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[[File:Atheism.jpg|thumb|alt=atheism|right|220px|[[Portrait]] of [[Paul-Henri Thiry]], Baron d'Holbach (1723 - 1789) was an early advocate of atheism in [[Europe]].]]

[[File:Atheism.jpg|thumb|alt=atheism|right|200px|[[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''', 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:

*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.).  

*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.).  

''See also:'' [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]] and [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]

''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:

[[File:Foxhole.jpg|thumb|left|200px|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&#93; foxholes'"]. Message posted to The American Dialect Society [Electronic] Mailing List, archived at ListServ 16.0. Archive at Internet Archive.

* 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&#93; 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>]]

*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>]]

*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun.  

*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>

*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"].  NewsMax.  NorthKoreanChristians.com </ref>

[[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]] ]]

[[File:Martyred in the USSR Poster.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|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 ===

=== Atheistic communism and the torture of religious adherents ===

* [[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>

* [[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.]]

[[File:Autumn.jpg|250px|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>

* 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>

=== Atheism and uncharitableness  ===

=== Atheism and uncharitableness  ===

:''See also: [[Atheism and charity]]'' and [[Atheist nonprofit scandals]] and [[Atheism, uncharitableness and depression]]

:''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>  

[[File:Beggar.jpg|thumb|right|255px|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>  

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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:

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:

The abstract for the 2007 article in the journal ''Violence Against Women'' entitled ''Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence'' indicated:

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"/>}}   

{{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"/>}}   

[[Image:Cycle.gif|thumbnail|255px|right|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>]]

[[Image:Cycle.gif|thumbnail|205px|right|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>]]

A September 9, 2012 article at ''Atlantic Wire'' wrote about the noted atheist [[John Lennon]]:

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>}}

{{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>}}

See: [[Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army]] and [[Atheism and rape]]

See: [[Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army]] and [[Atheism and rape]]

[[Image:115523-004-FA619CA3.jpg|thumb|right|251px| The perverse and cruel atheist [[Marquis de Sade]] in prison, 18th century line engraving.]]

[[Image:115523-004-FA619CA3.jpg|thumb|right|201px| The perverse and cruel atheist [[Marquis de Sade]] in prison, 18th century line engraving.]]

=== Atheism and abortion ===

=== Atheism and abortion ===