To understand this term, you can go to the dictionary, but most dictionaries provide skewed definitions (more on this later). So, let’s break it down. First we have to look at another word:

A-the-ism

That middle bit looks like the word "the", but actually it’s been shortened from the Greek word "theos" which means "god".

That last bit "-ism" is a suffix, an addition to the end of a word to add to or change a word’s meaning.

"-ism" is used to indicate a system of beliefs.

Tie those two bits together now, and you’ve got "theism" which means "god belief" or a belief in god(s). Though you rarely see this word used, if you look-up "theism" in any dictionary, you’ll find something close to this simple definition. There’s more than one type of theism– there’s mono-theism (belief in one god), poly-theism (belief in many gods), and pan-theism (belief that everything is god). You may find more variations or even break these down into more varieties.

Now let’s look at that first bit "A-".

This is a prefix, an attachment to the beginning of a word that adds to or changes the word’s meaning. The prefix "A- (or An-)" is used fairly frequently in the English language, and adds the meaning "without". Some other examples of this are: atypical, asymmetry, amorphous.

Bring it all together, and you get "atheism" - without belief in god(s).

The suffix "-ist" means one who is or does. So, an atheist is one who is without belief in god(s). Atheists don’t believe in god(s).

Some people use the term atheist to describe themselves – or more specifically -an aspect of themselves, that aspect being that they don’t believe in god(s). Some people prefer not to use this term, and may use other terms to describe their relation to theistic beliefs. Terms like freethinker, skeptic, non-believer, rationalist, or agnostic*. The vast majority of those without theistic belief either avoid the subject, or truly don’t care about the subject.

*[Agnostics are a special case in that some take particular offense to the term atheist. This is due mostly to the bad reputation the term has been given by some theists. In that agnosticism does not propose a belief in god(s), it is without belief in god(s)]

Being an atheist doesn’t imply anything else about a person’s beliefs or temperament. All that a person’s atheism tells you is that they don’t have a belief in god(s).

Some atheists consider themselves to be ‘spiritual’; some do not. Some atheists are anti-religious; some think that religion has benefits- some atheists identify themselves as religious. Some atheists go to church.

Some atheists accept the possibility of ‘paranormal’ phenomenon; some are staunch skeptics. Some atheists are political, but by no means all. Some atheists are activists; most aren’t. There are Atheists for Jesus, atheists against abortion, Atheist Republicans, Liberals, and Libertarians. Some atheists establish personal moral codes from any variety of sources or experiences. Some atheists prefer not to codify their world views into morals, and instead use ethics in determining individual situations. There is only one unifying category that fits all atheists – human.

All of these things can be said of theists as well.

Often, atheists are misrepresented as evil, mean, or amoral. This occurs when specific varieties of theists try to condemn those who do not think or believe as they do. When any particular variety of theists describe these terms in relation to their own particular theistic beliefs the view is skewed. Atheists define themselves in relation to ALL theistic belief. No belief in god(s) is no belief in god(s).

Occasionally there are voices out there, (loud at times) that condemn atheists for any variety of reasons. Some even try to use the word "atheist" itself as a slur (unfortunately some atheists take it as a slur). I have found that these intolerant individuals are a minority. There are, occasionally, atheists who shout loudly as well, sometimes tossing their own epithets –I find this to be even more rare. The fact of the matter is that the majority of people (atheist or theist) don’t care what your personal beliefs or lack thereof may be.