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Reverted edits by Qazwsxedc (talk) to last revision by Conservative
==Types of atheism==
==Types of atheism==
on rate compared to other worldviews]] and [[Desecularization]]
''See also:'' [[Schools of atheist thought]] and [[Atheist factions]]
[[File:Diagoras of melos.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|[[Diagoras of Melos]] was a 5th century BC. [[Greek]] atheist, poet and [[sophism|sophist]]. ]]
===Atheism and why do atheists state they disbelieve?===
Atheists claim there are two main reasons for their denial of the existence of God and/or disbelief in God: the conviction that there is positive evidence or argument that God does not exist ([[Strong atheism]] which is also sometimes called positive atheism), and their claim that theists bear the burden of proof to show that God exists, that they have failed to do so, and that belief is therefore unwarranted ([[Weak atheism]]).
As as alluded to above, [[theism|theists]] and others have posited a number of [[causes of atheism]] and this matter will be further addressed in this article.
=== Attempts to broaden the definition of atheism ===
In the late 19th century and more broadly in the latter portion of the 20th century, the proposition that the [[definition of atheism]] also include a mere lack of belief in God or gods began.<ref>Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].</ref> It is now common for atheists/[[agnosticism|agnostics]] and [[theism|theists]] to debate the meaning of the word atheism.<ref>
*[http://www.apatheticagnostic.com/articles/meds2/med40/med796.html The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”]
*Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"]. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
*[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/atheism Oxford Dictionaries]. Oxford Dictionaries, due to their British influence (Atheism is more popular in Britain than in the United States and many other countries where English is spoken, see: [[Atheist Population|Atheist population]] and [[Secular Europe]] and [[Atheism statistics]]), now offers the definition of atheism to be "Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods." which is a departure from its historical meaning before a broader definition of atheism began to be more widely advocated in the latter portion of the 20th century (see: [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"])</ref>
For more information, please see:
*[[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism|Attempts to broaden the definition of atheism]]
*[[Definition of atheism]]
*[[Definitions of Atheist and Agnostic|Definitions of atheist and agnostic]]
=== Some common manifestations of atheism ===
Below are three common ways that atheism manifests itself:
* [[Militant atheism]] which continues to suppress and oppress religious believers today (see also: [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Atheism and intolerance]]).
* [[Philosophy|Philosophical]] atheism - Atheist philosophers assert that God does not exist. (See also: [[Naturalism (philosophy)|Naturalism]])
* [[Practical atheism]]: atheism of the life - that is, ''living'' as though God does not exist.<ref>Dr. [[Martin Luther King]] in his sermon ''Rediscovering Lost Values'' spoke of "practical atheism". King, Dr. Martin Luther (1954). [http://www.globatron.org/truth/rediscovering-lost-values-martin-luther-king-early-sermon "Rediscovering lost values"]. Retrieved from Globatron, July 16, 2014. Caution: Presumably copyrighted work in the U.S. until 2049 and in Canada until 2018. For fair educational use only.</ref>
=== Atheist factions ===
''See also:'' [[Atheist factions]] and [[Schools of atheist thought]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheism and intolerance]]
Jacques Rousseau wrote in the ''Daily Maverick'': "[[Elevatorgate]]..has resulted in three weeks of infighting in the secular community. Some might observe that we indulge in these squabbles fairly frequently."<ref>Rousseau, Jacques (July 13, 2011). [http://dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2011-07-13-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-can-rip-my-soul "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can rip my soul"]. Daily Maverick [South Africa]. Retrieved July 16, 2014.</ref> An ex-atheist wrote: "As an Atheist for 40 years, I noticed that there is not just a wide variety of [[Schools of atheist thought|Atheist positions]], but there exists an actual battle between certain [[Atheist factions]]."<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/internet-atheism-is-still-hostile.html "The atheist community and internet atheism is still a hostile wasteland"] (April 7, 2013). Question Evolution Campaign [blog].</ref>
==== Atheist infighting: Testimony of Blair Scott, former board of director of American Atheists ====
''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheism and anger]]
Blair Scott served on the [[American Atheists]] board of directors.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20140701062412/http://atheists.org/about-us/board-of-directors "Board of directors"] (July 1, 2014). American Atheists. Retrieved from Internet Archive, July 16, 2014.</ref> Mr. Scott formerly served as a State Director for the [[American Atheists]] organization in the state of [[Alabama]]. On December 1, 2012 he quit his post as a director of outreach for the American Atheists due to infighting within the American [[atheist movement]].<ref name="Blair Scott">Scott, Blair (December 1, 2012). [http://news.atheists.org/2012/12/01/an-open-letter-from-blair-scott/ "An open letter from Blair Scott"]. American Atheists. Retrieved July 16, 2014.</ref>
Mr. Blair wrote:
{{cquote|I have spent the last week mulling over what I want to do at this point in the movement. I’m tired of the in-fighting: at every level. I am especially tired of allowing myself to get sucked into it and engaging in the very behavior that is irritating...me.<ref name="Blair Scott"/>}}
== Atheists have a low retention rate compared to other worldviews ==
[[File:Georgetown 2.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.<ref name="retention rate">Nazworth, Nap (July 11, 2012). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ "Study: atheists have lowest 'retention rate' compared to religious groups"]. christianpost.com. Retrieved July 16, 2014.</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism has a lower retention rate compared to other worldviews]] and [[Desecularization]]
In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.<ref name="retention rate"/> Similarly, according to recent research by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, in the United States, a majority of those surveyed who were raised in atheist or [[agnosticism|agnostic]] households, or where there was no specific religious attachment, later chose to join a religious faith.<ref>Multiple references:
In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.<ref name="retention rate"/> Similarly, according to recent research by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, in the United States, a majority of those surveyed who were raised in atheist or [[agnosticism|agnostic]] households, or where there was no specific religious attachment, later chose to join a religious faith.<ref>Multiple references:
*O'Leary, Margaret R. (June 1, 2012). ''Forging Freedom: The Life of Cerf Berr of M Delsheim'' (iUniverse), pp. 1-2. </ref>), with the official ideology being the [[Cult of Reason]]; during this time thousands of believers were suppressed and executed by the [[guillotine]].<ref>Multiple references:
*O'Leary, Margaret R. (June 1, 2012). ''Forging Freedom: The Life of Cerf Berr of M Delsheim'' (iUniverse), pp. 1-2. </ref>), with the official ideology being the [[Cult of Reason]]; during this time thousands of believers were suppressed and executed by the [[guillotine]].<ref>Multiple references:
<!-- Guillotine -->*{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=bf3m7IVAa9gC&pg=PA461&dq=France+atheism+guillotine++Christians+executed&hl=en&sa=X&ei=l4lUUaTRBufG0QGe0IHACA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=France%20atheism%20guillotine%20%20Christians%20executed&f=false|title =''Christianity: The eBook''|author=James Adair|publisher = JBE Online Books|year=2007|quote=Although the Civil Constitution called for religious liberty, which was extended to Jews as well as Christians, many revolutionaries pushed for the establishment of a new state religion, either the Cult of Reason (atheists) or the Cult of the Supreme Being (Deists). Changes to the calendar eliminated references to Christian holidays, and even the ancient seven-day week, and a list of officially recognized saints included such famous thinkers such as Socrates, Jesus, Marcus Aurelius, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. A period of political persecution, often with religious overtones, broke out, known as the Reign of Terror. Thousands of people were executed by the guillotine, including many of the original leaders of the French Revolution.|pages=p. 461|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}
<!-- Guillotine -->*{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=bf3m7IVAa9gC&pg=PA461&dq=France+atheism+guillotine++Christians+executed&hl=en&sa=X&ei=l4lUUaTRBufG0QGe0IHACA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=France%20atheism%20guillotine%20%20Christians%20executed&f=false|title =''Christianity: The eBook''|author=James Adair|publisher = JBE Online Books|year=2007|quote=Although the Civil Constitution called for religious liberty, which was extended to Jews as well as Christians, many revolutionaries pushed for the establishment of a new state religion, either the Cult of Reason (atheists) or the Cult of the Supreme Being (Deists). Changes to the calendar eliminated references to Christian holidays, and even the ancient seven-day week, and a list of officially recognized saints included such famous thinkers such as Socrates, Jesus, Marcus Aurelius, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. A period of political persecution, often with religious overtones, broke out, known as the Reign of Terror. Thousands of people were executed by the guillotine, including many of the original leaders of the French Revolution.|pages=p. 461|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}
<!-- France -->*{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=9WkBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA105&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =''Memoirs of the Reign of George III. to the Session of Parliament ending A.D. 1793'', Volume 5|page=105|author=William Belsham|publisher = G.G. & J. Robinson|year=1801|quote=In allusion to the monstrous transactions of this portentous period, it has been eloquently and energetically observed, 'that the reign of atheism in France was avowed the reign of terror. In the full madness of their career, in the highest climax of their horrors, they shut up the temples of God, abolished His worship, and proclaime
<!-- France -->*{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=9WkBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA105&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =''Memoirs of the Reign of George III. to the Session of Parliament ending A.D. 1793'', Volume 5|page=105|author=William Belsham|publisher = G.G. & J. Robinson|year=1801|quote=In allusion to the monstrous transactions of this portentous period, it has been eloquently and energetically observed, 'that the reign of atheism in France was avowed the reign of terror. In the full madness of their career, in the highest climax of their horrors, they shut up the temples of God, abolished His worship, and proclaimed death to be an eternal sleep:—in the very centre of Christendom, Revelation underwent a total eclipse, while atheism, performing on a darkened theatre its strange and fearful tragedy, confounded the first elements of society, blended every age, rank, and sex, indiscriminate proscription and massacre, and convulsed all Europe to its centre, that the imperishable memorial of these events might teach the last generations of mankind to consider religion as the pillar of society, the parent of social order, and the safe-guard of nations.'<br>"It is wonderful that, amid the horrors of this dismal period, while 'the death dance of democratic revolution' was still in rapid movement, among the tears of affliction, and the cries of despair, 'the masque, the song, the theatric scene, the buffoon laughter, went on as regularly as in the gay hour of festive peace.'|pages=pp. 105-6|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}
<!-- Reign of Terror -->*{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Tt5rqiCP1p8C&pg=PA57&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =''Christianity, Islam, and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West''|author=William Kilpatrick|publisher = Ignatius Press|year=2012|quote=Actually, it's helpful to think in terms of two Enlightenments: the Enlightenment that cut itself off from God. The former led to the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the abolition of slavery, and the civil rights movement. The latter led to the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror, the suppression of church by state, and the godless philosophies of Marx and Nietzsche and their offspring—National Socialism and communism. More recently the abandonment of God has led to the regime of cultural relativism that regards rights as arbitrary constructions.<br>"It's this second Enlightenment tradition that Cardinal Ratzinger referred to when he wrote, 'The radical detachment of the Enlightenment philosophy from its roots ultimately leads it to dispense with man.' Actually this transition happened not 'ultimately' but almost immediately. The first instance occurred when Enlightenment worship of abstract 'reason' and 'liberty' degenerated quickly into the mass murders committed during the antireligious Reign of Terror in France. 'Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name', said Madam Rolande as she faced the statue of Liberty in the Place de la Revolution movements before her death at the guillotine. She was one of the early victims of a succession of secular systems based on rootless notions of 'liberty', 'equality', and 'reason'.<br>"As many historians have pointed out, the atheist regimes of modern times are guilty of far more crimes than any committed in the name of religion. Communist governments alone were guilty of more than one hundred million murders, most of them committed against their own people.|pages=p. 57|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}</ref>
=== Communism, militant atheism, repression, mass murder and Christian persecution ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
The atheism in [[communism|communist]] regimes has been and continues to be [[militant atheism]] and various acts of repression including the razing of thousands of religious buildings and the killing, imprisoning, and oppression of religious leaders and believers.<ref>Multiple references:
*Kent, Jo Ling (April 28, 2011). [http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/28/china.church.crackdown/index.html?hpt=T2 "Underground Christians fear China crackdown"]. CNN.com. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
*Yakovlev, Alexander N. (2002). [http://books.google.com/books?visbn=0300103220&id=ChRk43tVxTwC&pg=PA165&lpg=PA165&ots=ICIxg28Jud&dq=a+century+of+violence+in+soviet+russia+the+Russian+Orthodox+clergy&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=C9k9Hr7Vn222WCHf_1iSJOHVsgo#v=onepage&q=&f=false ''A Century of Violence in Soviet Russia''] translated by Austin, Anthony (New Haven: Yale University Press), p. 165. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
*Braga, Fr. Roman (1996). [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/frroman1.aspx "On compromise in the hierarchy during the Communist yoke"]. Orthodox Christian Information Center. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"]. NewsMax. Retrieved from NorthKoreanChristians.com on July 18, 2014.
*[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818 "China sends Bible owners to labor camp"] (November 26, 2003). WorldNetDaily. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
*[http://theworldnow.wordpress.com/tag/around-the-world/asia/china/ "China: Christians tortured while under arrest"] (September 27, 2006). The World Now. Retrieved July 18, 2014.</ref>
The [[persecution of Christians in the USSR|persecution of Christians in the Soviet Union]] was the result of the violently atheist [[Soviet]] government. In the first five years after the [[October Revolution]], 28 bishops and 1,200 priests were murdered, many on the orders of [[Leon Trotsky]]. When [[Joseph Stalin]] came to power in 1927, he ordered his secret police, under [[Genrikh Yagoda]] to intensify persecution of Christians. In the next few years, 50,000 clergy were murdered, many were [[torture]]d, including [[crucifixion]]. "Russia turned red with the blood of martyrs", said Father Gleb Yakunin of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]].<ref>Ostling, Richard N. (December 4, 1989). [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,150718,00.html "Cross meets Kremlin: Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II"]. ''Time''. Retrieved from Time magazine website July 18, 2014.</ref> According to Orthodox Church sources, as many as fifty million Orthodox believers may have died in the twentieth century, mainly from persecution by [[Communists]].<ref>Moore, Rev. Fr. Raphael (October 1999). [http://www.serfes.org/printerVersion2.asp?URL=/orthodox/memoryof.htm "In memory of the 50 million victims of the Orthodox Christian Holocaust"], Spiritual Nourishment for the Soul, Serfes, Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios, compiler. Retrieved July 18, 2014.</ref>
In addition, in the atheistic and communist Soviet Union, 44 anti-religious museums were opened and the largest was the 'The Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism' in [[Leningrad]]’s Kazan cathedral.<ref>Humphrey (December 16, 2008). [http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-anti-christmas.html "Merry Anti-Christmas!"] Quodlibeta. Retrieved July 18, 2014.</ref> Despite intense effort by the atheistic leaders of the Soviet Union, their efforts were not effective in converting the masses to atheism.<ref>Multiple references:
*Humphrey (December 16, 2008). [http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-anti-christmas.html "Merry Anti-Christmas!"] Quodlibeta. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
*Froese, Paul (March 2004). [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpl/jssr/2004/00000043/00000001/art00003?crawler=true "Forced secularization in Soviet Russia: why an atheistic monopoly failed" [abstract]]. ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'', vol. 43, 1, pp. 35-50. Abstract retrieved from Ingentaconnect on July 18, 2014.</ref>
[[File:China location.png|thumbnail|right|250px|With its large population, [[China]] has the largest population of atheists with 8 - 14% of Chinese being atheists.<ref>[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf "The largest atheist/agnostic populations"]. Chris & Terri Chapman. Retrieved July 18, 2014. Countries with the largest atheist populations.</ref> The religious landscape of China is quickly changing, however, due to the rapid growth of Christianity. <ref name="Geoff, Robertson"/> See also: [[Global atheism]] ]]
[[China]] is a communist country. In 1999, the publication [[Christian Century]] reported that "[[China]] has persecuted religious believers by means of harassment, prolonged detention, and incarceration in prison or 'reform-through-labor' camps and police closure of places of worship." In 2003, owners of [[Bible]]s in China were sent to prison camps and 125 Chinese churches were closed.<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818 "China sends Bible owners to labor camp"] (November 26, 2003). ''WorldNetDaily''. Retrieved July 18, 2014.</ref> China continues to practice religious oppression today.<ref>[http://theworldnow.wordpress.com/tag/around-the-world/asia/china/ "China: Christians tortured while under arrest"] (September 27, 2006). ''The World Now''. Retrieved July 18, 2014.</ref>
The efforts of China's atheist leaders in promoting atheism, however, is increasingly losing its effectiveness and the number of [[Christianity|Christians]] in China is rapidly growing.<ref name="Geoff, Robertson"/> China's state sponsored atheism and atheistic indoctrination has been a failure and a 2007 religious survey in China indicated that only 15% of Chinese identified themselves as atheists.<ref>Briggs, David (January 23, 2011). [http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/01/23/huffington-post-chinas-state-sponsored-atheism-a-failure/ "Huffington Post: China’s state-sponsored atheism a failure" [excerpt]]. National Post website. Excerpt retrieved July 18, 2014.</ref>
[[North Korea]] is a repressive communist state and is officially atheistic.<ref>Lee, Sunny (May 12, 2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20130521065544/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/IE12Dg01.html "God forbid, religion in North Korea?"] Asia Times Online. Archived at Internet Archive on May 21, 2013. Retrieved on July 18, 2014.</ref> The North Korean government practices brutal repression and atrocities against North Korean [[Christianity|Christians]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"]. NewsMax. Retrieved from NorthKoreanChristians.com on July 18, 2014.</ref>
==== Atheistic communism and mass murder ====
It has been estimated that in less than the past 100 years, governments under the banner of communism have caused the death of somewhere between 40,472,000 to 259,432,000 human lives.<ref>Multiple references:
It has been estimated that in less than the past 100 years, governments under the banner of communism have caused the death of somewhere between 40,472,000 to 259,432,000 human lives.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god
*[http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god
Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God?] by Peter S. Williams at Bethinking.org
Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God?] by Peter S. Williams at Bethinking.org
*[http://www.equip.org/article/atheissts documentaries about current topics, reported concerning [[secular Europe]]: "Bestiality is having a weird renaissance in Europe."<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/newsreport3738/ Vice News report on bestiality upsurge in Europe]</ref> See also: [[Bestiality and secular Europe]]
*[http://www.equip.org/article/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality-2/ Atheists and the Quest for Objective Morality] by Chad Meister at Christian Research Institute
*[http://www.faithdefenders.com/articles/atheism/atheism_absolutes_at.html Atheism and absolutes]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]
==== University of Kentucky study by Will M. Gervais ====
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."<ref>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}}. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.</ref>
=== Atheism and pornography ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and pornography]]
One of the [[causes of atheism]] is a [[hedonism|hedonistic]] lifestyle. See: [[Atheism and hedonism]].
