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Line 1: − {{gold}}{{atheism}}+ − {{cquote|Our belief is not a belief. Our principles are not a faith. We do not rely solely upon science and reason, because these are necessary rather than sufficient factors, but we distrust anything that contradicts science or outrages reason. We may differ on many things, but what we respect is free inquiry, openmindedness, and the pursuit of ideas for their own sake.|||[[Christopher Hitchens]], ''[[God_Is_Not_Great|God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything]]''}}+ − + + + + + + + + − ==What god is being denied?==+ − {{cquote|We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further.|||[[Richard Dawkins]]<ref>[http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/richard_dawkins_on_militant_atheism.html Richard Dawkins on militant atheism], February 2002</ref>}} − Tied up with some of the more awkward aspects of defining the term "atheist" is the question of what god, or type of god, is being denied. This is particularly important for those who claim that atheism is supported by evidence (more specifically, the ''lack of'' evidence for a theistic case). − If the god being denied is the interventionist God, which most [[theist]]s hold to exist, then the argument against the existence of this being is easy; the lack of any demonstrable interventions demonstrates the god's lack of existence. In this case, absence of evidence is evidence of absence. However, if the god being denied is of a less interventionist, or [[deist]], type god, then the above argument regarding evidence doesn't work. Indeed, the only possible "evidence" for a deist god is the very existence of the universe, and most sane people don't tend to deny the universe exists. On the other hand as said "evidence" is simply asserted and isn't testable in any way, it is a lot less than wholly convincing and we return to "What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence."+ − Whether atheism also requires a person to disbelieve in all other forms of [[magic]], or [[ghost]]s, or [[psychic]] powers is also a question. These are not "gods" in the conventional sense at all, but they are still supernatural entities or powers. More "hardline" atheists would insist that disbelief in all things supernatural is mandatory for the label of "atheist." They would argue that this follows from the fact that atheism is a [[rational]] position, and that therefore atheists should take rational positions on other matters also. What does and what does not constitute a "god" in the case of atheism can often be very subjective; the definition could be restricted to monotheistic "creator" gods, or expanded to include all supernatural entities, or used to describe only things that are worshipped or idolised. The variables that arise when trying to perfectly codify "atheism" are numerous, and this is fitting with its position as specifically a ''lack'' of belief.+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − However, atheism only makes sense in the context of the ubiquity of religion and theistic belief worldwide. If religions didn't exist, atheism wouldn't exist and any discussion of the subject would be inherently meaningless - the world doesn't feature books, internet debates and billboard campaigns saying that it's fine to disbelieve in Bertrand Russell's celestial teapot precisely because few, if any, people believe in the teapot. Therefore a working, albeit still slightly subjective, definition of what constitutes a "god" can be developed based on the beliefs of self-declared religions of the world. As a [[thought experiment]] we can conceive of a religion that achieves literal overnight success by promoting some god, Athkel,<ref>With thanks to the [http://www.rinkworks.com/namegen/ Fantasy Name Generator]</ref> who will become a worldwide phenomenon tomorrow. An atheist would simply not believe in Athkel tomorrow, despite the fact they had no belief in him/her yesterday because it is a self defined religious deity.+ − + − [[File:AtheismVenn.svg|thumb|Only a ''little'' more complicated than "don't believe in God."]]+ − There are many ways to describe different types of atheism and some of these are explained below. These shouldn't be read as factions or sects within atheism in the same way as sects within religion, Protestant/Catholicism in Christianity, Sunni/Shiite in Islam, and their multiple sub-groups for example. One does not "join" a group of implicit atheists. Instead of being sects that dictate people's beliefs, these should be taken as models to, at least roughly, describe people's beliefs and their attitudes towards belief itself. There are many similarities, all of which are included in the blanket term "atheist." However - as is typical in atheist thought - not all atheists consider these divisions particularly relevant, worthwhile, or meaningful. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − The commonality among these various modes of atheism is the statement that no god or gods created natural phenomena such as the existence of [[life]] or the [[universe]]. Instead, these are usually explained through [[science]], specifically without resort to [[supernatural]] explanations. Morality in atheism is also not based on religious precepts such as divine commandments or revelation through a holy text - many alternative philosophies exist to derive or explain morality, such as [[humanism]]. + − ===Implicit vs. explicit atheism===+ + − ====Implicit atheism====+ − Implicit atheism is simply the state of not believing in any gods. − ====Explicit atheism====+ − Explicit atheism is a conscious ''rejection'', either of the belief in gods or of their existence. Explicit atheists can be weak or strong atheists, but all strong atheists are explicit atheists. − + − ====Weak atheism====+ − '''Weak atheism''' (sometimes equated with "'''pragmatic atheism'''" or "negative atheism") describes the state of living as if no gods exist. It does not require an absolute statement of God's non-existence. The argument is based on the fact that as there is no evidence that gods, [[Russell's Teapot|spatial teapots]] or [[fairies]] exist, we have no reason to believe in them. This argument could also be classified as extreme [[agnosticism]], or "agnostic atheism" - as it is an acknowledgment of the lack of evidence but acting as if there were no gods. − Pragmatic atheists however are frequently reluctant to make outright statements like "Gods (or fairies) do not exist", because of the great difficulties involved in proving the absolute non-existence of anything - the idea that nothing can be proved is held in the philosophy of [[pyrrhonism]]. Consequently many pragmatic atheists would argue that the [[burden of proof]] does not lie with them to provide evidence against the [[Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence|extraordinary concept]] that gods exist. They would argue that it is up to the supporters of various religions to provide evidence for the existence of their own deities, and that no argument is necessary on the atheist's part.+ − + − + − '''Strong atheism''' (sometimes equated with "'''theoretical atheism'''") makes an ''explicit statement'' against the existence of gods. Strong atheists would disagree with weak atheists about the inability to disprove the existence of gods. Strong atheism specifically combats religious beliefs and other arguments for belief in some god (or gods), such as [[Pascal's Wager]], and [[Irreducible complexity|argument from design]]. These arguments tend to be geared toward demonstrating that the concept of god is logically inconsistent or incoherent in order to actively disprove the existence of a god.<ref>[http://www.strongatheism.net/ strongatheism.net]</ref> [[Theological noncognitivism]], which asserts the meaninglessness of religious language, is an argument commonly invoked by strong atheists.<ref>Although some noncognitivists would claim the argument disproves atheism as well because it also makes a truth-claim about nonsensical statements, [[not even wrong|which cannot be true or false by definition]].</ref> In contrast, weak atheist arguments tend to concentrate on the evidence (or lack thereof) for god, while strong atheist arguments tend to concentrate on making a positive case for the non-existence of god. − ===Apatheism===+ − {{main|Apatheism}} − An apatheist has no interest in accepting or denying claims that a god or gods exist or do not exist. An apatheist considers the very question of the existence or non-existence of gods or other supernatural beings to be irrelevant and not worth consideration under any circumstances. − In short: they simply don't care. (Well, OK, they care enough to give themselves a name - so that people explicitly know what it is they don't care anything about. But that's it.)+ − + − {{main|Antitheism}} − Antitheism is, perhaps surprisingly, technically separate from any and all positions on the existence or non-existence of any given deity. Antitheism simply argues that a given (or all possible) human implementations of religious beliefs, metaphysically "true" or not, lead to results that are harmful and undesirable, either to the adherent, to society, or - usually - to both. As justification the antitheists will often point to the incompatibility of religion-based morality with modern humanistic values, or to the atrocities and bloodshed wrought by religion and by religious wars. Religious moderation as compared to religious extremism is an example of theistic anti-theism, also known as [[Dystheism|dystheism]]. Dystheism also encompasses questioning the morals even of a deity you believe in, e.g. chosing to obey commandments on nonviolence over calls to violence from God, despite them both being clearly put forward by this alleged giver of all morals. − ==Why are people atheists?==+ − {{cquote|We must question the story logic of having an all-knowing all-powerful God, who creates faulty Humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes.|||Eugene Wesley Roddenberry}} − Not all atheists are "disaffected with religion" - some were just never raised with or indoctrinated with religious beliefs in the first place. Hence a substantial number have nothing to become disaffected with. However, in areas where religious belief is essentially taken as normal, there is a high chance that a person will have been religious before "coming out" as an atheist. As the term "atheist" only really means something in the context of ubiquitous religious belief, being disaffected or unconvinced by religion is certainly a factor in most, if not all, people who declare themselves as an atheist. As has been said previously, there is debate in the atheist community and not ''all'' atheists would agree with ''all'' of these reasons or even consider them relevant to atheism. − One of the major intellectual issues regarding disenchantment with religion is the fact that most world religions insist that all other faiths are wrong. While some moderate believers may like to take a stance that "all religions are right, they're just different interpretations", it's undeniable that [[heresy]] and [[apostasy]] are looked down upon very harshly. This suggests the possibility that ''no religion is right'', and further suggests that, because the vast majority of believers in any [[faith]] are born into it, being a member of the "correct" group or "the elect" is merely an accident of birth. There is also historical evidence that organized religion, while professing a peaceful moral code, is often the basis for exclusion and war as well as a method to motivate people in political conflicts. The enmity among different religions and even among [[sect]]s within the same religion is also an indication of this.+ − Other reasons may be more directly to do with a religion or its specifics - namely (1) the evils that the concept of religion has produced over the ages, (2) the [[hypocrisy]] of professed believers and religious leaders who exhort their followers to help the poor, love their neighbors and behave morally but become wealthy through donations to the church and carry love for certain neighbors to an immoral extreme, and (3) the contradiction between talk of a loving god and a world in which children starve to death and innocent people are [[torture]]d. Issues with religion may arise due to the nature of fundamentalists - insisting that their holy texts are ''literally'' true. This leads to attempts by such fundamentalists to undermine education by censoring scientific knowledge that seems to contradict their beliefs. [[Intelligent design]] is a prominent case of this (see [[Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District]]). Often this doesn't sit well with moderate believers and especially those who may be on the verge of losing any faith, especially when the evidence provided by daily experience suggests that there are no events that cannot be explained by [[common sense]] and [[scientific method|scientific study]].+ + − Other issues that atheists have with religion involve the characteristics of supposed gods. Atheists sometimes view the idea that a supreme all-knowing deity would have the narcissistic need to be worshiped, and would [[punishment|punish]] anyone for worshiping a different god (or none at all), to be absurd.+ − Lastly, formerly religious atheists often report to have had their belief system unsettled by lack of evidence supporting the notion of the supernatural.+ − ===Burden of proof===+ − {{cquote|It is time that we admitted that [[faith]] is nothing more than the license religious people give one another to keep believing when reasons fail.|||[[Sam Harris]], ''Letter to a Christian Nation''}} − Arguments related to the burden of proof deal with whether atheists must disprove theism or theists must prove theism. Conventionally, the [[burden of proof]] lies with someone proposing a positive idea - or as [[Karl Popper]] fans would put it, those who are proposing something [[falsifiable]]. By this standard, atheists have no need to prove anything, and just need to render arguments ''for'' the existence of God as non-compelling. However, the ubiquity of religion in society and history have often shifted the burden of proof to atheists, who must subsequently prove a negative. Assuming that God exists is known as [[presuppositionalism]] and has always been a key tenet of Christian apologetics but is usually rejected by more sensible scholars. The [[reductio ad absurdum|absurdity]] of being asked to prove a negative is demonstrated in [[Bertrand Russell]]'s [[Russell's Teapot|teapot]] [[thought experiment]] - where no matter how hard you look, you can't thoroughly disprove the belief that a teapot is out there in space, orbiting the sun somewhere between Earth and Mars. This sort of presuppositional thinking is illogical, so asking an atheist to disprove God is an unreasonable request. − [[Occam's razor]] can also be invoked as a guide to making the fewest assumptions, and assuming God exists ''[[a priori]]'' is a major assumption that should be avoided. Combining these thoughts to lay the burden of proof on theists indicates that without supporting evidence, the [[Null hypothesis|default position]] on God must be either weak-ish atheism or [[agnosticism]] rather than theism. Proponents of atheism argue that the burden of proof has not been met by those proposing that a god exists, let alone the specific gods described by major religions.+ − ===Logical===+ − + − Logical arguments try to show that God cannot possibly exist (at least as described). Barring any [[escape hatch]] arguments like [[Goddidit]], some properties of God are not compatible with each other or known facts about the world, and thus a creator-god cannot be a logically consistent and existent entity. These arguments are heavily dependent on the use of common descriptions of the Abrahamic God as a target: things such as omnipotence, omnipresence, and omnibenevolence. As a result, they are not as useful in trying to refute the claims of, say, [[Neopaganism]], and are also vulnerable to the tactic of [[moving the goalposts]] by changing the descriptions of God. − The [[omnipotence paradox]] postulates that true omnipotence is not logically possible or not compatible with omniscience. This is primarily a logical argument based on the general question of whether an omnipotent being could limit its own power - if yes, it would cease to be omnipotent, if no, it wouldn't be omnipotent. Hence the paradox that shows, through contradiction, that God cannot exist as usually described.+ − Other logical arguments try to prove that god is not compatible with our scientific knowledge of reality. The [[Problem of evil]] states that a good god wouldn't permit gratuitous evil, yet such evil occurs, so a good god does not exist.<ref>[http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/nontheism/atheism/logical.html Logical Arguments for Atheism] - The Secular Web</ref> The [[argument from design]] is often given as proof of a creator, but it raises the following logical question: if the world is so complex that it must have had a creator, then the creator must be at least as complex and must therefore have a creator, and this would have to have had a more complex creator ''ad infinitum''. Also, the argument from design does not offer evidence for any ''specific'' relgion; while it could be taken as support for the existence of ''a god'' or gods, it doesn't argue for the Christian God any more than, say, the Hindu pantheon.+ − While believers hasten to point out that their gods don't need to follow logic, let alone the known laws of physics, this is really a case of [[special pleading]] and doesn't so much prove anything itself. Atheists therefore tend to reject these counters to the logical arguments as they mostly [[beg the question]] of a creator's existence and, very arbitrarily, plead that a creator can be exempt from the same logic that was used to "prove" its existence.+ − ===Evidential===+ − {{cquote|I know of no society in human history that ever suffered because its people became too desirous of evidence in support of their core beliefs.|||[[Sam Harris]], ''Letter to a Christian Nation''}}+ − At the root of the worldview of most atheists is evidence, and atheists point out that sufficient evidence for the existence of gods is currently very lacking, and thus there is no reason to believe in them. Evidential arguments are less ambitious than logical arguments because, rather than proving that there is reason ''not'' to believe in a god, they prove that there is no reason ''to'' believe in a god (See [[#Burden of proof|Burden of proof]] above). It is important to remember that what constitutes ''sufficient'' evidence can be quite subjective, although [[rationalism]] and [[science]] do offer some standardization. Various "holy books" exist that testify to the existence of gods, and claim that alleged miracles and personal experiences all constitute evidence in favor of the existence of a god character of some sort. However, atheists reject these as insufficient because the naturalistic explanations behind them (tracing authors of the holy texts, psychological experiments, and scientific experiments to explain experiences, and so on) are more plausible - indeed, the very existence of plausible naturalistic explanations renders the ''super''natural explanations obsolete. In addition these books make claims for a variety of faiths, so to accept the Bible's stories as evidence, one would also have to accept as evidence the miracle stories from other religions' holy books.+ − Atheists often cite evidence that processes attributed to a god might also occur naturally as evidential arguments. If [[evolution]] and the [[big bang]] are true, then why would a creator god have needed them?<ref>[http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/nontheism/atheism/evidential.html Evidential Arguments for Atheism] - The Secular Web</ref> [[Occam's razor]] makes theistic explanations less compelling.+ + + − + − Many atheists argue, in similar vein to the born-again Christian who "just knows" that God exists, that the day-to-day experience of the atheist demonstrates quite clearly that God does not. This is because they have [[Straw man|an image]] in their heads of what this "God" would have to look like, ''viz.'', an entity in the vein of the God of the Old Testament who runs around zapping entire cities, turning people into pillars of salt, and generally answering people's prayers in flashes of fire and brimstone—or, answering prayers for the victory of a given football team, but not answering those made on behalf of starving children in disadvantaged parts of the world.+ + + + − ===Clergy who turn atheist===+ − + + + − Studying religion in depth during training for clerical work can lead a person to examine religious ideas [[Critical thinking|critically]]. The study of [[Christian]] [[theology]] will include the whole of the [[Bible]], and include historical background which can lead to rational doubt. <ref>[http://www.alternet.org/story/155798/major_threat_to_religion_clergy_people_coming_out_as_atheists/ Major Threat to Religion? Clergy People Coming Out as Atheists]</ref> <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14417362 Dutch rethink Christianity for a doubtful world]</ref> + + + + − In 2011, the [[Freedom From Religion Foundation]] and the [[Richard Dawkins]] Foundation for Science and Reason launched a confidential support group for clergy who have lost their faith, the [[Clergy Project]], and by December 2012 the group had almost 400 members. One of the founders of Clergy Project is Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, who was an evangelical preacher for nineteen years before becoming an atheist.<ref>[http://ffrf.org/news/releases/groups-support-pastors-priests-leaving-the-pulpit "Groups support pastors, priests leaving the pulpit"], Freedom from Religion Foundation, October 14, 2011.</ref> Former Methodist pastor Teresa MacBain received online support from Clergy Project before coming out as an atheist dramatically at an atheist convention in spring 2012. She is now Public Relations Director of [[American Atheists]]. <ref>[http://www.weareatheism.com/teresa-macbain-public-relations-director-american-atheists/ Teresa MacBain - Public Relations Director, American Atheists]</ref>+ − + − + − Because atheism is effectively a ''lack'' of inherent religious or political ideology, there is very little that unifies all atheists.+ + + − That said, atheists do tend to fit a certain profile.+ − ===Demographics===+ − Specific research on atheists conducted in 2006 suggests that the true proportion of atheists is 2%<ref>[http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131 Religious Views and Beliefs Vary Greatly by Country, According to the Latest Financial Times/Harris Poll]</ref><ref> Gilgoff, Dan, "Few 'No Religion' Americans Are Atheists", US News, Sep. 28, 2009, [http://politics.usnews.com/news/blogs/god-and-country/2009/09/28/few-no-religion-americans-are-atheists US News]</ref><ref>U.S. Religious Landscape Survey --Report 1: Religious Affiliation, The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, "1.6% are atheists" [http://religions.pewforum.org/reports Pew study]</ref> to 4% in the United States, 17% in [[Great Britain]] and 32% in [[France]]. A 2004 ''Telegraph'' poll found that 44% of Britons believed in a god, 35% did not, and 21% did not know.<ref>You'll have to take our word for it - the YouGov poll is no longer available</ref>+ + + + − According to a 2012 WIN-Gallup International poll, 13% of the world identifies as "atheist", 23% identifies as "not religious", and 59% identifies as "religious"; these results were 3% more "atheist", 9% less "religious", and 6% more "non-religious" than 2005. Of note, in the United States 13% fewer people identified as "religious".