antigod

An antigod is a figure or concept characterized by opposition to a deity or the divinity itself. The term combines the prefix anti- with god, and it is used across religious, philosophical, and fictional contexts to denote rebellion against the divine order or the negation of commonly ascribed divine attributes.

Etymology and usage are modest in scholarly tradition. While “antigod” appears in some discussions of theology, it is not a standard technical label in major religious systems. More common terms in religious discourse include atheist, antichrist, or devil, depending on the tradition and the specific idea being described. In secular philosophy and critical theory, antigod can function as a thought experiment or rhetorical device to explore the implications of a deity that is malevolent, morally problematic, or incompatible with human flourishing.

In religious literature, antigod concepts sometimes overlap with apocalyptic or dualistic motifs, where a powerful adversary challenges the ruler or the orders established by a god. In fiction, antigod figures are used as narrative devices: rebellious deities, artificial beings asserting independence from a creator, or embodiments of moral paradoxes that test human values.

Overall, antigod remains a flexible term rather than a fixed doctrinal category. It serves to articulate positions or stories about opposition to divinity, whether in theological debate, philosophical critique, or imaginative storytelling.