The infamous [[pornography|pornographers]] [[Hugh Hefner]] and [[Larry Flynt]] are both atheists.<ref>Multiple references:
*Gottesdiener, Laura (February 23, 2010). [http://www.salon.com/2013/02/23/10_celebs_you_didnt_know_were_atheists_partner/ "10 celebs you didn't know were atheists"]. Salon. Retrieved on October 3, 2014.
*Flynt writes, "I have left my religious conversion behind and settled into a comfortable state of atheism": see the epilogue of Flynt, Larry and Ross, Kenneth (June 1, 2008). ''An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit, and Social Outcast''.
*"I am not saying he don't believe in God. I am just saying I don't believe in God. That puts me at odds with him." [http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9701/11/falwell.v.flynt/lkl.00.html "Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell" [transcript]] (January 10, 1996). Larry King Live. Transcript retrieved from CNN.com on October 3, 2014.</ref>
In 2003, ''Arena magazine'' magazine listed Flynt as #1 on the "50 Powerful People in Porn" list.<ref>[http://www.onenewspage.us/people/ms9j0/Larry-Flynt.htm "Larry Flynt"]. One News Page. Retrieved on October 3, 2014.</ref> Flynt is paralyzed from the waist down due to injuries sustained from a 1978 assassination attempt by the serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin.<ref>Multiple references:
*Flynt, Larry and Ross, Kenneth (June 1, 2008). ''An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit, and Social Outcast'', pp. 170–171.
*[http://www.onenewspage.us/people/ms9j0/Larry-Flynt.htm "Larry Flynt"]. One News Page. Retrieved on October 3, 2014.</ref>
=== Atheism and child pornography ===
See: [[Atheism and child pornography]] and [[Atheistic Denmark and child pornography]] and [[Netherlands and child pornography]]
==== Atheistic Denmark and child pornography ====
''See also:'' [[Atheistic Denmark and child pornography]] and [[Denmark and bestiality]]
[[File:Flag of Denmark.png|left|200px|thumbnail|[[Denmark]] is the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reports that 43 - 80% of Danes are [[agnosticism|agnostics]]/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref name=Top50no2>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html "The largest atheist/agnostic populations: Top 50 countries with highest proportion of atheists / agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)"] (2005). Adherents.com/Largest religious communities.</ref>
<br /><br />
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.<ref name="Ost">Ost, Suzanne (2009). ''Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses'' (New York: Cambridge University Press), p. 29.</ref>]]
In 2005 [[Denmark]] was ranked the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 43 - 80% of Danes are [[agnosticism|agnostics]]/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref name=Top50no2/> Denmark has the highest rate of belief in evolution in the [[Western World]].<ref name=NGevo/>
The 2003 book entitled ''Overcoming Violence Against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem '' written by authors Rahel Nardos; Mary K. Radpour; William S. Hatcher and Michael L. Penn, declared:
{{cquote|The largest source of commercial child pornography is Denmark. Denmark became the world's leading producer of child pornography when, in 1969, it removed all restrictions on the production and sale of any type of pornographic material. "The result," notes Tim Tate, "was a short-lived explosion in adult pornography, and the birth of commercial child pornography. In his work, Tate links the global spread of child pornography to two men: Willy Strauss, founder of Bambina Sex, the world's first child-pornography magazine, founded in 1971; and Peter Theander, founder of Colour Climax Corporation and the producer of a short, professionally made pornographic film series entitled Lolita. Lolita depicts the sexual abuse of prepubescent boys and girls. Although Danish law at the time rendered the work of Strauss and Theander legal, by 1979 when Denmark finally banned the production and sale of child pornography it had already become such a financial success on the international market that it has proven to be nearly impossible to bring its spread under control.<ref>Nardos, Rahel, et. al. (2003). ''Overcoming Violence Against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem'', p. 59.</ref>}}
Suzanne Ost, in her 2009 book ''Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses'' published by Cambridge University Press, wrote about the child pornography created by Denmark/Holland during this period:
{{cquote|Taylor and Quayle note that the material produced during this period still constitutes the largest part of child pornography that is currently available, having been transferred into digital format and uploaded onto the internet.<ref name="Ost"/>}}
==== Atheistic Japan and child pornography ====
[[Japan]] is one of the most atheistic countries in the world.<ref name="athmap">Multiple references:
*[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf "Top 50 countries with highest proportion of atheists/agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)"]. Chris and Terri Chapman. Retrieved on September 10, 2014.
*Fisher, Max and Dewey, Caitlin (May 23, 2013). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ "A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live"]. The Washington Post website. Retrieved on September 13, 2014.</ref>
CNN reported in 2014, "The U.S. State Department's 2013 report on human rights practices in Japan labels the country "an international hub for the production and trafficking of child pornography."<ref>Mullen, Jethro and Wakatsuki, Yoko (June 18, 2014). [http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/17/world/asia/japan-child-porn-law/ "Japan passes law banning possession of child pornography"]. CNN website.</ref>
For more information, please see:
*[[Atheism and child pornography]]
*[[Atheistic Denmark and child pornography]]
*[[Netherlands and child pornography]]
*[[Godless Britain and child pornography]]
*[[Atheistic Czech Republic and child pornography]]
*[[Atheistic Sweden and child pornography]]
=== Nontheistic Thailand and child prostitution ===
''See also:'' [[Atheistic Thailand and child prostitution]]
In [[Thailand]], the nontheistic form of [[Buddhism]] called the Theravada school of Buddhism is prevalent.
According to a report compiled by Police Colonel Naras Savestanan, Ph.D., Deputy Director-General, Department of Special Investigation, Ministry of Justice, Thailand:
{{cquote|Thailand has been identified as one of the most popular destinations for child sex abusers since 1980s...
In 2007, there were 500,000 sexually alluring web pages and 250 websites showing nude video clips
of teenagers in Thailand.<ref>Savestanan, Naras, Pol. Col, Ph. D. (April 12, 2011). [http://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CCPCJ/CCPCJ_Sessions/CCPCJ_20/Thematic_Discussions/Asian-Group_Thailands-response_Savestanan.pdf ''Thematic Discussions, Asian Group: Thailand’s Response to Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Its Progress and Challenges'']. United Nations website/Office on Drugs and Crime/Commissions/The 20th Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.</ref>}}
Thailand’s Health System Research Institute declared that child prostitutes make up 40% of all prostitutes in Thailand.<ref>Duthel, Heinz, ''Kathoey Ladyboy: Thailand's Got Talent'', p. 192</ref>
Thailand is often called "a child molesters' paradise".<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/05/thailand.pedophiles/ Thailand fights to stem tide of child sex tourists] By Dan Rivers, CNN</ref>
For more information, please see: [[Nontheistic Thailand and child prostitution]]
=== Atheism, pedophilia/pederasty and NAMBLA ===
''see also:'' [[Atheism, pederasty and NAMBLA]] and [[Teenage homosexuality]] and [[Homosexuality and pederasty]]
[[Image:Harry Hay.jpg|thumbnail|150px|Many consider atheist [[Harry Hay]] to be the founder of the American [[homosexuality|homosexual]] movement.]]
The [[North American Man-Boy Love Association]] (NAMBLA) was founded in December 1978 and is an activist homosexuality and [[pedophilia]]/pederasty coalition group.
Some of the well known atheist advocates of the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) are:
1. The atheist and [[homosexuality|homosexual]] [[David Thorstad]] was a founding member of the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA).<ref>Abbott, Matt C. (August 22, 2010). [http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/100822 "The mind of a pederast"]. RenewAmerica. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>
2. '''[[Harry Hay]]''' (1912 - 2002) was an [[liberal]] advocate of [[statutory rape]] and the widely acknowledged founder and progenitor of the activist [[homosexual agenda]] in the [[United States]]. Hay joined the [[Communist Party of the United States]] (CPUSA) in 1934. <ref>Bronski, Michael (October 31, 2002). [http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/documents/02511115.htm "The real Harry Hay"]. The Phoenix.com. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref> Harry Hay was an atheist.<ref>Kincaid, Cliff, Accuracy in Media (January 7, 2010). [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/ss_politics0010_01_07.asp "Twisted: administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association"]. WorldTribune.com. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref> He was a vociferous advocate of man/boy love. <ref>Multiple references:
*Lord, Jeffrey (October 5, 2006). [http://spectator.org/articles/46366/when-nancy-met-harry "Special report: when Nancy met Harry"]. The American Spectator website. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.
*Kincaid, Cliff, Accuracy in Media (January 7, 2010). [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/ss_politics0010_01_07.asp "Twisted: administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association"]. WorldTribune.com. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref> In 1986, Hay marched in a [[homosexual|gay]] parade wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words "[[NAMBLA]] walks with me."<ref>Baldwin, Hon. Steve (2002). [http://www.mega.nu/ampp/baldwin_pedophilia_homosexuality.pdf "Child molestation and the homosexual movement"]. ''Regent University Law Review'', vol. 14, pp. 267-282. Retrieved from The Architecture of Modern Political Power on July 20, 2014.</ref>
3. The writer [[Samuel R. Delany]] is an atheist and a [[homosexuality|homosexual]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Delany, Samuel R. (2006). ''About Writing: Seven Essays, Four Letters, and Five Interviews'' (Middletown: Wesleyan), p. 36.
*[http://www.enotes.com/topics/samuel-r-delany/critical-essays/delany-samuel-r-vol-141#critical-essays-delany-samuel-r-vol-141-introduction "Introduction"] (2001). ''Contemporary Literary Criticism'', ed. Hunter, Jeffrey W., vol. 141 (Gale Cengage). Retrieved from eNotes.com on July 20, 2014.</ref> Delaney said he was a supporter of NAMBLA.<ref>Freedman, Carl (2009). ''Conversations with Samuel R. Delany'' (Jackson: Univ. Press of Mississippi), p. 143.</ref>
See also: [[Richard Dawkins on child molestation and so called "gentle pedophiles"]] and [[John Maynard Keynes and pederasty]]
=== Immorality of prominent atheists ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]
[[James Randi]] is a leader within the atheist community. Brian Thompson, former James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Outreach Coordinator, wrote:
{{cquote|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, [[misogyny|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.<ref>Myers, P. Z. (March 31, 2014). [http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/03/31/when-will-this-situation-improve/ "When will this situation improve?"] Pharyngula. Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref>}}
See also:
*[[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]
*[[Richard Carrier, adultery, divorce and polyamory]]
=== Atheism and abortion ===
[[Image:115523-004-FA619CA3.jpg|thumb|right|251px| The perverse and cruel atheist [[Marquis de Sade]] in prison, 18th century line engraving.]]
The ''Journal of Medical Ethics'' wrote this about the atheist and [[sadism|sadist]] [[Marquis de Sade]]:
{{cquote|In 1795 the Marquis de Sade published his ''La Philosophie 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.<ref>Farr, A. D. (1980). [http://jme.bmj.com/content/6/1/7.abstract "The Marquis de Sade and induced abortion"]. ''Journal of Medical Ethics'', 6, pp. 7-10. Retrieved from Journal of Medical Ethics website on July 20, 2014.</ref>}}
[[Population control]] is based on [[pseudoscience]] and ill founded [[economics|economic]] assumptions.<ref>Egnor, Michael (November 30, 2010). [http://www.evolutionnews.org/2010/11/pz_myers_on_abortion040971.html "P. Z. Myers on abortion"]. Evolution News and Views. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref> ''[[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."<ref>Katz, Neil (August 26, 2010). [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-atheist-doctors-twice-as-likely-to-pull-plug/ "Study: atheist doctors twice as likely to pull plug"]. CBSNews.com. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>
=== Atheism and lower empathy for others ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] and [[Atheism and love]]
In 2007 the Baptist Press reported:
{{cquote|...a pollster at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, found that adults who profess a belief in God are significantly more likely than atheists to say that forgiveness, patience, generosity and a concern for others are "very important." In fact, the poll found that on 11 of 12 values, there was a double-digit gap between theists and atheists, with theists more likely to label each value "very important."
The survey by sociologist and pollster Reginald Bibby examined the beliefs of 1,600 Canadians, 82 percent who said they believed in "God or a higher power" and 18 percent who said they did not.<ref>Foust, Michael (October 23, 2007). [http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=26675 "Poll: Atheists less likely to 'do good'"] Baptist Press. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>}}
=== Atheism and moral relativism ===
''See also:'' [[Moral relativism]] and [[Atheism and morality]]
[[Image:998086u.jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|An essay by the [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] Dr. James 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."<ref>Spiegel, James (2010). ''The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief'', p. 72. Chicago: Moody Publishers.</ref> Bertrand Russell was an agnostic who had favorable views towards atheism.<ref> Russell, Bertrand (1947). [http://web.archive.org/web/20100411082750/http://www.luminary.us/russell/atheist_agnostic.html "Am I an atheist or an agnostic?"] www.luminary.us. Archived at Internet Archive on April 11, 2010. Retrieved on July 20, 2014. Caution: Presumably copyrighted in the U.S. until 2042 and in Canada until 2020. For fair educational use only. Most online sources say "by which one prove," probably a mistake.</ref>]]
Dr. Phil Fernandes states the following regarding atheism and [[Moral relativism|moral relativism]]:
{{cquote|[[Friedrich Nietzsche|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 [[existentialism|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 [[Adolph Hitler]] as being evil.<ref>Fernandes, Phil (May 25, 1997). [http://instituteofbiblicaldefense.com/1997/05/refuting-moral-relativism/ "Refuting moral relativism"]. Institute of Biblical Defense. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>}}
Given that atheistic [[evolution|evolutionary]] thinking has engendered [[social darwinism]] and given that the proponents of atheism [[Atheism and morality|have no rational basis]] for morality, the immoral views that atheists often hold and [[Atheism and Uncharitableness|the low per capita giving of American atheists]] is not unpredictable.
