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'''18.''' '''Division in religion''': According to Sir [[Francis Bacon]], atheism is caused by "divisions in religion, if they be many; for any one main division addeth zeal to both sides, but many divisions introduce atheism."<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/3/1/16.html Francis Bacon, Of atheism - essay]</ref>

'''18.''' '''Division in religion''': According to Sir [[Francis Bacon]], atheism is caused by "divisions in religion, if they be many; for any one main division addeth zeal to both sides, but many divisions introduce atheism."<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/3/1/16.html Francis Bacon, Of atheism - essay]</ref>

'''19.'''  '''Ignorance.'''  Atheism is [[Proportion|indirectly proportional]] to education; a scholarly study published in an academic journal titled the ''Review of Religious Research'' demonstrated that increased education is correlated with belief in God and that "education positively affects religious participation, devotional activities, and emphasizing the importance of religion in daily life."<ref>{{cite book|url=http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13644-011-0007-4|quote=education positively affects religious participation, devotional activities, and emphasizing the importance of religion in daily life; (3) education positively affects switching religious affiliations, particularly to a mainline Protestant denomination, but not disaffiliation; (4) education is positively associated with questioning the role of religion in secular society but not with support for curbing the public opinions of religious leaders; and (5) the effects of education on religious beliefs and participation vary across religious traditions. Education does influence Americans’ religious beliefs and activities, but the effects of education on religion are complex.|title=The Effects of Education on Americans’ Religious Practices, Beliefs, and Affiliations|last=Schwadel|first=Philip|year=2011|journal=Review of Religious Research|volume=53|issue=2|doi=10.1007/s13644-011-0007-4|}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Study: More educated tend to be more religious, by some measures|author=Jim Kavanagh|date=11 August 2011|publisher=[[CNN]]|url=http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/11/study-more-educated-tend-to-be-more-religious-by-some-measures/|quote=“With more years of education, you aren’t relatively more likely to say, ‘I don’t believe in God,’” he said. “But you are relatively more likely to say, ‘I believe in a higher power.’”}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The more education people receive, the more religious they become?|date=12 August 2011|publisher=[[Daily Mail]]|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2025166/The-education-people-receive-religious-become.html|quote=By analyzing data from a large national survey, sociologist Philip Schwadel of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that people tend to become more religious - by certain definitions - as they further their education. The survey also qualified what concept of God or a 'higher power' individuals held, as well as whether they had any doubts. Mr Schwadel said that: 'With more years of education, you aren’t relatively more likely to say, "I don’t believe in God," but you are relatively more likely to say, "I believe in a higher power."'}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=More is More When it Comes to Education and Religion, Study Says|date=13 August 2011|publisher=[[Christian Post]]|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/who-is-more-religious-53865/|quote=Sociologist Philip Schwadel from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) studied this phenomenon. He discovered that people today tend to become more religious as they further their education.}}</ref> Sir Francis Bacon wrote: "A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion." <ref>http://www.notable-quotes.com/a/atheism_quotes.html</ref>

'''19.'''  '''Ignorance.'''   

 

The [[ex_atheists|ex-atheist]] [[C.S. Lewis]] wrote: "In reading [[G.K. Chesterton|Chesterton]], as in reading [[George MacDonald|MacDonald]], I did not know what I was letting myself in for. A young man who wishes to remain a sound Atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. There are traps everywhere--"Bibles laid open, millions of surprises," as Herbert says, "fine nets and stratgems." Sir Francis Bacon wrote: "A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion." See also: [[Christian apologetics]]

 

Individuals such as Calvin Smith of [[Creation Ministries International]] have reported leaving atheism after finding out the falsehood of evolutionary pseudoscience and the evidence for [[Bible|biblical]] [[creation]].<ref>[http://creation.com/calvin-smith Calvin Smith - short bio]</ref>

 

'''20.''' '''Indoctrination and ease of life''': Francis Bacon argued that atheism was partly caused by:"Learned times, specially with peace and prosperity; for troubles and adversities do more bow men’s minds to religion."<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/3/1/16.html Francis Bacon, Of atheism - essay]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and economics]]

'''20.''' '''Indoctrination and ease of life''': Francis Bacon argued that atheism was partly caused by:"Learned times, specially with peace and prosperity; for troubles and adversities do more bow men’s minds to religion."<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/3/1/16.html Francis Bacon, Of atheism - essay]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and economics]]

See also: [http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/does-atheism-thrive-on-economic.html Does atheism thrive on economic prosperity and religion prosper when people are desperate and ignorant?]

