Calling yourself an atheist is activism. Calling yourself an atheist is humanistic. And, if you don’t have an active belief in a God, regardless of reason or circumstance, calling yourself an atheist is truthful. Atheist is also, by far, the most understood term, making it the most efficient and strategic word to use as a tool against bigotry. People know what it means, so ignorance is challenged immediately by your smiling face. Atheists avoiding the word atheist strengthen theism and weaken atheism. There’s no way around that fact.

Atheist. It’s a good word. Embrace it. —David Silverman