=== Atheism and profanity ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and profanity]]
Studies indicate that atheists engage in more [[profanity]] than Christians/theists and are more likely to believe that obscene language is acceptable to engage in.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard "Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard"] (September 10, 2001). Barna Update. Retrieved on July 19, 2014.
*Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "The Science of Swearing"]. ''Observer'', vol. 25, no. 5. Retrieved from The Association for Psychological Science website on October 25, 2014.
*Ritter, Ryan S., Preston, J. L. et al. (June 18, 2013). [http://spp.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/06/18/1948550613492345.full.pdf+html "Happy tweets: Christians are happier, more socially connected, and less analytical than atheists on Twitter" [abstract]]. ''Social Psychological and Personality Science'', 1948550613492345. Abstract retrieved from Sage Journals on October 25, 2014. Subscription required for full article.</ref>
Use of profanity by individuals is negatively correlated with conscientiousness and agreeableness.<ref>Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "The Science of Swearing"]. ''Observer'', vol. 25, no. 5. Retrieved from The Association for Psychological Science website on October 25, 2014.</ref>
For more information, please see: [[Atheism and profanity]]
=== Atheism and bestiality ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and bestiality]]
[[Bestiality]] is the act of engaging in sexual relations with an animal. In addition to being repulsive and being a sexual [[taboo]] in societies, bestiality can cause harm to both animals and humans.<ref>Multiple references:
*Nadeau, Barbie Latza (October 14, 2014). [http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/10/14/denmark-s-bestiality-problem-it-s-legal.html "Denmark’s bestiality problem: It’s legal"]. The Daily Beast website.
*[http://aldf.org/resources/laws-cases/the-crime-of-bestialityzoophilia-sexual-assault-of-an-animal/ "The crime of bestiality/zoophilia: Sexual assault of an animal"] (2013 or bef.). Animal Legal Defense Fund website/Resources/Laws-cases.
*[http://stopbestiality.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/does-having-sex-with-animals-harm-anyone/ "Does having sex with animals harm anyone? Animals show great stress"] (January 17, 2011). StopBestiality website.
*Zequi, Stênio de Cássio, Ph. D. et. al. (July 2012). [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02512.x/abstract "Sex with animals (SWA): Behavioral characteristics and possible association with penile cancer. A multicenter study"] ''Journal of Sexual Medicine'', vol. 9, iss. 10, pp. 1860-7. Retrieved from Wiley Online Library/Urology/Sexual medicine.
*[http://stopbestiality.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/study-links-bestiality-and-penile-cancer/ "Study links bestiality and penile cancer; Women’s health risk too?"] (November 29, 2011). StopBestiality website.
*Westneat, Danny (December 30, 2005). [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002711400_danny30.html "Horse sex story was online hit"]. ''Seattle Times'' website.
*Ascione, Frank, ed. ''The International Handbook of Animal Abuse and Cruelty: Theory, Research'', pp. 217-8.</ref>
In 2014, a global news channel which broadcasts documentaries about current topics, reported concerning [[secular Europe]]: "Bestiality is having a weird renaissance in Europe."<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/newsreport3738/ Vice News report on bestiality upsurge in Europe]</ref> See also: [[Bestiality and secular Europe]]
The [[atheist]] philosopher Peter Singer defends the practice [[bestiality]] (as well as [[abortion]], infanticide and [[euthanasia]]). Despite holding these views the liberal and pro-[[evolution]] academic establishment rewarded his views with a bioethics chair at [[Princeton University]].<ref>Multiple references:
The [[atheist]] philosopher Peter Singer defends the practice [[bestiality]] (as well as [[abortion]], infanticide and [[euthanasia]]). Despite holding these views the liberal and pro-[[evolution]] academic establishment rewarded his views with a bioethics chair at [[Princeton University]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Smith, Justin (November 22, 2006). [http://creation.com/the-basis-of-a-christian-worldview "The basis of a Christian worldview"]. Creation Ministries International. Retrieveu.com/truth/3truth02.html "Theism, atheism, and rationality"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 3. Retrieved from LeadershipU on October 3, 2014. See [[Alvin Plantinga]].
*Smith, Justin (November 22, 2006). [http://creation.com/the-basis-of-a-christian-worldview "The basis of a Christian worldview"]. Creation Ministries International. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.
*Day, Vox (2008). [http://www.voxday.net/p://www.evolutionnews.org/2013/11/cs_lewis_and_th079541.html "C.S. Lewis and the argument from reason"]. Evolution News and Views. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
*Sarfati, Jonathan (June 2, 2007). [http://creation.com/answer-to-philosophy-religion-professor-on-biblical-exegesis-and-the-problem-of-evil "CMI answers philosophy/religion professor on biblical exegesis and the problem of evil"]. Creation Ministries International. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>
The prominent atheist [[PZ Myers|P. Z. Meyers]] declared, "I don’t object to bestiality in a very limited set of specific conditions...."<ref name="achilles">Multiple references:
*Warden, Rick (August 10, 2012). [http://templestream.blogspot.com/2012/08/atheist-achilles-heels-objective.html "Atheist achilles heels: objective morality and sacred life"]. Templestream Blog. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.
*Myers, P. Z. (May 22, 2012). [http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/05/22/the-objective-morality-gotcha/ "The 'objective morality' gotcha"] Pharyngula. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>
[[File:Peter Singer MIT Veritas.jpg|right|thumbnail|250px|The [[atheist]] philosopher [[Peter Singer]] defends the practice of [[bestiality]] Despite holding these immoral views academia rewarded his views with a bioethics chair at [[Princeton University]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Smith, Justin (November 22, 2006). [http://creation.com/the-basis-of-a-christian-worldview "The basis of a Christian worldview"]. Creation Ministries International. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.
*Sarfati, Jonathan (June 2, 2007). [http://creation.com/answer-to-philosophy-religion-professor-on-biblical-exegesis-and-the-problem-of-evil "CMI answers philosophy/religion professor on biblical exegesis and the problem of evil"]. Creation Ministries International. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.
*Carter, Joe (June 22, 2011). [http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2011/06/the-dangerous-mind-of-peter-singer "The dangerous mind of Peter Singer"]. First Things. Retrieved on July 20, 2014. See [[First Things]].</ref> See: [[Atheism and bestiality]] ]]
The Bible says that bestiality is a perversion and, under the [[Old Testament]] [[Pentateuch|Jewish Law]], punishable by death (Exodus 22:19, Leviticus 18:23, Leviticus 20:15 and Deuteronomy 27:21). The atheistic worldview does not lend itself to the establishment of morality within society and individuals (see: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheism and deception]]).
The [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] and author Michael Caputo writes:
{{cquote|Although bestiality is not openly supported by well known [[Militant atheism|Militant Atheist]] sites, support for it is inherent in their insistence that decisions of a sexual nature should be left up to the individual adults to determine. God disagrees.<ref>Caputo, Michael (betw. 2008-11). [http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/god_bible_bestiality.htm "God, the Bible and bestiality"]. Militant Atheism Exposed. Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>}}
For additional information please see:
*[[Atheism and bestiality]]
*[[Evolutionary belief and bestiality]]
*[[Christopher Hitchens on bestiality]]
*[[Academia and bestiality|Atheism, academia and bestiality]]
In areas of the [[Western World]] where there is a significant amount of atheism and [[evolution]]ary belief, there have been notable problems related to bestiality (see: [[Geographic areas where bestiality is posing a notable problem]]).
=== Atheism and incest ===
''See also:'' [[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."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp7dRpWIdBo Lawrence Krauss on incest]</ref> 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 of 2015.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAmazingAtheist/about About TheAmazingAtheist YouTube channel]</ref> The AmazingAtheist produced a video entitled '' Atheist Libertarian Defends Incest, Polygamy and Cannibalism!''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMYBndRD9Ko Atheist Libertarian Defends Incest, Polygamy and Cannibalism!]</ref>
For more information, please see: [[Atheism and incest]]
=== Irreligious prison population ===
*[[Irreligious prison population]]
=== Atheism and cannibalism ===
[[File:Jeffrey Dahmer Milwaukee Police 1991 mugshot.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The [[serial killer]] [[Jeffrey Dahmer]] engaged in [[cannibalism]]. He was an [[atheism|atheist]] while he committed these acts.<ref>[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1sv4ky_serial-killer-jeffrey-dahmer-blames-atheism-and-evolution-belief-for-murders_news Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer blames Atheism and Evolution belief for Murders]</ref> See: [[Atheism and cannibalism]] ]]
See: [[Atheism and cannibalism]]
===== Cannibalism and communist regimes =====
During the [[Cultural Revolution]], there were incidences of the Chinese [[Red Guards]] engaging in [[cannibalism]].<ref>[http://www.oodegr.co/english/atheismos/Atheistic_cannibalism.htm 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</ref> The renowned author Lu Xun, a sympathizer of Communism, at a moment when he no longer concurred with nationalism and anti-Westernism, wrote: "The Chinese are cannibals..."<ref>[http://www.oodegr.co/english/atheismos/Atheistic_cannibalism.htm 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</ref>
[[Pol Pot]]'s regime also engaged in acts of vindictive cannibalism.<ref>[http://www.oodegr.co/english/atheismos/Atheistic_cannibalism.htm 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</ref>
Kerry Kubulius in his article entitled ''Cannibalism in the [[Soviet Union]]'' wrote:
{{cquote|In the years 1920-21, the Soviet Union was hit hard by famine. Civil war had wiped out grain stores, and drought affected harvests...
It goes without saying that cannibalism in the Soviet Union was outlawed. Those who were caught cannibalizing their fellow citizens were sent to prisons, even though cannibalism was practiced in the Gulag, as well...
While some individuals ate the bodies of the already dead, others murdered for the purpose of providing themselves with food. Gangs of children would kill adults, while adults would find children to murder and eat. Escaped prisoners might take along fellow inmates to serve as future meals – unbeknownst to the escapees' companions themselves.
Cannibalism in the Soviet Union was sometimes a result of an individual or individuals seeking revenge.<ref>[https://suite.io/kerry-kubilius/ez6270 ''Cannibalism in the Soviet Union'] by Kerry Kubulius</ref>}}
===== Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer and cannibalism =====
The infamous [[serial killer]] [[Jeffrey Dahmer]] engaged in cannibalism. He was an atheist when he committed these acts.<ref>[http://listverse.com/2010/06/05/10-people-who-give-atheism-a-bad-name/ 10 People Who Give Atheism a Bad Name]</ref>
===== Popular YouTube atheist TheAmazingAtheist on cannibalism =====
The YouTube channel [[TheAmazingAtheist]] is the most popular atheist YouTube channel with over 685,972 subscribers as of June of 2015.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAmazingAtheist/about About TheAmazingAtheist YouTube channel]</ref> The AmazingAtheist produced a video entitled '' Atheist Libertarian Defends Incest, Polygamy and Cannibalism!''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMYBndRD9Ko Atheist Libertarian Defends Incest, Polygamy and Cannibalism!]</ref>
===== Marquis de Sade's writings and cannibalism =====
John Attarian wrote concerning 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.<ref>[http://www.firstprinciplesjournal.com/articles.aspx?article=520 Dostoevsky vs. Marquis de Sade] by John Attarian (MA 46:4, Fall 2004) - 08/01/08</ref>}}
For more information, please see: [[Atheism and cannibalism]]
=== Atheism and other moral issues ===
For more more information please see: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Moral failures of the atheist population|List of the moral failures of the atheist population]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]]
[[File:Michael Nugent.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|According to atheist [[Michael Nugent]], his fellow atheist [[PZ Myers]] behaves in manner that is contrary to fostering [[social justice]] in society.<ref>*[http://www.michaelnugent.com/2014/09/19/the-lbj-legend-and-my-email-to-pz-myers/ The LBJ legend and my email to PZ Myers] by Michael Nugent on September 19, 2014
*[http://www.michaelnugent.com/2015/04/07/atheist-ireland-dissociates-from-pz-myers/
Atheist Ireland publicly dissociates itself from the harmful and hateful rhetoric of PZ Myers] by Michael Nugent, April 7, 2015</ref>]]
=== Atheism and hypocrisy ===
''See also:'' [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
In order to attempt to justify their atheism, atheists often engage in [[Hypocrisy|hypocritical]] argumentation. In addition, atheists often engage in hypocritical behavior. Please see: [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
==== Atheism and social justice ====
See also: [[Atheism and social justice]]
As noted above, historically, the [[secular left]] has been dominant within the atheist community (see: [[Atheism and politics]]).
According to leading [[Progressivism|progressive]]/leftists websites, progressive values include: freedom; opportunity; responsibility; cooperation/community; caring and responsibility, carried out with strength; protection/fairness; honesty and open communication.<ref>[http://thinkprogress.org/election/2013/03/22/1761431/what-it-means-to-be-a-progressive-a-manifesto/ What It Means To Be A Progressive: A Manifesto], Thinkprogress.org</ref><ref>[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/09/658017/-What-are-Progressive-Values What are Progressive Values], Dailykos.com</ref> 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]]).
=== Why atheism is irrational ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and irrationality]] and [[Atheism and logic]] and [[Irreligion and superstition]] and [[Atheism and epistemology]]
A common and legitimate criticism of the [[atheist worldview]] is that [[Atheism and irrationality|atheism is irrational]]. <ref name="athdef"/> In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.<ref name="inconsist"/> For example, the atheistic worldview cannot account for the laws of [[logic]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Lisle, Dr. Jason (October 10, 2007). [http://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/atheism/atheism-an-irrational-worldview/ "Atheism: An irrational worldview"]. AnswersinGenesis. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
*Slick, Matt (2010). [http://carm.org/christian-worldview-atheist-worldview-and-logic "The Christian worldview, the atheist worldview, and logic"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
*Petersen, Jason (2013). [http://answersforhope.org/portfolio_item/can-atheism-coherently-explain-the-laws-of-logic/ "Can atheism coherently explain the laws of logic?"] Answers for Hope. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
*Audio of a formal 1985 debate between Christian Greg Bahnsen and skeptic Gordon Stein at the University of California, Irvine on the question "Does God exist?" See Dr. [[Greg Bahnsen]]
**[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1hSx2evTGM "Greg Bahnsen vs. Gordon Stein: The Great Debate (FULL)"] (May 19, 2011). YouTube video, 2:10:44, posted by Argin Gerigorian. Retrieved on October 3, 2014.
**Andy (December 5, 2006). [http://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2006/12/05/greg-bahnsen-vs-gordon-stein-the-great-debate/ "Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein mp3"]. The Domain for Truth. Retrieved on October 4, 2014.</ref>
[[File:113320508 2b86fdb94a.jpg|thumb|201px|right|A common and legitimate criticism of the [[atheist worldview]] is that [[Atheism and irrationality|atheism is irrational]].<ref name="athdef">Multiple references:
*Slick, Matt (2010). [http://carm.org/cut-atheism "Atheism"]. Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry. Retrieved on October 3, 2014.
*Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"]. ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Retrieved from Internet Christian Library on September 22, 2014.
*Gilson, Tom (March 21, 2012). [http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2012/03/21/atheists-dont-own-reason/10924 "Atheists don’t own reason"]. FaithStreet/On Faith. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
*McInerny, Professor Ralph (1985). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html "Why the burden of proof is on the atheist"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 1. Retrieved from LeadershipU on October 3, 2014.
*Platinga, Alvin (1991). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/3truth02.html "Theism, atheism, and rationality"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 3. Retrieved from LeadershipU on October 3, 2014. See [[Alvin Plantinga]].
*Day, Vox (2008). [http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf ''The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens''](Dallas TX: Benbella Books). ISBN-10: 1933771364; ISBN-13: 978-1933771366. Retrieved on October 3, 2014. Caution: Copyrighted material. For fair educational use only.</ref> In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.<ref name="inconsist">Multiple references:
*Grayknight (May 29, 2010). [http://grayknight.hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Atheist-Inconsistencies "Top 10 atheist inconsistencies"]. Grayknight.hubpages.com. Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4K_WZpIkM4 "William Lane Craig on scientific naturalism"] (January 12, 2008). YouTube video, 9:55, posted by Drcraigvideos. Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
*Sullivan, Dr. Scott (August 19, 2014). [http://www.scottmsullivan.com/why-atheism-is-incoherent/ "Why atheism is incoherent"]. Podcast, 23:17. Spiritual Combat. Retrieved from ClassicalTheist on October 8, 2014.
