atheological

English

Etymology

From a- +‎ theological.

Adjective

atheological (comparative more atheological, superlative most atheological)

1. Opposed to theology.
2. atheistic
   • 1642, Richard Montagu, Acts and Monuments of the Church:

     Fosterer of many Atheologicall Fancies

   • 1985 October, Philip L. Quinn, “In Search of the Foundations of Theism”, in Faith and Philosophy‎^[1], volume 2, number 4, →DOI, →ISSN, page 481:

     After all, nontrivial atheological reasons, ranging from various problems of evil to naturalist theories according to which theistic belief is illusory or merely projective, are a pervasive, if not obtrusive, component of the rational portion of our intellectual heritage.

   • 1991, Quentin Smith, “An Atheological Argument from Evil Natural Laws”, in International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion‎^[2], volume 29, number 3, page 159:

     If I held a certain epistemological theory about "basic beliefs", I might conclude from this experience that my intuition that there is no God co-existing with this horror was a "basic belief" and thus that I am epistemically entitled to be an atheist without needing to justify this intuition. But I do not hold such an epistemological theory and believe that intuitive atheological beliefs, such as the one I experienced (and the corresponding intuitive theological beliefs, such as that God is providentially watching over this gruesome event) require justification if they are to be epistemically warranted.

   • 1998, Theodore M. Drange, Nonbelief & Evil: Two Arguments for the Nonexistence of God, Prometheus Books, →ISBN, →OL, page 21:

     Atheological arguments are arguments for the conclusion that God does not exist.

Derived terms

• atheologically

 

References

• “atheological”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.