Atheism and morality

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The perverse and cruel atheist Marquis de Sade in prison, 18th century line engraving.

Not possessing a religious basis for morality, which can provide a basis for objective morality, atheists are fundamentally incapable of having a coherent system of morality.[1]

For example, atheists have been the biggest mass murderers in history (see: Atheism and mass murder). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate regarding the loss of life due to atheistic communism is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987 (See also: Atheism and communism).[2]

See also:

Atheism and morality: Lack of objective morality

Dr. Paul Copan wrote: "...the existence of a personal God is crucial for a coherent understanding of objective morality."[3]

Under an atheist worldview, there is no logical basis for objective morality or ultimate meaning and purpose.[4] See also: Atheism and meaninglessness

Atheism and moral relativism

Dr. Phil Fernandes states the following regarding atheism and moral relativism:

Nietzsche preached that a group of "supermen" must arise with the courage to create their own values through their "will to power." Nietzsche rejected the "soft" values of Christianity (brotherly love, turning the other cheek, charity, compassion, etc.); he felt they hindered man's creativity and potential....

Many other atheists agree with Nietzsche concerning moral relativism. British philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) once wrote, "Outside human desires there is no moral standard." A. J. Ayer believed that moral commands did not result from any objective standard above man. Instead, Ayer stated that moral commands merely express one's subjective feelings. When one says that murder is wrong, one is merely saying that he or she feels that murder is wrong. Jean-Paul Sartre, a French existentialist, believed that there is no objective meaning to life. Therefore, according to Sartre, man must create his own values.

There are many different ways that moral relativists attempt to determine what action should be taken. Hedonism is probably the most extreme. It declares that whatever brings the most pleasure is right. In other words, if it feels good, do it. If this position is true, then there is no basis from which to judge the actions of Adolf Hitler as being evil.[5]

Barna Group studies related to atheism and morality

Barna Group study on behavior of atheists vs. evangelical Christians

Richard Deem wrote:

A random sample of 1003 adults were surveyed in May, 2008 by The Barna Group for their participation in a number of negative behaviors within the previous week. The results showed that there were vast differences in the behaviors of evangelicals compared to agnostics/atheists.

These results show that atheists/agnostics participate in morally questionable behaviors to a much greater degree than evangelical Christians - an average of nearly five times the frequency![6]

Barna Group study related to atheist beliefs about behaviors

The Barna Group found that atheists and agnostics in America were more likely, than theists in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: illegal drug use; excessive drinking; sexual relationships outside of marriage; abortion; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; obscene language; gambling; pornography and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in homosexuality/bisexuality.[7]

Given the many diseases associated with homosexuality, the biblical prohibition against homosexuality is quite arguably one of the many examples where the Bible exhibited knowledge that was ahead of its time. See also: Atheism and sexual immorality and The Bible and sound health practices

University study: Public perception of atheist morality

In 2014, a University of Kentucky study was published by Will M. Gervais, which was entitled "Everything is permitted? People intuitively judge immorality as representative of atheists", and the study indicated that "even atheist participants viewed immorality as significantly more representative of atheists than of other people."[8]

Prominent atheists and immorality

See also: Atheist movement and Atheist organizations

James Randi is a prominent atheist within the atheist movement. Brian Thompson, former James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Outreach Coordinator, wrote:

But I no longer identify with this community of benevolent know-it-alls, because not all of them are the best folks in the world. In fact, a good percentage of the top ten worst humans I’ve ever met are prominent members of the skeptics’ club. They’re dishonest, mean-spirited, narcissistic, misogynistic. Pick a personality flaw, and I can probably point you to someone who epitomizes it. And that person has probably had a speaking slot at a major skeptical conference.