*[http://vimeo.com/102663614 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 1"] (August 5, 2014). Vimeo video, 8:10, posted by Jefferson Drexler. Retreived on October 8, 2014.
*[http://vimeo.com/103277405 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism with J.P. Moreland, part 2"] (August 12, 2014). Vimeo video, 7:43, posted by Jefferson Drexler. Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
*[http://vimeo.com/103865278 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 3"] (August 19, 2014). Vimeo video, 7:21, posted by Jefferson Drexler. Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
*[http://vimeo.com/105068126 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 4"] (September 2, 2014). Vimeo video, 6:40, posted by Jefferson Drexler. Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6cTlDn4PiU "The incoherence of atheism - Ravi Zacharias"] (February 5, 2013). YouTube video, 51:59, posted by Christianity Reason and Science. Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
*Cooper, Jordan (August 31, 2012). [http://justandsinner.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-incoherence-of-atheism.html "The incoherence of atheism"]. Just and Sinner blog. Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
*Randy (November 12, 2012). [http://ephesians4-15.blogspot.com/2012/11/more-on-inconsistent-atheists.html "More on inconsistent atheists"]. Speak the Truth in Love. Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
*Geisler, Norman and McCoy, Daniel J. (June 2014). ''The Atheist's Fatal Flaw: Exposing Conflicting Beliefs'' (Ada, MI: Baker Publishing Group). See [[Norman Geisler]]</ref>]]
The atheist worldview cannot explain the existence of [[consciousness]] either and the [[theism|theistic]] worldview can offer a reasonable explanation.<ref>Multiple references:
*Piippo, John (March 20, 2012). [http://www.johnpiippo.com/2012/03/argument-from-consciousness-for.html "The argument from consciousness for the existence of God"]. John Piippo. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
*Piippo, John (April 14, 2014). [http://www.johnpiippo.com/2014/04/one-of-atheisms-irresolvable-problems.html "Consciousness: One of atheism's irresolvable problems"]. John Piippo. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref>
Additionally, naturalism and reason are incompatible and believing in naturalism is therefore self-defeating. In short, if naturalism is true, then we ought not to trust our capacity for reason for the human brain would be a byproduct of blind/unintelligent natural forces.<ref>Multiple references:
*Jones, Stephen E. (September 5, 2006). [http://creationevolutiondesign.blogspot.com/2006/09/cs-lewis-argument-from-reason.html "C.S. Lewis' argument from reason"]. Creationevolutiondesign. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
*Richards, Jay W. (November 25, 2013). [http://www.evolutionnews.org/2013/11/cs_lewis_and_th079541.html "C.S. Lewis and the argument from reason"]. Evolution News and Views. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
*West, John G. (November-December 1996) [http://www.acton.org/pub/religion-liberty/volume-6-number-6/cs-lewis-and-materialism "C.S. Lewis and materialism"]. ''Religion and Liberty'', vol. 6, no. 6. Retrieved from ActonInstitute website on October 6, 2014.
*West, John G. (November-December 1996) [http://www.acton.org/pub/religion-liberty/volume-6-number-6/cs-lewis-and-materialism "C.S. Lewis and materialism"]. ''Religion and Liberty'', vol. 6, no. 6. Retrieved from ActonInstitute website on October 6, 2014.
*Briggs, Matt (July 30, 2013). [http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=8669 "C.S. Lewis on the validity of reasoning"]. William M. Briggs [blog]. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
*Briggs, Matt (July 30, 2013). [http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=8669 "C.S. Lewis on the validity of reasoning"]. William M. Briggs [blog]. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
Atheists [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism|lack proof and evidence]] that God does not exist and ignore the [[Christian apologetics websites|clear and abundant proof and evidence]] that He does exist. The philosopher [[Mortimer Adler]] pointed out that atheism asserts an unreasonable [[Universal negative|universal negative]] that is self-defeating.<ref name="defensive">Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"]. ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Retrieved from Internet Christian Library on September 22, 2014.</ref>
Atheists [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism|lack proof and evidence]] that God does not exist and ignore the [[Christian apologetics websites|clear and abundant proof and evidence]] that He does exist. The philosopher [[Mortimer Adler]] pointed out that atheism asserts an unreasonable [[Universal negative|universal negative]] that is self-defeating.<ref name="defensive">Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"]. ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Retrieved from Internet Christian Library on September 22, 2014.</ref>
Contrary to the mistaken notion of individuals who are inexperienced in [[logic]]/[[philosophy]], there are plenty of cases where universal negatives [[Universal negative|can be proven]].<ref>Ferguson, Shawn (August 14, 2014). [http://blog.faithbeyondbelief.ca/2014/08/the-universal-negative-can-it-be-proven.html "The universal negative: Can it be proven?"] Faith Beyond Belief. Retrieved on September 22, 2014.</ref> However, atheists' universal negative claim that God does not exist is not a reasonable universal negative claim.<ref name="defensive"/> included, involving some 126,000 subjects. Active religious involvement increased the chance of living longer by some 29%, and participation in public religious practices, such as church attendance, increased the chance of living longer by 43%.<ref>Multiple references:
Contrary to the mistaken notion of individuals who are inexperienced in [[logic]]/[[philosophy]], there are plenty of cases where universal negatives [[Universal negative|can be proven]].<ref>Ferguson, Shawn (August 14, 2014). [http://blog.faithbeyondbelief.ca/2014/08/the-universal-negative-can-it-be-proven.html "The universal negative: Can it be proven?"] Faith Beyond Belief. Retrieved on September 22, 2014.</ref> However, atheists' universal negative claim that God does not exist is not a reasonable universal negative claim.<ref name="defensive"/>
Given their limited understanding of the vast expanse of the universe/reality, atheists unconvincing pretend to have godlike powers when they claim to know God does not exist.<ref name="defensive"/>
As noted above, the popular YouTube Christian [[Shockofgod]] created an uproar when he asked the atheist community the question, "What proof and evidence do you have that atheism is accurate and correct?"<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0 "The question that is causing atheists to abandon atheism"] (August 6, 2010). YouTube video, 14:54, posted by shockofgod. Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref> See also: [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism]]
==== Study relating the arrogance of New Atheists and discovery of errors by New Atheists ====
Using special text analysis software, the social psychologist Jonathan Haidt found that [[New Atheism|New Atheists]] very often wrote in dogmatic terms in their major works using words such as “always,” “never,” “certainly,” “every,” and “undeniable.”<ref name="JHaidt">Haidt, Jonathan (March 5, 2014). [http://www.thisviewoflife.com/index.php/magazine/articles/why-sam-harris-is-unlikely-to-change-his-mind10 "Why Sam Harris is unlikely to change his mind"]. This View of Life. Retrieved on September 22, 2014.</ref> Of the 75,000 words in [[Sam Harris]]'s ''The End of Faith'', 2.24% of them connote or are associated with certainty.<ref name="JHaidt"/> And sadly, the works of New Atheists often betray an amateurish knowledge of philosophy/religion. For example, atheist philosopher Dr. [[Michael Ruse]] declared concerning [[Richard Dawkins]]' book ''The God Delusion'': "''The God Delusion'' makes me embarrassed to be an atheist."<ref>McGrath, Alister (January 25, 2007). [http://www.alternet.org/media/47052?page=entire "The Dawkins delusion"]. AlterNet. Retrieved on September 22, 2014.</ref> [[Vox Day]]'s book ''[http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf The Irrational atheist]'' found multiple errors in reasoning and factual errors when it came to the works of New Atheist authors.<ref>Cosner, Lisa (December 2008). [http://creation.com/review-irrational-atheist-by-vox-day "Excellent refutation of ‘new atheists’ flawed by heterodox open theism"]. Review of Day, Vox (2008), ''The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens'' (Dallas TX: Benbella Books). ''Journal of Creation'', vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 28-31. Retrieved from Creation.com on September 22, 2014.</ref> See also: [[Richard Dawkins and pseudoscience]]
==== Militant atheism, arrogance and religious freedom ====
In addition, historically [[militant atheism|militant atheists]] have commonly endeavored to limit the religious freedom of others while imposing their errant, atheistic ideology on others. See also: [[Atheism and intolerance]]
==== Pretentious monikers ====
Atheists have also given themselves pretentious monikers such as freethinker, rationalist and "bright". See also: [[Brights Movement]] and [[Atheism and intelligence]] and [[Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences]]
==== Other instances of the arrogance of atheists ====
For more instances of the arrogance of atheists, please see: [[Atheism and arrogance]]
[[File:Angry atheist.jpg|thumbnail|right|325px|An angry atheist speaking to a woman with a Bible in her hand.
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<small>Photo obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Anger#mediaviewer/File:Anger_during_a_protest_by_David_Shankbone.jpg Wikimedia Commons], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ license agreement]</small>]]
=== Angry and bitter demeanor of militant atheists and anti-theists ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]]
On January 1, 2011, [[CNN]] reported:
{{cquote|People unaffiliated with organized religion, atheists and agnostics also report anger toward God either in the past, or anger focused on a hypothetical image - that is, what they imagined God might be like - said lead study author Julie Exline, Case Western Reserve University psychologist.
In studies on college students, atheists and agnostics reported more anger at God during their lifetimes than believers.<ref>Landau, Elizabeth (January 1, 2011). [http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/01/anger-at-god-common-even-among-atheists/ "Anger at God common, even among atheists"]. CNN/The Chart website. Retrieved on September 23, 2014.</ref>}}
Various studies found that traumatic events in people's lives has a positive correlation with "emotional atheism".<ref>Carter, Joe (January 12, 2011). [http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2011/01/when-atheists-are-angry-at-god "When atheists are angry at God"]. First Things [The Institute on Religion and Public Life] website. Retrieved on September 23, 2014.</ref>
The atheist and [[lesbianism|lesbian]] [[Greta Christina]] told the journalist Chris Mooney on the Point of Inquiry podcast, "there isn't one emotion" that affects atheists "but anger is one of the emotions that many of us have ...[it] drives others to participate in the movement."<ref>Mooney, Chris (May 14, 2012). [http://www.pointofinquiry.org/greta_christina_why_are_you_atheists_so_angry/ "Greta Christina—Why are you atheists so angry?"] [interview of Greta Christina] Point of Inquiry website. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref>
[[File:G. Christina.jpg|thumbnail|left|230px|Picture of [[Greta Christina]] in 2010.
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<small>(photo from [https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgipps/4988339630/in/photolist-2rDM3o-bt3Ftm-bFXxr4-5nz1zL-7fobnw-7fobys-7fjigk-7fjiwX-7fobh5-5T99Aj-5T4L6K-5T98K1-5T96wf-5T4NZF-7e8Beb-7c7bCe-7e8zi9-7caZdy-8ANxzG-7e8xjS-8AKsPT-68xpDc-68xpDt-6rdw8-bHrFL6-bHrFKZ-fznm8w-eUwdEY-bqezJr-e3JzYN-fQtemN-axf5DW-dQotEq-7agx5n-okT16-MvRwB-8ANxss-8ANxSw-8UMG16-9LdtG8-bnvf16-adV2DK-bG97z6-bG97fc-bG96TK-btehjh-82T2J-oAdNG-2VKxNd-2uHoFH Flickr], see: [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/ license agreement])</small>]]
[[Vox Day]] declared:
{{cquote|...the age at which most people become atheists indicates that it is almost never an intellectual decision, but an emotional one.<ref>Day, Vox (January 11, 2011). [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2011/01/answering-atheists-question.html "Answering an atheist's question"]. Vox Popoli. Retrieved on September 22, 2014.</ref>}}
Social science research indicates that anti-theists score the highest among atheists when it comes to personality traits such as [[narcissism]], dogmatism, and anger.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/science-shows-new-atheists-to-be-mean-and-closed-minded/ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded"] (July 18, 2013). Shadow to Light [blog].
*Haidt, Jonathan (March 5, 2014). [http://www.thisviewoflife.com/index.php/magazine/articles/why-sam-harris-is-unlikely-to-change-his-mind10 "Why Sam Harris is unlikely to change his mind"]. This View of Life website.</ref> Furthermore, they scored lowest when it comes to agreeableness and positive relations with others.<ref>[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/science-shows-new-atheists-to-be-mean-and-closed-minded/ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded"] (July 18, 2013). Shadow to Light [blog].</ref>
Although anti-theists, militant atheists and [[New Atheism|New Atheists]] give the general public the perception that atheists are exceedingly angry individuals, research indicates that the atheist population as a whole is not angrier than the general population (see: [[Various types of atheists/non-believers and anger]]).
[[Jesus Christ]] and [[Christianity|Christendom]] have emphasized the important of forgiveness and in the last few decades mental health specialists have increasingly seen the importance of forgiveness to alleviate anger and other emotional problems within individuals.<ref>Gangdev, Prakash (April-June 2009). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2755173/ "Forgiveness: A note for psychiatrists"]. ''Indian Journal of Psychiatry'', vol 51, no. 2, pp. 153–156. Retrieved from National Institutes of Health website/U.S. National Library of Medicine/National Center for Biotechnology Information/PubMed Central.</ref>
For more information please see: [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]]
===Atheism and miracles===
[[Image:Billcraig_czvx.jpg|thumb|150px|Dr. [[William Lane Craig]] ]]
:''See main article: [[Atheism and Miracles]]''
In relation to [[Atheism and Miracles|atheism and miracles]], modern scholars are divided on the issue of whether or not [[David Hume]] was an atheist.<ref>Russell, Paul (February 11, 2013). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-religion/#10 "Hume on religion"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). Retrieved July 20, 2014.
</ref> With that caveat in mind, Hume is well known for arguing that it is always more probable that the testimony of a miracle is false than that the miracle occurred.<ref>Multiple references:
*Lennox, John (2009). [http://www.bethinking.org/are-miracles-possible/the-question-of-miracles-the-contemporary-influence-of-hume "The question of miracles: the contemporary influence of Hume"]. BeThinking. Retrieved on July 21, 2014.
*Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986). [http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html "The problem of miracles: a historical and philosophical perspective"]. ''Gospel Perspectives'', vol 6, ed. by David Wenham and Craig Blomberg (Sheffield, England: JSOT Press), pp. 9-40. Retrieved from LeadershipU on July 20, 2014.</ref> Christian apologists [[William Lane Craig]], [[Norman Geisler]], [[C.S. Lewis]], [[JP Holding]], and others have shown the inadequacy and unreasonableness of Hume's position regarding miracles.<ref>Multiple references:
*Lennox, John (2009). [http://www.bethinking.org/are-miracles-possible/the-question-of-miracles-the-contemporary-influence-of-hume "The question of miracles: the contemporary influence of Hume"]. BeThinking. Retrieved on July 21, 2014.
*Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986). [http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html "The problem of miracles: a historical and philosophical perspective"]. ''Gospel Perspectives'', vol 6, ed. by David Wenham and Craig Blomberg (Sheffield, England: JSOT Press), pp. 9-40. Retrieved from LeadershipU on July 20, 2014.
*Hoffman, Paul K. (Spring 1999). [http://www.galaxie.com/article/caj02-1-03?highlight=hoffmanA "A jurisprudential analysis of Hume’s ‘in principal’ argument against miracles" [excerpt]]. ''Christian Apologetics Journal'', 2:1, p. 2. Retrieved from Galaxie Software on July 21, 2014. Subscription required for full article.
*Geisler, Professor Norman (1985). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth19.html "Miracles and modern scientific thought"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 1. Retrieved from LeadershipU on July 21, 2014.
*Lewis, C. S. (1960). [http://books.google.com/books/about/Miracles.html?id=tH8di3qQDhEC ''Miracles''] (New York: HarperCollins). Abstract retrieved from Google Books on July 20, 2014.
*Holding, J. P. [http://www.tektonics.org/gk/hume01.html "David Hume: a critique"]. Tekton Apologetics. Retrieved on July 21, 2014.
