heathen

defined as "one who adheres to the religion of a people or nation that does not acknowledge the God of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam" (American Heritage Dictionary ), this term needs to be replaced by the name of the belief system under discussion. Or, try areligious. "Heathen" and "nonbeliever" resemble "nonwhite" in being a catchall term for everybody who isn't "us." It also describes the supposedly unenlightened and uncivilized, an indefensible judgment. See also Pagan/neopagan, primitive, savage.