<ref name=WIN>{{cite web+ − |url=/web/files/news/14/file/14.pdf − |title=GLOBAL INDEX OF RELIGIOSITY AND ATHEISM − |first1=Ijaz Shafi − |last1=Gilani − |first2=Rushna − |last2=Shahid − |first3=Irene − |last3=Zuettel − |publisher=WIN-Gallup International − |date=2012 July 27 − |accessdate=02 March 2015}}</ref> − ===Education and IQ===+ − Many studies have shown that groups with higher intelligence or more education have significantly more atheists.<ref>Landau, Elizabeth, "Liberalism, atheism, male sexual exclusivity linked to IQ", CNN Health, Feb. 26, 2010, "...people who identified as liberal and atheist had higher IQs..." [http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/26/liberals.atheists.sex.intelligence/index.html?hpt=Sbin CNN]</ref> A recent meta-analysis of 39 eligible studies from 1927 to 2002 was published in ''Mensa Magazine'', and concluded that atheists are more likely to be of higher intelligence than their religious counterparts.<ref> Bell, Paul. "Would you believe it?" ''Mensa Magazine'', UK Edition, Feb. 2002, pp. 12–13.</ref> According to an article in the prestigious [[Scientific journal|science journal]] ''[[Nature (journal) |Nature]]'' in 1998 the belief in a personal god or [[afterlife]] was very low among the members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Only 7.0% believed in a personal god as compared to more than 85% of the general U.S. population.<ref> Larson, Edward J.; Larry Witham (1998). "Correspondence: Leading scientists still reject god." Nature 394 (6691): 313.</ref> A 2012 WIN-Gallup International poll found that people with college education were 16% less likely to describe themselves as religious than those without complete high school education.<ref name=WIN /> [[Causalation|This may suggest]] that the more intelligent subjects are more unlikely to believe in god or [[supernatural]] powers. [[Correlation does not imply causation|An alternative interpretation]] is that having completed the kind of education that makes you likely [[Confounding factor|to do well]] in IQ tests is also likely to have either divested you of religiosity or at least made you less susceptible to the kind of beliefs in a personal god which characterise [[Christian fundamentalism]].+ + + + − ===Income===+ − Studies have shown that groups with more income have significantly more atheists. A 2012 WIN-Gallup International poll found that people in the highest quintile of income were 17% less likely to describe themselves as religious than the bottom quintile.<ref name=WIN />+ − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − ===Race, gender, sexuality===+ − The Pew Research Center (2014) reports:<ref>http://www.pewforum.org/files/2015/05/RLS-05-08-full-report.pdf</ref> − {{quotebox|Whites continue to be more likely than both blacks and Hispanics to identify as religiously unaffiliated; 24% of whites say they have no religion, compared with 20% of Hispanics and 18% of blacks. But the religiously unaffiliated have grown (and Christians have declined) as a share of the population within all three of these racial and ethnic groups. [....] Among respondents who identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, fully 41% are religiously unaffiliated, and fewer than half (48%) describe themselves as Christians. NonChristian faiths also are represented in the gay community at higher rates than among the general public, with 11% of gay, lesbian and bisexual respondents identifying with faiths other than Christianity.}}+ − The Pew report also reported that 57% of "unaffiliated" were male and 43% were female.+ − Atheists are becoming more numerous but also more diverse. White middle-class men such as [[Richard Dawkins|Dawkins]], [[Sam Harris|Harris]] and [[Christopher Hitchens|Hitchens]] no longer define the movement. One blogger argues that + − {{cquote|[T]he movement has become much more diverse -- not just in the obvious ways of gender, race, and so on, but simply in terms of how many viewpoints are coming to the table. The sheer number of people who are seen in some way as leaders... has gone up significantly.... And the increasing diversity in gender, race, class, and so on are important. We have a long way to go in this regard, but we're doing much, much better than we were." <ref name=ChrisHall>[http://www.alternet.org/belief/hitchens-dawkins-and-harris-are-old-news-totally-different-atheism-rise?paging=off¤t_page=1#bookmark Hitchens, Dawkins and Harris Are Old News: A Totally Different Atheism Is on the Rise]</ref>}} − Other atheists {{who}} strongly disagree and want to see the atheist movement focus on [[philosophy|philosophical]] arguments against religion and [[pseudoscience]].<ref name=ChrisHall%2F>+ − + − {{cquote|In most African-American communities, it is more acceptable to be a criminal who goes to church on Sunday, while selling drugs to kids all week, than to be an atheist who ... contributes to society and supports his family.|||Author James White<ref name=EmilyBrennan%2F>}} − Despite this black atheists are getting together in online groups and giving each other confidence, also online groups progress to arranging offline meetings. <ref name=EmilyBrennan>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/fashion/african-american-atheists.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 The Unbelievers]</ref> Atheists of color frequently feel they have different priorities from white atheist groups; they may be allied to faith groups that help [[poverty|poor]] blacks and fight [[racism|racial discrimination]]. Atheists of color also form their own groups focusing more on economic and social problems their communities face and hope general atheist groups will focus more on these issues in the future. [[Sikivu Hutchinson]] is one of many atheists of color campaigning against injustice faced by poor people, [[black people]], [[LGBT]] people, [[misogyny|women]] and other oppressed groups. <ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/06/16/blacks-are-even-discriminated-against-by-atheists/ Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about]</ref><ref>[https://newhumanist.org.uk/articles/4723/the-growth-of-african-american-atheism The growth of African-American atheism]</ref>+ − ==Atheism in history==+ − {{cquote|Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it, too?|||[[Douglas Adams]]<ref>This quotation serves as the dedication in Dawkins' [[The God Delusion]]</ref>}} − [[Image:Atheist-symbol.png|thumb|Some people think this is the symbol for atheism.<ref>It'is actually the symbol used by [http://www.atheists.org/ American Atheists]. The symbol was allegedly created at the founding of American Atheists in 1963... Looks more like the logo for the "Annapolis Nukes" triple-A baseball team.</ref> Wikipedia's "atheism project" did use it as a logo, but since replaced it with something more sensible.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Atheism2&direction=next&oldid=310478107 Wikipedia diff, 31st August 2009]</ref>]] − There has been a long history of rational people who have not accepted superstitious or magical explanations of natural phenomena and who have felt that "gods" are not necessary for the working of the world. The Eastern philosophy of Buddhism is broadly atheistic, explicitly eschewing the notion of a creation myth. In the Western world, there have been atheists almost as long as there has been philosophy and writing. Some of the most famous thinkers of the ancient world have been critical of belief in deities or eschewed religion entirely - many favouring [[logic]] and [[rationality]] to inform their lives and their actions, rather than religious texts. Democritus, who originally conceived of the [[atom]], [[Hypothesis|hypothesized]] a world without [[magic]] holding it together. Critias, one of the Thirty Tyrants of Athens, preceded [[Karl Marx|Marx]] when he called religion a tool to control the masses. − Perhaps the best example of an explicitly atheistic ancient philosophy is the [[Carvaka]] school of thought, which originated in India in the first millennium BCE. The Carvakas posited a materialistic universe, rejected the idea of an afterlife, and emphasized the need to enjoy this life.<ref>http://www.humanistictexts.org/carvaka.htm</ref>+ − Modern atheism in the Western world can be traced to the [[Age of Enlightenment]]. Important thinkers of that era who were atheists include [[Baron d'Holbach]] and [[Denis Diderot]]. The Scottish philosopher [[David Hume]], though not explicitly avowing atheism, wrote critical essays on religions and religious beliefs (his most famous being a critique of belief in miracles), and posited naturalistic explanations for the origins of religion in [[The Natural History of Religion]] as well as criticizing traditional arguments for the existence of God in [[Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion]].+ − Not until recently, however, did the term known as "atheism" begin to carry its current connotation. In an increasing number of countries around the world it is a neutral or unimportant label. The nation of [[New Zealand]], for example, has thrice elected an [[agnosticism|agnostic]] woman (Helen Clark) as Prime Minister, followed by its current agnostic leader (John Key). Several Prime Ministers of the UK have been atheists, including Clement Attlee, and the current deputy PM, Nick Clegg. Also, the former Prime Minister of Australia, [[Julia Gillard]], is openly atheist, and at least one other former Australian PM was atheist. However, in more religious areas such as the [[United States]] or [[Saudi Arabia]] the term carries a heavy stigma. Indeed, prejudice against atheists is so high in the United States that one study found that they are America's most distrusted minority.<ref>[http://thesocietypages.org/files/2013/03/American-Sociological-Review-2006-Edgell-211-341.pdf Atheists As “Other”: Moral Boundaries and Cultural Membership in American Society]</ref>+ − + − ==Misconceptions about atheists==+ − + + + + + − The mistrust of atheism is often accompanied by [[snarl word]]s, [[straw man]] arguments and various other myths and legends in order to denigrate the idea of disbelief in established gods. Some misconceptions about atheism should be addressed:+ − ===Atheism as an organized religion===+ − {{cquote|Atheism is a religion in the same way as 'off' is a television station.|||Ben Emerson}}+ − One of the widest misconceptions, often used as a strong criticism, is that atheism is a [[religion]]. However, while there are [[secular religions]], atheism is most commonly defined as "no religion." To expand the definition of "religion" to include atheism would thus destroy any use the word "religion" would have in describing anything. It is quite often pointed out that if atheism is a religion it would be akin to stating that the act of not collecting stamps is a hobby, or that being unemployed is an occupation. Following from this, atheists ''do not'' worship [[Charles Darwin]] or any other individual. Although some think that atheism ''requires'' [[evolution]] to be a complete worldview,<ref>[[Richard Dawkins]], an early chapter in ''The Blind Watchmaker''.</ref> there is no worship of ''anything'' or ''anyone'' in atheism, and [[acceptance of evolution]] [[theistic evolution|isn't exclusive to atheists]] - for that matter there is no necessity for an atheist to accept the evidence for evolution. By definition, if atheists worshiped Darwin as a ''god'', they wouldn't be atheists. Basically, "atheism" is a word for a negative. However, this leads to a few semantic issues.+ + + − This confuses the [[religious]] because they are used to terms of religious identity being a declaration of allegiance ''to'' a view, rather than of separation ''from''. This confusion then leads them to assert that a denial of their religion must be an avowal of another. They then do things like declare the so-called [[New Atheists]] as [[hypocrisy|hypocrites]] for denigrating religion while sticking to an unstated one of their own, or declare that because [[science]] has an [[epistemology]] and religion has an epistemology, therefore science is just another faith (when religion's problem is that science's epistemology provably works much better than religion's).+ − A standard response is to note that if atheism is a religion, then "bald" is a hair color, and not collecting stamps is a hobby, not kicking a kitten is a form of animal abuse and so on. Another is to note that if the definition of religion was expanded enough to legitimately include atheism - say, by defining a religion as "any [[philosophy]] on life" - then practically ''everything in the world'' would be a religion, such as socio-economic policies or views on [[equality]]. ([[British]] law has come close to finding this in employment discrimination cases.)+ − A new movement of atheist churches appears to be developing (such as [[Sunday Assembly]]), but what they do is not worship; rather, they are places where like-minded people get together on Sunday mornings to have fun, celebrate life and whatever. This is a relatively new phenomenon, and its prospects for the future are unclear.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21319945 What happens at an atheist church?];[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/03/atheist-church-sunday-assembly-islington 'Not believing in God makes life more precious': meet the atheist 'churchgoers']</ref>+ − Atheists, as a whole, are ''not'' a unified group, so accusation that "atheists" are doing x, y and z hold little water. In fact, a disaffection with organized religion, and the potential for [[groupthink]], is what causes many believers to abandon faith and come out as atheists. It doesn't follow that such individuals would happily join another organised group. Debate within the atheistic community is robust - debates even about whether there is even an "atheistic community" at all, for instance - and the fact that this debate exists presupposes no dogmatic mandate (or at least not a widely followed one) from an organized group. It does follow from this lack of organisation that there is no atheist equivalent of the [[Bible]], [[Koran]], or other holy text. There are, of course, atheist writings, but one does not need to adhere to opinions held by [[Friedrich Nietzsche]], [[Richard Dawkins]] or [[Christopher Hitchens]] to be considered an atheist. Some atheists will actively oppose what these kind of authors do and say. In fact, some atheists wish they could believe.<ref>http://www.skepticblog.org/2012/07/17/leaving-las-vegas-rich/</ref>+ − ===Atheists just hate God===+ − Believers sometimes denigrate atheists on the grounds that they "hate God." This, however, makes no sense. Atheists do not deny the existence of God because they "hate God" or simply "want to live in sin", because atheists simply do not believe in ''any'' of these things.<ref>[[Apologist|"Professional philosopher"]] [[William Lane Craig]] has claimed that atheists actually do believe in God and just reject Him to be able to sin. Similarly, [[Lee Strobel]] has claimed that when he was an atheist ([[Pseudoskepticism|prior to researching ''The Case for Christ'', obviously]]) he also simply rejected God to be able to live immorally. The [[strawman]] atheist common to both Craig and Strobel is what [[TV Tropes]] calls the [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NayTheist Nay-Theist]</ref> Thus hating god(s) makes as much sense as someone who doesn't believe in [[Santa Claus]] blaming him for not bringing them any Christmas presents. In line with the varied specific beliefs of atheists in the world, some may actually wish [[deity|a god]] did exist (but can't reconcile this with what they observe, such as the [[problem of evil]]), some would very much dislike the god portrayed in the Bible and don't believe such a being could exist, some [[apatheism|simply do not care]], and many will fall somewhere in between these definitions. − ===Atheists have no morals===+ − {{cquote|What I'm asking you to entertain is that there is nothing we need to believe on insufficient evidence in order to have deeply ethical and spiritual lives.|||[[Sam Harris]]}} − Morality is one of the larger issues facing the world, and many religions and believers openly express the notion that they have the monopoly on deciding, explaining, and enforcing moral judgments. Many religious people will assume that since morals rise from (their) god, without (their) god one cannot have morals. Contrary to the claims of such people, "no gods" ''does not'' equal "no morality." There are strong [[humanism|humanistic]], cultural, and genetic rationales for the existence of morality and ethical behavior, and many people, not just atheists, recognize this fact. − + − In the US, where criticism of atheism is common, it often works well for politicians and evangelists to compare atheism to the "evils" of [[communism]], or even to Communism itself. These "evils" are not inextricably fused with the values of atheism in reality. Although most orthodox Marxists are atheists (Marxism treats religion as a "[[false consciousness]]" that needs to be eliminated), the atrocities wrought by [[Stalin]] and others were not on account of their being atheists, but on account of their being totalitarians and authoritarians. Additionally, there have been many ''anti''-communists who were atheists or agnostics, such as [[Ayn Rand]] and the computer pioneer John von Neumann. − ===Misconceptions of definition===+ − Atheism and [[agnosticism]] are not entirely mutually exclusive, and atheists are not "actually agnostic because no one can ever know whether God exists." This is a highly contested point among religious believers and atheistic philosophers alike, as most, if not all, thinking atheists would happily change their minds given the right evidence, and thus could be considered "agnostic" in this sense. However, this conflates the ideas of belief and knowledge. Atheism is a statement of a lack of ''belief'', and not a lack of ''knowledge'' - which is often accepted on all sides of the theistic debate. Atheism takes the position that it is [[rationality|rational]] to ''think'' that gods don't exist, based on logic and lack of evidence. Agnostics, on the other hand, state that the lack of knowledge cannot inform their opinion at all. There are agnostic atheists, who can be either weak or strong. It is at least logically possible for a theist to be an agnostic (e.g., ''"I believe in a pantheon of lobsterish zoomorphic deities, but cannot prove this with evidence, and acknowledge and embrace that my belief is rooted in [[faith]]"'')—but it is markedly difficult to find anyone who will fess up to such a position. − ==Opposition to the term "atheism"==+ − − {{cquote|Atheism is not a philosophy; it is not even a view of the world; it is simply an admission of the obvious. In fact, "atheism" is a term that should not even exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a "non-astrologer" or a "non-alchemist." We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens have traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make in the presence of unjustified religious beliefs.|4=[[Sam Harris]]<ref name="LCN">Harris, Sam (2006). ''Letter to a Christian Nation''. Knopf.</ref>}} − One difficulty with the term "atheism" is that it defines what its adherents ''do not'' believe in, rather than in what they ''do'' believe in. The lack of positive statements of belief has led to the fact that there is really no overarching organisation that speaks for atheists (some would regard this as a good thing, keeping atheism from becoming an organised religion) and has led to the comparison that organising atheists is like "herding cats", i.e., impossible. It is possible that the ''only'' thing which does really unite atheists is a lack of belief in gods; thus an overarching organisation to represent them would be physically impossible. − Primarily because of the prevalence of extreme discrimination against atheists, people have tried to come up with more positive terms or campaigns to get the godless philosophy noticed and respected. This allows atheists to feel more united and happy with their beliefs (or ''lack'' of), but has also led to organisations that will help them in situations, such as legal cases, where individuals couldn't do it on their own. The most prominent examples:+ − *The "[[Brights Movement]]" describes itself as being composed of people with a naturalistic world-view.+ − *[[Philosophical naturalism|Naturalist]] is the preferred term used by A. C. Grayling and others. Grayling argues that a statement such as "I believe in naturalistic explanations" has the advantage of being a positive statement about what is believed and also does not narrowly define the speaker in terms of one particular lack of belief. − *[[Freethinker]] is another term meaning something similar; the philosophy behind it is known as "freethought." − To date, none of these alternative descriptions seems to have taken hold a great deal and the term of choice for most people remains "atheist." "Freethinker" is probably the term with most support, as it dates back at least to the 19th Century. "Naturalism" may be the second most popular, although the name may lead people to confuse it with [[naturism]] or with some kind of eco-hippy ideal. "Bright" is the most recent term invented, and as a result is currently the most controversial and divisive. Supporters of the Brights movement see it as a positive and constructive redefinition (on par with the re-branding of homosexuality with the word "gay", which until then primarily meant "happy" or "joyous") while its detractors see it as nothing more than a shameless attempt to turn atheism into an organized religion, and the use of "bright" as a cynical attempt to appear more intellectual.+ − In some contexts words such as "[[rationalist]]" and "[[skeptic]]" may also be [[code word]]s for "atheist." Although not all atheists need to be rationalists, and not all rationalists need to be atheists, the connection is more in the ''method'' a person uses to derive their beliefs rather than what their beliefs actually are.+ + + + + + − As in the quote above, some who have expressed criticism to religion, among them [[Richard Dawkins]], have pointed out that the word ''atheism'' enforces theism as a social norm, as modern languages usually have no established terms for people who do not believe in other supernatural phenomena (''a-fairyist'' for people who do not believe in [[fairies]], ''a-unicornist'', ''a-alchemist'', ''a-astrologer'', etc).+ − ==Religious views on atheism==+ − With the existence of deities being central belief of almost all religious systems, it is not surprising that atheism is seen as more threatening than competing belief systems, regardless of how different they may be. This often manifests in the statement that "[[Freedom of religion|freedom ''of'' religion]]" doesn't include freedom ''from'' religion. It is also important for theists that the political hierarchy, the priesthood, should do their utmost to discourage dissent - as true believers make better tithe givers. Most religious codes are more than a bit irritated with those who do not believe. The Bible, for example, includes clear [[ad hominem]] attacks on non-believers, ''The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."'' ({{bible|Psalm|14|1}} and {{bible|Psalm|53|1}}), while the penalty for [[apostasy]] in Islamic law is death - and this is still endorsed today. − One author has proposed a correction to Psalm 53, as follows:<ref>Paulkovich, Michael, <I>No Meek Messiah</I>. Annapolis: Spillix, 2012, p. 9. [http://nomeekmessiah.com/nmm-prologue.htm]</ref> − <blockquote> − The fool hath said in his heart, "I know there is a God, and just one God. I know his name, I know his mind and his plans for me. I have a personal relationship with God's son. I know where we came from and what happens after we die. I know if I merely believe in God I shall live forever in paradise. And all I have to do is pray to God, and all my wishes will come true." − </blockquote> − In the USA the increased public visibility of atheism - what some commentators call the "[[New Atheism]]", seen in the popularity of books like ''[[The God Delusion]]'' - has brought renewed energy to the debate between believers and non-believers.