*Esposito, Lenny (2002). [http://www.comereason.org/phil_qstn/phi060.asp "Are miracles logically impossible?"] Come Reason Ministries. Retrieved July 21, 2014.</ref>
The ''Christian Post'' reporter Stoyan Zaimov wrote:
{{cquote|Double-blind prayer experiments: where people pray for others with terminal illness. [[Gary Habermas|Habermas]] admitted that most such experiments have not worked, but the three that he knows of that have indeed worked were cases of orthodox-Christians praying for the sick.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-apologist-10-reasons-for-the-fall-of-atheism-106531/ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism] by Stoyan Zaimov,'' Christian Post'', October 14, 2013</ref>}}
===Atheism and questions of origins===
:''See articles: [[Atheism and Evolution]]'' and [[Evolution as a secular origins myth]]
[[Creationism|Creationist]] scientists state that the [[First Law of Thermodynamics|first law of thermodynamics]] and the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics|second law of thermodynamics]] argue against an eternal universe or a universe created by natural processes and argue for a universe created by [[God]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Hergenrather, John (2004). [http://www.creationencounter.com/space/lawsofscience.php "Evidences for God from space: can laws of science explain the origin of the universe?"] Creation Encounter. Retrieved on July 21, 2014.
*Thompson, Bert (2003). [http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=12&article=310 "So long, eternal universe; 'Hello beginning, hello end!'"] Apologetics Press. Retrieved on July 21, 2014.
*Brown, Dr. Walt (2008). [http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/AstroPhysicalSciences14.html "Chapter 2: astronomical and physical sciences", p. 53.] ''In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood'', 8th ed. Retrieved on July 23, 2014 from The Center for Scientific Creation.</ref> A majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the evolutionary position which employs [[methodological naturalism]] since [[World War II]] have had the worldview of atheism.<ref name="Batten and Sarfati"/> [[Creation science|Creation scientists]] assert that the theory of [[Evolution|evolution]] is an inadequate explanation for the variety of life forms on earth.<ref>Morris, Henry M., PhD. (January 2001). [http://www.icr.org/home/resources/resources_tracts_scientificcaseagainstevolution/ "The scientific case against evolution"]. Institute for Creation Research. Retrieved on July 23, 2014. </ref> In addition, the current [[origin of life|naturalistic explanations for the origin of life are inadequate]]. The theory of evolution [[Social effects of the theory of evolution|has had a number of negative social effects]].
=== Atheists and the history of Christianity/atheism ===
''See also:'' [[Atheists and historical illiteracy]] and [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]] and [[Atheist indoctrination]]
A common complaint concerning many atheists is their lack of depth when it comes to knowledge of [[history]] and [[historiography]] - particularly in areas such as [[historicity of Jesus|historicity of Jesus Christ]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|atheist mass murders in history]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Day, Vox (March 10, 2014). [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-ignorance-of-cosmos.html "The ignorance of ''Cosmos''"]. Vox Populi blog. Retrieved on January 14, 2015. See [[Vox Day]].
*Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). [http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527 "The real murderers: atheism or Christianity?"] Stand to Reason. Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref>
For more information, please see: [[Atheists and historical illiteracy]]
==Atheism and mental and physical health==
:''See also:'' [[Atheism and health]] and [[Atheism and obesity]] and [[Atheism and alcoholism]]
The is considerable amount of [[science|scientific]] evidence that suggest that theism is more conducive to mental and physical health than atheism and some of the more significant findings are given below <ref>Multiple references:
*Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). [http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2811%2962799-7/fulltext "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice"]. ''Mayo Clinic Proceedings'' vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic Proceedings website on July 20, 2014.
*[http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/index.php/research/research-library "Research library"]. Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
*McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf "Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review"]. ''Health Psychology''. vol. 19:3. pp. 211-222. Retrieved from University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website on July 24, 2014.
*Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009). [http://www.ionainstitute.ie/pdfs/Religion-Exec_summary.pdf "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary]]. Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
*Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009). [http://www.ionainstitute.ie/pdfs/Religion-Exec_summary.pdf "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary]]. Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
*McCullough, Michael E. et a
*McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (2009). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications"]. ''Psychological Bulletin'', vol. 135: 1, pp. 69–93. Retrieved from University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website on July 24, 2014.
*University of Colorado at Boulder (May 17, 1999). [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/05/990517064323.htm "Research shows religion plays a major role in health, longevity"]. ScienceDaily. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract]]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8. Abstract retrieved from National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med on July 24, 2014.
*University of Warwick (December 2003). [http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/A/20037338.html "Psychology researcher [Dr. Stephen Joseph] says spiritual meaning of Christmas brings more happiness than materialism"]. Scienceblog. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
</ref> (For more information please see: [[Atheism and health]]).
=== Mayo Clinic, university studies, and other research ===
[[Image:Mayo-clinic-gondaoverview.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The prestigious [[Mayo Clinic]] found that
religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better physical health and mental health outcomes.<ref name="Mueller">Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). [http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2811%2962799-7/fulltext "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice"]. ''Mayo Clinic Proceedings'' vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic Proceedings website on July 20, 2014.</ref>]]
The prestigious [[Mayo Clinic]] reported the following on December 11, 2001:
{{cquote|In an article also published in this issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Mayo Clinic researchers reviewed published studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews and subject reviews that examined the association between religious involvement and spirituality and physical health, mental health, health-related quality of life and other health outcomes.
The authors report a majority of the nearly 350 studies of physical health and 850 studies of mental health that have used religious and spiritual variables have found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes.<ref name="Mueller"/>}}
The [[Iona Institute]] reported:
{{cquote|A meta-analysis of all studies, both published and unpublished, relating to religious involvement and longevity was carried out in 2000. Forty-two studies were included, involving some 126,000 subjects. Active religious involvement increased the chance of living longer by some 29%, and participation in public religious practices, such as church attendance, increased the chance of living longer by 43%.<ref>Multiple references:
*Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009). [http://www.ionainstitute.ie/pdfs/Religion-Exec_summary.pdf "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary]]. Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
*McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf "Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review"]. ''Health Psychology''. vol. 19:3. pp. 211-222. Retrieved from University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website on July 24, 2014.</ref>}}
In December of 2003, the University of Warwick reported:
{{cquote|Dr. Stephen Joseph, from the University of Warwick, said: "Religious people seem to have a greater purpose in life, which is why they are happier. Looking at the research evidence, it seems that those who celebrate the Christian meaning of [[Christmas]] are on the whole likely to be happier.<ref>University of Warwick (December 2003). [http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/A/20037338.html "Psychology researcher [Dr. Stephen Joseph] says spiritual meaning of Christmas brings more happiness than materialism"]. Scienceblog. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.</ref>}}
[[Duke University]] has established the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health.<ref>[http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/ Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health] Retrieved on July 24, 2014.</ref> The Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health is based in the Center for Aging at Duke and gives opportunities for scholarly trans-disciplinary conversation and the development of collaborative research projects.<ref>[http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/index.php/about-us "About us."] The Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.</ref> In respect to the atheism and mental and physical health, the center offers many studies which suggest that theism is more beneficial than atheism.<ref>[http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/index.php/research/research-library "Research library"]. Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.</ref>
=== Religious belief and self-control ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and obesity]] and [[Atheism and alcohol abuse]] and [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Atheism and suicide]]
In the journal article ''Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications'', psychologists McCullough and Willoughby theorize that many of the positive links of religiousness with health and social behavior may be caused by religion's beneficial influences on [[self-control]]/self-regulation.<ref>Multiple references:
*McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (January 2009). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications"] ''Psychological Bulletin'', vol. 135, no. 1, pp. 69-93. Retrieved from University of Miami department of psychology website on September 10, 2014.
*Alternate source of abstract: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054 "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications" [abstract]]. Retrieved from PubMed.gov on September 10, 2014.</ref> Furthermore, a 2012 Queen's University study published in ''Psychological Science'' found that religion replenishes self-control.<ref>Multiple references:
*Rounding, Kevin and Lee, Albert et al. [Queen’s University] (June 2012). [http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/05/02/0956797611431987.abstract "Religion replenishes self-control" [abstract]]. ''Psychological Science'', vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 635-642. Retrieved from Sage Journals on September 13, 2014. Purchase required for full article.
*Craig, Anne (January 24, 2012). [http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/qu-qsf012412.php "Queen's study finds religion helps us gain self-control"]. Queen's University website [Canada]. Retrieved from EurekAlert on September 13, 2014.</ref> Also, numerous studies indicate that those who engage in regular spiritual practices have lower mortality rates.<ref>Multiple references:
*McCullough, M. E. and Hoyt, W. T. et al. (May 2000). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10868765 "Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review" [abstract]]. ''Health Psychology'', 19:3, pp. 211-22. Retrieved from PubMed on September 13, 2014.
*Puchalski, Christina M. (October 2001). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1305900/ "The role of spirituality in health care"]. ''Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings'', 14:4, pp. 352–357. Retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information on September 13, 2014.</ref>
===Atheism and suicide===
:''See also:'' [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Atheism and suicide]] and [[Hopelessness of atheism]] and [[Atheism, gender and suicide]] and [[Atheism, marriage and suicide]]
Although there are recent studies relating to [[Atheism and suicide|atheism being a causal factor for suicide for some individuals]], an early proponent of atheism being a causal factor for [[suicide]] was the Reverend Dr. [[Robert Stuart MacArthur]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [summary]]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8. Summary retrieved from Adherents.com on July 25, 2014. Website contains link to article at American Journal of Psychiatry website.
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract]]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8. Abstract retrieved from National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med on July 24, 2014.
*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction"] (September 17, 1894). ''New York Times'', p. 2. Retrieved from nytimes.com on July 24, 2014.</ref> In 1894, the [[NY Times|''New York Times'']] stated the following in relation to atheism and suicide:
{{cquote|Dr. Martin urged that a great cause of suicide was atheism. It was, he said, a remarkable fact that where atheism prevailed most, there suicides were most numerous. In [[Paris]], a recent census showed one suicide to every 2,700 of the population. After the publication of Paine's "Age of Reason" suicides increased.<ref name="nytimes">[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction"] (September 17, 1894). ''New York Times'', p. 2. Retrieved from nytimes.com on July 24, 2014.</ref>}}
[[Image:Desperation_man.jpg |thumb|left|200px|Pitzer College sociologist Phil Zuckerman stated concerning suicide rates: "this is the one indicator of societal health in which religious nations fare much better than secular nations."]]
The same ''New York Times'' article quotes the Reverend Dr. MacArthur describing suicide in the following manner:
{{cquote|It is mean and not manly; it is dastardly and not daring. A man who involves his innocent wife and children in financial disaster and disgrace and takes his life and leaves them to bear the burden he was unwilling to bear, is a coward.<ref name="nytimes"/>}}
In 2004, the ''American Journal of Psychiatry'' reported:
{{cquote|Religiously unaffiliated subjects had significantly more lifetime suicide attempts and more first-degree relatives who committed suicide than subjects who endorsed a religious affiliation. Unaffiliated subjects were younger, less often married, less often had children, and had less contact with family members. Furthermore, subjects with no religious affiliation perceived fewer reasons for living, particularly fewer moral objections to suicide. In terms of clinical characteristics, religiously unaffiliated subjects had more lifetime impulsivity, aggression, and past substance use disorder. No differences in the level of subjective and objective depression, hopelessness, or stressful life events were found.<ref>Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract]]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8. Abstract retrieved from National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med on July 24, 2014.</ref>}}
For more information please see:
*[[Atheism and suicide]]
*[[Atheism and loneliness]]
*[[Hopelessness of atheism]]
[[File:Stephen-Fry.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|[[Stephen Fry]] is an [[atheist]] and a [[homosexual]]. See: [[Atheism and obesity]] ]]
=== Atheism and obesity ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and obesity]]
According to the [[Gallup Organization]], "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."<ref name="Gallup">Newport, Frank, et al. (December 23, 2010). [http://www.gallup.com/poll/145379/Religious-Americans-Lead-Healthier-Lives.aspx "Very religious Americans lead healthier lives"]. Gallup. Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref> For more information please [[Atheism and obesity]]
Gallup declared concerning the study which measured the degree to which religiosity affects health practices: "[[Generalized linear model]] analysis was used to estimate marginal scores all five reported metrics after controlling for age (in years), gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, education (number of years), log of income, and region of the country... Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey Jan. 2-July 28, 2010, with a random sample of 554,066 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, selected using random-digit-dial sampling."<ref name="Gallup"/>
[[China]] has the world's largest atheist population.<ref name="athmap"/> In 2014, the ''Wall Street Journal'' reported that atheistic China has 300 million overweight individuals and it has the second highest obesity rate in the world.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgJvV62yD2E "Chubby China: nation of 300 million overweight people"] (May 30, 2014). YouTube video, 3:52, posted by Wall Street Journal. Retrieved on September 13, 2014.</ref>
According to a 2012 report by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of obese children in China has reached 120 million.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_yk-aM0cyk "Child obesity reaches 120 million in China"] (August 31, 2012). YouTube video, 1:37, posted by NTDTV. Retrieved on September 13, 2014.</ref> A recent study published in the ''Obesity Reviews'' journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of [[diabetes]] was four times that of their [[United States|American]] peers.<ref name="Pang Li">Li, Pang (September 14, 2012). [http://www.china.org.cn/china/2012-09/14/content_26521029.htm "Obesity is a growing concern in China"]. China.org.cn. Retrieved on September 14, 2014.</ref> Due to their past [[One-child Policy|one-child policy]], which had exceptions, China now has a lot of over-pampered and over-fed children.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yuf8yg0Dbig "Rising Chinese child obesity and fat camps"] (October 25, 2007). YouTube video, 6:38, posted by Journeyman Pictures. Retrieved on September 14, 2014
*Burkitt, Laurie (May 29, 2014). [http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/05/29/as-obesity-rises-chinese-kids-are-almost-as-fat-as-americans/ "As obesity rises, Chinese kids are almost as fat as Americans"], Wall Street Journal website/Chinarealtime. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgJvV62yD2E "Chubby China: nation of 300 million overweight people"] (May 30, 2014). YouTube video, 3:52, posted by Wall Street Journal. Retrieved on September 13, 2014.</ref>
<br /><br />
A recent study published in the ''Obesity Reviews'' journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of [[diabetes]] was four times that of their [[United States|American]] peers.<ref name="Pang Li"/>
[[File:Flag of the PRC.png|thumbnail|250px|right|[[China]] has the largest atheist population in the world.<ref name="athmap"/> In 2014, the British medical journal'' Lancet'' reported that the Chinese now have the second highest obesity rate in the world.<ref>Multiple references:
*Burkitt, Laurie (May 29, 2014). [http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/05/29/as-obesity-rises-chinese-kids-are-almost-as-fat-as-americans/ "As obesity rises, Chinese kids are almost as fat as Americans"], Wall Street Journal website/Chinarealtime. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgJvV62yD2E "Chubby China: nation of 300 million overweight people"] (May 30, 2014). YouTube video, 3:52, posted by Wall Street Journal. Retrieved on September 13, 2014.</ref>
<br /><br />
A recent study published in the ''Obesity Reviews'' journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of [[diabetes]] was four times that of their [[United States|American]] peers.<ref name="Pang Li"/> See: [[Atheism and obesity]] ]]
Please see:
* [[Atheism and obesity]]
* [[Atheism and health]]
* [[Atheism and the fat acceptance movement]]
* [[Atheism and gluttony]]
==== Atheistic areas of the world and obesity ====
* [[China and obesity]]
* [[Secular Europe and obesity]]
<br />
==== Various generations and rates of irreligion/obesity ====
*[[Millennials, irreligion and obesity]]
*[[Generation X, irreligion and obesity]]
*[[Baby boom generation, irreligion and obesity]]
<br />
=== Atheism and alcoholism ===
[[File:Europe pol 2004.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in [[Europe]], "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref name=whoalc>[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/alcohol-use/data-and-statistics "Data and statistics"] (September 2014 or bef.). Health topics/Disease prevention/Alcohol use. Retrieved from World Health Organization (WHO)/Regional office for Europe</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and alcoholism]]
Atheists and atheistic cultures often have significant problems with excess alcohol usage (For more information please see: [[Atheism and alcoholism]]).
