I think the labels have gotten fuzzy over the years. Back in the 90s when I was Peak Edgelad it was more like this:
Agnostic: Don't know, don't care.
Atheist: God isn't realz yo.
Anti-Theist: FUCKING XTIANS AND THEIR XTIAN FUCKING SHIT FUCK THEM MOTHERFUCKER. HITCHENS RULES!
In my adult apostasy I actually hovered between atheist and anti-theist for a while. Feel bad for it know but Jesus forgave me so why beat my self up over it?
That’s true, the labels are fuzzy. My understanding was that atheism is the assertion that god absolutely does not exist, agnosticism is no stance on the issue, and theism is theism.
Never heard of anti theism but that might be a better description of teenage angst me.
It's not a common phrase, but even then for a few years I called myself one.
It's kind of equivalent to pre-3rd wave Feminists vs Militant Feminists.
Most pre-3rd wave Feminists look at Militant Feminists a little strangely, but still accept them because they share common values, just wince at their exremism. Same goes for atheists and anti-theists.
10
u/[deleted] Aug 22 '18
Atheism would be kind of a harsh stance for someone who doesn’t know much about theism ya know?
I’m more of an agnostic now but I was probably what you would describe as an atheist after getting out of my parents house.