I grew particularly disgusted with the boys’ club attitude I saw among skeptical leaders and luminaries. The kind of attitude that’s dismissive of women, sexually predatory, and downright gross. When I first started going to skeptical conferences as a fresh-faced know-it-all, I started hearing things about people I once admired. Then I started seeing things myself. Then I got a job with the JREF, and the pattern continued.[9]

Commentary on the immorality of prominent atheists

The atheist philosopher Peter Singer defends the practice of bestiality (as well as abortion, infanticide and euthanasia). Despite holding these immoral views the liberal and pro-evolution academic establishment rewarded his views with a bioethics chair at Princeton University.[10]

See also: Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships

An essay by the Christian apologist Dr. James Spiegel examines the morality of some well known atheists. Dr. Spiegel describes Bertrand Russell as a "misogynistic and a serial adulterer; a chronic seducer of women, especially very young women, even in his old age."[11] Spiegel refers to the atheist Karl Marx as a "fiercely anti-semitic; egocentric, slothful, and lecherous; exploitive of friends and unfaithful to his wife; sired an illegitimate son, whom he refused to acknowledge."[11] In addition, Spiegel refers to atheist Jean-Paul Sartre in the following manner: "Jean-Paul Sartre—notorious for his sexual escapades with female students, often procured by his colleague and lover Simone de Beauvoir."[11]

See also:

Atheism and bestiality

See also: Atheism and bestiality and Moral failures of the atheist population

Bestiality and secular Europe

See also: Bestiality and secular Europe and Secular Europe

A 2015 Jerusalem Post article indicates "Copenhagen has for long been the bestiality capital of Europe and has attracted many tourists mainly visiting to have sex with animals. Legislation against this practice was only enacted this year."[12]

From a global perspective, Europe is more secular/atheistic than the rest of the world although it does have a considerable amount of religious immigrants who have higher birth rates (see: Atheist population and Global atheism).

Vice News, a global news channel which broadcasts documentaries about current topics, reported in 2014 about secular Europe:

Bestiality is having a weird renaissance in Europe. Perhaps ironically, it kicked off when activists succeeded in banning the practice in places like Germany and Norway. In the background, something else emerged simultaneously: an animal-sex-tourism industry, which has been blossoming in Denmark.[13]

A 2015 Jerusalem Post article indicates "Copenhagen has for long been the bestiality capital of Europe and has attracted many tourists mainly visiting to have sex with animals. Legislation against this practice was only enacted this year."[12]

Bestiality, secular European countries and other areas

In areas of the Western World where there is a significant amount of atheists and evolutionary belief, there have been notable problems related to bestiality (see: Bestiality and various geographic areas).

See also:

The first "bestiality rights" organization was founded in secular Europe

The first so called "bestiality/zoophile rights" group, called Equality for All, has its roots in secular Europe and formed in the '90s.[14] It is located in the Czech Republic. According to a 2010 Eurobarometer poll, 16% of Czech citizens responded that "they believe there is a God" which the lowest rate among the countries of the European Union.[15]

Richard Dawkins commentary on the morality of Adolf Hitler

See also: Richard Dawkins and morality

The Evolutionist and new atheist Richard Dawkins stated in an interview: “What’s to prevent us from saying Hitler wasn’t right? I mean, that is a genuinely difficult question."[16] The interviewer wrote, regarding the Hitler comment, "I was stupefied. He had readily conceded that his own philosophical position did not offer a rational basis for moral judgments. His intellectual honesty was refreshing, if somewhat disturbing on this point."[16] This underlines the fact that atheists have no moral grounding.

Atheism and abortion

The Journal of Medical Ethics declared concerning the atheist and sadist Marquis de Sade:

In 1795 the Marquis de Sade published his La Philosophic dans le boudoir, in which he proposed the use of induced abortion for social reasons and as a means of population control. It is from this time that medical and social acceptance of abortion can be dated, although previously the subject had not been discussed in public in modern times. It is suggested that it was largely due to de Sade's writing that induced abortion received the impetus which resulted in its subsequent spread in western society.[17]

Population control is based on pseudoscience and ill founded economic assumptions.[18] CBS News reported: "According to a mail-in survey of nearly 4,000 British doctors, those who were atheist or agnostic were almost twice as willing to take actions designed to hasten the end of life."[19]

Irreligion and drug addiction

[[File:Powder meth foil small.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.[20][21][22] ] See also: Atheism and drug addiction

Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.[20][21]

According to Science Daily:

Young Swiss men who say that they believe in God are less likely to smoke cigarettes or pot or take ecstasy pills than Swiss men of the same age group who describe themselves as atheists. Belief is a protective factor against addictive behaviour. This is the conclusion reached by a study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.[23]

Atheism and incest

Lawrence Krauss is a prominent atheist and atheist activist. In response to the question, "Why is incest wrong?", Krauss said, "It's not clear to me that it is wrong."[24] Krauss belongs to the New Atheism school of atheism which is a form of militant atheism.