<ref>[http://www.investigatingatheism.info/controversies.html Investigating Atheism - Current Controversies]</ref> As part of that debate, some believers have put considerable effort into trying to stop what they think of as the “irresponsible” promotion of atheism. Their efforts range from material that has academic pretensions to arguments that are plainly abusive, focusing on "smacking" atheists with [[PRATT]] arguments regarding how great the Bible <s>isn't</s> is - and, of course, a heavy bias towards their ''own'' religion being true.<ref>[http://townhall.com/columnists/douggiles/2007/10/20/how_to_shut_up_an_atheist_if_you_must/page/full/ Doug Giles - How to Shut Up an Atheist if You Must]</ref> What these arguments tend to have in common is that they are less about providing arguments ''for'' religious belief and more about keeping atheists quiet, with questions such as "[[Atheism_faq#If_atheism_is_a_lack_of_belief.2C_why_all_the_fuss.3F|don't you have anything better to do than talk about the God you don't believe in]]?" or arguing that "[[fideism|faith is better than reason so shut up]]".<ref>[http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2009/02/shut-up-thats-why.html Greta Christina's Blog - Atheism and the "shut up, that's why" argument.]</ref> It's not entirely unexpected that this would be the thrusts of several anti-atheist arguments - after all, according to several Christians in influential positions, mere knowledge that atheism exists can be dangerous.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2008/04/04/its-dangerous-for-children-to-know-atheism-exists-says-illinois-state-legislator/ It’s Dangerous for Children To Know Atheism Exists, Says Illinois State Legislator]</ref>+ + − ==Atheistic view of the Bible==+ − Atheists may view the [[Bible]] and other religious works as literature, fiction, [[mythology]], epic, philosophy, ''agit-prop'', irrelevant, [[history]], or various combinations thereof. Many atheists may find the book repulsively ignorant and primitive, while other atheists may find inspiration from certain passages even though they don't believe in the supernatural events and miracles mentioned in the Bible. Many atheists see religious works as interesting historical records of the myths and beliefs of humanity. By definition ''atheists do not believe any religious text to be divinely inspired truth''. In other words, "Dude, it's just a book" (or, in fact, a somewhat random collection of different books). − There are several types of evidence to support the idea that "it's just a book." Textual analysis of the various books of the Bible reveals vastly differing writing styles among the authors of the individual books of the Old and New Testaments, suggesting that these works represent many different (human) voices, and not a sole, divinely inspired voice. The existence of Apocrypha, writings dating from the time of the Bible that were not included into official canon by Jews or Christians (and peppered with mystical events such as encounters with angels, demons, and dragons), further suggests that "divine authorship" is not a reliable claim. Within Christianity, there are even differences among sects regarding which books are Apocrypha and which are included in the Bible, or which are included under the heading "Apocrypha", indicating that they constitute holy writings but are not meant to be taken as literally as the other books. The Book of Tobit, for example, is included in the Catholic Bible but considered Apocrypha by Protestants and is wholly absent from the Jewish Bible.+ − Another problem with the "divine authorship" of the Bible is the existence of texts that pre-date it but contain significant similarities to certain Biblical stories. The best-known among these is the [[global flood|flood story]], found in numerous versions in texts from across the ancient Middle East, including the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh, which bears textual similarities with the Biblical account. Another such story with apparent Babylonian origin is that of the Tower of Babel. It has been suggested that some of these stories were appropriated by the Jews during the Babylonian Exile. + − Studies of the history of the Bible, although not undertaken with the intent of disproving it (in fact, many Biblical historians set out to prove the Bible's veracity), shed light on the Bible's nature as a set of historical documents, ones which were written by humans and were affected by the cultural circumstances surrounding their creation. It should be noted that this type of rational discourse neither proves nor requires an atheistic worldview: one can believe that the Bible is not the infallible word of God either because one adheres to a non-Judeo-Christian religion or because one is a Christian or Jew but not a Biblical literalist. These criticisms of Biblical "truth" serve mainly to counter the arguments of fundamentalists, who are among atheism's most vociferous critics.+ − ==Persecution of atheists==+ − Atheists and the nonreligious face persecution and discrimination in many nations worldwide. In [[Bangladesh]], [[Egypt]], [[Indonesia]], [[Kuwait]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Jordan]] atheists are denied free speech through [[blasphemy]] laws. In [[Afghanistan]], [[Iran]], [[Maldives]], [[Mauritania]], [[Pakistan]], [[Saudi Arabia]] and [[Sudan]] being an atheist can carry the [[capital punishment|death penalty]]. In many nations citizens are forced to register as adherents of a limited range of religions, which denies atheists and adherents of alternative religions the right to free expression. Atheists can lose their right to citizenship and face restrictions on their right to marry. <ref>[http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2013/12/non-religious-suffer-discrimination-or-persecution-in-most-countries-of-the-world-new-report-finds Non-religious suffer discrimination or persecution in most countries of the world, new report finds]</ref><ref>[http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/10/us-religion-atheists-idUSBRE8B900520121210 Atheists around world suffer persecution, discrimination: report]</ref> In many parts of the world atheists face increasing prejudice and [[hate speech]] like that which ethnic and religious minorities suffer. [[Saudi Arabia]] introduced new laws banning atheist thought in any form; there a Muslim expressing religious views the government disliked was falsely called an atheist, sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes. In [[Egypt]] young people talking about their right to state atheist ideas on television or on [[YouTube]] were detained. <ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/how-the-right-to-deny-the-existence-of-god-is-under-threat-globally-9913662.html How the right to deny the existence of God is under threat globally]</ref> − + − {{cquote|I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.|||George H.W. Bush<ref>[http://www.holysmoke.org/sdhok/aa011.htm George Bush states that atheists are not citizens or patriots]</ref>}} − Research in the American Sociological Review finds that atheists are the group that Americans least relate to for shared vision or want to have marry into their family. <ref>[http://thesocietypages.org/files/2013/03/Atheists-as-Other-Moral-Boundaries-and-Cultural-Membership-in-American-Society.pdf Atheists As "Other": Moral Boundaries and Cultural Membership in American Society]</ref> − {| class="wikitable"+ − |- − ! Group in Question − ! This Group Does Not at All Agree with<BR>My Vision of American Society: − ! I Would Disapprove if My Child Wanted<BR>to Marry a Member of This Group: − |- − | Atheist − | 39.6% − | 47.6% − |- − | Muslim − | 26.3% − | 33.5% − |- − | Homosexual − | 22.6% − | Not asked − |- − |Conservative Christian − | 13.5% − | 6.9% − |- − | Recent Immigrant − | 12.5% − | Not Asked − |- − | Hispanic − | 7.6% − | 18.5% − |- − | Jew − | 7.4% − | 11.8% − |- − | Asian American − | 7.0% − | 18.5% − |- − |African American − | 4.6% − | 27.2% − |- − | White American − | 2.2% − | 2.3% − |} − From the report's conclusions {{Cquote| To be an atheist in such an environment is not to be one more religious minority among − many in a strongly pluralist society. Rather, Americans construct the atheist as the symbolic representation of one who rejects the basis for moral solidarity and cultural membership in American society altogether.}} − A 2012 Gallup poll shows presidential candidates who are open atheists are the least likely demographic to be voted into office. <ref> http://www.gallup.com/poll/155285/atheists-muslims-bias-presidential-candidates.aspx </ref>+ + + + − {| class="wikitable"+ − |- − ! Group in Question − !I would vote for a presidential candidate who is___: − ! I would not vote for a presidential candidate who is___: − |- − | Black − | 96% − | 4% − |- − | A woman − | 95% − | 5% − |- − | Catholic − | 94% − | 5% − |- − |Hispanic − | 92% − | 7% − |- − | Jewish − | 91% − | 7% − |- − | Mormon − | 80% − | 18% − |- − | Gay or lesbian − | 68% − | 30% − |- − | Muslim − | 58% − | 40% − |- − | An atheist − | 54% − | 43% − |- − |} − In some parts of the United States people who are openly atheist may be attacked, spat on, turned out of the family home, sent to Bible camp and forced to be religious. <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-28616115 The stigma of being an atheist in the US]</ref>+ + + − In the [[US]], atheists are the [[Atheophobia|least trusted and liked people out of all social groups]], possibly because of their cracker-stealing banana fetishes and their superior [[knowledge]]<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/U-S-Religious-Knowledge-Survey-Who-Knows-What-About-Religion.aspx Pew Forum - U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey]</ref> of actual religious content. They top the charts when people are asked "who would you least trust to be elected [[POTUS|President]]" or "who would you least want to marry your beautiful, sweet, innocent Christian daughter."<ref>[http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=in-atheists-we-distrust Scientific American - In Atheists We Distrust]</ref><ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-12-10/religion-atheism/51777612/1 USA Today: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists.]</ref> It probably doesn't help that the U.S. is one of the most religious developed countries in the world.<ref>[http://pewglobal.org/files/pdf/262.pdf]</ref>+ − Many have lost jobs and been harassed out of their homes for what is essentially a ''lack'' of any belief that could act as motivation to cause harm. [[Chuck Norris]] infamously claimed that he would like to tattoo "[[In God We Trust]]" onto atheist foreheads before booting them out of [[Jesusland]]{{fact}}, possibly to work as [[slaves]] in the Mines of Morîa (he claims this is a joke, but few actually laughed). More extreme [[fundamentalist]]s seem to want them outright banned from existence; blogger [[Andrew Schlafly]] seriously considered banning them from his website and [[George H. W. Bush]] declared "''I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God''," questioning whether anyone who disbelieves in [[God]] should [[Establishment Clause|even be allowed to vote]] (or at least be allowed to vote themselves out of persecution).<ref>[http://www.positiveatheism.org/writ/ghwbush.htm Postiiveatheism.org - Can George Bush, with impunity, state that atheists should not be considered either citizens or patriots?]</ref> A [[creationist]] group has refined this way of thinking, stating that atheists and other "[[evolutionist]]s" should be disenfranchised, as anyone who believes the [[theory of evolution]] is clearly [[Dunning-Kruger effect|mentally incompetent]].<ref>[http://www.csama.org/csanews/nws200807.pdf Should Evolutionists Be Allowed to Vote?]</ref>+ + + + − Six US states have laws on the books that prohibit atheists from holding public office.<ref>Erbe, Bonnie. [http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2009/02/17/arkansas-5-other-states-ban-atheists-from-public-service-seriously.html "Arkansas, 5 Other States, Ban Atheists from Public Service. Seriously"] ''U.S. News & World Report'' website, 17 February 2009, accessed 5 December 2009.</ref> This despite a U.S. [[Supreme Court]] ruling -- ''Torcaso v. Watkins (1961)''<ref>[http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=367&invol=488 Text of ruling] at FindLaw.com.</ref> -- that prohibits [[discrimination]] against atheist officeholders.<ref>Waters, David. [http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2009/02/an_advocate_for_atheists_in_ar.html "Atheist Revival in Arkansas"], ''Washington Post'' website, 13 February 2009, accessed 5 December 2009.</ref> These states are:+ + − *[[Arkansas]]+ − *[[Maryland]] − *[[North Carolina]] − *[[South Carolina]] − *[[Tennessee]] − *[[Texas]] − If atheism isn't a hanging offense in these places, they probably wish it were.{{nofact}} (Ok, maybe not Maryland, but you get the point.)+ − + − In some [[Europe | European]] countries being an atheist is unremarkable. − [[France]] has an entirely [[secular]] culture, with a suitably large proportion of the population declaring "no religion." In [[Scandinavia]], while the majority of the population are members of their respective national churches, irreligiosity is nevertheless widespread and being openly atheist is completely unremarkable.<ref>See for instance Zuckerman, Phil (2008), ''Society without God: What the Least Religious Nations Can Tell Us about Contentment''. New York: New York University Press. A sneak peek can be found in the [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/28/us/28beliefs.html?pagewanted=all&pagew&_r=1& New York Times review of the book].</ref> In the [[UK]], [[Tony Blair]]'s spin-doctor Alistar Campbell was led to declare that "we don't do god"<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/3301925.stm BBC News - Blending politics and religion]</ref> and Tony himself said that he kept quiet about religion because people would think he was "a nutter". The [[Nick Clegg|previous deputy Prime Minister]] was an atheist, while the [[David Cameron|Prime Minister himself]] has said that his [[Church of England]] faith "comes and goes". Overall, atheists in Europe aren't demonised as they are in America and other countries led by fundamentalists. Despite this British [[Islam|Muslims]] who become atheists can face ostracism, threats and even physical abuse.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34357047 The Muslim Britons who are persecuted for being atheists]</ref>+ − At the other extreme in [[Poland]] 95 percent of Poles identify themselves as [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]], though even there secular opinions are increasing.<ref>[[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/12/world/europe/12poland.html?_r=0 Poland, Bastion of Religion, Sees Rise in Secularism]]</ref>+ − ===In Australia===+ − From 2010 to 2013, Australia had a prime minister, [[Julia Gillard]], who defined herself as an atheist. A lot of Australians despised her for a whole bunch of (potentially legitimate) reasons, but being an atheist wasn't one of them. − + − [[New Zealand]] hasn't had a religious Prime Minister for over 10 years (and possibly for far longer than that). Politics and religion in New Zealand are mutually exclusive and the religious beliefs of New Zealand leaders are never seriously scrutinized...apart from that [[Graham Capill|one guy]]. − ==Why even argue with theists?==+ − The question remains, why should an atheist be held to a theist's definitions, their rules of argumentation, and their playing field? Ultimately, atheists don't need to make a case for atheism, because the assertive (or positive) claim is being made by those who say "God exists." By the rules of logic, science, and even law, the ones making the assertion must be the ones who prove their claim, and not the other way around. Otherwise atheists would also be held accountable to make a case for being an [[Athorism|athorist]], ''etc.'', and almost everyone would be held accountable for being an "adragonist" or an "aunicornist" and an "a[[Creationism|dinosaurlivingwithpeople]]ist." − One reason that a person might argue with a theist is the same reason one might argue with a friend who is convinced she was abducted by aliens, or who thinks children are better off without vaccinations: because we care about them, and the choices they make can be harmful for themselves and their children; because living a life of fear out of an illusion seems an amazingly bad way to live. However, the people who have this motivation are generally known as "do-gooders" or "busybodies" and such arguments can be counter-productive in that they cement the delusions further.+ − Another common motivation for arguing with theists is political. Theists make up a majority of the world's population, and in many countries, a majority of the governing elite; they have often appealed to religion as a means to stay in power, often to draw a distinction between their subjects and foreigners (as in the Nazis' pandering to [[Christianity]], or, more recently, most European [[Islamophobia]]).+ − Hence, a strategy for subverting such elites is to dispute the religious beliefs to which they appeal. In the modern era, this started with the Enlightenment, as royal absolutism, based upon the role of God as King of Heaven, was challenged by questioning the existence of God. There was a significant atheist contingent within the [[French Revolution]].+ − Later, [[communist]]s took up this kind of challenge to theism, with [[Karl Marx]] arguing that religion was the "opiate of the masses," used to hold workers in the trammels of the bourgeoisie. This sentiment was expressed in this excerpt from the famous communist anthem, ''L'Internationale'':+ − {{cquote|There are no supreme saviours<br/>Neither God, nor Caesar, nor tribune.<br/>Producers, let us save ourselves<br/>Decree the common salvation.}}+ − In the present day, theist politicians use religion as a rhetorical tool to push a variety of agendas that might otherwise come under closer scrutiny. For example, as the American evangelical-left figure [[Jim Wallis]] noted in his book ''God's Politics'', the [[Republican Party]] has made a very successful use of religion, specifically concerning the [[abortion]] issue, to attract voters who would otherwise vote for the [[Democratic Party]].+ − A consequence of the prevalence of such rhetorical devices is that a broad range of [[crank]] religious ideas, specifically [[creationism]], gain credence when politicians use them to ensure the voting public of their religious ''bona fides''. This in turn causes legitimate science to fall into some disrepute among the people, making it much easier for ''other'' kinds of [[pseudoscience]], such as [[global warming denialism]] and [[Racialism|scientific racism]], to get a foot in the door.+ − In short, the presence of religion in politics can lead to a whole maelstrom of craziness, and some people might feel motivated to nip this in the bud by discrediting religion in general.+ − + + − <gallery>+ − File:Karl Marx 001.jpg|[[Karl Marx]], before 1875+ − File:Emma goldman 1886.jpg|[[Emma Goldman]],1886+ − File:Clarence Darrow.png|[[Clarence Darrow]], ca. 1922+ − File:BjörkCoachella.jpg|Björk+ − File:Atheist at 89 .jpeg|Einar Ragnarsson Kvaran at age 89+ − File:Tim Minchin singing.jpg| Tim Minchin, British/Australian singer and comedian+ − File:Tina Modotti - Edward Weston,.jpg|[[Tina Modotti]], ca, 1920, Photographer, model, political activist, actor+ − File:Stalin-Lenin-Kalinin-1919.jpg|It is a pretty safe bet that (l to r) [[Stalin]], [[Lenin]] and Kalinin all fit the bill+ − File:Madalyn Murray O'Hair.jpg|[[Madalyn Murray O'Hair]]+ − File:Isaac.Asimov01.jpg|[[Isaac Asimov]], 1965+ − File:Ayn Rand.jpg|[[Ayn Rand]]+ − File:Douglas adams portrait cropped.jpg| Douglas Adams+ − File:Russell in 1938.jpg|[[Bertrand Russell]] in 1938+ − File:Kathleen Hanna.jpg|Kathleen Hanna+ − File:Sam Harris 01.jpg| <s>Ben Stiller</s> [[Sam Harris]]+ − File:Penn-Jillette-8608.jpg| [[Penn Jillette]]+ − </gallery>+ + + + + + + + + + + + − {{Hu|Ateizmus}}{{fun}} − *[[Agnosticism]] − *[[Antitheism]] − *[[Apatheism]] − *[[Atheist bus campaign]] − *[[Atheophobia]] − *[[Brights Movement]] − *[[Deism]] − *[[Methodological naturalism]] − *[[ Atheism FAQ for the Newly Deconverted]] − *[[Theism]] − *[[Jean Meslier]], a priest who wrote about being/becoming an atheist − + − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − *[http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/is-there-a-god American Atheists and The American Humanist Society debate the existence of God] − *[http://www.atheistfrontier.com/ Atheist Frontier - includes a wide range of useful resources] − *[http://www.atheistscholar.org/Home.aspx Atheist Scholar] − *[http://www.celebatheists.com/wiki/Main_Page Celebrity Atheist List] -- A [[wiki]] of contemporary and historical non-believers, with entries categorized as "The Atheist and the [[Materialist]]," "The [[Agnostic]]" and "The Ambiguous" − *[http://www.atheistresearch.org/index.php Center for Atheist Research] − *[http://www.define-atheism.com/ Definition of "atheism" (and "atheist")] − *[http://www.religioustolerance.org/atheist1.htm Description of Atheism] − *[https://plus.google.com/communities/117225067421969617764 Everyone's "atheism" community on Google+] − *[http://www.investigatingatheism.info/index.html Investigating Atheism Project at University of Cambridge] − *[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijVhulPNTko Mom, Dad, I'm an Atheist... OH SNAP!] − *Pharyngula blogger, [[PZ Myers]] writes a gorgeous argument for the [http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2007/06/we_stand_awed_at_the_heights_o.php humanity of atheism] − *Some things about some other things - [http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2006/12/the_courtiers_reply.php ScienceBlogs] − *[http://www.alt-atheism.org/ The alt.atheism usenet (newsgroups) FAQ] − *[http://brainz.org/50-most-brilliant-atheists-all-time/ The 50 Most Brilliant Atheists of All Time] − *[http://bigthink.com/daylight-atheism/9-great-freethinkers-and-religious-dissenters-in-history 9 Great Freethinkers and Religious Dissenters in History] − ==Footnotes==+ − {{reflist|2|90%}} − + − + − + − + − + − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − This content was taken from Ra tional Wiki under this license. + − http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode+ + +
Reverted edits by Godisnotdead (talk) to last revision by Progressingamerica
[[File:Atheism.jpg|thumb|alt=atheism|right|225px|[[Portrait]] of [[Paul-Henri Thiry]], Baron d'Holbach (1723 - 1789) was an early advocate of atheism in [[Europe]].]]
