University of Central Florida (UCF) REL2300 World Religions Practice Exam 1

The primary concept of atheism is defined by the belief that no goddess or god exists. Atheism asserts a lack of belief in deities and often emphasizes a reliance on reason, science, and secular explanations for the universe rather than attributing existence to divine beings. This foundational aspect distinguishes atheism from other beliefs about the divine.

In contrast to atheism, Buddhism primarily focuses on individual practice and enlightenment rather than concepts of deities, making it a different philosophical or spiritual path. Agnosticism presents a different perspective by positing that the existence or non-existence of deities is unknown or unknowable, thus differing significantly from atheism’s clear stance of disbelief. Lastly, religious pluralism promotes coexistence and acceptance of diverse religious beliefs, rather than directly addressing the existence of gods, which again sets it apart from the specific focus of atheism on the absence of belief in deities.