Bwild: How is it ignorant to use a word that describes how many people define themselves? It's the only word I know of that means someone who does not believe in God's existence. If there is a better word for it then I would like to know. It's not a dirty word, it's just a word with a specific meaning.

When I was an atheist I had no problem being identified as someone who did not believe in a God, so I don't know why anyone else would have a problem with it. I don't see why it would bother anyone, but the fact is it does bother a lot of people... especially atheists... ???

Before your post showed up I thought about looking for a word in some other language that means the same thing, but unless you mean something other than what I understand the word to mean, it almost seems pointless to buffer it with a word no one is familiar with. I'd only be doing it to keep from offending the people who already don't mind being identified as not believing in God. Seriously, does that make any sense?

By the way, what do you mean by religious? What is a 'religious' atheist, and how is he different from other atheists?