The YouTube channel TheAmazingAtheist is the most popular atheist YouTube channel with over 685,972 subscribers as of June 2015.[25] The AmazingAtheist produced a video entitled Atheist Libertarian Defends Incest, Polygamy and Cannibalism!.[26]

For more information, please see: Atheism and incest

Atheism and cannibalism

[[File:Jeffrey Dahmer Milwaukee Police 1991 mugshot.jpg|thumbnail|right|125px|The serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer engaged in cannibalism. He was an atheist while he committed these acts.[27]]] See also: Atheism and cannibalism

The historical records indicate that there have been multiple instances of cannabalism during atheistic communist regimes (see: Atheism and cannibalism).[28][29]

The serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer engaged in cannibalism. He was an atheist while he committed these acts.[27]

John Attarian wrote concering the atheist Marquis de Sade: "For the Sadean egotist, then, everything is permitted. Sade incessantly rationalized the most depraved and libertine sexuality, and every crime including cannibalism and murder.[30]

The YouTube channel TheAmazingAtheist is the most popular atheist YouTube channel with over 685,972 subscribers as of June 2015.[25] As noted above, The AmazingAtheist produced a video entitled Atheist Libertarian Defends Incest, Polygamy and Cannibalism!.[26]

Atheism and hypocrisy

See also: Atheist hypocrisy

In order to attempt to justify their atheism, atheists often engage in hypocritical argumentation. In addition, atheists often engage in hypocritical behavior. Please see: Atheist hypocrisy

Atheism and social justice

See also: Atheism and social justice

Historically, the secular left has been dominant within the atheist community (see: Atheism and politics).

According to leading progressive/leftists websites, progressive values include: freedom; opportunity; responsibility; cooperation/community; caring and responsibility, carried out with strength; protection/fairness; honesty and open communication.[31][32] These practices are often seen as being conducive to social justice.

The atheists population has not lived up to these standards (see: Atheism and social justice).

Atheism and the decline of morality in the Soviet Union

See also: Soviet Union and morality

Atheist Christopher Hitchens is known for having a history of heavy drinking.[33]

Peter Hitchens is the ex-atheist brother of atheist Christopher Hitchens. In an article entitled Britain needs God Dominic Statham wrote about Peter Hitchens:

Peter wrote that his views changed slowly, as he came to see the fruit of atheism. Part of this realisation came when he was working as a journalist in Moscow, during the final years of the Soviet Union. His depiction of this godless society was sobering. He wrote of the riots that broke out when the vodka ration was cancelled one week; the bribes required to obtain anaesthetics at the dentist or antibiotics at the hospital; the frightening levels of divorce and abortion; the mistrust and surveillance; the unending official lies, manipulation and oppression; the squalor, desperation and harsh incivility. Peter wrote of how traffic stops dead in Moscow when rain begins to fall, as every driver fetches wind-screen wipers from their hiding places and quickly fits them to their holders. Any wipers left in place when the car is parked are stolen as a matter of course.

The atheist, humanistic ideology of the state, he believed, had even affected the Russian language. Peter spoke to a descendant of an exile, whose grandparents had fled Moscow in the days of Lenin. Having been brought up to speak pure Russian in his American home—the elegant, literary language of his parents—he was shocked when he visited Russia to hear the coarse, ugly, slang-infested and bureaucratic tongue that was now spoken, even by educated professionals.[34]

Nobel Prize winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was asked to account for the great tragedies that occurred under the brutal communist regime he and fellow citizens suffered under.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn offered the following explanation:

Over a half century ago, while I was still a child, I recall hearing a number of old people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: 'Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened.'

Since then I have spend well-nigh 50 years working on the history of our revolution; in the process I have read hundreds of books, collected hundreds of personal testimonies, and have already contributed eight volumes of my own toward the effort of clearing away the rubble left by that upheaval. But if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: 'Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened.' [35]

For more information please see: Atheism and mass murder

Moral depravity as a causal factor for atheism

See also: Causes of atheism and Atheism and moral depravity

The history of the atheist community and various studies concerning the atheist community point to moral depravity being a causal factor for atheism.[36][37][38][39][40]

In addition, there is the historical matter of deceit being used in a major way to propagate atheism from the time of Ernst Haeckel onward. Francis Thompson wrote: "Maybe the atheist cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman."