'''Atheism''', as defined by the ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', the ''[[Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'', and other [[philosophy]] reference works, is the denial of the existence of [[God]].<ref>Multiple references:
'''Atheism''' is the absence of belief in the existence of [[god]]s. The word stems from the Greek ''a-'' meaning "without", and ''theos'' meaning "god". ''Theos'' includes the Abrahamic [[YHWH]](s), Zeus, the [[Flying Spaghetti Monster]], and [[Fun:Gods Christians don't believe in|every other deity from A to Z]]<ref>[http://www.godchecker.com God Checker for a humorous list of many of these gods]</ref> (and 0-9, !, ", #, $ or any other character, obviously). For the definition of atheism, the terms "God" and "a god" are used interchangeably as there is no difference between a [[monotheism|monotheistic]] deity and a [[polytheism|polytheistic]] pantheon of deities when it comes to complete disbelief in them. This also has the deliberate intent of ignoring the privileged position [[Yahweh]] has held in English grammar. Most [[atheist]]s also do not believe in anything [[supernatural]] or [[paranormal]] (someone like this would be considered a [[Philosophical naturalism|naturalist]]).
*Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism "Atheism and agnosticism"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
*Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D. (23 June 2007). [http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational "Atheism is more rational?"]. See [[Creation Ministries International]], [[Jonathan Sarfati]].
*Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]
*[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html Putting the Atheist on the Defensive] by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal, Fall 1991, and Winter 1992, page 7.
</ref> Beginning in the latter portion of the 20th century and continuing beyond, many [[agnosticism|agnostics]]/atheists have argued that the [[definition of atheism]] should be defined as a mere lack of belief in God or gods.
<ref name="Divine">Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].</ref><ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref>
<ref name="CRI">[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html Putting the Atheist on the Defensive] by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal, Fall 1991, and Winter 1992, page 7.</ref> See also: [[Definition of atheism]]
Atheism has been examined by many disciplines in terms [[Atheism statistics|of its effects]] on individuals and society and these effects will be covered shortly.
As far as individuals adopting an [[Atheist worldview|atheistic worldview]], atheism has a number [[causes of atheism|of causal factors]] and these will be elaborated on below.
==Types of atheism==
''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 ===
[[Charles Bradlaugh]], in 1876, proposed that atheism does not assert "there is no God," and by doing so he endeavored to dilute the traditional definition of atheism.<ref>
*Discussion on Atheism: Report of a Public Discussion Between the Rev. Brewin Grant, B.A., and C. Bradlaugh, Esq., Held in South Place Chapel, Finsbury, London, on Tuesday Evenings, Commencing June 22, and Ending July 27, 1875, on the Question, "Is Atheism Or is Christianity the True Secular Gospel, as Tending to the Improvement and Happiness of Mankind in this Life by Human Efforts and Material Means.". Brewin Grant Charles Bradlaugh, January 1, 1890, Anti-liberation Society, page 10-12[https://books.google.com/books?id=Dwk3yV5MOaAC&pg=PA10&lpg=PA10&dq=Charles+Bradlaugh+definition+of+atheism&source=bl&ots=JtjIlK7qaJ&sig=E0HjYgfEyKXdEA4zlLAd9m41cQU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEgQ6AEwB2oVChMIrcijucWLyAIVCXA-Ch00NACw#v=onepage&q=Charles%20Bradlaugh%20definition%20of%20atheism&f=false]
</ref><ref name="Divine"/> As noted above, in the latter portion of the 20th century, the proposition that the definition of atheism be defined as a mere lack of belief in God or gods began to be commonly advanced by [[agnosticism|agnostics]]/atheists.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref> It is now common for atheists/[[agnosticism|agnostics]] and [[theism|theists]] to debate the meaning of the word atheism.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*[http://www.apatheticagnostic.com/articles/meds2/med40/med796.html The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”]
*[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>
Critics of a broader definition of atheism to be a mere lack of belief indicate that such a definition is contrary to the traditional/historical meaning of the word and that such a definition makes atheism indistinguishable from [[agnosticism]].<ref name="Divine"/><ref name="CRI"/><ref>
*[http://www.apatheticagnostic.com/articles/meds2/med40/med796.html The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”]
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]
*[http://carm.org/cut-atheism Atheism] by Matt Slick
</ref>
For more information, please see:
*[[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"]</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].</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</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.</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.</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 [[Nones|no specific religious attachment]], later chose to join a religious faith.<ref>Multiple references:
*Pearson, Christopher (May 9, 2009). [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/defectors-to-faith-mark-a-growing-trend/story-e6frg7ko-1225710667095 "Defectors to faith mark a growing trend"]. from theaustralian.com.
*Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (February 2011). [http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1204/religion-changes-affiliations-survey "Faith in Flux"] from ''Faith in Flux: Changes in Religious Affiliation in the U. S.'' PewResearchCenter.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and poor relationships with parents]]
A 2012 study by the General Social Survey of the social science research organization NORC at the University of Chicago found that belief in God rises with age, even in atheistic nations<ref>Harms, William (April 18, 2012). [http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/04/18/belief-god-rises-age-even-atheist-nations "Belief in God rises with age, even in atheist nations".] UChicagoNews.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and immaturity]].
In addition, in atheistic [[Communism|Communist]] China, Christianity is experiencing rapid growth (see: [[Growth of Christianity in China]]).
See also:
*[[Desecularization]]
*[[Atheist indoctrination]]
=== Participation in the atheist community more difficult than in many communities ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and loneliness]] and [[Internet atheism]]
In an essay entitled ''How the [[Atheist movement|Atheist Movement]] Failed Me'', an [[atheism and women|atheist woman]] noted that participation in the atheist community is often expensive due to the cost of attending [[atheist conferences]] and even local atheist meetings in restaurants and bars challenged her modest budget.<ref>Amanda (August 10, 2012). [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/08/10/how-the-atheist-movement-failed-me-part-1-cost/ "How the atheist movement failed me–part 1: cost"]. Friendly Atheist blog. </ref> As a result of the challenges that atheists commonly have in terms of socializing in person, many atheists [[Internet atheism|turn to the internet]] in terms of communicating with other atheists.<ref>Norris, Chuck (May 21, 2007). [http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55789 "How to outlaw Christianity (steps 2 & 3)"]. WorldNetDaily. See: [[Chuck Norris]].</ref> Often internet communication between atheists turns turns contentious (see: [[Atheist factions]]).
For more information, please see: [[Atheism and loneliness]]
== Claims about the conditionality of atheism and atheists' attitudes towards death ==
''See also:'' [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
Hannah More wrote: "[T]he mind, which knows not where to fly, flies to God. In agony, nature is no Atheist. The soul is drawn to God by a sort of natural impulse; not always, perhaps by an emotion of piety; but from a feeling conviction, that every other refuge is 'a refuge of lies'."<ref>More, Hannah (1815). [http://archive.org/details/anessayoncharac00moregoog ''An Essay on the Character and Practical Writings of St. Paul''], 5th ed., vol. 2 (London: T. Cadell and W. Davies), p. 234.</ref>
=== Atheism and death ===
[[File:Atheism and death.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm "Fear of death: Worst if you’re a little religious?"] (July 13, 2005). World Science.
*Wink, P. L. and Scott, J. A. (July 2005). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 "Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study" [abstract]]. ''The Journals of Gerontology, series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences'', vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 207-14. PubMed.gov</ref> See: [[Atheism and death]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and death]] and [[Atheism and cryonics]] and [[Atheism and Hell]]
''Science Daily'' reported that ''Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God''.<ref name="Otago">University of Otago [New Zealand] (April 2, 2012). [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm "Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God"]. ScienceDaily.</ref> In a ''Psychology Today'' article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.<ref name="Heflick">Heflick, Nathan A. (May 25, 2012). [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201205/atheists-death-and-belief-in-god "Atheists, death and belief in God: The effects of death reminders on atheists' supernatural beliefs"]. Psychology Today website. </ref> Under stress, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.<ref>Multiple references:
*Ruhr University Bochum (August 9, 2012). [http://aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/pm2012/pm00263.html.en "Learn to forecast the weather after stress"]. aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de.
*Gregoire, Carolyn (July 31, 2013). [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/learn-under-stress-brain_n_3678222.html "How the brain learns successfully, even under stress"]. The Huffington Post.</ref>
A United States study and a [[Taiwan]]ese study indicated that the irreligious fear death more than the very religious.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm "Fear of death: Worst if you’re a little religious?"] (July 13, 2005). World Science.
*Wink, Paul. and Scott, Julia. (July 2005). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 "Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study"]. ''The Journals of Gerontology. Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences'', vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 207-14. PubMed.gov.
*Wen, Ya-hui. (December 2010). [http://www.hraljournal.com/Page/4%20Ya-Hui%20Wen.pdf "Religiosity and death anxiety"]. ''The Journal of Human Resource and Adult Learning'', vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 31-37. The Journal of Human Resource and Adult Learning website.</ref>
For additional information, please see the article: [[Atheism and death]]
<br />
==== Atheism and Hell ====
''See also:'' [[Atheism and Hell]]
The journalist and [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[Peter Hitchens]], who is the brother of the late atheist [[Christopher Hitchens]], said upon seeing an art exhibit of [[Michelangelo]]'s painting ''The Last Judgment'' he came to the realization that he might be judged which startled him.<ref name="PH">[http://vimeo.com/10354237 "Peter Hitchens author interview—The rage against God"] [interview of Peter Hitchens] (March 22, 2010). Vimeo video, 8:38, posted by Gorilla Poet Productions.</ref> This started a train of thought within Peter Hitchens that eventually led him to become a [[Christian]].<ref name="PH"/>
For more information, please see: [[Atheism and Hell]]
==== Atheism and cryonics ====
See: [[Atheism and cryonics]] and [[Atheist cults]]
[[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">Multiple references:
*[http://dujs.dartmouth.edu/winter-2012/cryogenesis-a-review#.VDHE0RYy5l4 "Cryogenesis: A Review"] (March 11, 2012). Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science website.
*Barbaro, Valerie (17 June 2011). [http://thehumanist.com/july-august-2011/heaven-for-atheists/ "Heaven for atheists"]. TheHumanist.com. </ref> Atheists [[Robert Ettinger]] and [[Isaac Asimov]] played a notable role in the founding of the cryonics movement.<ref name="Ettinger">Multiple references:
*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/science-obituaries/8658435/Robert-Ettinger.html "Robert Ettinger"] (July 24, 2011). The Telegraph website. "Despite his Jewish roots, he grew up a determined atheist."
*Klein, Bruce (August 13, 2004). [http://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/4112-the-father-of-cryonics-robert-c-w-ettinger/ "The Father of Cryonics, Robert C. W. Ettinger"] [Interview with Robert C. W. Ettinger]. Longecity.org
*Pascal, David (November/December 2005). [http://www.cryonicssociety.org/articles_mensajournal.html "A brain is a terrible thing to waste. Mensans, cryonics, and the fight to extend human life"]. Mensa Bulletin. The Cryonics Society website.
*[http://www.cryonicssociety.org/aboutcryonics_critics.html "Cryonics and critics"] (2012). The Cryonics Society website.</ref> 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">[http://www.cryonicssociety.org/aboutcryonics_critics.html "Cryonics and critics"] (2012). The Cryonics Society website. </ref> For more information, please see: [[Atheism and cryonics]]
=== Atheism and transhumanism ===
See: [[Atheism and transhumanism]]
=== There are no atheists in foxholes ===
''See also:'' [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]] and [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
[[File:Foxhole.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring ''[[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]''.<ref>Multiple references:
* Taylor-Blake, Bonnie (September 24, 2006). [http://web.archive.org/web/20080617035633/http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696 "'There are no atheists in [the] foxholes'"]. Message posted to The American Dialect Society [Electronic] Mailing List, archived at ListServ 16.0. Archive at Internet Archive.
*Osborn, Neale (December 15, 2012). [http://nealebooks.newsvine.com/_news/2012/12/15/15931810-there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes "There are no atheists in foxholes..."]. Newsvine website/Neal Osborn.</ref>]]
Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring "[[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]."<ref>[http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,792459,00.html "Milestones [excerpt]"] (October 15, 1945). ''Time''. magazine website</ref> Chaplain F. W. Lawson of the 302d Machine Gun Battalion, who was wounded twice in wartime, stated "I doubt if there is such a thing as an atheist. At least there isn't in a front line trench."<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9905EFD91239E13ABC4D51DFB7678383609EDE "Tells of religion in army. Chaplain Lawson says there are no atheists in front line"] (November 25, 1918). ''New York Times'', p. 13.</ref>On the other hand, the news organization NBC featured a story in which atheist veterans claimed that there are atheists in foxholes.<ref>Breen, Tom (April 2, 2011).[http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42391558/ns/us_news-military/t/army-group-coming-out-atheist-closet/#.UbgMndihjSg "Army group 'coming out of the atheist closet'"] from NBCNews.com</ref>
Research indicates that heavy combat has a positive correlation to the strength of the religious faith in soldiers during the battles and subsequent to the war if they indicated their experience was a negative experience (for more information please see: [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]).
Also, due to research showing that death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God, Dr. Nathan Heflick declared in a ''Psychology Today'' article, "But, at a less conscious (or pre-conscious) level, this research suggests that there might be less atheism in foxholes than atheists in foxholes report."<ref name="Heflick"/> Please see: [[Atheism and death]]
== Denials that atheists exist ==
''See also:'' [[Denials that atheists exist]] and [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
It has been asserted by various theists that atheists do not exist and that atheists are actively suppressing their belief and knowledge of God and enigmatically engage in self-deception and in the deception of others (see: [[Denials that atheists exist]] and [[Atheism and deception]]). In atheistic [[Japan]], researchers found that Japanese children see the world [[Intelligent design|as designed]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Catchpoole, David (July 16, 2009 [GMT+10]). [http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed "Children see the world as designed"]. Creation.com. See [[Creation Ministries International]].
*Turner, Dean (1991). [http://books.google.com/books?id=BGU7LZ2bQ4cC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=As+for+me,+I+don%E2%80%99t+see+myself+as+so+much+dust+that+has+appeared+in+the+world+but+as+a+being+that+was+expected,+prefigured,+called+forth.+In+short,+as+a+being+that+could,+it+seems,+come+only+from+a+creator;+and+this+idea+of+a+creating+hand+that+created+me+refers+me+back+to+God.&source=bl&ots=die9xMUdsB&sig=3dAJOK34aBalYieFKcJLdGpwFjY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NXhqVMSmHMexyASUyYKIBw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=As%20for%20me%2C%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20see%20myself%20as%20so%20much%20dust%20that%20has%20appeared%20in%20the%20world%20but%20as%20a%20being%20that%20was%20expected%2C%20prefigured%2C%20called%20forth.%20In%20short%2C%20as%20a%20being%20that%20could%2C%20it%20seems%2C%20come%20only%20from%20a%20creator%3B%20and%20this%20idea%20of%20a%20creating%20hand%20that%20created%20me%20refers%20me%20back%20to%20God.&f=false ''Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility''] (Pasadena, California: Hope Publishing House), p. 109. GoogleBooks archive </ref>
=== Atheists/agnostics and ultimate purpose ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and purpose]] and [[Atheism and beliefs]]
One of the most popular arguments for God's existence is the [[teleological argument]]. Derived from the Greek word ''telos'', which refers to purpose or end, this argument hinges on the idea that the world gives evidence of being designed, and concludes that a divine designer must be posited to account for the orderly world we encounter.
Academic research and historical data indicate that a significant portion of atheists/agnostics often see their lives and the world as being the product of purposeful design (see: [[Atheism and purpose]]).<ref>Multiple references:
*Banerjee, Konika and Bloom, Paul (October 17, 2014). [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html "Does everything happen for a reason?"] The New York Times website
*Catchpoole, David (July 16, 2009 [GMT+10]). [http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed "Children see the world as designed"]. Creation.com. See [[Creation Ministries International]].
*Atheist [[Jean-Paul Sartre]] made the candid confession: "As for me, I don’t see myself as so much dust that has appeared in the world but as a being that was expected, prefigured, called forth. In short, as a being that could, it seems, come only from a creator; and this idea of a creating hand that created me refers me back to God. Naturally this is not a clear, exact idea that I set in motion every time I think of myself. It contradicts many of my other ideas; but it is there, floating vaguely. And when I think of myself I often think rather in this way, for want of being able to think otherwise." Source: Turner, Dean (1991). [http://books.google.com/books?id=BGU7LZ2bQ4cC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=As+for+me,+I+don%E2%80%99t+see+myself+as+so+much+dust+that+has+appeared+in+the+world+but+as+a+being+that+was+expected,+prefigured,+called+forth.+In+short,+as+a+being+that+could,+it+seems,+come+only+from+a+creator;+and+this+idea+of+a+creating+hand+that+created+me+refers+me+back+to+God.&source=bl&ots=die9xMUdsB&sig=3dAJOK34aBalYieFKcJLdGpwFjY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NXhqVMSmHMexyASUyYKIBw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=As%20for%20me%2C%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20see%20myself%20as%20so%20much%20dust%20that%20has%20appeared%20in%20the%20world%20but%20as%20a%20being%20that%20was%20expected%2C%20prefigured%2C%20called%20forth.%20In%20short%2C%20as%20a%20being%20that%20could%2C%20it%20seems%2C%20come%20only%20from%20a%20creator%3B%20and%20this%20idea%20of%20a%20creating%20hand%20that%20created%20me%20refers%20me%20back%20to%20God.&f=false ''Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility''] (Pasadena, California: Hope Publishing House), p. 109. GoogleBooks archive.
*The ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' declares about the agnostic/[[weak atheism|weak atheist]] [[Charles Darwin]]: "In 1885, the Duke of Argyll recounted a conversation he had had with Charles Darwin the year before Darwin's death: 'In the course of that conversation I said to Mr. Darwin, with reference to some of his own remarkable works on the Fertilization of [[Orchid]]s, and upon The [[Earthworm]]s, and various other observations he made of the wonderful contrivances for certain purposes in nature — I said it was impossible to look at these without seeing that they were the effect and the expression of Mind. I shall never forget Mr. Darwin's answer. He looked at me very hard and said, "Well, that often comes over me with overwhelming force; but at other times," and he shook his head vaguely, adding, "it seems to go away."' (Argyll 1885, 244)"
**[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html "Notes to 'Teleological arguments for God's existence'"] [article revised removing reference in January 2015].
**The Duke of Argyll (1885). [http://books.google.com/books?id=CskhAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22good+words%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fs24VKGOMpDnsATg_4HYDQ&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22it%20seems%20to%20go%20away%22&f=false "What is science?"] ''Good Words'' [United Kingdom], vol. 26, p. 244. GoogleBooks archive
</ref>
[[Image:Ncgj688.jpg|right|thumb|[[Jean Paul Sartre]]]]
[[Jean-Paul Sartre]] was one of the leading proponents of atheism of the 20th Century.
