nonbelievers from 59 interviews. We're pretty sure we've spotted all six in our comments section.

1) Intellectual atheist/agnostic
This type of nonbeliever seeks information and intellectual stimulation about atheism.
They like debating and arguing, particularly on popular Internet sites.
(Ahem.)
They're also well-versed in books and articles about religion and atheism, and prone to citing those works frequently.

2) Activist
These kinds of atheists and agnostics are not content with just disbelieving in God; they want to tell others why they reject religion and why society would be better off if we all did likewise.
They tend to be vocal about political causes like gay rights, feminism, the environment and the care of animals.

3) Seeker-agnostic
This group is made up of people who are unsure about the existence of a God but keep an open mind and recognize the limits of human knowledge and experience.
Silver and Coleman describe this group as people who regularly question their own beliefs and “do not hold a firm ideological position.”
That doesn't mean this group is confused, the researchers say. They just embrace uncertainty.

4) Anti-theist
This group regularly speaks out against religion and religious beliefs, usually by positioning themselves as “diametrically opposed to religious ideology,” Silver and Coleman wrote.
“Anti-theists view religion as ignorance and see any individual or institution associated with it as backward and socially detrimental,” the researchers wrote. “The Anti-Theist has a clear and – in their view, superior – understanding of the limitations and danger of religions.”
Anti-theists are outspoken, devoted and – at times – confrontational about their disbelief. They believe that "obvious fallacies in religion and belief should be aggressively addressed in some form or another.”

5) Non-theist
The smallest group among the six are the non-theists, people who do not involve themselves with either religion or anti-religion.
In many cases, this comes across as apathy or disinterest.
“A Non-Theist simply does not concern him or herself with religion,” Silver and Coleman wrote. “Religion plays no role or issue in one’s consciousness or worldview; nor does a Non- Theist have concern for the atheist or agnostic movement.”
They continue: “They simply do not believe, and in the same right, their absence of faith means the absence of anything religion in any form from their mental space.”

6) Ritual atheist
They don't believe in God, they don’t associate with religion, and they tend to believe there is no afterlife, but the sixth type of nonbeliever still finds useful the teachings of some religious traditions.
“They see these as more or less philosophical teachings of how to live life and achieve happiness than a path to transcendental liberation,” Silver and Coleman wrote. “For example, these individuals may participate in specific rituals, ceremonies, musical opportunities, meditation, yoga classes, or holiday traditions.”
For many of these nonbelievers, their adherence to ritual may stem from family traditions. For others, its a personal connection to, or respect for, the "profound symbolism" inherent within religious rituals, beliefs and ceremonies, according the researchers.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/15/the-six-types-of-atheists/

Logicboy sees himself as type 1 but the others see him as type 2 or 4.


This higjlights the problem with the research: the types of atheists are not mutually exclusive nor are they with clear boundaries.

Logicboy03: Logicboy sees himself as type 1 but the others see him as type 2 or 4.


This higjlights the problem with the research: the types of atheists are not mutually exclusive nor are they with clear boundaries.

Dude, you're number 4

am type 6

Logicboy03: Logicboy sees himself as type 1 but the others see him as type 2 or 4.


This higjlights the problem with the research: the types of atheists are not mutually exclusive nor are they with clear boundaries.

delusions

Certainly a type 1 here

Look at them.....struggling over. Meaningless labels

Logicboy03: Look at them.....struggling over. Meaningless labels

Thats the whole point of it.. some time to relax and have a laugh.

anything to take my mind off the heatwave here

Area_boy:

Thats the whole point of it.. some time to relax and have a laugh.

anything to take my mind off the heatwave here

Nice

hehehe, I used to be 3...

I am all and none at the same time. It depends on my mood.

I am even more sef. For example, I believe in Satan but know He does not exist. Go figure.

Alfa Seltzer:
I am even more sef. For example, I believe in Satan but know He does not exist. Go figure.

Epic!!!