The Bible asserts that "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." (Psalms 14:1 (KJV)).

The biblical fool is said to be lacking in sound judgment and the biblical fool is also associated with moral depravity. For example, the biblical book of Proverbs states: "A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices is hated. The naive inherit foolishness, But the sensible are crowned with knowledge."(Proverbs 14:16-18 (NASB)).

The book of Proverbs also has strong words regarding the depravity of biblical fools: "The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but [it is] abomination to fools to depart from evil." (Proverbs 13:9 (KJV)).

Regarding the deceitfulness of fools Proverbs states: "The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, But the foolishness of fools is deceit." (Proverbs 14:8 (KJV)). Noted Bible commentator and clergyman Matthew Henry wrote regarding atheism: "A man that is endued with the powers of reason, by which he is capable of knowing, serving, glorifying, and enjoying his Maker, and yet lives without God in the world, is certainly the most despicable and the most miserable animal under the sun."[41]

There are multiple historical instances of atheists engaging in gross immorality (see: Atheism and hedonism).

Atheism and the decline of morality in the United Kingdom

See also: Britain and morality

In 2011 and in recent years, there have been number of reports on the decline of morality in Britain.[42] As noted above, Peter Hitchens is the ex-atheist brother of atheist Christopher Hitchens. In the aforementioned article entitled Britain needs God Dominic Statham wrote:

Peter also wrote of what he saw as the growing public discourtesy and incivility in Britain. When he returned to London, after a five-year absence, he was shocked by the decline in people’s behaviour. He commented, “The rapid vanishing of Christianity from public consciousness and life, as the last fully Christian generation ages and disappears, seems to me to be a major part of it. I do not think I would have been half so shocked by the squalor and rudeness of 1990 Moscow, if I had not come from a country where Christian forbearance was still well-established. If I had then been able to see the London of 2010, I would have been equally shocked.” In many respects, Peter’s book is a warning to people, as to the kind of society they can expect if they continue to reject Christian beliefs.[34]
An essay by the Christian apologist Dr. James Spiegel describes the British, skeptic Bertrand Russell as a "misogynistic and a serial adulterer; a chronic seducer of women, especially very young women, even in his old age."[43]

In an article entitled Why is England burning? Creation Ministries International wrote:

Few will have missed the shocking reports of the riots seen recently throughout England. Gangs of young adults and teenagers have been on the rampage, smashing windows, looting shops, and burning cars and warehouses. Even large deployments of police have been unable to contain them.

Many have been asking why all this is happening. Some reply that it is due to deep anger and frustration amongst youth, who feel they have no future, no possibility of getting a job and no stake in society. Others claim it is simply rebellion against authority and wanton criminality. Conservatives point to the disruption of family life, the promotion of single motherhood, the lack of discipline in schools and the ‘rights culture’. Liberals blame the lack of equality in society and say the answer lies in providing the young with more opportunities and better education. While there is some truth in all these views, they all fail to address the deeper issues and the true root cause of Britain’s moral and social decline.

What is happening in England is the inevitable consequence of a nation rejecting God and His Word. Instead of believing what God has said, people readily believe the modern academics and politicians, who assure us that the Bible is no more than a book of myths and that we can forge a better society based on secularism. Accepting this view has led to there being no final authority, no absolute basis for morality and no clarity about who or what we are...

When I was at school in the 1960s and 1970s, the Christian thinking and values of previous generations were still evident. General behaviour, truthfulness and respect were still considered more important than academic or material success. This was based on the view that we were made in the image of God, and good character was necessary to preserve this...

In contrast to all this, much of today’s educational system places little if any value on such biblical ideas. This is not surprising; if even many church leaders claim Genesis is not real history, then original sin is but a myth. In fact, it is quite likely that the ‘progressive’ educationist will take a different view simply because they think that, if the Bible teaches something, it is probably wrong. The teachers know that they themselves lie, and the head teacher lies—so why should they expect their pupils not to lie? Indeed, a recent New Scientist article actually argued, from an evolutionary standpoint, that lying in our personal, professional and social lives is a strategy for survival! The objective of education is no longer to equip young people to serve in the community, but to maximize their ‘potential for self-fulfillment’. The great heroes of the modern age are not those who have sacrificially given themselves for others, but those who have fought for themselves and their ‘rights’. Humanists, in defiance of the true history in Genesis 3, assert the doctrine of the intrinsic goodness of humanity and see no need to teach right and wrong.[44]