Yet Jean-Paul Sartre made this candid confession:
{{cquote|As for me, I don’t see myself as so much dust that has appeared in the world but as a being that was expected, prefigured, called forth. In short, as a being that could, it seems, come only from a creator; and this idea of a creating hand that created me refers me back to God. Naturally this is not a clear, exact idea that I set in motion every time I think of myself. It contradicts many of my other ideas; but it is there, floating vaguely. And when I think of myself I ''often'' think rather in this way, for want of ''being able to think otherwise'' [emphasis added].<ref>Ankerberg, Dr. John, et al. (2002). [http://www.jashow.org/wiki/index.php?title=Is_Jesus_Really_the_Only_Way_to_God/Part_3 "Is Jesus really the only way to God?/Part 3 - Is there an innate knowledge of God in atheists, skeptics, and other opponents of Christianity?"] The John Ankenberg Show website.</ref>}}
Furthermore, late in his life, the [[agnosticism|agnostic]]/[[weak atheism|weak atheist]] and evolutionist [[Charles Darwin]] often had overwhelming thoughts that the world [[Intelligent design|was designed]].<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html "Notes to 'Teleological arguments for God's existence'"] [article revised removing reference in January 2015].
*The Duke of Argyll (1885). [http://books.google.com/books?id=CskhAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22good+words%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fs24VKGOMpDnsATg_4HYDQ&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22it%20seems%20to%20go%20away%22&f=false "What is science?"] ''Good Words'' [United Kingdom], vol. 26, p. 244. GoogleBooks archive</ref>
See also:
*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
==Atheism and communism ==
''see also:'' [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Militant atheism]] and [[Atheism and economics]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheism and Karl Marx]]
[[Image:Khvhkgfiy.jpg|left|thumbnail|150px|[[Vladimir Lenin]]]]
=== Atheists Karl Marx and Vladmir Lenin ===
[[Karl Marx]] said "[Religion] is the opium of the people". Marx also stated: "[[Communism]] begins from the outset (Owen) with atheism; but atheism is at first far from being communism; indeed, that atheism is still mostly an abstraction.<ref>Mulligan, Martin (1959). [http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm "Private property and communism"] translation of Marx, Karl (1932), ''Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844'' (Moscow: Progress Publishers).</ref>
[[Vladimir Lenin]] similarly wrote regarding atheism and communism: "A Marxist must be a [[materialism|materialist]], i.e., an enemy of religion, but a dialectical materialist, i.e., one who treats the struggle against religion not in an abstract way, not on the basis of remote, purely theoretical, never varying preaching, but in a concrete way, on the basis of the [[class struggle]] which is going on in practice and is educating the masses more and better than anything else could."<ref>Rothstein, Andrew and Issacs, Bernard (1973). [http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm "The attitude of the worker's party to religion"] translation of Lenin, Vladimir (1909), ''Proletary'', No. 45, May 13 (26), ''Collected Works'', (Moscow: Progress Publishers) vol. 15, pp. 402-13.</ref>
=== The Russian revolution caused the most notable spread of atheism ===
According to the [[University of Cambridge]], historically, the "most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninism">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130728215151/http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title="Investigating atheism: Marxism"|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate=July 17, 2014|}}</ref> Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg, a Soviet physicist, wrote that the "[[Bolshevik]] communists were not merely atheists but, according to [[Lenin]]'s terminology, [[militant atheist]]s."<ref name="Lenin & militant atheism">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=ufC9Ar8iuDcC&pg=PA161&dq=The+Bolshevik+communists+were+not+merely+atheists+but,+according+to+Lenin%27s+terminology,+militant+atheists.&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1oFUUdj6PIiK0QGvq4CAAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=The%20Bolshevik%20communists%20were%20not%20merely%20atheists%20but%2C%20according%20to%20Lenin's%20terminology%2C%20militant%20atheists.&f=false|title =''On Superconductivity and Superfluidity: A Scientific Autobiography'' |author=Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg|publisher = Springer Science+Business Media|pages=p. 161|year=2009|quote=The Bolshevik communists were not merely atheists but, according to Lenin's terminology, militant atheists.|accessdate = July 17, 2014}}</ref> However, prior to this, the [[Reign of Terror]] of the [[French Revolution]] established a state which was anti-[[Roman Catholicism]]/Christian in nature <ref>Multiple references:
*Tallet, Frank and Atkin, Nicholas (1991). [http://books.google.com/books?id=aL4lsWdd-rAC&dq=&hl=en ''Religion, Society and Politics in France Since 1789''] (London: A & C Black), pp. 1-17. GoogleBooks archive.
*Spielvogel, Jackson J. (2006). [http://books.google.com/books?id=ni4PSpOxb6MC&dq ''Western Civilization: Combined Volume''] (Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth), p. 549. GoogleBooks archive.
*Latreille, A. (2002). "French Revolution", ''New Catholic Encyclopedia'' (2nd ed., Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson/Gale), vol. 5, pp. 972–973. ISBN 0-7876-4004-2</ref> (anti-clerical [[deism]] and anti-religious atheism and played a significant role in the French Revolution<ref>Multiple references:
*Hunt, Lynn and Censer, Jack (2001). [http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap7c.html "War, Terror and Resistence", ch. 7, p. 3]. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution website. George Mason University website/Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media website.
*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}}
<!-- 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
*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.
*Braga, Fr. Roman (1996). [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/frroman1.aspx "On compromise in the hierarchy during the Communist yoke"]. Orthodox Christian Information Center.
*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun
*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"]. NewsMax. NorthKoreanChristians.com
*[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818 "China sends Bible owners to labor camp"] (November 26, 2003). WorldNetDaily.
*[http://theworldnow.wordpress.com/tag/around-the-world/asia/china/ "China: Christians tortured while under arrest"] (September 27, 2006). The World Now. </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''. Time magazine website.</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.</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.</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.
*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: Ingentaconnect</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. Countries with the largest atheist populations.</ref> The religious landscape of China is quickly changing, however, due to the rapid growth of Christianity. 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''.</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''. </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 (see: [[Growth of Christianity in China]]). 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. </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. </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.
*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"]. NewsMax. NorthKoreanChristians.com </ref>
==== Atheistic communism and mass murder ====
''See also:'' [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism 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:
*[http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hpcws/lelivrenoir.htm "''The Black Book of Communism''"]. Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences website: Cold War Studies.
*Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"] University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War
*White, Matthew (February 2011). [http://necrometrics.com/20c5m.htm "Source list and detailed death tolls for the primary megadeaths of the twentieth century"]. Necrometrics
*Radosh, Ronald (February 2000). [http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=2526 "''The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression''"]. First Things [journal] website. </ref> Dr. R. J. Rummel, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii, is the scholar who first coined the term democide (death by government). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate regarding the loss of life due to communism is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987.<ref>Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"] University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War. </ref> [[Richard Dawkins]] has attempted to [[Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism|engage in historical revisionism concerning atheist atrocities]] and Dawkins was shown to be in gross error.
[[File:Martyred in the USSR Poster.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|The above photograph shows the Russian Nikolai Khmara, a new Baptist convert in the [[Soviet Union]], after his arrest by the [[KGB]]. He was tortured to death and his tongue cut out.<ref>[http://martyredintheussr.com/ Martyred in the USSR]</ref><ref>[http://www.anabaptists.org/books/russians/trs-1.html The Russians' Secret by Peter Hoover with Serguei V. Petrov, Speaking Without a Tongue, Chapter 1 (Pages 1-3)]</ref> See also: [[Atheistic communism and torture]] ]]
==== Atheistic communism and the torture of religious adherents ====
''See also:'' [[Atheistic communism and torture]]
The website Victimsofcommunism.org declares concerning atheistic communism and the use of [[torture]]:
{{cquote|Significantly, communists did not merely try to block or halt religious faith but to reverse it. This was particularly true for [[Romania]], even before the Nicolai Ceausescu era. This meant not just forbidding religious practice and jailing ministers and believers but employing torture to force them to renounce their faith. It was not enough to contain, silence, even punish believers in prison; it was decided they must be tortured in truly unimaginably degrading ways to attempt to undo religious faith.<ref>[http://victimsofcommunism.org/the-war-on-religion/ The War on religion]</ref>}}
For more information, please see: [[Atheistic communism and torture]]
=== Atheistic communist regimes and forced labor ===
In atheistic communist regimes forced labor has often played a significant role in their economies and this practice continues to this day (see: [[Atheism and forced labor]]).<ref>Multiple references:
*Caplan, Bryan (2010). [http://econfaculty.gmu.edu/bcaplan/museum/comfaq.htm "Museum of Communism FAQ version 1.3"]. George Mason University website/Department of Economics/Bryan Caplan/Museum of Communism.
*[http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/06/13/north-korea-economic-system-built-forced-labor "North Korea: Economic system built on forced labor: New testimonies say even children must work or face detention camps"] (June 13, 2012). Human Rights Watch website.
*Pattisson, Pete (November 7, 2014). [http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/nov/07/qatar-north-korean-forced-labour "Qatar’s ambitious future driven on by North Korean ‘forced labour’"]. ''The Guardian'' website/World/Global Development.
*[http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/red.giant/prisons/wu.essay "Labor camps reinforce China's totalitarian rule"] (1999). Cnn.com
*[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-01/07/c_132086402.htm "China to reform re-education through labor system"] (January 8, 2013). Xinhua.</ref>
=== Atheism, politics and related matters ===
*[[Militant atheism]]
*[[Atheism and mass murder]]
*[[Atheism and communism]]
*[[Atheism and mockery]]
*[[History of Atheism|History of atheism]]
*[[Atheism and politics]]
*[[Decline of the secular left]]
*[[Atheism and economics]]
== Atheism and education ==
''See also:'' [[Religion and education]] and [[Atheist indoctrination|Atheistic indoctrination and education]] and [[Atheism and intelligence]] and [[Atheism and academia]] and [[Atheism and academic performance]]
In the [[United States]], religious belief is positively correlated to education; a study published in an academic journal titled the ''Review of Religious Research'' demonstrated that increased education is correlated with belief in God and that "education positively affects religious participation, devotional activities, and emphasizing the importance of religion in daily life."<ref>Multiple references:
* Schwadel, Philip (2011). [http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13644-011-0007-4 "The effects of education on Americans’ religious practices, beliefs, and affiliations" [abstract].] ''Review of Religious Research'' 53:2. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13644-011-0007-4 DOI:10.1007/s13644-011-0007-4]. "(2) [E]ducation positively affects religious participation, devotional activities, and emphasizing the importance of religion in daily life; (3) education positively affects switching religious affiliations, particularly to a mainline Protestant denomination, but not disaffiliation; (4) education is positively associated with questioning the role of religion in secular society but not with support for curbing the public opinions of religious leaders; and (5) the effects of education on religious beliefs and participation vary across religious traditions. Education does influence Americans’ religious beliefs and activities, but the effects of education on religion are complex." Abstract retrieved from link.springer.com, July 16, 2014.
*{{cite web|title="Study: more educated tend to be more religious, by some measures"|author=Jim Kavanagh|date=11 August 2011|publisher=CNN|url=http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/11/study-more-educated-tend-to-be-more-religious-by-some-measures/|quote=‘With more years of education, you aren’t relatively more likely to say, “I don’t believe in God,”’ he said. ‘But you are relatively more likely to say, “I believe in a higher power.”’}} Retrieved July 17, 2014. See [[CNN]].
*{{cite web|author=Daily Mail reporter|title="The more education people receive, the more religious they become?"|date=12 August 2011|publisher=Daily Mail|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2025166/The-education-people-receive-religious-become.html|quote=By analyzing data from a large national survey, sociologist Philip Schwadel of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that people tend to become more religious—by certain definitions—as they further their education. The survey also qualified what concept of God or a 'higher power' individuals held, as well as whether they had any doubts. Mr Schwadel said that: 'With more years of education, you aren’t relatively more likely to say, "I don’t believe in God," but you are relatively more likely to say, "I believe in a higher power."'}} Retrieved July 17, 2014. See [[Daily Mail]].
*{{cite web|author=Winkler, Amanda|title="More is more when it comes to education and religion", study says|date=13 August 2011|publisher=The Christian Post|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/who-is-more-religious-53865/|quote=Sociologist Philip Schwadel from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) studied this phenomenon. He discovered that people today tend to become more religious as they further their education.}} Retrieved July 17, 2014.</ref>
One of the reasons education is positively correlated with belief in God in the United States is that the [[demography|demographics]] of people attending higher education has shifted due to more women and southerners attending higher education (these two groups are more likely to be [[theism|theists]]. See: [[Atheism and women]]).<ref>Bosmin, Barry (February 17, 2011). [http://www.scienceandreligiontoday.com/2011/02/17/why-do-we-believe-that-higher-education-leads-to-atheism-if-it-doesnt/ "Why do we believe that higher education leads to atheism if it doesn’t?"] Science + religion Today. Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>
Although atheistic indoctrination in school systems can have an effect on individuals (See: [[Atheist indoctrination]]), research indicates that social/economic insecurity often has a more significant impact.<ref>Ruiter, Stijn and van Tubergen, Frank (November 2009). "Religious attendance in cross-national perspective: a multilevel analysis of 60 countries". ''American Journal of Sociology'', vol. 115, no. 3, pp. 863-95.</ref>
For more information, please see:
*[[Atheist indoctrination]]
*[[Religiosity and the growing use of vouchers and homeschooling]]
=== Atheism in academia ===
[[File:Alister McGrath.jpg|right|thumb|175px|[[Alister McGrath]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and academia]]
In 2001, the atheist and [[Philosophy|philosopher]] Quentin Smith declared:
{{cquote|[[Naturalism|Naturalists]] [atheists] passively watched as realist versions of [[theism]] … began to sweep through the philosophical community, until today perhaps one-quarter or one-third of philosophy professors are theists, with most being orthodox Christians…. God is not 'dead' in academia; he returned to life in the 1960's and is now alive and well in his last academic stronghold, philosophy departments."<ref>Craig, William Lane (2012).[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/theistic-critiques-of-atheism "Theistic critiques of atheism"]. Reasonable Faith. Retrieved on July 26, 2014. Unabridged version of article published 2007. See [[William Lane Craig]].</ref>}}
In 2004, Professor [[Alister McGrath]], professor of historical theology at Wycliffe Hall, [[Oxford University]] declared, "The golden age of atheism is over."<ref>Stewart, Marilyn (August 10, 2004). [http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=18837 "Nobts’ Oxford Study Program spans notable lectures & historical sites"]. Baptist Press. Retrieved on July 26, 2014.</ref>
For more information please see:
*[[Atheist indoctrination|Atheistic indoctrination and education]]
*[[Religion and education]]
== Atheism and intelligence ==
[[File:Howard gardner.jpg|thumbnail|205px|right|[[Howard Gardner]] developed the [[Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences|theory of multiple intelligences]]. ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and intelligence]] and [[Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences|Atheism and Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences]] and [[Causes of atheism]]
Within various countries, standardized [[intelligence testing|intelligence test]] (IQ) scores related to the issue of atheists/[[agnosticism|agnostics]] vs. [[theism|theists]] intelligence scores yield conflicting results.<ref>[http://www.doxa.ws/other/smarter.html "Who is smarter; are atheists smarter than Christians? An examination of studies"] (2007). Doxa: Christian Thought in the 21st Century. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.randalolson.com/2014/08/24/the-myth-of-the-smarter-atheist/ The myth of the smarter Atheist] by Randy Olson, Posted on August 24, 2014</ref> Part of the problem is that social scientists use variant [[Definition of atheism|definitions of atheism]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Briggs, Dr. William M. (2013). [http://www.strangenotions.com/atheists-higher-iqs/ "Do atheists really have higher IQs than believers?"] Strange Notions. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.
*Wright, Bradley (January 26, 2012). [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/blackwhiteandgray/2012/01/how-many-americans-are-atheists-fewer-than-you-might-think/ "How many Americans are atheists? Fewer than you might think"]. Black, White and Gray. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.</ref> See also: [[Atheism, intelligence and the General Social Survey]]
However, within individuals, families and societies irreligion/religion can have an effect on intelligence - especially over time (See: [[Atheism and intelligence]]).
=== Flynn effect on intelligence: Secular/religious countries ===
The Flynn effect is the significant and long-sustained increase intelligence test scores measured in many parts of the world from roughly 1930 to the present.<ref name=R2000>Raven, John (2000). [http://eyeonsociety.co.uk/resources/RPMChangeAndStability.pdf "The Raven's Progressive Matrices: Change and stability over culture and time"]. ''Cognitive Psychology'', vol. 41, pp. 1-48. {{doi|10.1006/cogp.1999.0735}}. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.</ref> In some secular, economically developed countries, the Flynn effect has ceased and their scores on standardized intelligence tests are falling.<ref>Multiple references:
*Singh, Gunjan (July 31, 2010). [http://www.examiner.com/article/how-the-world-s-iq-is-decline "How the world's IQ is in decline"]. Examiner.com. Retrieved on October 26, 2014.
*Lynn, Richard and Vanhanen, Tatu (2006). ''IQ and Global Inequality'' (Augusta, GA: Washington Summit Publishers). ISBN 1-59368-025-2
*Hally, Thomas (aft. 2010). [http://www.academia.edu/1203173/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_World_1_ "The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ"]. Academia.edu. Retrieved on October 26, 2014.
*Hunter, Philip (March 21, 2012). [http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/science-and-technology/intelligence-quotient-james-flynn "Received wisdom: Average IQ is falling in Britain and beyond, explains Philip Hunter"]. ''Prospect'', April 2012. Retrieved from Prospect Magazine website on October 26, 2014.</ref> However, the Flynn effect is continuing in developing countries which tend to be more religious (see: [[Intelligence trends in religious countries and secular countries]]).
=== Intelligence trends: Secular countries and religious countries ===
See: [[Intelligence trends in religious countries and secular countries]]
=== Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences ===
See: [[Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences|Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences]]
[[Howard Gardner]] at [[Harvard University]] developed the [[theory of multiple intelligences]] which has identified various distinct intelligences: interpersonal, intrapersonal, visual–spatial, verbal–linguistic, logical–mathematical, musical–rhythmic, bodily–kinesthetic, and naturalistic.<ref>Lane, Carla. [http://www.tecweb.org/styles/gardner.html "Multiple Intelligences"]. Excerpt from "The Distance Learning Technology Resource Guide". Retrieved from The Education Coalition website on October 26, 2014.</ref> Gardner later suggested that [[moral intelligence]] may merit being included in his multiple intelligence model.<ref>Smith, Mark K. (2002, 2008). [http://infed.org/mobi/howard-gardner-multiple-intelligences-and-education/ "Howard Gardner and multiple intelligences"]. The Encyclopedia of Informal Education. Retrieved on October 26, 2014.</ref>
For information related to atheism and various forms of intelligence, please see:
* [[Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences]]
*[[Atheism and intelligence]]
== Criticism of atheism and the atheist community ==
''See also:'' [[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian|Resources for leaving atheism]] and [[Christian apologetics]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]
The word apologetics comes directly from the ancient Greek word apologia which is a derivative of a word meaning to speak in one's defence.<ref>Thayer and Smith (1999). [http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/apologia.html "Greek lexicon entry for 'Apologia'"]. ''The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon''. BibleStudyTools.com.</ref> [[Christian apologetics]] is a field of Christian [[theology]] which focuses on the evidence and arguments for [[Christianity]] and the evidence and arguments opposing other [[worldview]]s.