==== Secular countries/regions and alcoholism ====
'''Secular Europe:'''
According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in [[Europe]], "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref name=whoalc/>
<br />
*[[Secular Europe and alcoholism]]
*[[Godless Britain and alcoholism]]
*[[Atheistic France and alcoholism]]
*[[Atheistic Germany and alcoholism]]
*[[Atheistic Czech Republic and alcoholism]]
*[[Atheistic Estonia and alcoholism]]
*[[Godless Finland and alcoholism]]
*[[Atheistic Denmark and alcoholism]]
*[[Atheistic Netherlands and alcoholism]]
*[[Atheistic Sweden and alcoholism]]
'''Australia:'''
An Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) report indicated that 20% of Australians drink at levels putting them at risk of lifetime harm.<ref>Mower, Jane (November 19, 2013). [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-20/alcohol-to-blame-for-one-in-eight-deaths---report/5102594 "One in eight deaths of young Australians attributable to alcohol: National Council on Drugs report"]. Australian Broadcasting Company website/News.</ref>
For more information, please see: [[Godless Australia and alcoholism]]
'''Asian countries:'''
See: [[Godless Asian countries and alcoholism]]
'''Godless communism and alcoholism:'''
*[[Soviet Union and alcoholism]]
*[[Communist East Germany and alcoholism]]
'''American Atheism, gender, race and alcoholism:'''
*[[Atheist Americans, gender and alcoholism]]
*[[Atheist Americans, race and alcoholism]]
[[File:Powder meth foil small.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.<ref name=athdrug>Multiple references:
*Denison, Jim (October 9, 2013). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/believers-consume-fewer-drugs-than-atheists-106266/ "Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists"]. Christian Post website/CP Opinion.
*Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung [Swiss National Science Foundation] (October 3, 2013). [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm "Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists"]. Science Daily website/Science News.
*[http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications"] ''Psychological Bulletin'', vol. 135, no. 1, pp. 69-93. Retrieved from University of Miami department of psychology website on September 10, 2014.
*Alternate source of abstract: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054 "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications" [abstract]]. Retrieved from PubMed.gov on September 10, 2014.</ref> ]]
=== Atheism and illegal drug use and drug addition ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and drug addiction]]
Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.<ref name=athdrug/>
According to ''Science Daily'':
{{cquote|Young [[Switzerland|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.<ref>Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung [Swiss National Science Foundation] (October 3, 2013). [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm "Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists"]. Science Daily website/Science News.</ref>}}
=== Atheism and loneliness ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and loneliness]]
Loneliness has been linked to many physical and mental health problems.<ref>Multiple references:
*Gammon, Katherine (March 2, 2012). [http://www.livescience.com/18800-loneliness-health-problems.html "Why loneliness can be deadly"]. Live Science website.
*Booth, Robert (October 12, 2014). "Number of severely lonely men over 50 set to rise to 1m in 15 years", ''The Guardian''.</ref>
[[File:Depressed man.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Secular societies commonly have significant levels of loneliness. See: [[Atheism and loneliness]] ]]
Compared to religious cultures where an extended family and a sense of community prevails, secular countries [[Secular countries and loneliness|are often lonelier societies]]. In addition, numerous studies and other data indicate that atheists often have lower [[emotional intelligence]] and lower social skills (see: [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheiam and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social skills]]).
For more information, please see:
*[[Atheism and loneliness]]
*[[Secular Europe and loneliness]]
*[[Godless England and loneliness]]
*[[Atheistic Germany and loneliness]]
*[[Atheistic France and loneliness]]
*[[Atheistic Japan and loneliness]]
*[[Atheistic Sweden and loneliness]]
*[[Godless Finland and loneliness]]
*[[Godless Australia and loneliness]]
*[[Atheistic China and loneliness]]
=== Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism ===
[[File:Basketball.jpg|right|300px|thumbnail|Numerous studies report that athletes to be more religious than non-athletes.<ref name="Bell">Bell, Nathan T. (January 7, 2009). [http://thesportjournal.org/article/strength-of-religious-faith-of-athletes-and-nonathletes-at-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions/ "Strength of religious faith of athletes and nonathletes at two NCAA Division III institutions"]. The Sport Journal [online publication] (Daphne, AL: United States Sports Academy). Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism]] and [[Atheism and obesity]]
''The [[Sport]]s Journal'' is a monthly refereed journal published by the United States Sports Academy.
A journal article appeared in the Sports Journal entitled ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions''. The article was submitted by Nathan T. Bell, Scott R. Johnson, and Jeffrey C. Petersen from Ball State University.<ref name="Bell"/>
An excerpt from the abstract of the journal article ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'' declares:
{{cquote|Numerous studies report athletes to be more religious than nonathletes (Fischer, 1997; Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, & Storch, 2001; Storch et al., 2004). According to Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, and Storch (2001), four reasons may explain why religion interacts with athletic performance.<ref name="Bell"/>}}
See also: [[Atheism and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence]]
== Atheism is a religion ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism is a religion]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
Many of the leaders of the atheist movement, such as the evolutionist and [[weak atheism|weak atheist]]/[[agnosticism|agnostic]] [[Richard Dawkins]], argue for [[agnosticism]]/atheism with a religious fervor.
[[File:Richard Dawkins pic.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|260px|right|The [[Oxford University]] Professor [[Daniel Came]] wrote to the [[New Atheism|new atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]]: "The absence of a debate with the foremost [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as [[Atheism and cowardice|cowardice]] on your part."<ref>Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html "Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God"]. The Daily Telegraph website. Retrieved July 25, 2014. See [[Daily Telegraph]]</ref>]]
In addition, although many atheists deny that [[Atheist worldview|atheism is a worldview]], atheists commonly share a [[Atheism and beliefs|number of beliefs]] such as [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]], [[Evolution|belief in evolution]] and [[Origin of life|abiogenesis]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Slick, Matt (October 2011). [http://carm.org/atheism-worldview "Is atheism a worldview?"] Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website. Retrieved on October 25, 2014. See [[CARM]]
*Hearn, Brian F. (December 31, 2009). [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-a-worldview.aspx "Atheism a worldview?"] Apologetics.net. Retrieved on October 25, 2014.
*Hearn, Brian F. (May 2, 2012). [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-is-a-worldview-%28II%29.aspx "Atheism is a worldview II"]. Apologetics.net. Retrieved on October 25, 2014.
*Bannister, Andy (October 14, 2013). [http://www.rzim.eu/the-scandanavian-sceptic-or-why-atheism-is-a-belief-system "The Scandanavian sceptic (or why atheism is a belief system)"]. Ravi Zacharias International Ministries website. Retrieved on October 25, 2014. See [[Ravi Zacharias]]</ref>
Roderick Ninian Smart, a Scottish writer and professor, defined a seven-part scheme of understanding both religious and secular worldviews<ref>Smart, Ninian (1996). [http://books.google.com/books?id=14j2UrLCi64C&pg=PA130&lpg=PA130&dq=ninian+smart+narrative&source=bl&ots=Hq3WwG_mVT&sig=j-8FpwSdqohURYodSdcl46erSJY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FgybT6zxIc-_gAe864X6Dg&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=ninian%20smart%20narrative&f=false ''Dimensions of the Sacred'' [preview]] (Oakland, CA: University of California Press). Preview retrieved from GoogleBooks on July 25, 2014.</ref> These can be understood as narrative, experiential, social, ethical, doctrinal, ritual and material.
English Pastor Daniel Smartt defines atheism as a religion, using Ninian Smart's seven dimensions of worldview as a list of criteria. It is not necessary in Smartt's model for every one of these to be present in order for something to be a religion.<ref>Smartt, Daniel (November 6, 2008). [http://archive.is/L3cY5 "Atheism religion naturalism morally relative"]. Archive of SpiritualLiving360°. Retrieved on April 23, 2015.</ref>. However, it can be argued that all seven are present in the case of atheism.<ref>Multiple references:
*Smartt, Daniel (May 4, 2010). [http://creation.com/atheism-a-religion "Atheism: a religion"]. Creation Ministries International. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.
*Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009). [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"]. Creation Ministries International. Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref>
In 2013, a trend of atheist services began and atheist services were reported in the ''[[New York Times]]'', ''[[The Blaze]]'' and other major news outlets.<ref>Multiple references:
*Thier, Dave (June 23, 2013). [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/us/in-the-bible-belt-offering-atheists-a-spiritual-home.html?_r=0 "In the Bible belt offering atheists a spiritual home"]. Nytimes.com. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.
*Hallowell, Billy (April 17, 2013). [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/17/atheist-sunday-morning-worship-services-are-on-the-rise/ "Bizarre trend: atheist Sunday morning ‘worship’ services are on the rise (minus God, of course)"] TheBlaze. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.
*Ortberg, Mallory (January 5, 2013). [http://gawker.com/5973377/londons-first-atheist-church-opens-tomorrow "London's first atheist church opens tomorrow".] Gawker. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.</ref>
See also:
*[[Atheism is a religion]]
*[[Atheist indoctrination]]
*[[Atheist cults]]
=== Atheism is a religion and its legal implications relative to the teaching of evolution ===
[[Atheism is a religion]] and [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic]] notions of origins are religious which has legal implications relative to [[evolution]] being taught in public schools.<ref>Multiple references:
*Smartt, Daniel (May 4, 2010). [http://creation.com/atheism-a-religion "Atheism: a religion"]. Creation Ministries International. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.
*Calvert, John, J. D. (June 22, 2010). [http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Kitzmiller%27s_error_summary.pdf "Summary of 'Kitzmiller’s error: using an exclusive rather than inclusive definition of religion'"]. Intelligent Design Network. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.
*Calvert, John, J. D. (Spring 2009). [http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Kitzmiller%27s_Error.pdf "Kitzmiller's error: defining 'religion' exclusively rather than inclusively"]. ''Liberty University Law Review'', vol. 3:2, pp. 213-328. Retrieved from Intelligent Design Network on July 26, 2014.</ref>
Since [[World War II]] a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the theory of evolution which employs [[methodological naturalism]] have been atheists or [[agnosticism|agnostics]].<ref name="Batten and Sarfati">Multiple references:
* Batten, Dr. Don (December 1997). [http://creation.com/a-whos-who-of-evolutionists "A ''Who’s Who'' of evolutionists"]. Creation Ministries International. Originally published in ''Creation'' 20(1):32. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
* Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D., F.M. (1999). [http://creation.com/refuting-evolution-chapter-1-evolution-creation-science-religion-facts-bias "Chapter 1: Facts and bias", ''Refuting Evolution'']. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
</ref>
John Calvert, a lawyer and [[intelligent design]] proponent declared:
{{cquote|The Seventh Judicial Circuit of the Court of Appeals of the [[United States]] held that atheism is a [[religion]]. Therefore, it cannot be promoted by a public school. Currently, public schools are often unwittingly promoting atheism through a dogmatic and uncritical teaching of [[Evolution|materialistic theories of origins]].<ref>Morehouse, Darrin. ([http://www.highway30cofc.truepath.com/Articles/SpiritualWarfare;AtheismisaReligionPart1.pdf "Spiritual warfare; atheism is a religion part 1"]. Highway 30 website. Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>}}
The atheist philosopher of science [[Michael Ruse]] admitted: "Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today."<ref>Ruse, M. (May 13, 2000). "How evolution became a religion: creationists correct?" ''National Post'', pp. B1, B3, B7.</ref> In the their [[Question evolution! campaign]], [[Creation Ministries International]] asks as a part of their 15 questions for evolutionists: "Why is a fundamentally religious idea, a dogmatic belief system that fails to explain the evidence, taught in science classes?...If “you can’t teach religion in science classes”, why is evolution taught?<ref>Batten, Don (2011). [http://creation.com/15-questions "15 questions for evolutionists".] Creation Ministries International. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.</ref>
=== Atheist cults ===
[[File:Temple of Reason.jpg|left|thumbnail|180px|The Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg was turned into a Temple of Reason by the [[Cult of Reason]]. ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheist cults]]
Within the [[Atheism is a religion|atheist religion]], there have been a number of [[atheist cults]] and atheistic groups which have had a cultish following. Some of these atheist cults/groups still exist today. In 2015, FtBCon which is an online conference organized by the [[Freethoughtblogs|Freethought Blogs]] network, recognized that nonreligious/secular cults exist (for example, the atheist cult of [[objectivism]]).<ref>Multiple refences:
*Lee, Adam (January 24, 2015) [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2015/01/reminder-secular-cults-at-ftbcon-tonight/ "Reminder: Secular cults panel at FtBCon tonight!] Daylight Atheism [blog]. Retrieved from Patheos website.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm4SNcH1ak8 "FtBCon3: Secular cults"] (January 24, 2015). YouTube video, 1:20:45, posted by Jason Thibeault.</ref>
An example of an atheist cult in history is the [[Cult of Reason]] during the [[French Revolution]]. The [[France|French]] atheist Pierre Gaspard Chaumette encouraged the "worship of [[Reason]]".<ref>Multiple references:
*Pierre Gaspard Chaumette was an atheist, see Gellis, Roberta (2009), ''The English Heiress, Book 1'' (Akron, OH: Cerridwen Press), p. 211.
*Pierre Gaspard Chaumette encouraged the "worship of Reason", see: Rush, Benjamin (1809). "On Animal Life" and footnote from Carlson, Eric T., M.D. et al., editor (1981), [http://books.google.com/books/about/Benjamin_Rush_s_Lectures_on_the_Mind.html?id=Sfpu7mMW9qIC ''Memoirs of the American Philosophical Society: Benjamin Rush's Lectures on the Mind''] (Philadelphia, PA: American Philosophical Society), vol. 144, p. 170. Retrieved from GoogleBooks on October 24, 2014.</ref>
The atheist cults or atheist groups which have had a cultish following which have formed in history or exist today are often a result of factors such as: [[utopia]]n thinking, fanatical devolution to various atheistic ideologies, a poor understanding of science/technology (or a penchant for materialist [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] thinking) and wishful thinking.
For example, [[cryonics]] is a pseudoscience that tries to extend life or achieve immortality in a non-theistic way after a person is legally dead (Cryonic procedures are performed shortly after a person's death).<ref name="cryogenesis"/> See also: [[Atheism and death]]
The atheists [[Robert Ettinger]] and [[Isaac Asimov]] played a significant role in the founding/launching of the [[cryonics]] movement (see: [[Atheism and cryonics]]).<ref name="Ettinger"/> According to The Cryonics Society, Asimov said of cryonics, "Though no one can quantify the probability of cryonics working, I estimate it is at least 90%..."<ref name="critics"/>
For a more complete listing and description of atheist cults or atheistic groups which have a cultish following, please see: [[Atheist cults]].
See also: [[Atheist indoctrination]]
== Atheism and women ==
''see also:'' [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]] and [[Elevatorgate]] and [[Prominent atheists whose wives believe in the existence of God]]
[[File:2404429188 ea8f1fc48b.jpg|thumbnail|right|255px|Studies and web traffic data appear to indicate that women in the [[Western World]] tend to be more religious than men.<ref>Multiple references:
*Britt, Robert Roy (February 28, 2009). [http://www.livescience.com/7689-women-religious-men.html "Women more religious than men"]. Livescience. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.
*See [[Atheism_and_women#Prominent_general_atheist_websites_appear_to_receive_significantly_less_traffic_from_women|Atheism and women: Demographic breakdown of atheist websites]]</ref>]]
=== Recent studies ===
==== Surveys by country ====
In November of 2010, ''Discover'' magazine published survey results published by the World Values Survey which showed significant differences between the percentage of men and women who are atheists for various countries with men outnumbering women within the [[Atheist Population|atheist population]].<ref>Khan, Razib (November 18, 2010). [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/sex-differences-in-global-atheism-part-n/ "Gene expression; "Sex differences in global atheism, part N"]. Discover magazine website. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and women]]
==== United States surveys ====
In 2015, ''BloombergView'' reported concerning the [[United States]]: "According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, ...women are 52 percent of the U.S. population but only 36 percent of atheists and agnostics.<ref name=agap>Carter, Stephen L. (March 27, 2015). [http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-27/the-atheism-gap "The atheism gap"]. BloombergView website.</ref>
A 2009 article in LiveScience.com entitled ''Women More Religious Than Men'' reported: "A new analysis of survey data finds women pray more often then men, are more likely to believe in God, and are more religious than men in a variety of other ways...The latest findings, released Friday, are no surprise, only confirming what other studies have found for decades. <ref name=Britt>Britt, Robert Roy (February 28, 2009). [http://www.livescience.com/7689-women-religious-men.html "Women more religious than men"]. Livescience. Retrieved on July 26, 2014</ref> In 2007, the Pew Research Center found that American women were more religious than American men.<ref name=Britt/>
==== Large atheist group survey and atheist meetings ====
In 2011, Beliefnetnews reported concerning the race and gender of American atheists:
{{cquote|From the smallest local meetings to the largest conferences, the vast majority of speakers and attendees are almost always white men. Leading figures of the atheist movement — [[Richard Dawkins]], [[Sam Harris]], [[Christopher Hitchens]] and [[Daniel Dennett]] — are all white men.
