Strong Atheist: Why do we call ourselves "Atheists,"

The short answer is ---- "We don't."

An atheist is not a thing. A living, breathing, human being who does not happen to believe in God or gods is called an "Atheist" by the theists. We are also called; non-believers, heathen, sinners, godless, apostates, skeptics, the profane, infidels, the irreligious, children of Satan, and a whole lot more. These are the names Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, have for people like us.

Now I want to tell you a little story. During the war for independence in America, the British would slander the Americans by calling them Yankees. This term was used towards Americans throughout its early years. The song was popular among the British troops, creating a stereotype of the Yankee simpleton who stuck a feather in his cap and thought that he was stylish in the song Yankee Doodle. Today, "Yankee Doodle" is the official state song of Connecticut. It is the name of an American Baseball Team. And if you are ever in a bar with bunch of Auzies, Kiwis, or Brits, you are going to be referred to as a Yank. Being a Yankee is what we are. Every kid in elementary school learns the song. It is a song of national pride.... What has this got to do with Atheism???

Think of other words that were used derogatorily at first and then adopted and used with a sense of pride. These words are called "Reappropriated" words. " A reclaimed or reappropriated word is a word that was at one time pejorative but has been brought back into acceptable usage." Dyke, queer, gay, Bad was reappropriated to mean Good. Jesuit was originally a derogatory term referring to people who too readily invoked the name of Jesus in their politics, but which members of the Society adopted over time for themselves, How about the African American term of endearment Nigga or nigger.

Look through our language and there are thousands of words like these. They are adopted by a persecuted group as a badge of honor. Coming out as Atheist is to wear the label with pride.

You are correct in the assertion that the word has no meaning. It does not describe anything. There is no such thing as a non-stamp-collector. At the same time, the word is a big FUCK YOU to the theists of the world.

FUCK YOU --- I am an atheist and proud of it. (I do not believe in your god.) I am moral, kind, and can do anything you can do without your silly delusions.

I work around many religious people and at work I simply tell people that I am a non-believer. However; when I am asked outright, if I am an atheist, I always say "Non-believer is what Atheist means." (I tone it down at work because of the negative connotation of the word Atheist to the religious. Atheists are the enemies. This is the message preached to the empty headed believers in the pews.

So Why Atheism? It is a reappropriation of a derogatory word. I am equally comfortable with heathen, sinner, etc.... It's religious bullshit, not atheist bullshit.