I think that a new name must be given to this trope, one that shows more clearly that it's not just about any kind of atheism, but atheism born out of a belief that the world is evil.

Well, it's hard to Guess The Trope, and it's dialogue. Are there misuse or underuse you can tie to it?

Half as many inbounds as wicks (15-28).

The name is a bad stock phrase. Rename it.

That seems an awful lot like one type of Hollywood Atheist, by the by. We sure they're not the same trope?

Evil-Induced Atheism as a possible rename option?

edited 24th Feb '13 9:57:19 AM by Willbyr

Could just be The Problem Of Evil.

Cynical Atheism?

Crowner open. I upvoted Evil Induced Atheism and Cynical Atheism, in that order of preference.

edited 25th Feb '13 12:28:25 PM by StarSword

I am asking moderators to hold on a bit on that crowner. Even though this is a minor trope that's unlikely to raise much fuss, 1 day + 3 (not unambiguous votes) is a bit little to me.

You need a single proposition to decide on a rename first.

Okay, yeah, I guess I jumped the gun.

No biggie. Single prop crowner's hooked.

My problem with "Evil-Induced Atheism" is that it isn't clearly referring to external evil. I would have guessed that the person is atheistic because they are evil.

I suggest "What God Would Let This Happen?" (or "How Could God Let This Happen?") It's still dialogue, but something of a set phrase with regards to the problem of evil.

If it's dialogue, it's not an option for a new name.

"Atheist From Witnessing Evil"?

"Cynical Atheism" is a genuine trope, but this is a narrower instance of it. I would rather keep that for where there is some implied link between a character's lack of belief and his cynicism.

I was using "cynical" as in "Because the world is bad"

Evil Stole my Faith?

Evil Stole My Faith is a name I can get behind. Can't pin down exactly why.

That looks like dialogue again.

I like Evil Stole My Faith.

It's kinda dialoguey, but I like it all the same.

Evil Stole My Faith sounds OK to me.

I still prefer The Problem Of Evil, as the preexisting name for the philosophical dilemma that the character is forced to confront and resolve, but I won't deny that Evil Stole My Faith is a pretty good name.

People have resolved The Problem Of Evil without falling into this trope, though.

The Problem Of Evil is related, but not exactly the same. It's about the paradox of an omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent God and Evil existing at the same time. This trope is not about that paradox. It's more about the conclusion of one side of the solution: If there's Evil, there's no God.