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[[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.).  

*Merriam-Webster dictionary: Atheism -  a disbelief in the existence of deity; the doctrine that there is no deity. Origin of atheism: Middle French athéisme, from athée atheist, from Greek atheos godless, from a- + theos god[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism]

*Merriam-Webster dictionary: Atheism -  a disbelief in the existence of deity; the doctrine that there is no deity. Origin of atheism: Middle French athéisme, from athée atheist, from Greek atheos godless, from a- + theos god [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism]

*Atheism: a + theos, denying god, (Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology-1966).

*Atheism: a + theos, denying god, (Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology-1966).

*Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D. (23 June 2007). [http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational "Atheism is more rational?"].  See [[Creation Ministries International]], [[Jonathan Sarfati]].

*Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D. (23 June 2007). [http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational "Atheism is more rational?"].  See [[Creation Ministries International]], [[Jonathan Sarfati]].

*[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>

*[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>

[[Charles Bradlaugh]], in 1876, proposed that [[atheism]] does not assert "there is no God," and by doing so he diluted the traditional [[definition of atheism]].<ref name="SEP">http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref name="cw">[http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational Is Atheism More Rational] by [[Creation Ministries International]]</ref><ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> Since 1979, many atheists have followed Bradlaugh's thinking further and stated that atheism is merely a lack of belief in any god.<ref name="DivCon">http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref><ref>[http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/bradlaugh.htm Positive Atheism's Big List of Charles Bradlaugh Quotations]</ref> The motive for such a shift in meaning appears to be to an attempt to shift the burden of proof regarding the existence of God to the [[theism]] side.<ref name="DivCon" />

[[Charles Bradlaugh]], in 1876, proposed that [[atheism]] does not assert "there is no God," and by doing so he diluted the traditional [[definition of atheism]].<ref name="SEP">http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref name="cw">[http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational Is Atheism More Rational] by [[Creation Ministries International]]</ref><ref name="DivCon"/> Since 1979, many atheists have followed Bradlaugh's thinking further and stated that atheism is merely a lack of belief in any god.<ref name="DivCon">http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref><ref>[http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/bradlaugh.htm Positive Atheism's Big List of Charles Bradlaugh Quotations]</ref> The motive for such a shift in meaning appears to be to an attempt to shift the burden of proof regarding the existence of God to the [[theism]] side.<ref name="DivCon" />

In the article, ''Is Atheism Presumptuous''?, atheist Jeffery Jay Lowder, a founder of Internet Infidels, states that "I agree (with [[Paul Copan|Copan]]) that anyone who claims, "God does not exist," must shoulder a burden of proof just as much as anyone who claims, "God exists."<ref name="DivCon">http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref>

In the article, ''Is Atheism Presumptuous''?, atheist Jeffery Jay Lowder, a founder of Internet Infidels, states that "I agree (with [[Paul Copan|Copan]]) that anyone who claims, "God does not exist," must shoulder a burden of proof just as much as anyone who claims, "God exists."<ref name="DivCon"/>

In short, the attempt to redefine atheism is merely an attempt to make no assertions so no facts need be offered.<ref name="DivCon">http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref> The attempt to redefine atheism, however, is not in accordance with the standard definitions of atheism that encyclopedias of philosophy employ which is that atheism is a denial of the existence of God or gods.<ref name="SEP">http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref name="cw">[http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational Is Atheism More Rational] by [[Creation Ministries International]]</ref><ref>http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm</ref>  In addition, the atheist community [[Atheism and deception|has often used deception to promote their ideology]].  

In short, the attempt to redefine atheism is merely an attempt to make no assertions so no facts need be offered.<ref name="DivCon"/> The attempt to redefine atheism, however, is not in accordance with the standard definitions of atheism that encyclopedias of philosophy employ which is that atheism is a denial of the existence of God or gods.<ref name="SEP"/><ref name="cw"/><ref name="DivCon"/>  In addition, the atheist community [[Atheism and deception|has often used deception to promote their ideology]].  

Unlike [[Christianity]], which is supported by a large body of sound evidence (see: [[Christian apologetics]]), atheism has no proof and evidence supporting its ideology. In addition, atheists/skeptics do have a tradition of making assumptions that later have proved errant.<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html</ref>  Also, prominent atheists, such as [[Charles Darwin]] (see: [http://www.conservapedia.com/Charles_Darwin#Religious_Views_of_Charles_Darwin religious views of Charles Darwin] ), have experienced doubts concerning the validity of atheism.  

Unlike [[Christianity]], which is supported by a large body of sound evidence (see: [[Christian apologetics]]), atheism has no proof and evidence supporting its ideology. In addition, atheists/skeptics do have a tradition of making assumptions that later have proved errant.<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html</ref>  Also, prominent atheists, such as [[Charles Darwin]] (see: [http://www.conservapedia.com/Charles_Darwin#Religious_Views_of_Charles_Darwin religious views of Charles Darwin] ), have experienced doubts concerning the validity of atheism.