The term "atheist" is one of the most commonly misunderstood words in the religion category. Atheists are often pegged as angry, hateful, immoral, lost or arrogant. A University of Minnesota study found that atheists are the most hated and distrusted minority in the country. These are all gross misconceptions that need to be rectified. This article will explore the true nature of atheism and dispel some of the common myths surrounding the term. 

What does the term "atheist" mean? The simple Miriam Webster dictionary definition of the world is "one who believes that there is no deity." Essentially, atheists lack a belief in a higher power. This is different from agnostics, who believe there is no way to know if there is a deity. Both atheists and theists can also be agnostic, because while they might fundamentally believe there is or is not a higher power, they could simultaneously feel there is no way it can be proven. Often times, people who do not understand the definition of atheism tack on other incorrect meanings to the word like "Satan worshiper" or "religion hater." The word itself has been so misunderstood that atheists have had to define themselves in new terms such as "nonbeliever" that don't have the same negavtive connotations as the word "atheist."

Don't all atheists hate religion? Absolutely not. Most atheists do not follow a religion and see no purpose for religion because of their lack of a belief in a higher power. Atheists also tend to be strongly in favor of the separation of church and state because religious beliefs should be kept out of government. Though there are many atheists that strongly dislike religion, this blanket statement cannot be applied to all atheists because everyone has different attitudes towards religion. Most atheists I know are curious about religion and are more interested in understanding the roots of belief and engaging in healthy debate than in bashing religion outright. Speaking for myself, I firmly respect people's rights to their own religious beliefs just as I hope other people would respect my right to be lacking in belief.

Are atheists angry people? Some people think that atheists are angry because they cannot experience the peace that religion brings some people. If any emotion could be applied to the majority of atheists, it would probably be frustration stemming from constantly being misunderstood and fear of being negatively judged based on their lack of beliefs. Most atheists, however, choose to handle these emotions by seeking out camaraderie among people with similar beliefs. Are some atheists angry people? Probably so, just in the same way that some religious people are angry. In both cases, however, this anger likely stems from other factors beyond religious beliefs.

The above is a basic overview of the nature of atheism. It is important for people to understand the true meaning of the term so people can begin to understand each other better. Further 101 articles on this subject will focus on other misconceptions about the nature of atheism.