Alfa Seltzer: I am all and none at the same time. It depends on my mood.

I am even more sef. For example, I believe in Satan but know He does not exist. Go figure.

Attention seeker.

FearGodAndLive:
Attention seeker.

You are welcome.

Alfa Seltzer:

You are welcome.

When are you going to answer the Master's call? It's useless fighting against him. He'll get you one way or the other.

FearGodAndLive:

When are you going to answer the Master's call? It's useless fighting against him. He'll get you one way or the other.

I already have a Master. It is written, "thou shall not serve two Masters at the same time".

Alfa Seltzer:

I already have a Master. It is written, "thou shall not serve two Masters at the same time".

May the good Lord have mercy on your soul.

FearGodAndLive:

May the good Lord have mercy on your soul.

Your lord's mercy is for xtians. I belong to Satan.

Type 5 but can also be type 6 as i agree with some philosophy teachings of christianity

FearGodAndLive:

May the good Lord have mercy on your soul.

You are as annoying as your god TBH. Think and grow wiser for once!

Alfa Seltzer:

Your lord's mercy is for xtians. I belong to Satan.

The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. Psalm 145:9

You are God's creation and he loves you. I'm sure you aren't a Satanist, Brother.

Logicboy03: Logicboy sees himself as type 1 but the others see him as type 2 or 4.


This higjlights the problem with the research: the types of atheists are not mutually exclusive nor are they with clear boundaries.

You are certainly a poor version of type 1. But I would think you are type 2, going by your actions on Nairaland.

Uyi Iredia:

You are certainly a poor version of type 1. But I would think you are type 2, going by your actions on Nairaland.

Erm, how does your opinion bear any resemblance to facts? You do realise that the types arent absolute?

FearGodAndLive:


The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. Psalm 145:9

You are God's creation and he loves you. I'm sure you aren't a Satanist, Brother.

Whatever makes you sleep better.

Logicboy03:



Erm, how does your opinion bear any resemblance to facts? You do realise that the types arent absolute?

Your profile personal quote_which I'll encourage people to check_evinces activism. Unless you've changed it. You are well-known for starting lots of atheist-centric threads and have an on-going project encouraging atheists to contribute to atheist arguments and 'atheophobia'. Of course, you are free to perform wonders via logicboyism. Your talk on absolutes I deem trivial. What's important is that one can distinguish how atheists go abput their belief. Save your talk of atheist being a disbelief for the dogs.

what about the atheist who believes in evolution why is my category not there? Obviously the survey was made by christians who can't think outside the box of religion

Uyi Iredia:

Your profile personal quote_which I'll encourage people to check_evinces activism. Unless you've changed it. You are well-known for starting lots of atheist-centric threads and have an on-going project encouraging atheists to contribute to atheist arguments and 'atheophobia'. Of course, you are free to perform wonders via logicboyism. Your talk on absolutes I deem trivial. What's important is that one can distinguish how atheists go abput their belief. Save your talk of atheist being a disbelief for the dogs.

Am a Nigerian humanist activist not an atheist activist.


This is what happens when you label someone by force.

Logicboy03:



Am a Nigerian humanist activist not an atheist activist.


This is what happens when you label someone by force.

Save it for the flies. I don't do $hit.

Uyi Iredia:

Save it for the flies. I don't do $hit.

Thank you brother. Atheists don't like to own up to their own actions hence they choose to disbelieve God. They do not want to be accountable to anyone so they make themselves GOD. Most of these NL atheists are type 4.

FearGodAndLive:
Thank you brother. Atheists don't like to own up to their own actions hence they choose to disbelieve God. They do not want to be accountable to anyone so they make themselves GOD. Most of these NL atheists are type 4.

you are silly beyond imagination. Senseless post.

Mr Troll: you are silly beyond imagination. Senseless post.

Another type 4 atheist.

FearGodAndLive:
Another type 4 atheist.

another Olaadegbu clone. Your numbers are increasing...