=== Biblical statements concerning atheism ===
''see also:'' [[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
[[File:Psalmist David2.jpg|thumb|115px|left|The psalmist [[David]] wrote: "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'"]]
The writers of the [[Bible]] considered the existence of God to be self-evident and [[Moses]] simply wrote: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." ([[Genesis]] 1:1).<ref>Harr, Ken and Lisle, Dr. Jason (August 9, 2007). [http://www.answersingenesis.org/is-god-real/is-there-really-god/ "Chapter 1: Is there really a God?"] ''The New Answers Book''. Answers in Genesis.</ref>
Accordingly, the psalmist [[David]] declared:
"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." — [[Psalms]] 14:1 ([[King James Bible|KJV]])
The psalmist David also wrote "The heavens declare the glory of God..." — Psalms 19:1
In his letter to the Romans the [[Apostle Paul]] declared:
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..." — [[Romans]] 1:19-20 (NKJV)
===Commonly Cited Arguments Against Atheism and For Theism ===
[[Image:Anselm.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|[[Anselm of Canterbury]]'s version of the [[ontological argument]] appeared in his work ''Proslogium''.]]
''See also:'' [[Christian apologetics]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]
In relation to the debate between theism and atheism, theists often criticize atheism as being contrary to persuasive argument and have a number of arguments against atheism. [[Arguments for the existence of God]] include:
<br />
* [[Teleological argument]]: The universe exhibits overwhelming evidence of deliberate, intelligent, purposeful design, which implies an [[intelligent design]]er. See also: [[Evolution|Arguments against evolution]] and [[Origin of life]]
*Lack of objective moral standards. Not possessing a coherent basis for [[morality]], [[atheist]]s are fundamentally [[Moral_relativism|incapable]] of having a coherent system of morality.<ref>Multiple references:
*Copan, Paul (2008). [http://www.paulcopan.com/articles/pdf/God-naturalism-morality.pdf "God, naturalism, and the foundations of morality"]. ''The Future of Atheism'', ed. Robert Stewart (Minneapolis: Fortress Press), pp. 141-161. PaulCopan.com
*Williams, Peter S. (2011). [http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god "Can moral objectivism do without God?"]. Bethinking.org
*Meister, Chad (2010). [http://www.equip.org/articles/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality/ "Atheists and the quest for objective morality"]. ''Christian Research Journal'', vol. 33, no. 2. Christian Research Institute website
*Slick, Matt (2009). [http://carm.org/failure-of-atheism-to-account-for-morality "The failure of atheism to account for morality"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website. </ref> See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Moral failures of the atheist population|List of the moral failures of the atheist population]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
* [[Cosmological argument]]: Every event in our [[universe]] necessarily has a cause. However, it is impossible that there should be an unending chain of causes going back. Therefore, there necessarily must be a cause ''distinct'' from the universe as we know it which is capable of causing all things and is itself uncaused. Atheism denies that that [[First Cause|first cause]] is God. The scientific evidence demonstrates that the [http://www.creationencounter.com/space/lawsofscience.php universe is not eternal] and Christians point out that [http://creation.com/who-created-god the question "Who created God" is an illogical question.]
*[[Atheism and irrationality]] - Atheism cannot account for the laws of logic, consciousness or human reason.
* [[Bible prophecy]]
*[[Atheism and the Problem of Evil]] (see also: [[Atheism and hell]] and [[Pascal's wager]])
* Historical arguments for the existence of God. For example, arguments stemming from historical accounts such as [[Christian apologetics|Christian historical apologetics]], [[Christian Legal Apologetics|Christian legal apologetics]] and archaeological evidence such as [[Bible Archaeology|Bible archaeology]]
* Atheists lack a coherent and compelling ultimate basis for knowledge. See: [[Atheism and epistemology]]
*[[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Common arguments against atheism]]
* [[Ontological argument]]: According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Ontological arguments are arguments, for the conclusion that God exists, from premises which are supposed to derive from some source other than observation of the world — e.g., from reason alone."<ref>Oppy, Graham (July 15, 2011). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ontological-arguments/ "Ontological arguments"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).</ref>
[[File:Autumn.jpg|291px|right|thumbnail|The [[argument from beauty]] argues the existence of [[beauty]] in the natural world testifies to the existence of [[God]] who both [[intelligent design|designed]] natural beauty and who possesses a divine beauty.]]
* Experiential arguments for the existence of God: Arguments based on personal experience and human intuition. According to philosopher [[Alvin Plantinga]] belief in the existence of God exists is a "properly basic" belief and not based on inference from other beliefs but is rationally justified due to one's circumstances of immediate experience of God.<ref>Craig, William Lane (1991). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/3truth01.html "Introduction: the resurrection of theism"]. ''Truth: A Journal of Modern Thought'', vols. 3 & 4. LeadershipU</ref>
* Various social science studies, historical data and other data, demonstrate that atheism often has a harmful effect on individuals and societies. See: [[Atheism statistics]]
*[[Presuppositional Apologetics]]
*[[Atheism and love]]. Atheists cannot give a satisfactory/robust explanation for the existence of [[love]].<ref name=love>Multiple references:
*Marshall, Dr. Taylor (2013). [http://www.strangenotions.com/atheists-love/ "How do atheists define love?"] Strange Notions blog
*Martin, Robert (July 9, 2014). [https://atheistforum.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/what-is-love-how-materialist-atheism-fails-to-have-a-satisfactory-answer/ "What is love? How materialist atheism fails to have a satisfactory answer"]. Atheist Forum blog.</ref>
*[[Argument from beauty]]<ref>Williams, Peter (Summer 2001). [http://www.quodlibet.net/articles/williams-aesthetic.shtml "Aesthetic arguments for the existence of God"]. ''Quodlibet Journal'' vol. 3:3. Quodlibet Journal website</ref> See also: [[Atheism and musical–rhythmic intelligence and artistic intelligence|Atheism and art/music]] and [[Atheism and wonder]]
*[[Atheism and Miracles]]
*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
*[http://creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge Bible scientific foreknowledge]
* Lack of proof and evidence that atheism is true contrasted with the strong evidence supporting Christianity. A [[Shockofgod|popular YouTube Christian channel]] has flustered the [[Internet atheism|internet atheist community]] by asking atheists what proof and evidence they have that atheism is true.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bBE1bos6JU "Shockofgod calls into atheist radio show - hilarious! Part 1"] (November 26, 2009). YouTube video, 9:37, posted by MultiArchangel.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKBZoWDfQA4 "Shockofgod calls into atheist radio show. Hilarious! Part 2"] (November 26, 2009). YouTube video, 8:31, posted by theshockawards.
*[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.</ref> Atheism requires blind faith. Atheism is a [[Atheism is a religion|faith based religion]] and it is a [[worldview]] which has no evidential support.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciVL86XQlvM "There is no proof and evidence that atheism is true: thus atheism is null and void"] (January 13, 2012). YouTube video, 1:28, posted by shockofgod.</ref>
*Historically, the atheist population has often used mockery as a substitution for reasonable discussion/debate (see: [[Atheism and mockery]]).<ref>
*[http://www.the-american-interest.com/2015/01/13/charlie-hebdo-and-frances-irreligious-tradition/ Charlie Hebdo and France’s Irreligious Tradition] by Kenneth R. Weinstein]
*[https://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/dawkins-mock-them-ridicule-them-in-public/ Dawkins: Mock them. Ridicule them! In public]
*[http://onenewsnow.com/perspectives/matt-barber/2014/05/08/mockery-the-mo-for-atheists ''Mockery - the M.O. for atheists''] by [[Matt Barber]]</ref>
*[[Atheism and the Bible]]
*[[Atheism website resources|Various Christian apologetic resources focusing on atheism]]
*[[Atheism and the suppression of science]]
*[[Argument from desire]]
*[[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
For more information, please see: [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Refutations of atheism]]
===Atheism and mass murder: Additional historical analysis ===
[[Image:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|right|202px|thumb|The [[militant atheism|militant atheistic]] regime of [[Joseph Stalin]] killed tens of millions of people.]]
:''See articles: [[Atheism and Mass Murder]]'' and [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Atheism and sadism]] and [[Atheism and forced labor]]
Christian apologist Gregory Koukl wrote relative to [[Atheism and Mass Murder|atheism and mass murder]] that "the assertion is that religion has caused most of the killing and bloodshed in the world.
There are people who make accusations and assertions that are empirically false. This is one of them."<ref name="Koukl">Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). [http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527 "The real murderers: atheism or Christianity?"] Stand to Reason.</ref>
Koukl details the number of people killed in various events involving theism and compares them to the much higher tens of millions of people killed under regimes which advocated atheism.<ref name="Koukl" /> As noted earlier, [[Richard Dawkins]] has attempted to [[Richard Dawkins, atheists atrocities, and historical revisionism|engage in historical revisionism concerning atheist atrocities and Dawkins was shown to be in gross error]].
Koukl summarized by stating:
{{cquote|It is true that it's possible that religion can produce evil, and generally when we look closer at the detail it produces evil because the individual people are actually living in a rejection of the tenets of Christianity and a rejection of the God that they are supposed to be following. So it can produce it, but the historical fact is that outright rejection of God and institutionalizing of atheism actually does produce evil on incredible levels. We're talking about tens of millions of people as a result of the rejection of God.<ref name="Koukl" />}}
[[Image:Solzhenitsyn.jpg|thumb|150px|left|[[Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn]]]]
[[Nobel Prize]] winner [[Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn]] was asked to account for the great tragedies that occurred under the brutal [[communism|communist]] regime he and fellow citizens suffered under.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote:
{{cquote|Over a half century ago, while I was still a child, I recall hearing a number of old people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen [[Russia]]: "Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened.''
Since then I have spend well-nigh 50 years working on the history of our revolution; in the process I have read hundreds of books, collected hundreds of personal testimonies, and have already contributed eight volumes of my own toward the effort of clearing away the rubble left by that upheaval. But if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: "Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened."<ref>Humber, Paul G., M.S. (1987). [http://www.icr.org/article/stalins-brutal-faith/ "Stalin's brutal faith"]. ''Acts & Facts''. 16 (10). [[Institute for Creation Research]]</ref>}}
[[File:Vox Day.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|[[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]] ]]
[[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]] notes concerning atheism and mass murder:
{{cquote|Apparently it was just an amazing coincidence that every Communist of historical note publicly declared his atheism … .there have been twenty-eight countries in world history that can be confirmed to have been ruled by regimes with avowed atheists at the helm … These twenty-eight historical regimes have been ruled by eighty-nine atheists, of whom more than half have engaged in democidal acts of the sort committed by Stalin and Mao …
The total body count for the ninety years between 1917 and 2007 is approximately 148 million dead at the bloody hands of fifty-two atheists, three times more than all the human beings killed by war, civil war, and individual crime in the entire twentieth century combined.
The historical record of collective atheism is thus 182,716 times worse on an annual basis than Christianity’s worst and most infamous misdeed, the Spanish Inquisition. It is not only Stalin and Mao who were so murderously inclined, they were merely the worst of the whole [[Atheism and Hell|Hell]]-bound lot. For every Pol Pot whose infamous name is still spoken with horror today, there was a Mengistu, a Bierut, and a Choibalsan, godless men whose names are now forgotten everywhere but in the lands they once ruled with a red hand.
Is a 58 percent chance that an atheist leader will murder a noticeable percentage of the population over which he rules sufficient evidence that atheism does, in fact, provide a systematic influence to do bad things? If that is not deemed to be conclusive, how about the fact that the average atheist crime against humanity is 18.3 million percent worse than the very worst depredation committed by Christians, even though atheists have had less than one-twentieth the number of opportunities with which to commit them. If one considers the statistically significant size of the historical atheist set and contrasts it with the fact that not one in a thousand religious leaders have committed similarly large-scale atrocities, it is impossible to conclude otherwise, even if we do not yet understand exactly why this should be the case. Once might be an accident, even twice could be coincidence, but fifty-two incidents in ninety years reeks of causation!<ref name="marry">Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009). [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"]. Creation Ministries International.</ref>}}
See also:
*[[Militant atheism]]
*[[Atheism and communism]]
*[[Soviet Union and morality]]
*[[Secular left]]
*[[Atheism and politics]]
==== Academic studies consistently challenge the link between religion and war ====
''See also:'' [[Irreligion/religion and war/peace]]
Louise Ridley (assistant news editor at the ''Huffington Post UK''), [[Vox Day]] and others point out that academic studies and other research consistently challenge the link between religion and war.<ref>Multiple references:
*Ridley, Louise [assistant news editor, ''Huffington Post'', UK] (November 18, 2014). [http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/14/religions-war-cause-responsible-evidence_n_6156878.html "Does religion really cause war—and do atheists have something to answer for?"] The Huffington Post, United Kingdom.
*Day, Vox (August 13, 2012). [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/08/atheists-abandon-religion-causes-war.html "Atheists abandon 'religion causes war' argument"]. Vox Populi blog.
*Schumacher, Robin (April 2012). [http://carm.org/religion-cause-war "The myth that religion is the #1 cause of war"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website. Edited by Matt Slick. See [[CARM]].
*Price, Tom (2014). [http://www.bethinking.org/is-religion-harmful/religion-causes-wars "'Religion causes wars'"]. Bethinking.</ref>
==== Darwinism and war ====
==Types of atheism==
There is historical evidence indicating that [[Darwinism]] was a causal factor for [[WWI]] and [[WWII]] (see: [[Irreligion/religion and war/peace]] and [[World War I and Darwinism]]).
===Atheism and uncharitableness ===
:''See also: [[Atheism and charity]]'' and [[Atheist nonprofit scandals]] and [[Atheism, uncharitableness and depression]]
[[File:Beggar.jpg|thumb|right|275px|A child in [[Thailand]] where the nontheistic form of [[Buddhism]] called the Theravada school of Buddhism is prevalent. In 2010, the Pew Research Forum indicated that 93.2% of the people of Thailand were Buddhists.<ref name="pew2010">[http://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf Pew Research Center - Global Religious Landscape 2010 - religious composition by country].</ref>
<br /><br />
A comprehensive study by [[Harvard University]] professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.<ref name="Burke Campbell">Multiple references:
*Burke, Daniel, Religion News Service (May 13, 2009). [http://web.archive.org/web/20130310113024/http://www.pewforum.org/Religion-News/Religious-people-make-better-citizens-study-says.aspx "Religious people make better citizens, study says"]. Pew Research Forum. Archived on March 10, 2013 by Internet Archive.
*Campbell, David and Putnam, Robert (November 14, 2010). [http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-11-15-column15_ST_N.htm "Religious people are 'better neighbors'"]. USA Today website.</ref> See: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] ]]
Concerning the issue of [[Atheism and Uncharitableness|atheism and uncharitableness]], the evidence indicates that [[per capita]] charitable giving by atheists and agnostics in America is significantly less than by theists, according to a study by the [[Barna Group]]:
{{cquote|The typical no-faith American donated just $200 in 2006, which is more than seven times less than the amount contributed by the prototypical active-faith adult ($1500). Even when church-based giving is subtracted from the equation, active-faith adults donated twice as many dollars last year as did atheists and agnostics. In fact, while just 7% of active-faith adults failed to contribute any personal funds in 2006, that compares with 22% among the no-faith adults.<ref> [http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/102-atheists-and-agnostics-take-aim-at-christians "Atheists and agnostics take aim at Christians"] (June 11, 2007). Barna Update.</ref>}}
A comprehensive study by [[Harvard University]] professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.<ref name ="Burke Campbell"/> The study revealed that forty percent of worship service attending Americans volunteer regularly to help the poor and elderly as opposed to 15% of Americans who never attend services.<ref name = "Burke Campbell"/> Moreover, religious individuals are more likely than non-religious individuals to volunteer for school and youth programs (36% vs. 15%), a neighborhood or civic group (26% vs. 13%), and for health care (21% vs. 13%).<ref name = "Burke Campbell"/>
<br />
See also: [[Atheism, social justice and hypocrisy]]
==== American atheist organizations focus on church/state issues and creationism - poor largely ignored ====
See also: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] and [[Western atheism and race]] and [[Atheism and love]]
In June of 2014, the African- American atheist woman Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson wrote in the ''Washington Post'' that white atheists organizations generally focus on church/state separation and creationism issues and not the concerns the less affluent African American population faces.<ref name="Hutchinson">Hutchinson, Sikivu (June 16, 2014). [http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/06/16/blacks-are-even-discriminated-against-by-atheists/ "Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about"]. Washington Post website.</ref> Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations do focus on helping poor African Americans.<ref name="Hutchinson"/>
Also, according to a video posted at [[Freethoughtblogs]] storefront churches provide assistance to local residents including women, and this partly explains the dearth of Hispanic and African-American women atheists in America (Atheists give less to charity than Christians. See: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]]).<ref>Myers, P. Z. (August 6, 2013). [http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2013/08/06/sikivu-ophelia-and-rebecca-who-says-atheism-lacks-women-stars/ "Sikivu, Ophelia, and Rebecca—who says atheism lacks women stars?"] Pharyngula.</ref>
==== Atheist nonprofit scandals ====
''See also:'' [[Atheist nonprofit scandals]] and ''[[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science#Embezzlement allegation|Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science - Embezzlement allegation]]''
Two recent atheist nonprofit scandals which received some publicity were the organizations [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science]] and the We Are Atheism organization.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/07/24/richard-dawkins-drops-his-lawsuit-against-former-employee/ Richard Dawkins Drops His Lawsuit Against Former Employee]</ref><ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/10/24/richard-dawkins-sues-josh-timonen/ Richard Dawkins sues Josh Timonen], Posted by David Gorski on October 24, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/07/24/richard-dawkins-drops-his-lawsuit-against-former-employee/ Richard Dawkins Drops His Lawsuit Against Former Employee]</ref><ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/09/15/an-update-on-we-are-atheism/ An Update on We Are Atheism] by Hemant Mehta, September 15, 2015]</ref>
In addition, David Gorski at Scienceblogs indicated that many atheist/skeptic organizations are poorly run from a financial standpoint.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/10/24/richard-dawkins-sues-josh-timonen/ Richard Dawkins sues Josh Timonen], Posted by David Gorski on October 24, 2010</ref>
For more information, please see: [[Atheist nonprofit scandals]]
=== Irreligion and domestic violence ===
''See also:'' [[Irreligion and domestic violence]] and [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]]
[[Image:Cycle.gif|thumbnail|255px|left|Research suggests that irreligiousity is a causal factor for domestic violence.<ref name="vaw">Ellison, C. G., Trinitapoli, J. A., et al. (November 2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17951587 "Race/ethnicity, religious involvement, and domestic violence"] [abstract with link to full article]. ''Violence Against Women'', doi: 10.1177/1077801207308259, vol. 13, no. 11, pp. 1094-1112. Abstract from PubMed.gov</ref>]]
The abstract for the 2007 article in the journal ''Violence Against Women'' entitled ''Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence'' indicated:
{{cquote|The authors explored the relationship between religious involvement and intimate partner violence by analyzing data from the first wave of the National Survey of Families and Households. They found that: (a) religious involvement is correlated with reduced levels of domestic violence; (b) levels of domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; (c) the effects of religious involvement on domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; and (d) religious involvement, specifically church attendance, protects against domestic violence, and this protective effect is stronger for African American men and women and for Hispanic men, groups that, for a variety of reasons, experience elevated risk for this type of violence.<ref name="vaw"/>}}
A September 9, 2012 article at ''Atlantic Wire'' wrote about the noted atheist [[John Lennon]]:
{{cquote|But people have mostly forgotten that Lennon was also physically abusive towards women. "I used to be cruel to my woman," he said, citing the lyrics to "Getting Better" in a Playboy interview near the end of his life. "Physically—any woman. I was a hitter. I couldn't express myself and I hit. I fought men and I hit women." In his biography The Lives of John Lennon, Albert Goldman also maintains that Lennon was guilty of spousal abuse.<ref>Wagner, David (September 19, 2012). [http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/09/john-lennon-and-chris-brown-have-something-common/57040/ "John Lennon and Chris Brown have something in common"]. The Wire website.</ref>}}
For more information, please see:
*[[Irreligion and domestic violence]]
*[[Atheism and women]]
*[[Atheism and rape]]
*[[Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army]]
*[[Atheistic Sweden and rape]]
*[[Atheism and love]]
==== Secular Europe and domestic violence ====
''See also:'' [[Secular Europe and domestic violence]]
[[File:Flag of Sweden.png|thumbnail|280px|right|Sweden is one of the most atheistic countries in the world.<ref name="Top 50">[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf "Top 50 countries with highest proportion of atheists/agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)"]. Chris and Terri Chapman. </ref> In Sweden, 81 percent of women said they had been harassed at some point after the age of 15 - compared to the EU average of 55 percent.<ref name="stands">Törnkvist, Ann (March 5, 2014, 8:34). [http://www.thelocal.se/20140305/sweden-out-top-in-eu-domestic-violence-league "Sweden stands out in domestic violence study"]. The Local.</ref>]]
In March of 2014, the [[Sweden|Swedish]] news website ''The Local'' published an article entitled ''Sweden stands out in domestic violence study'' which declared:
{{cquote|A new EU review of violence against women has revealed that one in three European women has been assaulted, and one in twenty has been raped, with the Scandinavian countries at the top of the league tables.
