nonbeliever
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A person who lacks belief or refuses to accept a particular belief, especially in a religious context such as belief in a divinity or god.
Usage
The term "nonbeliever" is used to describe a person who does not hold a specific belief that is being discussed, most commonly a belief in God or the tenets of a particular religion. It is a neutral, descriptive term.
Examples
- The preacher spoke to both believers and nonbelievers in the audience.
- As a nonbeliever, she did not participate in the religious ceremony.
- The survey aimed to understand the perspectives of nonbelievers on moral questions.
Advanced Usage
- "Atheist" vs. "Nonbeliever": While all atheists are nonbelievers in a deity, not all nonbelievers are atheists. "Nonbeliever" can be a broader term that includes agnostics, skeptics, or those simply unconvinced by a specific claim.
- Context-Specific: One can be a nonbeliever regarding a specific idea (e.g., a nonbeliever in astrology) without being a general nonbeliever in religion.
Variants and Related Words
- Unbeliever (noun): A synonym for nonbeliever, often used interchangeably.
- Disbeliever (noun): Emphasizes an active rejection or refusal to believe a specific claim.
- Nonbelief (noun): The state or condition of being a nonbeliever; lack of belief.
Synonyms
- Atheist
- Agnostic
- Skeptic
- Infidel (archaic and often pejorative)
- Heathen (archaic and often pejorative)
Antonyms
- Believer
- Follower
- Devotee
- Theist
Noun
- someone who refuses to believe (as in a divinity)