See also: [http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/does-atheism-thrive-on-economic.html Does atheism thrive on economic prosperity and religion prosper when people are desperate and ignorant?]

'''22.''' '''Negative experiences with [[theism|theists]]'''

'''21.''' '''Negative experiences with [[theism|theists]]'''

'''23.'''  '''[[Materialism|Materialist]] [[pseudoscience]].''' (See: [[Evolution]] and [[Origin of Life|Abiogenesis]]).  Countries with higher rates of [[Darwinism]] also have higher rates of atheism.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html Atheist populations in various countries]</ref><ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/21329204.html Belief in evolution in various countries]</ref> Biblical creationists, such as advocates of the [[Question evolution! campaign]], assert that evolutionism is an ideological "air supply of atheism" and that reducing Darwinism will reduce the prevalence of atheism. <ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2011/12/cutting-off-air-supply-of-atheism.html Cutting off the air supply of atheism]</ref>

'''22.'''  '''[[Materialism|Materialist]] [[pseudoscience]].''' (See: [[Evolution]] and [[Origin of Life|Abiogenesis]]).  Countries with higher rates of [[Darwinism]] also have higher rates of atheism.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html Atheist populations in various countries]</ref><ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/21329204.html Belief in evolution in various countries]</ref> Biblical creationists, such as advocates of the [[Question evolution! campaign]], assert that evolutionism is an ideological "air supply of atheism" and that reducing Darwinism will reduce the prevalence of atheism. <ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2011/12/cutting-off-air-supply-of-atheism.html Cutting off the air supply of atheism]</ref>

'''24.'''  '''[[Scientism]]:''' ''Science has in many ways become a new god''.<ref>[http://creation.com/the-religion-of-scientism-m-shallis The religion of scientism]</ref><ref>[http://www.saintsandsceptics.org/dawkins-dilbert-and-the-illogical-scientists/ Dawkins, Dilbert and the Illogical Scientists]</ref><ref>[http://www.religiontoday.com/news/exposing-the-religion-of-scientism-11598780.html Exposing the religion of scientism]</ref> Scientism is self-refuting. [[William Lane Craig]] wrote: "Scientism tells us that we should not believe any proposition that cannot be scientifically proven. But what about that very proposition itself? It cannot itself be scientifically proven."<ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/is-scientism-self-refuting Is scientism self-refuting?]</ref>

'''23.'''  '''[[Scientism]]:''' ''Science has in many ways become a new god''.<ref>[http://creation.com/the-religion-of-scientism-m-shallis The religion of scientism]</ref><ref>[http://www.saintsandsceptics.org/dawkins-dilbert-and-the-illogical-scientists/ Dawkins, Dilbert and the Illogical Scientists]</ref><ref>[http://www.religiontoday.com/news/exposing-the-religion-of-scientism-11598780.html Exposing the religion of scientism]</ref> Scientism is self-refuting. [[William Lane Craig]] wrote: "Scientism tells us that we should not believe any proposition that cannot be scientifically proven. But what about that very proposition itself? It cannot itself be scientifically proven."<ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/is-scientism-self-refuting Is scientism self-refuting?]</ref>

'''25.''' Pursuit of prestige within secular circles.<ref>[http://www.atheism-analyzed.net/Atheist%20Talking%20Points%20Rebellion.htm Atheist talking points]</ref>

'''24.''' Pursuit of prestige within secular circles.<ref>[http://www.atheism-analyzed.net/Atheist%20Talking%20Points%20Rebellion.htm Atheist talking points]</ref>

'''26.''' '''Intellectual cowardice.''' See: [[Atheism and cowardice]]

'''25.''' '''Intellectual cowardice.''' See: [[Atheism and cowardice]]

'''27.''' In cultures not receptive to atheism, atheists appear to be more likely to be social outcasts (see: [[Atheism and social outcasts]]).  

'''26.''' In cultures not receptive to atheism, atheists appear to be more likely to be social outcasts (see: [[Atheism and social outcasts]]).  

== Errant notion that atheism is the result of higher intelligence ==

== Errant notion that atheism is the result of higher intelligence ==