In the Scandinavian countries, in contrast, around half of the women reported physical or sexual violence, which researchers at the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights said could have several explanations...
In Sweden, 81 percent of women said they had been harassed at some point after the age of 15 - compared to the EU average of 55 percent. After Sweden, which had the highest rate, Denmark, France, the Netherland and Finland all saw rates above 70 percent. The EU member state with the lowest rate - 24 percent - was Bulgaria.<ref name="stands"/>}}
[[Sweden]] is one of the most atheistic countries in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 46 - 85% of Swedes were agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref name="Top 50"/> Sweden also has the 3rd highest rate of belief in evolution as far as [[Western World]] nations.<ref name=NGevo>Owen, James (August 10, 2006). [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060810-evolution.html "Evolution less accepted in U.S. than other Western countries, study finds [photo and caption]"]. National Geographic News. Photo and caption</ref>
For more information, please see: [[Irreligion and domestic violence]]
=== Mass rape and the Soviet Union's army in Germany ===
[[File:Joseph-stalin.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|When told that Red Army soldiers sexually assaulted German refugees, the atheist [[Joseph Stalin]] reportedly declared: "We lecture our soldiers too much; let them have their initiative."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1080493/Stalins-army-rapists-The-brutal-war-crime-Russia-Germany-tried-ignore.html | location=London | work=Daily Mail | first=Andrew | last=Roberts | title=Stalin's army of rapists: The brutal war crime that Russia and Germany tried to ignore | date=24 October 2008}}</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army]] and [[Atheism and rape]]
The journalist Peter Hitchens is the [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] brother of atheist [[Christopher Hitchens]] and he covered the Soviet Union, which had state atheism, during its latter years before it collapsed. According to Peter Hitchens, an atheistic society degraded the morals of the Russian people during the Soviet period (see: [[Soviet Union and morality]]).<ref>[http://creation.com/britain-needs-god ''Britain needs God'']</ref>
As Allied troops entered and occupied Germany during the latter part of [[World War II]], mass rapes occurred in connection with combat operations and during the occupation which followed. Historians in the [[Western World]] generally conclude that the majority of the rapes were committed by [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] servicemen.
The majority of the rapes happened in the Soviet occupation zone. Estimates of the number of German women sexually assaulted by Soviet soldiers have ranged up to 2 million.<ref name="ElizabethHeineman">{{cite journal |first=Elizabeth |last=Heineman |title=The Hour of the Woman: Memories of Germany's "Crisis Years" and West German National Identity |journal=American Historical Review |volume=101 |issue=2 |year=1996 |pages=354–395 |jstor=2170395 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Kuwert |first=P. |last2=Freyberger |first2=H. |year=2007 |title=The unspoken secret: Sexual violence in World War II |journal=International Psychogeriatrics |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=782–784 |doi=10.1017/S1041610207005376 }}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/berlin_01.shtml|title=BBC - History - World Wars: The Battle for Berlin in World War Two|publisher=Bbc.co.uk|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Schissler">Hanna Schissler ''The Miracle Years: A Cultural History of West Germany, 1949–1968'' [http://books.google.com/books?id=00fCzJKt1QMC&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28&dq=soviet+estimates+rape+tens+of+thousands&source=web&ots=xzyKzJm1sj&sig=cy2AfPmp7ZvT7K9YSWPRkXoyp6E]</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106687768|title=Silence Broken On Red Army Rapes In Germany|date=17 July 2009|work=NPR.org|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref> The historian William Hitchcock declared that in many cases women were the victims of repeated rapes, some women experienced as many as 60 to 70 rapes.<ref name="Struggle for Europe">{{cite book |first=William I. |last=Hitchcock |title=The Struggle for Europe: The Turbulent History of a Divided Continent, 1945 to the Present |publisher=Anchor Books |year=2004 |url=http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385497992&view=excerpt |isbn=978-0-385-49799-2}}</ref>
After the atheist leader of the Soviet Union [[Joseph Stalin]] received a complaint from Yugoslav politician Milovan Djilas about rapes in Yugoslavia, Stalin reportedly said that he should "understand it if a soldier who has crossed thousands of kilometres through blood and fire and death has fun with a woman or takes some trifle."<ref> Anne Applebaum, ''Iron Curtain, The Crushing of Eastern Europe'', p.32</ref> Also, when told that Red Army soldiers sexually assaulted German refugees, Stalin reportedly declared: "We lecture our soldiers too much; let them have their initiative."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1080493/Stalins-army-rapists-The-brutal-war-crime-Russia-Germany-tried-ignore.html | location=London | work=Daily Mail | first=Andrew | last=Roberts | title=Stalin's army of rapists: The brutal war crime that Russia and Germany tried to ignore | date=24 October 2008}}</ref>
Only a handful of Soviet soldiers were ever court martialed for raping German women during the war.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsOouDLL_EA German women raped during WWII by the Soviets] - Video</ref>
See also: [[Atheism and rape]]
===Atheism and immoral views===
Please see:
*[[Atheism and morality]]
*[[Moral failures of the atheist population]]
*[[Evolutionary belief and sexual immorality]]
* [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
*[[Atheist conferences#Atheist events and inappropriate sexually related activities|Atheist conferences and inappropriate sexual activity]]
[[File:Larry Flynt Wheelchair.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|The [[pornography|pornographer]] [[Larry Flynt]] is an atheist.<ref>Multiple references:
*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 from CNN.com on October 3, 2014. </ref> See: [[Atheism and pornography]] <br /><br />
<small>(photo obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Larry_Flynt_Wheelchair.jpg Wikimedia Commons], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en license agreement])</small>]]
==== Barna Group study on atheism and morality ====
The [[Barna Group]] found regarding [[Atheism and Morality|atheism and morality]] that those who hold to the worldviews of atheism or agnosticism in America were more likely, than theists in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: [[Illegal drugs|illegal drug use]]; excessive [[Atheism and alcoholism|drinking]]; sexual relationships outside of marriage; [[abortion]]; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; [[Profanity|obscene]] language; [[gambling]]; [[pornography]] and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in [[homosexuality]]/[[bisexuality]].<ref name="barna">[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.</ref> Given the [[Homosexuality and health|many diseases]] associated with homosexuality, the [[Bible|biblical]] prohibition against [[homosexuality]] is quite arguably one of the many example where the Bible exhibited knowledge [http://creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge that was ahead of its time]. See also: [[Atheism and sexual immorality]]
==== Objective morality does not exist under an atheist worldview ====
Under an atheist worldview, there is no logical basis for objective morality or ultimate meaning and purpose.<ref>
*[http://creation.com/atheism-no-objective-morality Atheism—no objective morality?], [[Creation Ministries International]]
*[http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god
Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God?] by Peter S. Williams at Bethinking.org
*[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}}.</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.
*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 from CNN.com</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. </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.</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.
*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.</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. </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.</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. </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.
*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.</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. The Architecture of Modern Political Power</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). eNotes.com</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.</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. Journal of Medical Ethics website </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.</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.</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.</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. 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. </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.
*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. The Association for Psychological Science website.
*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: Sage Journals 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. The Association for Psychological Science website</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. 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:
*Smith, Justin (November 22, 2006). [http://creation.com/the-basis-of-a-christian-worldview "The basis of a Christian worldview"]. Creation Ministries International
*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. </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.
*Myers, P. Z. (May 22, 2012). [http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/05/22/the-objective-morality-gotcha/ "The 'objective morality' gotcha"] Pharyngula.</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
*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.
*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. 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. </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.
*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.
*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.
*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.
**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. </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.
*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. Internet Christian Library
*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.
*McInerny, Professor Ralph (1985). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html "Why the burden of proof is on the atheist"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 1. LeadershipU
*Platinga, Alvin (1991). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/3truth02.html "Theism, atheism, and rationality"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 3. LeadershipU. 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. </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.
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4K_WZpIkM4 "William Lane Craig on scientific naturalism"] (January 12, 2008). YouTube video, 9:55, posted by Drcraigvideos
*Sullivan, Dr. Scott (August 19, 2014). [http://www.scottmsullivan.com/why-atheism-is-incoherent/ "Why atheism is incoherent"]. Podcast, 23:17. Spiritual Combat. ClassicalTheist
*[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.
*[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.
*[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.
*[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.
*[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.
*Cooper, Jordan (August 31, 2012). [http://justandsinner.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-incoherence-of-atheism.html "The incoherence of atheism"]. Just and Sinner blog.
*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.
*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.
*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.</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.
*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.
*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. ActonInstitute website
*Briggs, Matt (July 30, 2013). [http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=8669 "C.S. Lewis on the validity of reasoning"]. William M. Briggs [blog].
*Chad (April 9, 2012). [http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2012/04/cs-lewis-on-rationality-and-materialism.html "C.S. Lewis on rationality and materialism"]. Truthbomb Apologetics.</ref>
For more information, please see:
*[[Atheism and irrationality]]
*[[Atheism and logic]]
*[[Atheism and reason]]
*[[Irreligion and superstition]]
*[[Atheism and epistemology]]
=== Logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit ===
List of logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit: [[Atheism and logical fallacies]]
=== Atheism and meaninglessness ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]
Under an atheistic worldview, there is no objective meaning or purpose in life.<ref>Multiple references:
*Anderson, James (July 16, 2013). [http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/can-life-have-meaning-without-god "Can life have meaning without God?"] The Gospel Coalition. "Atheism’s universe is meaningless and valueless"]. J.W. Wartick—"Always Have a Reason" [blog
*Galloway, Katie (December 23, 2013). [http://www.bethinking.org/atheism/reclaiming-reason-from-atheism "Reclaiming reason from atheism".] Bethinking. ["Why atheism?"]
*Sirrahc (April 19, 2012). [http://aviewfromtheright.com/2012/04/19/heat-death-and-atheist-inconsistency-or-isnt-it-ironic/ "Heat death and atheist inconsistency (or, isn’t it ironic?)"]. A View from the Right
*Shramek, Dustin (2009). [http://www.oocities.org/athens/delphi/8449/atheism.html "Atheism and death: Why the atheist must face death with despair"]. Contend for the Faith [archive]. Archive
*Brake, Aaron (2013). [http://pleaseconvinceme.com/2013/apathy-atheism-and-the-absurdity-of-life-without-god/ "Apathy, atheism, and the absurdity of life without God"]. Pleaseconvinceme.
*Prayson, Daniel (December 16, 2010). [http://withalliamgod.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/the-meaningless-life-of-atheism/ "The meaningless life of atheism"]. With All I Am.</ref> Through [[Jesus Christ]], [[Christianity]] offers objective meaning and purpose to life.<ref>Multiple references:
*Slick, Matt (2012). [http://carm.org/meaning-of-life "What does the Bible say about the meaning/purpose of life?"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website
*[Under a Christian worldview] [http://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_MeaningLife.htm "What is the purpose and meaning of life?"] (2009). Christian Bible Reference Site.</ref>
For more information, please see: [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]
=== Arrogance of atheism/atheists ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and arrogance]] and [[Atheism and deception]] and [[Atheism and the suppression of science]]
[[Image:Cherry Blossom Japan.jpg|thumb|250px|Even in atheistic [[Japan]], researchers found that Japanese children see the world [[Intelligent design|as designed]].<ref>Catchpoole, David (July 16, 2009 [GMT+10]). [http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed "Children see the world as designed"]. Creation.com. See [[Creation Ministries International]].</ref>]]
One of the common and well-founded charges against atheists is their arrogance and presumptuousness.<ref>Multiple references:
*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. Internet Christian Library
*Copan, Paul (April 6, 2009). [http://www.equip.org/articles/the-presumptuousness-of-atheism/ "The presumptuousness of atheism"]. Christian Research Institute.
*Cupp, S. E. (December 29, 2010). [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/arrogance-atheists-batter-believers-religion-smug-certainty-article-1.469613 "The arrogance of the atheists: They batter believers in religion with smug certainty"]. ''New York Daily News''. See atheist commentator [[S.E. Cupp]]
*O'Neill, Brendan (August 14, 2013). [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100230985/how-atheists-became-the-most-colossally-smug-and-annoying-people-on-the-planet/ "How atheists became the most colossally smug and annoying people on the planet"]. The Telegraph website/Brendan O'Neill [blog]. [atheist author]
*Delzell, Dan (October 17, 2011). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/how-anger-fuels-atheistic-arrogance-58281/ "How anger fuels atheistic arrogance"]. Christian Post website.
*[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/atheist_arrogance.htm "Militant atheist arrogance and pride"] (2007). Militant Atheism Exposed.</ref>
==== Why atheism is an arrogant ideology ====
''See also:'' [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Arguments against atheism]] and [[Atheism and arrogance]]
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. Internet Christian Library</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.</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.</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.</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.</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.</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]]
==== 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.</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.</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.</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.</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. 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.).
</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.
*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. LeadershipU</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.
*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. LeadershipU
*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. Galaxie Software. 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. LeadershipU
*Lewis, C. S. (1960). [http://books.google.com/books/about/Miracles.html?id=tH8di3qQDhEC ''Miracles''] (New York: HarperCollins). Abstract: Google Books
*Holding, J. P. [http://www.tektonics.org/gk/hume01.html "David Hume: a critique"]. Tekton Apologetics.
*Esposito, Lenny (2002). [http://www.comereason.org/phil_qstn/phi060.asp "Are miracles logically impossible?"] Come Reason Ministries.</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.
*Thompson, Bert (2003). [http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=12&article=310 "So long, eternal universe; 'Hello beginning, hello end!'"] Apologetics Press.
*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. 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.</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. 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.</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. Mayo Clinic Proceedings website
*[http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/index.php/research/research-library "Research library"]. Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health.
*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. University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website
*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.
*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. University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website
*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.
*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: National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med
*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.
</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. Mayo Clinic Proceedings website</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.
*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. University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website</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.</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]</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.</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.</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. University of Miami department of psychology website
*Alternate source of abstract: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054 "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications" [abstract]]. PubMed.gov</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. Sage Journals. 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]. EurekAlert</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. PubMed
*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. National Center for Biotechnology Information</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: Adherents.com. 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: National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med
*[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.</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.</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: National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med</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.</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.</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.</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.</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.
*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.
*[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.</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.
*[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.</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. 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. University of Miami department of psychology website
*Alternate source of abstract: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054 "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications" [abstract]]. PubMed.gov</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).</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. 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. See [[CARM]]
*Hearn, Brian F. (December 31, 2009). [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-a-worldview.aspx "Atheism a worldview?"] Apologetics.net.
*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.
*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. 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: GoogleBooks</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°.</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.
*Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009). [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"]. Creation Ministries International.</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
*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.
*Ortberg, Mallory (January 5, 2013). [http://gawker.com/5973377/londons-first-atheist-church-opens-tomorrow "London's first atheist church opens tomorrow".] Gawker.</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.
*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.
*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. Intelligent Design Network</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.
* 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''].
</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.</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.</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]. 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. GoogleBooks</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
*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. </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.</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. </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. 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.</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]]
===Weak vs. strong atheism===
=== Atheist marriages ===
See: [[Atheist marriages]]
=== Atheism and interfaith marriages ===
[[Christopher Hitchens]] put it another way when he said: "What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence."
See: [[Atheism and interfaith marriages]]
====Strong atheism====
== 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]]
===Antitheism===
== 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|If someone doesn't value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn’t value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?|||[[Sam Harris]]}}
{{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.</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.
*[http://www.quantcast.com/samharris.org/demographics "Samharris.org traffic and demographic statistics: US Demographics"]. Quαntcast.</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. Creation Ministries International</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and evolutionary racism]] and [[Social effects of the theory of evolution]]
===Experiential===
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. Creation.com
* 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|Nobody knows for sure how many clergy members are secretly atheists (or are secretly on the fence, with serious doubts about their religion). But almost everyone I've spoken with in Clergy Project strongly suspects that the numbers are high.||| Greta Christina<ref>[http://www.alternet.org/story/155798/major_threat_to_religion_clergy_people_coming_out_as_atheists?page=0%2C2 Major Threat to Religion? Clergy People Coming Out as Atheists]</ref>}}
{{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.
*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. </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.</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. Stephen E. Jones' (B.S. biology) Home Page.</ref>}}
=== Creativity Movement ===
[[Freethought Blogs|Freethought]] Blogger Greta Christina articulates a possible effect of clergy openly leaving Christianity on their parishioners' beliefs. The more traditional position of clergy is that they are somehow endowed with answers to all questions of faith. If these trained religious authorities start saying they have no answers to normal "Crises of Faith", even more if some of them suggest the most reasonable answer is atheism, lay Christians will find continuing with their belief more difficult. <ref>[http://freethoughtblogs.com/greta/2012/06/20/clergy-project/ The Clergy Project: Do Atheist Clergy Change The Religion Game?]</ref> It is worth noting, however, that modern clergy trained in most US or UK universities are discouraged from claiming to be exempt from such crises of faith, and to encourage people to share a "journey of spiritual discovery". Perhaps atheism must simply be accepted as an outcome of that endeavor.
''See also:'' [[Creativity Movement]] and [[Atheist cults]]
==Who are atheists?==
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). "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...")
*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.
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics "Atheist demographic series"] (2009-2011). Kitman TV.
*[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.</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.
*[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.
*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...")
*[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.</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. </ref>}}
A recent study published in the ''Annals of Family Medicine'' suggests that, despite what some may think, religiousness does not appear to have a significant effect on how much physicians care for the underserving.<ref>[http://www.annfammed.org/cgi/content/full/5/4/353 Do Religious Physicians Disproportionately Care for the Underserved?]</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.</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.</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.</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.</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. Obtained 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''.</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]]
==== 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. Nytimes.com</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.
*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C03EFDD123EE033A2575AC0A9659C946697D6CF "Kaiser honors Haeckel"] (March 9, 1907). ''New York Times'', p. 1
*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.
