A person who hates God or the gods is primarily called a misotheist.
Understanding Misotheism
Misotheism is a term derived from the Greek words mīsos (μῖσος), meaning "hatred," and theos (θεός), meaning "god." Therefore, a misotheist is someone characterized by a profound hatred of God or divine beings. Unlike atheists who do not believe in the existence of God, a misotheist typically does believe in God's existence but harbors intense negative feelings towards that deity, often stemming from perceived injustices, suffering, or moral objections to divine actions or attributes.
Key aspects of misotheism include:
- Belief in Existence: A fundamental distinction is that a misotheist acknowledges the existence of the God or gods they hate. This sets it apart from atheism, which is the absence of belief.
- Active Animosity: It signifies an active, often strong, emotional aversion or opposition, rather than mere indifference.
- Moral or Experiential Roots: The hatred often arises from a perception of divine malevolence, indifference to suffering, or a personal experience of hardship attributed to divine will.
Misotheism vs. Related Concepts
While misotheism specifically denotes hatred, it is important to distinguish it from other related concepts within the spectrum of religious and non-religious beliefs.
| Term | Definition | Relationship to Belief in God |
|---|---|---|
| Misotheism | The hatred of God or gods. | Believes in God's existence, but harbors intense negative feelings or hatred towards them. |
| Dystheism | The belief that a god is not wholly good, and is evil, or at least imperfect. | Believes in God's existence, but perceives them as flawed, malevolent, or not entirely benevolent. |
| Atheism | The lack of belief in the existence of God or gods. | Does not believe in the existence of God or gods. |
| Anti-theism | Active opposition to theism, religious belief, or organized religion. | May or may not believe in God's existence; actively opposes religious systems, doctrines, or their influence. |
| Blasphemy | The act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk. | An action or utterance that disrespects God or religious concepts; can be committed by believers or non-believers. |
Understanding these distinctions helps clarify that while a misotheist might engage in anti-theistic arguments or blasphemous statements, their core defining characteristic is the emotional stance of hatred towards the divine entity they believe exists.