Atheism and its inability to explain love

See also: Atheism and love

From a metaphysical, moral and spiritual perspective, atheists have an inability to satisfactorily explain the existence of love.[45][46] See: Atheism and love

A listing of the moral failures of the atheist population

Denmark is the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reports that 43 - 80% of Danes are agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.[47] In 2009, Suzanne Ost reported in her book published by Cambridge University Press, that the child pornography material produced in Denmark (and Holland) still constituted the largest part of child pornography that was currently available, having been transferred into digital format and uploaded onto the internet.[48]

See also: Moral failures of the atheist population

Articles related to atheism and sexual immorality:


Article related to atheism and uncharitableness:


Atheism and alcohol abuse:


Atheism and illegal drug use and addiction:

Atheist Sikivu Hutchinson says that atheist organizations generally focus on church/state separation and creationism issues and not on the concerns the less affluent African-American population faces.[49] Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations significantly help poor African-Americans.[49] See also: Atheism and uncharitablenss


Atheism and violence:

Atheism and slavery/forced labor:

Atheism and unsportsmanlike conduct:


Atheist hypocrisy:


Atheism and pride


Atheism and intolerance:


Atheism and bitterness/anger/resentment/unforgiveness:

Joseph Stalin, the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953, patronised the League of Militant Atheists, whose chief aim, under the leadership of Yemelyan Yaroslavsky, was to propagate militant atheism and eradicate religion.[50]


Atheism and lying:


Atheism and envy/covetiousness:


Protestant work ethic vs. work ethic in many atheistic countries:


Articles related to atheism and gluttony/sloth:


Sweden is one of the most atheistic countries in the world.[47] In Sweden, 81 percent of women said they had been harassed at some point after the age of 15 - compared to the EU average of 55 percent.[51] See: Irreligion and domestic violence

Atheism and sexism:


Atheism and poor marital/family relationships:


Irreligion and crime:


Atheism/agnosticism and racism


Atheism and cannibalism:


Atheism and unreasonableness and willful ignorance:

Autumn foliage is one of the many of examples of beauty in God's creation. See also: Argument from beauty


Atheism and cowardice


Atheism and suicide


Atheism and apathy:


Atheist organizations and dysfunction:

Books

See also: Books on the causes of atheism

  • Immorality and pride, the great causes of atheism a sermon preach'd at the cathedral-church of St. Paul, January the 8th 1697/8 : the first of the lecture for that year, founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq. / by John Harris, Publisher: BiblioBazaar, 2011 ISBN 1240832273, 9781240832279 [1]

See also

Books

See also: Books on the causes of atheism

  • Immorality and pride, the great causes of atheism a sermon preach'd at the cathedral-church of St. Paul, January the 8th 1697/8 : the first of the lecture for that year, founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq. / by John Harris, Publisher: BiblioBazaar, 2011 ISBN 1240832273, 9781240832279 [2]

