antitheism
|an-ti-the-ism|
/ˌæn.tiˈθiː.ɪzəm/
opposition to belief in God
Etymology
'antitheism' originates from Modern English, formed by combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') with the noun 'theism' (from Greek 'theos' meaning 'god').
'theism' derives from Greek 'theos' via Latin and French; the compound 'antitheism' was coined in English (notably in the 19th century) by joining 'anti-' and 'theism'.
Initially it meant 'active opposition to theism'; over time it has largely retained that sense but is also sometimes used more broadly to mean 'rejection of theism' or interchangeably with 'atheism'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
active opposition to theism; hostility toward belief in God or organized religion.
His antitheism led him to campaign against religious schools.
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Noun 2
a philosophical position rejecting theism or denying the existence of gods (sometimes used interchangeably with atheism, though often implying active opposition).
Some philosophers distinguish antitheism from atheism by emphasizing its oppositional stance toward religious institutions.
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Last updated: 2025/09/11 06:54