nonteiste

Nonteiste is a term used in religious studies and philosophy to describe a person who does not subscribe to belief in deities or who holds a non-theistic position. The term is often used interchangeably with non-theist, though in some contexts it emphasizes a stance rather than a belief about existence. A non-theiste may range from someone who identifies as an atheist (the belief that no gods exist) to someone who is agnostic (not asserting knowledge about gods) or who subscribes to secular humanist or freethought perspectives.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from non- + theist, with parallels in several languages such as French non-théiste or Spanish no teísta. In scholarly writing, non-theism is used to discuss positions on divinity without committing to a particular conclusion about existence.

Variants and related concepts: Atheism, agnosticism, secularism, and humanism are often discussed alongside non-theism. Some non-theists emphasize ethics, meaning, and community independent of religious doctrine, while others focus on epistemic questions about belief formation.

History: Non-theistic ideas appear across many cultures and historical periods, from critiques of theistic doctrines in classical philosophy to modern secular and humanist movements. In contemporary discourse, non-theism is commonly associated with secular institutions, education, and public policy debates on religion and state.

See also: atheism, agnosticism, secularism, non-theism, freethought, secular humanism.