External links

Notes

  1. Paul Copan
  2. Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). "How many did communist regimes murder?" University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  3. Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God? by Peter S. Williams, Bethinking.org
  4. http://instituteofbiblicaldefense.com/1997/05/refuting-moral-relativism/
  5. Atheism Doesn't Lead to Immoral Behavior - Or Does It? by Richard Deem
  6. Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard, Barna Group
  7. Gervais, Will M. (April 9, 2014). "Everything is permitted? People intuitively judge immorality as representative of atheists". PLOS ONE, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092302.
  8. When will this situation improve?
  9. 11.0 11.1 11.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20130506122558/http://apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=469:the-causes-of-atheism&catid=96:bonus-content&Itemid=80
  10. 12.0 12.1 Suggestions for the anti-Semitic slurs list by By MANFRED GERSTENFELD Jerusalem Post, 2015
  11. Vice News report on bestiality upsurge in Europe
  12. Aug 20 2009 article at Browardbeach.com entitled Those Who Practice Bestiality Say They're Part of the Next Sexual Rights Movement
  13. Eurobarometer Poll in 2010
  14. 16.0 16.1 http://byfaithonline.com/page/in-the-world/richard-dawkins-the-atheist-evangelist
  15. http://jme.bmj.com/content/6/1/7.abstract
  16. http://www.evolutionnews.org/2010/11/pz_myers_on_abortion040971.html
  17. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20014770-10391704.html
  18. 20.0 20.1 Believers Consume Fewer Drugs Than Atheists, Christian Post, By Jim Denison, Christian Post Columnist, October 9, 2013|9:47 am
  19. 21.0 21.1 Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists, Science Daily, Date:October 3, 2013, Source: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung]
  20. Multiple references:
  21. Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung [Swiss National Science Foundation] (October 3, 2013). "Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists". Science Daily website/Science News.
  22. Lawrence Krauss on incest
  23. 25.0 25.1 About TheAmazingAtheist YouTube channel
  24. 26.0 26.1 Atheist Libertarian Defends Incest, Polygamy and Cannibalism!
  25. 27.0 27.1 Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer blames Atheism and Evolution belief for Murders
  26. Atheistic cannibalism: How atheism can turn Man into a beast, Source: "The Black Bible of Communism" (Greek edition), Athens 2006. Excerpt taken from pages 504, 505. of the 4th edition
  27. Cannibalism in the Soviet Union' by Kerry Kubulius
  28. Dostoevsky vs. Marquis de Sade by John Attarian (MA 46:4, Fall 2004) - 08/01/08
  29. What It Means To Be A Progressive: A Manifesto, Thinkprogress.org
  30. What are Progressive Values, Dailykos.com
  31. http://www.counterpunch.org/mccarthy02212003.html
  32. 34.0 34.1 Britain needs God
  33. http://www.icr.org/article/stalins-brutal-faith/
  34. http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527
  35. http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=469:the-causes-of-atheism&catid=96:bonus-content&Itemid=80 The causes of atheism
  36. http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard
  37. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Story?id=2682730&page=2
  38. http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/102-atheists-and-agnostics-take-aim-at-christians
  39. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc1.ii.html
  40. The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief By James Spiegel, page 72, Moody Publishers, 2010
  41. Why is England burning?
  42. How do atheists define love?
  43. What is love? how materialist atheism fails to have a satisfactory answer, July 9, 2014
  44. 47.0 47.1 "Top 50 countries with highest proportion of atheists/agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)". Chris and Terri Chapman. Retrieved on September 10, 2014.
  45. Ost, Suzanne (2009). Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses (Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press), p. 29.
  46. 49.0 49.1 Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about by Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson, Washington Post June 16, 2014
  47. Multiple references:
    • Hesemann, Michael and Strieber, Whitley (2000). The Fatima Secret (New York, NY: Random House Digital). Retrieved on October 9, 2011. "Lenin's death in 1924 was followed by the rise of Joseph Stalin, 'the man of steel,' who founded the 'Union of Militant Atheists,' whose chief aim was to spread atheism and eradicate religion. In the following years it devastated hundreds of churches, destroyed old icons and relics, and persecuted the clergy with unimaginable brutality."
    • Steeves, Paul D. (1989). Keeping the Faiths: Religion and Ideology in the Soviet Union (New York, NY: Holmes & Meier), p. 88. Retrieved on July 4, 2013. "The League of Militant Atheists was formed in 1926 and by 1930 had recruited three million members. Five years later there were 50,000 local groups affiliated to the League and the nominal membership had risen to five million. Children from 8-14 years of age were enrolled in Groups of Godless Youth, and the League of Communist Youth (Komsomol) took a vigorous antireligious line. Several antireligious museums were opened in former churches and a number of Chairs of Atheism were established in Soviet universities. Prizes were offered for the best 'Godless hymns' and for alternative versions of the Bible from which ... the leader of the League of Militant Atheists, Yemelian Yaroslavsky, said: 'When a priest is deprived of his congregation, that does not mean that he stops being a priest. He changes into an itinerant priest. He travels around with his primitive tools in the villages, performs religious rites, reads prayers, baptizes children. Such wandering priests are at times more dangerous than those who carry on their work at a designated place of residence.' The intensified persecution, which was a part of the general terror inflicted upon Soviet society by Stalin's policy, ...."
  48. Törnkvist, Ann (March 5, 2014, 8:34). "Sweden stands out in domestic violence study". The Local. Retrieved on October 25, 2014.