But making atheism more diverse is proving to be no easy task.
Surveys suggest most atheists are white men. A recent survey of 4,000 members of the Freedom from Religion Foundation found that 95 percent were white, and men comprised a majority.<ref>MacDonald, G. Jeffrey (2011). [http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/01/atheists-diversity-woes-have-n.php "Atheists’ diversity woes have no black-and-white answers"]. Beliefnet. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.</ref>}}
[[File:Ayaan-Hirsi-Ali.JPG|thumbnail|right|175px|When [[Ayaan Hirsi Ali]] decries [[Islam|Muslim]] [[misogyny]], she is applauded by the atheist community.<br /><br /> Women who decry the misogyny of atheist men often face a harsh backlash. See: [[Atheist hypocrisy]] and [[Elevatorgate]] ]]
For more information, please see:
*[[Research on atheist conferences]]
*[[Atheist conferences]]
=== Sam Harris on atheism/women ===
In 2014, the prominent New Atheist [[Sam Harris]] said that atheist activism lacks an “[[estrogen]] vibe” and was “to some degree intrinsically male”.<ref name="Lee"/> Due feminist atheist backlash, Harris wrote a long blog post indicating that his comments were taken out of context.<ref>Harris, Sam (September 15, 2014). [http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/im-not-the-sexist-pig-youre-looking-for “I’m not the sexist pig you’re looking for”]. Sam Harris. Retrieved on September 23, 2014. See [[Sam Harris]].</ref>
=== Atheism and sexism ===
Most atheists are politically on the [[leftist|left]] (see: [[Atheism and politics]] and [[Secular left]]). Part of leftist ideology is [[feminism]]. However, there is a significant amount of [[misogyny]] among atheists (see: [[Atheism and women]]).
Atheist women currently experience a considerable amount of [[sexism]] and harassment from atheist men. For example, in 2014, the prominent atheist [[PZ Myers]] said of fellow [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]]' attitude towards women: "At a time when our movement needs to expand its reach, it’s a tragedy that our most eminent spokesman has so enthusiastically expressed such a regressive attitude.”<ref name="Lee">Lee, Adam (September 18, 2014). [http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/18/richard-dawkins-sexist-atheists-bad-name "Richard Dawkins has lost it: ignorant sexism gives atheists a bad name"]. The Guardian website. Retrieved on September 23, 2014</ref>
For more information please see:
*[[Atheism and women]]
*[[Irreligion and domestic violence]]
*[[Secular Europe and domestic violence]]
*[[Atheism and sexism]]
*[[Atheism and rape]]
*[[Elevatorgate]]
*[[Richard Dawkins and women]]
*[[Atheist leaders and immoral relationships]]
== Atheism and marriageability ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism and marriage]] and [[Prominent atheists whose wives believe in the existence of God]]
=== Atheism and rates of marriage in the United States ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and marriageability]] and [[Atheism and women]]
The [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] Michael Caputo wrote:
{{cquote|Recently the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has published its mammoth study on Religion in America based on 35,000 interviews... According to the Pew Forum a whopping 37% of atheists never marry as opposed to 19% of the American population, 17% of Protestants and 17% of Catholics.<ref name="marry"/>}}
[[Vox Day]] declared that according to the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) "more than half of all atheists and [[agnosticism|agnostics]] don’t get married."<ref name="marry"/>
For more information please see: [[Atheism and marriageability]]
=== Atheist marriages ===
See: [[Atheist marriages]]
=== Atheism and interfaith marriages ===
See: [[Atheism and interfaith marriages]]
== Atheism and its inability to explain love ==
See also: [[Atheism and love]]
From a [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]], moral and spiritual perspective, atheists have an inability to satisfactorily explain the existence of [[love]].<ref name=love/> See: [[Atheism and love]]
== Atheism and sexuality ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism and sexuality]]
Research shows that religious women (especially [[evangelicalism|evangelical]]/low-church [[Protestantism|Protestant]] women) are more sexually satisfied than irreligious women.<ref>The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 115</ref><ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2008/11/25/the-christian-sexual-awakening.html Why Are Christians Having Better Sex Than the Rest of Us?] by Tucker Carlson, The Daily Beast, November 11, 25, 2008</ref><ref>[http://blog.getrelationshiphelp.com/2009/07/christian-women-have-more-sexual-fun.html Christian Women Have More Sexual Fun], Relationship Center in Springfield Missouri</ref>
A social science study also reports that Hispanic men are more sexually satisfied than other ethnic groups in the United States.<ref>The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 114</ref>
Hispanics are known for their religiosity (See also: [[Western atheism and race]]).
In addition, atheist/agnostic populations have sub-replacement levels of fertility (see: [[Atheism and sexuality]]).
== Western atheism and race ==
''See also:'' [[Western atheism and race]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
=== Atheism and race in the United States and Eurocentric naturalism ===
In 2015, ''BloombergView'' reported:
{{cquote|According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, only 3 percent of U.S. atheists and agnostics are black, 6 percent are Hispanic, and 4 percent are Asian. Some 82 percent are white. (The relevant figures for the population at large at the time of the survey were 66 percent white, 11 percent black, 15 percent Hispanic, 5 percent Asian.)
...Craig Keener, in his huge review of claims of miracles in a wide variety of cultures, concludes that routine rejection of the possibility of the [[supernatural]] represents an impulse that is [[Secular Europe|deeply Eurocentric]].<ref name=agap/>}}
At the same time, due to immigration, [[Europe]] is expected to become [[desecularization|more desecularized]] in the 21st century (See also: [[Global atheism]] and [[Atheist population|Atheist population]]).
=== NY Times report about atheism and race in the United States ===
As note earlier, an atheists' meeting was organized in the [[United States]] concerning the future direction of the atheist movement and 370 people attended. The conference, sponsored by the Council for Secular Humanism, drew members from all the major atheist organizations in the United States. The ''[[New York Times]]'' described the attendees as "The largely white and male crowd — imagine a [[Star Trek]] convention, but older..."<ref>Oppenheimer, Mark (October 15, 2010). [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/us/16beliefs.html "Atheists debate how pushy to be"]. Nytimes.com. Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref> According to the Quantcast data, white males appear to be the group of individuals who are most receptive to Richard Dawkins' and atheist [[Sam Harris]]' message.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.quantcast.com/richarddawkins.net/demographics "Richarddawkins.net traffic and demographic statistics: US Demographics"]. Quαntcast. Retrieved on July 28, 2014.
*[http://www.quantcast.com/samharris.org/demographics "Samharris.org traffic and demographic statistics: US Demographics"]. Quαntcast. Retrieved on July 28, 2014.</ref> These findings, combined with the aforementioned data indicating that [[Atheism appears to be significantly less appealing to women|atheism is significantly less appealing to women]], suggests that atheist movement in the [[Western world]] and [[New Atheism]] movement are significantly more appealing to white males.
=== Atheism and evolutionary racism ===
[[File:Ota Benga at Bronx Zoo.jpg|thumbnail|right|255px|An [[Evolutionary racism|evolutionary racist]] put [[Ota Benga]] on display at the Bronx Zoo in the monkey house.<ref name=Benga>Bergman, Jerry (April 2000). [http://creation.com/ota-benga-the-pygmy-put-on-display-in-a-zoo "Ota Benga: the pygmy put on display in a zoo"]. ''Journal of Creation'', vol. 14:1, pp. 81-90. Retrieved from Creation Ministries International on July 27, 2014.</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and evolutionary racism]] and [[Social effects of the theory of evolution]]
Since [[World War II]] a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the [[evolution|evolutionary position]] which employs methodological naturalism have been atheists.<ref name="Batten and Sarfati"/> The errant and ill founded writings of atheist [[Charles Darwin]] (see: [[Charles_Darwin#Religious Views of Charles Darwin|religious views of Charles Darwin]])<ref name="Wieland">Multiple references:
* Wieland, Carl (September 1992). [http://www.creation.com/content/view/1877 "Darwin's real message: have you missed it?"] ''Creation'', vol. 14:4, pp. 16-19. Retrieved from Creation Ministries International on July 26, 2014.
* Gruber, Howard E. and Barrett, Paul H. (1974). ''Darwin on Man'' (New York: E. P. Dutton), p. 276.
* Mayr, Ernst (May-June 1977). "Darwin and natural selection." ''American Scientist''. pp. 321-327.
</ref>, which became very influential in the late 19th century, provided a pretext for racism. [[Evolutionary racism]] refers to a [[racist]] philosophy based on [[Charles Darwin]]'s [[Evolution|evolutionary theory]]. It assumes that men have continually evolved, and thus some races are more evolved than others. It replaces [[Christian]] [[morality]] with the [[atheistic]] "survival of the fittest" ideology of [[Social Darwinism]].
Charles Darwin wrote in his work ''[[The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex]]'':
{{cquote|At some future period not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilised races of man will almost certainly exterminate and replace the savage races throughout the world. At the same time the anthropomorphous apes...will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest Allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilised state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as the baboon, instead of as now between the Negro or Australian and the gorilla.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.aim.org/wls/90/ "What liberals say: Charles Darwin"]. [quoting Darwin, Charles, ''The Descent of Man'']. Accuracy in Media. Retrieved on July 27, 2014.
*DeMar, Gary (September 20, 2005) [http://creation.com/charles-darwins-yard-apes "Charles Darwin's 'yard apes'"] [quoting Darwin, Charles, ''The Descent of Man'', chapter 6]. The American Vision [website]. Adapted and republished at Creation Ministries International. Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>}}
An example of evolutionary racism is when an [[Evolutionary racism|evolutionary racist]] put [[Ota Benga]] on display at the Bronx Zoo in the monkey house.<ref name=Benga/> In addition, evolutionary racism was directed at [[Michelle Obama]].<ref>Catchpoole, David (December 8, 2009). [http://creation.com/obama-racism-row "Michele Obama racism row—what's it based on?"] Creation Ministries International. Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>
[[File:StephenGould.jpg|thumb|right|[[Stephen Jay Gould]] ]]
The atheist [[Ernst Haeckel]] was a virulent evolutionary racist. The [[agnostic]] and staunch evolutionist [[Stephen Gould]] admitted the following:
{{cquote|[[Ernst Haeckel|Haeckel]] was the chief apostle of evolution in [[Germany]].... His evolutionary racism; his call to the [[German]] people for racial purity and unflinching devotion to a "just" state; his belief that harsh, inexorable laws of evolution ruled human civilization and nature alike, conferring upon favored races the right to dominate others; the irrational [[mysticism]] that had always stood in strange communion with his brave words about objective science - all contributed to the rise of [[Nazism]]. — Stephen J. Gould, "Ontogeny and Phylogeny," Belknap Press: Cambridge MA, 1977, pp.77-78).<ref>Gould, Stephen J. (1977). [http://members.iinet.net.au/~sejones/social.html ''Ontogeny and Phylogeny''] (Cambridge MA: Belknap Press), pp. 77-78. Retrieved from Stephen E. Jones' (B.S. biology) Home Page on July 27, 2014.</ref>}}
=== Creativity Movement ===
''See also:'' [[Creativity Movement]] and [[Atheist cults]]
The '''[[Creativity Movement]]''', formerly known as the ''World Church Of The Creator'', is an atheistic [[white supremacist]] organization.<ref>Multiple references:
*Swain, Carol M. and Nieli, Russ (March 24, 2003), eds. [http://books.google.com/books?id=RonIunZ521sC&pg=PA247&dq=atheism+white+supremacy&hl=en&ei=u_OOTaGaM6Xi0gHJztygCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q&f=false "Chapter 9: Lisa Turner" [preview].] ''Contemporary Voices of White Nationalism in America'' (Cambridge University Press), p. 246-259. Preview accessed from GoogleBooks on July 26, 2014. (See [[Cambridge University Press]].) World Church of the Creator, an organization that espouses an atheistic and white supremacist religious philosophy known as Creativity.
*Swain, Carol M. (2002). [http://books.google.com/books?id=HB1wyFPRGm4C&pg=PA23&dq=atheism+white+supremacy&hl=en&ei=Re-OTfbHHuuD0QHOycm1Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=atheistic&f=false ''The New White Nationalism in America: Its Challenge to Integration'' [preview]] (New York: Cambridge University Press). Preview accessed from GoogleBooks on July 26, 2014. (See [[Cambridge University Press]].) For instance, Ben Klassen, founder of the atheistic World Church of the Creator and the author of ''The White Man's Bible'', discusses Christianity extensively in his writings and denounces religion that has brought untold horror into the world and divided the white race.
*Clarke, Peter B. and Beyer, Peter (May 7, 2009), eds. [http://books.google.com/books?id=rBgn3xB75ZcC&pg=PA493&dq=competing+atheistic+white+racist+movement&hl=en&ei=5uWOTeSkCamw0QH7m92bCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=competing%20atheistic%20white%20racist%20movement&f=false ''The World's Religions: Continuities and Transformations'' [preview]] (New York: Taylor & Francis). Preview accessed from GoogleBooks on July 26, 2014. A competing atheistic or panthestic white racist movement also appeared, which included the ''Church of the Creator''/Creativity (Gardell 2003: 129–134).</ref> The movement has denounced [[Christianity]],<ref name="Swain">Swain, Carol M. (2002). [http://books.google.com/books?id=HB1wyFPRGm4C&pg=PA23&dq=atheism+white+supremacy&hl=en&ei=Re-OTfbHHuuD0QHOycm1Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=atheistic&f=false ''The New White Nationalism in America: Its Challenge to Integration'' [preview]] (New York: Cambridge University Press). Preview accessed from GoogleBooks on July 26, 2014. (See [[Cambridge University Press]].) For instance, Ben Klassen, founder of the atheistic World Church of the Creator and the author of ''The White Man's Bible'', discusses Christianity extensively in his writings and denounces religion that has brought untold horror into the world and divided the white race.</ref> as it purports to promote [[Agape|love]] for all of mankind.<ref name="Ludwig Feuerbach">Feuerbach, Ludwig (1854). [http://books.google.com/books?id=GTEKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA266&dq=christianity+love+for+mankind&hl=en&ei=CFSbTbyAJcrUgQekjsCSBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CEEQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=christianity%20love%20for%20mankind&f=false ''The Essence of Christianity''] (London: John Chapman), translated by Evans, Marian. Translation of ''Das Wesen des Christentums'' (1841), 2nd ed. (Leipzig). Retrieved on July 27, 2014. "Christ loved men: he wished to bless and unite them all without distinction of sex, age, rank or nationality. Christ is the love of mankind to itself embodied in an image–in accordance with the nature of religion as we have developed it—or contemplated as a person, but a person who (we mean, of course, as a religious object) has only the significance of an image, who is only ideal. For this reason love is pronounced to be the characteristic mark of the disciples." (p. 266)</ref> It denounces religion for bringing horror into the world by dividing the white race.<ref name="Swain"/>
== Decline of atheism in terms of the global population ==
[[File:Birkbeck College, University of London.jpg|right|thumbnail|250px|[[Eric Kaufmann]], a professor at [[Birkbeck College, University of London]], using a wealth of demographic studies argues the decline of atheism in terms of its [[global atheism|global adherents]] is an established trend that will persist for the foreseeable future and the rate of decline will accelerate.<ref name="sneps">Multiple references:
*Kaufmann, Eric. (2009 or aft.). [http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf "Shall the religious inherit the earth?: demography and politics in the twenty-first century"]. www.sneps.net. Paper similar to book ''Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth? Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century''. Publ. in unknown publication. ("Most observers accept that the aftermath...") Retrieved July 27, 2014.
