Atheism Quote by David Craig
![“John Hodgson can describe Richard Dawkins's atheism as vacuous only because 'atheist' is a term which non-believers use purely as a polemical convenience when we have to define concisely what we don't believe [...]. No atheist is principally that. What we'd want to call ourselves is humanist or…” quote by David Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/df6/david-craig-23078_atheism_john-hodgson-can-describe-richard-dawkin_2552152.jpg)
““John Hodgson can describe Richard Dawkins's atheism as vacuous only because 'atheist' is a term which non-believers use purely as a polemical convenience when we have to define concisely what we don't believe [...]. No atheist is principally that. What we'd want to call ourselves is humanist or materialist, or biologist or linguist, or for that matter socialist, because one or more of these, or something else again, is what we do and think and are. We have 'purely and simply finished with God', to adapt a phrase of Engels's.””
About This Quote
The quote argues that “atheist” is a vague, polemical label, and many non‑believers prefer more precise identities like humanist, materialist, or scientist.
In simple terms: Atheist is a broad term; people often choose specific labels.
Key Takeaway
Use precise language to describe beliefs.
Themes
identity
belief
language
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
explanatory
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- personal identity formation
- public discourse
Key Concepts
atheism
humanism
materialism
scientific worldview
Questions to Reflect On
- How do labels shape our self‑understanding?
- What benefits arise from more specific identifiers?
A Different Perspective
Labels can oversimplify complex worldviews.