*Wells, Jonathan (January 2001). [http://www.discovery.org/articleFiles/PDFs/survivalOfTheFakest.pdf "Survival of the fakest"]. ''The American Spectator''. Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture: essential readings</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.</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. World Tribune.com</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. Subscription required for full access.
*Holst, Wayne (2004). [http://www.s8int.com/Godless.html "''Twilight of the Godless'' by Alister McGrath"]. ''The Toronto Star''.</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. Subscription required for complete 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!</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.
[[African American]] atheists are a small minority (2% of the American population) facing severe prejudice.
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 reason for such attitudes towards atheists in these nations is unclear. Firstly, there is no stated creed with which to disagree (except perhaps for "strong" atheists, whose only belief is that there are no gods). Nor are atheists generally organized into lobbies or interest groups or political action committees (at least none that wield massive power), unlike the many groups that lobby on behalf of various religions. And yet an atheist would be the least likely to be elected [[President of the United States]]. According the American Values Survey, about 67% of all voters would be uncomfortable with an atheist president, and no other group — including [[Mormon]]s, [[African American]]s, and [[homosexual]]s — would lose so much of the potential vote based on one single trait alone.<ref name="TGD">''The God Delusion''. Dawkins, Richard.</ref><ref>a) [http://publicreligion.org/newsroom/2011/11/2011-american-values-survey/ Public Religion Research Institute - American Values Survey] b)[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/11/09/would-you-be-comfortable-with-an-atheist-president-2011-survey-says/ Friendlya atheist - Would You Be Comfortable with an Atheist President? 2011 Survey Says…]</ref> One potential reason for this is that in the United States, [[Christianity|Christian]] groups have managed to push and implant the concept that without religion there can be no morality - often playing to people's needs for absolutes and written rules - [[absolute morality]] is presented as something inherently true and achievable only by believers.
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.
</ref>
[[File:Stalin-140508_27880t.jpg|thumb|Fundamentalist Christians have a penchant for revising history to suggest that the bad acts of atheists are due to lack of belief in a god (usually the Christian [[God]]). Attempts by fundamentalist Christians to associate [[Hitler]]<ref>Who was a lifelong Roman Catholic and invoked religion and god quite often in his rhetoric of the early 1930s</ref>, [[Stalin]]<ref>Who was thrown out of the orthodox seminary for steeling and giving the proceeds to the Communist party and later used the Orthodox church for political gain during the war, though he likely ''was'' an atheist, if anybody who believes himself to be godlike can called any such thing</ref>, and any number of terrible characters with atheism indulge the [[association fallacy]] and would be laughably trivial were the smear not so effective at influencing [[Critical thinking|uncritical thinkers]].]]
[[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.</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.</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
*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. See [[The Daily Telegraph]].</ref>
[[Richard Dawkins]], who flip-flops between being an [[agnosticism|agnostic]] and an atheist as far as his public persona (see: [[Richard Dawkins and agnosticism]]), has [[Instances of Richard Dawkins ducking debates|established a reputation of avoiding his strongest debate opponents]]. On May 14, 2011, the [[Great Britain|British]] newspaper ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' published a news story entitled ''Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God''.<ref name=refuse>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. See [[The Daily Telegraph]].</ref>
In [[The Daily Telegraph]] article Dr. [[Daniel Came]], a a member of the Faculty of [[Philosophy]] at [[Oxford University]] was quoted as writing to fellow atheist Richard Dawkins concerning his refusal to debate Dr. [[William Lane Craig]], "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 cowardice on your part."<ref name=refuse/> Also, atheists [[Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates|tend to dodge creation vs. evolution debates.]]
For more information see: [[Atheism debates]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]]
=== Creation vs. evolution debates ===
See also: [[Creation scientists tend to win debates with evolutionists]]
The worldwide atheist community was challenged to a debate by [[Creation Ministries International]] as prominent atheists were speaking at a 2010 global atheist convention in [[Australia]].<ref name="truefree">Ammi, Ken (May 2010). [http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/richard-dawkins-cowardly-clown "Richard Dawkins, the cowardly clown"]. True Freethinker. </ref> [[Richard Dawkins]], [[PZ Myers]] and other prominent atheists refused to debate Creation Ministries International.<ref name="truefree"/> Generally speaking, creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates (see: [[Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates]].
===Atheism = communism===
== Atheist philosopher Michael Martin and the state of atheist apologetics ==
''See also:'' [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]
In 1990, the atheist philosopher [[Michael Martin]] indicated there was a general absence of an atheistic response to contemporary work in the philosophy of religion and in jest he indicated that it was his "cross to bear" to respond to [[theism|theistic]] arguments.<ref>Rodrigues, Luís F. (2010). ''Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith'' (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO), p. 201.</ref> In addition, in 1994, Michael Martin was criticized for his eleventh hour cancellation of his debate with [[Greg Bahnsen]] (see: [[Greg Bahnsen and debate]] and [[Press release after Michael Martin pulled out of Martin-Bahnsen debate|Press release concerning Michael Martin pulling out of Martin-Bahnsen debate]]). Today, there is a growth of Christian apologetics in the world, while the atheist apologetic community is in a state of stagnation. (See: [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Growth of Christian apologetics]]).
[[File:Scarlet A.png|thumb|The "Scarlet A" of the Out Campaign<ref>http://outcampaign.org/</ref>]]
==Notable atheists who became ex-atheists ==
''See:'' [[Ex-atheists]]
== Views on atheists ==
''See also:'' [[Views on atheists]] and [[Atheism statistics]] and [[Atheism and social outcasts]] and [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Atheophobia]]
[[File:Sam Harris 01.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|[[Sam Harris]]
<br />
<br />
<small>(photo obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sam_Harris_01.jpg Wikimedia commons], see [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sam_Harris_01.jpg license agreement])</small> ]]
Concerning various [[Views on Atheists|views on atheists]], research in the American Sociological Review finds that among several groups listed, those who hold the position of atheism are the group that Americans relate least to in terms of their vision of American society and are the group most likely to be mentioned as one that Americans would not want to have marry into their family.<ref>Edgell, Penny, et al. (April 2006). [http://asr.sagepub.com/content/71/2/211.abstract "Atheists as 'other': moral boundaries and cultural membership in American society" [abstract]]. ''American Sociological Review'', vol. 71, pp. 211-234. Abstract: American Sociological Review website. Subscription or fee required for full article.</ref>Dr. [[Sam Harris]], a founder of the [[New Atheism]] movement, is well aware of the stigma surrounding atheism and has advocated that atheists no longer call themselves atheists.<ref name="Harris">Roberts, Jessica, et al. (June 19, 2007). [http://news21.com/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist "Interview with an atheist"]. News21.</ref> In fact, Dr. Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref name="Harris"/>
=== Americans and Canadians distrust atheists as much as rapists ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and rape]] and [[Atheism and morality]]
On December 10, 2011, USA Today reported in a story entitled ''Study: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists'':
{{cquote|The study, conducted among 350 Americans adults and 420 Canadian college students, asked participants to decide if a fictional driver damaged a parked car and left the scene, then found a wallet and took the money, was the driver more likely to be a teacher, an atheist teacher, or a rapist teacher?
The participants, who were from religious and nonreligious backgrounds, most often chose the atheist teacher.
The study is part of an attempt to understand what needs religion fulfills in people. Among the conclusions is a sense of trust in others.
"People find atheists very suspect," Shariff said. "They don't fear God so we should distrust them; they do not have the same moral obligations of others. This is a common refrain against atheists. People fear them as a group."<ref>Winston, Kimberly, Religion News Service (December 10, 2011). [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-12-10/religion-atheism/51777612/1 "Study: atheists distrusted as much as rapists"]. USA Today website.</ref>}}
=== Christian patience, forgiveness and long-suffering towards atheists ===
See: [[Christian patience, forgiveness and long-suffering towards atheists]]
===In the United States===
=== Persecution of atheists ===
''See also:'' [[Persecution of atheists]]
As [[atheism vs. Islam]] conflict has increased in the world, there are growing reports of [[Islam]]ic governments imprisoning/executing atheists and radical Islamacists killing atheists, but they are still relatively few in number.<ref>Multiple references:
*Churchill, Bob (December 17, 2014). [http://www.religionnews.com/2014/12/17/atheists-new-persecuted-minority-international-report-concludes-commentary/ "Atheists: the new persecuted minority, international report concludes (commentary)"]. Religion News Service website.
*Mohiuddin, Asif (April 1, 2015). [http://observers.france24.com/content/20150401-bangladesh-atheist-blogger-murders-rahman "Bangladesh struck by wave of atheist blogger murders"]. France 24/Observers.
*Evans, Robert (December 9, 2012). [http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/10/us-religion-atheists-idUSBRE8B900520121210 "Atheists around world suffer persecution, discrimination: report"]. Reuters website</ref> For more information, please see: [[Persecution of atheists]]
=== Atheophobia ===
[[Atheophobia]] is a fear and/or hatred of atheism/atheists.<ref>Multiple references:
*Wiktionary contributors (June 16, 2014). [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/atheophobia "atheophobia"]. Wiktionary.
*Wiktionary contributors (2014). [http://www.allwords.com/word-atheophobia.html?PageSpeed=noscript "Definition of atheophobia"]. Allwords.com.</ref> For a [[Atheophobia|number of]] moral/practical reasons, fear of atheism/atheists is unwarranted. For more information, please see: [[Atheophobia]].
==New Atheism==
''See also:'' [[New Atheism]] and [[Atheist factions]] and [[Brights Movement]] and [[Militant atheism]] and [[Atheist cults]]
[[Image:Hitchens,_Stanford.jpg |left|thumb|200px|[[Christopher Hitchens]] ]]
Dissent Magazine stated the following about the "[[New Atheism]]":
{{cquote|A number of prominent authors and scientists have published books in the past year that advocate a "New Atheism." The books, which include <big><sup>[[Daniel Dennett]]'s ''Breaking the Spell''</sup></big>, <big><sup>[[Richard Dawkins]]</sup></big>'s ''<big><sup>[[The God Delusion]]</sup></big>'', and <big><sup>[[Christopher Hitchens]]' ''God is Not Great''</sup></big>, have sparked considerable public controversy across the political spectrum.<ref>Cohen, Mitchell (August 5, 2007). [http://www.dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/the-new-atheism "The new atheism"]. Dissent magazine website.</ref>}}
Dr. Albert Mohler Jr. describes some of the key attributes of the "New Atheism":
{{cquote|Now, ''Wired'' magazine comes out with a cover story on atheism for its November 2006 issue. In "The New Atheism," ''Wired'' contributing editor Gary Wolf explains that this newly assertive form of atheism declares a very simple message: "No heaven. No hell. Just science."...
Wolf accomplishes a great deal in his article, thoughtfully introducing the work of [[Militant atheism|militant atheists]] such as Dawkins, Harris, and Dennett. At the same time, he probes more deeply into the actual meaning of the New Atheism as a movement and a message.
At the beginning of his article, he gets right to the point: "The New Atheists will not let us off the hook simply because we are not doctrinaire believers. They condemn not just belief in God but respect for belief in God. Religion is not only wrong; it's evil. Now that the battle has been joined, there's no excuse for shirking."<ref>Mohler, Dr. R. Albert, Jr. (November 21, 2006). [http://www.albertmohler.com/2006/11/21/the-new-atheism "The new atheism?"] AlbertMohler.com.</ref>}}
===In Europe===
=== Impact of the New Atheism ===
''See:'' [[Impact of the New Atheism]]
== American Atheists ==
See: [[American atheism]]
===In New Zealand===
==French Revolution and atheism/deism ==
see: [[History of Atheism]]
== Atheism and homosexuality ==
See:
*[[Atheist actions against homosexuals]]
*[[Atheism and homosexuality]]
== Atheist population as a percentage of various countries' populations==
:''See main article: [[Atheist Population]]''
Specific research on the worldwide [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] conducted in 2006 [http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/allnewsbydate.asp?NewsID=1131 suggests] that the true proportion of atheists is 4% in the United States, 17% in Great Britain and 32% in France. A survey published in the 2005 ''[[Encyclopedia Britannica]]'' declared that 2.3% of the world's population consists of individuals who profess "atheism, skepticism, disbelief, or irreligion, including the militantly antireligious." Concerning the 2.3% figure just mentioned, the 2005 survey cited by ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' survey did not include [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] in regards to the 2.3% figure and Buddhism can be [[Theism|theistic]] or atheistic.<ref>Anonymous (July 17, 2013). [http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/beliefs/atheism.htm "Is Buddhism atheistic?"] ReligionFacts.</ref>
[[Ipsos]], a major global market research company, published a report on report on religious belief/skepticism from a worlwide perspective and the report provides [http://www.ipsos-na.com/download/pr.aspx?id=10670 various statistics gained from survey results].
==What do atheists look like?==
== Other well known proponents of atheism ==
[[File:Ncvjgfu.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|[[Mao Zedong]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Famous atheists]] and [[Famous agnostics]]
Prominent holders of the position of atheism and atheist schools of thought have been or include:
* Carvaka school: an atheistic and materialistic offshoot of [[Hinduism]] in the 6th century B.C.
* Samkhya school: an atheistic school of classical Indian philosophy, originating in the 6th century B.C.
* [[Diagoras]]: [[Greek Philosophy|Greek philosopher]] who denied the existence of the Greek pantheon
* [[Lucretius]]: [[Greeks| Greek]] philosopher espousing materialism, and stated that man should not believe in the gods because their ideas about the gods and their fear of death made men unhappy
* [[Friedrich Nietzsche]]: Prominent 19th century atheist philosopher
* [[Mao Zedong]]: Chinese Communist leader
* [[Benito Mussolini]]
* [[Paul Kurtz]]: founder of the Council of [[Secular Humanism]]
* [[Ayn Rand]]
* [[Isaac Asimov]]
* [[Douglas Adams]]
* [[Marquis de Sade]]<ref>Wallace, Irving et al. (betw. 1975-1981). [http://www.trivia-library.com/a/biography-of-famous-atheist-marquis-de-sade.htm "Marquis de Sade (1740-1814)"]. Trivia-Library.com..</ref>
* [[Mark Rothko]] (1903–1970) [[painter]], classified as an [[Abstract Expressionism|abstract expressionist]].
==Atheism quotes==
''See articles: [[Atheism Quotes]]'' and [[Humorous quotes about atheism and evolution]]
== Atheism news ==
See: [[Atheism news]]
== Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian ==
* [[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
*[http://creation.com/good-news Some good news]
==See also==
==See also==
===Essays by ===
*[[Atheism articles]]
*[[:Category:Atheism essays]]
*[[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]
*[[History of Atheism]]
*[[Martyred in the USSR: Militant Atheism in former Soviet Union]]
*[[Atheism and satanic deception]]
*[[Atheism and beliefs]]
*[[Atheism and belief]]
*[[Atheism and Evolution]]
*[[Second generation atheist]]
*[[Poe's law]]
*[[Atheism symbols]]
*[[Comedy and satires concerning atheism and evolution]] ('''large collection''' of comedy/satire concerning atheism and [[evolution]])
*[[Essay: Atheism and evolution essays|Atheism and evolution essays]]
==Online videos concerning atheism and related topics==
*[[Atheism videos]]
*[[Creation vs. Evolution Videos]]
==External links==
==External links==
''see also:'' [[Atheism website resources]]
[[Category:Atheism| ]]
'''General articles on atheism:'''
[[Category:Key concepts in atheism]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]
* [http://creation.com/atheism Atheism] by [[Creation Ministries International]]
[[Category:Religious terms]]
*[http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/horrific-human-toll-of-militant-atheism-exposed/ Horrific Human Toll of 'Militant Atheism' Exposed: USSR's genocide against Christians largely ignored - World Net Daily]
[[Category:History of communism]]
*[http://creation.com/atheism-agnosticism-and-humanism-godless-religions-questions-and-answers Atheism, agnosticism and humanism: godless religions] by [[Creation Ministries International]]
[[ru:Атеизм]]
*[http://www.truefreethinker.com/atheism True Free Thinker - atheism section]
*[http://www.carm.org/atheism.htm Atheism] by [[Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry]]
'''Prominent atheists:'''
*[[Atheism and leadership]]
*[http://www.thebestschools.org/blog/2011/12/01/50-top-atheists-in-the-world-today/ 50 most prominent atheists in the world today]
'''Other articles on atheism:'''
*[[Atheism articles|Atheism articles on various topical areas - External websites]]
*[[Conservapedia atheism articles]]
== Recommended reading ==
'''General Works Relating to Atheism and/or Defense of Theism''':
*[http://www.amazon.com/Top-Evidences-God-Creation-ebook/dp/B00E4DS2J0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380144491&sr=8-1&keywords=jason+browning Top 15 Evidences for God and Creation] by Jason Browning
*''True Reason: Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism'', Publisher: Kregel Publications; Reprint edition (February 1, 2014), ISBN-10: 0825443385
*[[Alister McGrath]], (2004), ''The Twilight of Atheism: The Rise and Fall of Disbelief in the Modern World'' ISBN 0-385-50061-0
*[[Ravi Zacharias]], (1994, 2004), ''A Shattered Visage: The Real Face of Atheism'' ISBN 0801065119
*[[Ravi Zacharias]], (1994, 1996), ''Can Man Live Without God?'' ISBN 0849939437
*[[Josh McDowell]] and Don Stewart, (1982) ''Understanding Secular Religions'', Here's Life Publishers, San Bernardino, California, ISBN 0-86605-093-0
'''Books related to ex-atheists:'''
* ''Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life'' by C.S. Lewis, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich (March 23, 1966), ISBN-10: 0156870118, ISBN-13: 978-0156870115
*''There is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind'' by [[Anthony Flew]] (2007) with Roy Abraham Varghese (ISBN 978-0-06-133529-7)
*''A Defense of the Integrity of Antony Flew's "There is a God" From His Own Letters'' by Anthony Horvath, Publisher: [[Athanatos Christian Ministries]], September 3, 2011<ref>[http://athanatosministries.org/store/products/a-defense-of-the-integrity-of-antony-flews-there-is-a-god-from-his-own-letters ''A Defense of the Integrity of Antony Flew's "There is a God" From His Own Letters''] by Anthony Horvath, Publisher: [[Athanatos Christian Ministries]], September 3, 2011</ref>
'''Book on the [[New Atheism]]''':
* Dr. Phil Fernandes, ''The Atheist Delusion'', Xulon Press, (2009), ISBN-13: 9781607915829
* [[Vox Day]], (2008),''The Irrational Atheist'', BenBella Books, Inc. ISBN 1933771364 (free pdf of the abbreviated version of his book: [http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf The Irrational atheist])
*R. Albert Mohler Jr., (2008), ''Atheism Remix: A Christian Confronts the New Atheists'', Crossway, ISBN 9781433504976
'''Atheism and history''':
*Dimitry Pospielovsky, (December, 1987), ''A History of Marxist-Leninist Atheism and [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] Antireligious Policies'', Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 0312381328
*Dimitry Pospielovsky, (November, 1987), ''Soviet Antireligious Campaigns and Persecutions (History of Soviet Atheism in Theory and Practice and the Believers, Vol 2)'', Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 0312009054
*Dimitry Pospielovsky, (August, 1988), ''Soviet Studies on the Church and the Believer's Response to Atheism: A History of Soviet Atheism in Theory and Practice and the Believers, Vol 3'', Palgrave Macmillan, hardcover: ISBN 0312012918, paperback edition: ISBN 0312012926
'''Books on the causes of atheism:'''
*[[Books on the causes of atheism]]
{{Nb Atheism}}
== Notes ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
[[Category:Atheism]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]