*Kitman, Frank (May 18, 2011). [http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html "Eric Kaufmann: shall the religious inherit the earth?"] Kitman TV. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics "Atheist demographic series"] (2009-2011). Kitman TV. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
*[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth "Eric Kaufmann: shall the religious inherit the earth?" [Festival of dangerous ideas 2010, Sydney Opera House]] (September 5, 2010). Fora.tv video, 1:03:56, posted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Global atheism]] and [[Atheist movement]] and [[Desecularization]] and [[Atheist Population]] and [[Growth of Christianity in China]] and [[Secular Europe]] and [[Decline of the secular left]]
Atheists as a percentage of the world's population have declined since 1970 and global atheism is expected to face long term decline.<ref>Multiple references:
*Kumar, Anugrah (July 20, 2013). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-world-is-turning-more-religious-atheism-declining-100518/ "Study: world is turning more religious; atheism declining"]. The Christian Post. Retrieved on July 27, 2014.
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/globally-worldviews-of-atheism-and-non.html "Globally the worldviews of atheism and non-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity is exploding in adherents"] (May 19, 2012). Question Evolution Campaign. Retrieved on July 27, 2014.
*Kaufmann, Eric (2009 or aft.). [http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf "Shall the religious inherit the earth?: demography and politics in the twenty-first century"]. www.sneps.net. Paper similar to book ''Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth? Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century''. Publ. in unknown publication. ("Most observers accept that the aftermath...") Retrieved July 27, 2014.
*[http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/documents/StatusOfGlobalMission.pdf "Status of global mission, 2014, in the context of AD 1800–2025"] (2014). Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary website. Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>
On July 24, 2013, ''CNS News'' reported:
{{cquote|Atheism is in decline worldwide, with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass."<ref>Chapman, Michael W. (July 24, 2013). [http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 "Global study: atheists in decline, only 1.8% of world population by 2020"]. Cnsnews.com. Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>}}
=== Sub-replacement levels of fertility of atheistic populations. High fertility of religious conservatives ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and marriage]] and [[Atheist marriages]]
On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] who teaches at Birbeck College, [[University of London]] wrote: "I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious."<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/97-of-worlds-population-growth-is.html "97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious"] (April 30, 2013). Question Evolution Campaign. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.</ref>
Michael Blume, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany, wrote about the sub-replacement level of fertility among [[Atheist Population|atheistic populations]]: "Most societies or communities that have espoused atheistic beliefs have not survived more than a century."<ref name=leake>Leake, Jonathan (January 2, 2011). [http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Society/article496716.ece "Atheists a dying breed as nature 'favours faithful'"]. London Times website. Retrieved on April 23, 2015.</ref> Blume also indicated concerning concerning his research on this matter: "What I found was the complete lack of a single case of a secular population, community or movement that would just manage to retain replacement level."<ref name=leake/>
[[File:Europe map CIA 2005.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|In 2014, the Pew Research Forum indicated that [[Europe]] will go from 11% of the world's population to 7% of the world's population by 2050.<ref name="PewProj">Kochhar, Rakesh (February 3, 2014). [http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/02/03/10-projections-for-the-global-population-in-2050/ "10 projections for the global population in 2050"]. FactTank/Pew Research Center website. Retrieved on January 3, 2015.</ref> See: [[Secular Europe]] ]]
=== Expected religious and racial demographic changes in the Western World ===
See also: [[Secular Europe|Desecularization of secular Europe in the 21st century]]
In the [[United Kingdom]], by the year 2050, 30 percent of the population is expected to be non-white.<ref>Kirkup, James (May 5, 2014). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10809481/Non-white-people-almost-30-per-cent-of-population-by-2050.html "Non-white people almost 30 per cent of population by 2050"]. The Telegraph. Retrieved on January 14, 2015.</ref> In the United States, the Hispanic population is expected to triple by the year 2050 and become 30% of the United States population.<ref>Nasser, Haya El (February 12, 2008). "U.S. Hispanic population to triple by 2050". USA Today website. Retrieved from various websites ("The U.S. population will soar to 438 million...") on January 14, 2015.</ref> ''[[Yale University|Yale]] Daily News'' reported in an article entitled "White Europeans: An endangered species?" that "Without a major shift in the current fertility trends, industrialized Europe will see its native population decline by about three-fourths over the 21st century."<ref>Wagener, Trevor (February 27, 2008). [http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2008/02/27/white-europeans-an-endangered-species/ "White Europeans: an endangered species?"] ''Yale Daily News''. Retrieved on January 3, 2014.</ref>
For information on the projected growth of [[Evangelical Christianity|Evangelical Christianity]] and [[Islam]] in Europe, please see:
[[Secular Europe|Desecularization of secular Europe in the 21st century]]
=== Growth of evangelical Christianity in secular geographic regions ===
*[[Growth of Christianity in China|Growth of evangelical Christianity in China]]
*[[Secular Europe|Desecularization of secular Europe in the 21st century]]
*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]
== Atheism and Abrahamic religions ==
*[[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
*[[Atheism vs. Islam]]
== Atheism statistics and atheist population ==
*[[Atheism statistics]]
*[[Atheist population]]
*[[Atheism and intelligence]]
*[[Atheism and education]]
==== Atheist movement and leadership ====
* [[Atheist movement]]
* [[Atheism and leadership]]
==Atheism and deception==
[[Image:CharlesDarwin.jpg|thumb|150px|right|[[Charles Darwin]]]]
''For more information please see'': [[Atheism and deception]] and [[Atheism and truth]] and [[Irreligion and superstition]] and [[Atheist cults]]
As alluded to earlier, prior to [[Charles Darwin]] publishing his [[evolution|evolutionist]] work ''On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life'', Darwin wrote in his private notebooks that he was a [[materialism|materialist]], which is a type of atheist.(see: [http://www.conservapedia.com/Charles_Darwin#Religious_Views_of_Charles_Darwin Religious views of Charles Darwin])<ref name="Wieland"/> Charles Darwin’s casual mentioning of a ‘creator’ in earlier editions of ''The Origin of Species'' appears to have been a merely a [[deceit|deceitful]] ploy to downplay the implications of his [[materialism|materialistic]] theory. <ref name="Wieland"/>
German scientist [[Ernst Haeckel]] was a very influential proponent of the evolutionary position and Haeckel was an advocate of atheism.<ref name="nytimes2">[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C03EFDD123EE033A2575AC0A9659C946697D6CF "Kaiser honors Haeckel"] (March 9, 1907). ''New York Times'', p. 1. Retrieved from Nytimes.com on July 28, 2014.</ref> Ernst Haeckel attempted to portray himself as an ethical proponent of atheism, however, history shows he was a deceitful individual.<ref>Multiple references:
*Wakefield, Gerard (2002). [http://www.creationism.org/wakefield/haeckel.htm "Investigating Genesis series: 'Another evolution fraud exposed'".] www.creationism.org. Retrieved on July 28, 2014.
*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C03EFDD123EE033A2575AC0A9659C946697D6CF "Kaiser honors Haeckel"] (March 9, 1907). ''New York Times'', p. 1. Retrieved from Nytimes.com on July 28, 2014.
*Wells, Jonathan (June 12, 2002). [http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=1180 "Critics rave over ''Icons of Evolution'': a response to published reviews"]. Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture. Retrieved on July 28, 2014.
*Wells, Jonathan (January 2001). [http://www.discovery.org/articleFiles/PDFs/survivalOfTheFakest.pdf "Survival of the fakest"]. ''The American Spectator''. Retrieved from the Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture: essential readings on July 29, 2014.</ref>
The March 9, 1907 edition of the ''New York Times'' refers to Ernst Haeckel as the "celebrated Darwinian and founder of the Association for the Propagation of Ethical Atheism."<ref name="nytimes2"/>
For more information please see: [[Atheism and deception]] and [[Atheism and truth]]
== Irreligion and superstition==
[[Image:2384975035_230a0eac30.jpg|thumb|right|170px|The [[Wall Street Journal]] reported: "A comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows ...that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to [[superstition]], tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians."<ref name="paranormal">Hemingway, Molly Ziegler (September 19, 2008). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html "Look who's irrational now"]. The Wall Street Journal website. Retrieved on July 29, 2014.</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Irreligion and superstition]] and [[Theory of Evolution, Liberalism, Atheism, and Irrationality]] and [[Atheist cults]]
In September of 2008, the [[Wall Street Journal]] reported:
{{cquote|The reality is that the [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] campaign, by discouraging [[religion]], won't create a new group of intelligent, skeptical, enlightened beings. Far from it: It might actually encourage new levels of mass [[superstition]]. And that's not a conclusion to take on faith—it's what the empirical data tell us.
"What Americans Really Believe," a comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows that [[Conservative Christianity|traditional Christian religion]] greatly decreases belief in everything from the efficacy of palm readers to the usefulness of [[astrology]]. It also shows that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to superstition, tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians....
This is not a new finding. In his 1983 book "The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener," skeptic and science writer Martin Gardner cited the decline of traditional religious belief among the better educated as one of the causes for an increase in pseudoscience, cults and superstition. He referenced a 1980 study published in the magazine ''Skeptical Inquirer'' that showed irreligious college students to be by far the most likely to embrace paranormal beliefs, while born-again Christian college students were the least likely.<ref name="paranormal"/>}}
For more information please see: [[Irreligion and superstition]]
==Intellectuals increasingly rejecting atheistic ideology ==
According to Munich theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg "Atheism as a theoretical position is in decline worldwide." (see: [[Global atheism]]).<ref name="wt">Siemon-Netto, Uwe (March 3, 2005). [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/05/breaking2453432.91875.html "God not so dead: atheism in decline worldwide"]. UPI. Retrieved from World Tribune.com on July 29, 2014.</ref> Given that the evolutionary position is a often cited component of the ideology of atheism in the [[Western world]], the gradual loss of public support of the evolutionary position is one of the many factors which are eroding the ideology of atheism. [[Oxford]] scholar [[Alister McGrath]] cites a number of additional factors in regards to the decline of atheism as an intellectual position.<ref>Multiple references:
*McGrath, Alister (February 28, 2005). [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/march/21.36.html "The twilight of atheism" [preview]]. Christianity Today website. Preview retrieved on July 29, 2014. Subscription required for full access.
*Holst, Wayne (2004). [http://www.s8int.com/Godless.html "''Twilight of the Godless'' by Alister McGrath"]. ''The Toronto Star''. Retreived from s8int.com on July 29, 2014.</ref>
Given the many factors which are eroding atheistic ideology McGrath states:
{{cquote|...Atheism is in trouble. Its future seems increasingly to lie in the private beliefs of individuals rather than in the great public domain it once regarded as its natural habitat.<ref>McGrath, Alister (February 28, 2005). [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/march/21.36.html "The twilight of atheism" [preview]]. Christianity Today website. Preview retrieved on July 29, 2014. Subscription required for full access.</ref>}}
== Christian websites and other resources with a large focus on the topic of atheism ==
[[File:TFT.JPG|thumb|right|400px|[[True Free Thinker]] is a [[Christian apologetics]] website run by Ken Ammi which offers many [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|refutations of atheism]].]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism vs. Christianity]] and [[Internet atheism]]
Four of the more notable Christian apologetics websites/blogs which have a large focus on the topic of atheism are: [[True Free Thinker]], the [[Creation Ministries International and atheism|Creation Ministries International resources on atheism]], the [[Fixed Point Foundation]] website, and the [[Atheism Analyzed]] blog.
The [[Freedom from Atheism Foundation]] has a significant social media presence. The [[Militant atheism YouTube channel]] has a collection of videos on militant atheism.
== Liberal media - apostles of atheism and public relations efforts of atheists ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism and the media]]
The Media Research Center released a study in 2008 reporting pro-atheism bias by major press outlets in the [[United States]].<ref name=mrc>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTxORumTarg "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias"] (July 17, 2008). YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks! Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref> The study found that 80% of mainstream media coverage of atheism was positive and that 71% of Christian-themed stories had an atheist counterpoint or were written from an atheist perspective.<ref name=mrc/> The study is not surprising given the [[Liberal bias|liberal bias that commonly exists in the major media outlets]].
=== Atheism and public relations ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Atheism statistics]]
The biggest challenge facing atheists public relations efforts is that most theists do not think about atheism and would prefer not to as they it is an [[Atheism and irrationality|unreasonable]], [[Atheism and arrogance|arrogant]] and [[Unattractiveness of atheism|unattractive worldview]]. As a result, many atheist campaigns, particularly one's by militant atheists, are designed to be provocative which has the effect of further lowering the public's view of atheism/atheists.
In areas of the [[Western World]] where theists are in the majority, atheists on the [[Secular left|left end of the political spectrum]], using the strategy of [[identity politics]], have made various attempts to portray atheists as an oppressed minority, but this has not much lessoned the low opinion and/or antipathy many theists hold towards atheists for multiple reasons (see: [[Views on atheists]]). For more information, please see: [[Atheism and public relations]]
== Causes of atheism ==
:''See main article: [[Causes of atheism]]'' and [[Atheism and hedonism]] and [[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
There are a number of psychological, societal, familial, economic and spiritual factors which cause atheism which have been proposed over the centuries. Please see: [[Causes of atheism]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]].
==Atheism and the foundation of modern science==
''See also:'' [[Christianity and science]]
The birth of modern [[science]] occurred in Christianized [[Europe]].<ref>Bumbulis, Michael, Ph. D. (November 24, 1996). [http://www.ldolphin.org/bumbulis/#anchor5343749 "Christianity and the birth of science; The evidence; Clue #1. The founders/fathers of modern science were shaped by a culture that was predominantly Christian."] Lambert Dolphin's Library. Archived at Internet Archive on July 20, 2014. Retrieved from archive on July 29, 2014.
</ref>
[[Sociology|Sociologist]] [[Rodney Stark]] investigated the individuals who made the most significant scientific contributions between 1543 and 1680 A.D., the time of the [[Scientific Revolution]].
In Stark's list of 52 top scientific contributors,<ref name="Origins">Williams, Alex (August 2004). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1581/ "The biblical origins of science; a review of ''For The Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-hunts and the End of Slavery'' by Rodney Stark"], ''Journal of Creation'', vol. 18:2, pp. 49–52. Retrieved from Creation Ministries International on July 30, 2014.</ref> only one ([[Edmund Halley]]) was a skeptic and another ([[Paracelsus]]) was a [[pantheism|pantheist]].
The other 50 were Christians, 30 of whom could be characterized as being devout Christians.<ref name="Origins" />
Sir [[Francis Bacon]], sometimes referred to as "the Father of Modern Science", wrote in his essay entitled ''Of Atheism'' the following: "I had rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the [[Talmud]], and the [[Koran|Alcoran]], than that this universal frame is without a mind."<ref name="bacon">Bacon, Francis (1601). [http://www.authorama.com/essays-of-francis-bacon-17.html ''The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, of Francis Ld. Verulam Viscount St. Albans''; "Of atheism"]. Authorama. Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref>
==Atheism and debate==
'''See also:''' [[Atheism debates]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]] and [[Atheist factions]]
[[Image:Bahnsen.jpg|thumb|150px|Dr. [[Greg Bahnsen]] became known as the man atheists fear most due to [[Michael Martin]]'s cancellation of their scheduled debate. See: [[Greg Bahnsen and debate]] ]]
Historically speaking, atheism has [[Atheism debates|fared very poorly in debates]]. In addition, due to prominent atheists dodging debates, the cowardice associated with atheism has become so obvious that it is making newspaper headlines (For more information please see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).<ref>Multiple references:
*Green, Lauren (August 19, 2011). [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/19/christian-pastor-atheists-debates/?test=latestnews "Christian philosopher William Lane Craig is ready to debate, but finds few challengers"]. FoxNews.com. Retrieved on July 30, 2014.
*Green, Lauren (August 19, 2011). [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/19/christian-pastor-atheists-debates/?test=latestnews "Christian philosopher William Lane Craig is ready to debate, but finds few challengers"]. FoxNews.com. Retrieved on July 30, 2014.
*Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html "Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God"]. The Daily Telegraph website. Retrieved on July 30, 2014. See [[The Daily Telegraph]].</ref>
*Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html "Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God"]. The Daily Telegraph website. Retrieved on July 30, 2014. See [[The Daily Telegraph]].</ref>