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''See also:'' [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]  

''See also:'' [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]  

[[Image:Bvfgdtre.jpg|right|thumbnail|right|200px|Atheist [[Stephen Hawking]] asserted:  "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing".<ref>[http://creation.com/stephen-hawking-god Hawking atheopathy] by Jonathan Sarfati</ref>]]

[[Image:Bvfgdtre.jpg|right|thumbnail|right|200px|Atheist [[Stephen Hawking]] asserted:  "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing".<ref>[https://creation.com/stephen-hawking-god Hawking atheopathy] by Jonathan Sarfati</ref>]]

Although many [[Atheism|atheists]] indicate that they do not know how the universe came into being, some prominent atheists claim that the universe came into existence from nothing.<ref>[http://canadafreepress.com/article/atheists-respond-to-my-challenge-to-put-up-or-shut-up/ Atheists Respond to my Challenge to Put Up or Shut Up!] by Dr. Don Boys</ref><ref>[https://dailyevidence.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/%E2%80%9Catheists-do-not-claim-that-nothing-created-everything-%E2%80%9D/ “Atheists do not claim that nothing created everything.”]</ref> For more information, please see:  [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]

Although many [[Atheism|atheists]] indicate that they do not know how the universe came into being, some prominent atheists claim that the universe came into existence from nothing.<ref>[http://canadafreepress.com/article/atheists-respond-to-my-challenge-to-put-up-or-shut-up/ Atheists Respond to my Challenge to Put Up or Shut Up!] by Dr. Don Boys</ref><ref>[https://dailyevidence.wordpress.com/2011/07/31/%E2%80%9Catheists-do-not-claim-that-nothing-created-everything-%E2%80%9D/ “Atheists do not claim that nothing created everything.”]</ref> For more information, please see:  [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]

Research and historical data indicate that a significant portion of atheists/agnostics often see the their lives and the world as being the product of purposeful design (see: [[Atheism and purpose]]).<ref>

Research and historical data indicate that a significant portion of atheists/agnostics often see the their lives and the world as being the product of purposeful design (see: [[Atheism and purpose]]).<ref>

*[https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html ''Does everything happen for a reason?''],'' New York Times'', October 17, 2014

*[https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html ''Does everything happen for a reason?''],'' New York Times'', October 17, 2014

*[http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed Children see the world as designed] by  David Catchpoole, [[Creation Ministries International]], Published: 16 July 2009

*[https://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed Children see the world as designed] by  David Catchpoole, [[Creation Ministries International]], Published: 16 July 2009

*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 wont of being able to think otherwise." Source: ''Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility'' By Dean Turner, page 109

*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 wont of being able to think otherwise." Source: ''Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility'' By Dean Turner, page 109

*The ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' declares: "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]</ref>

*The ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' declares: "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]</ref>

=== Atheism and political beliefs  ===

=== Atheism and political beliefs  ===

* Most atheists lean politically to the left (see: [[Atheism and politics]]).  In addition, atheism is a part of [[communism|communist]] ideology (see: [[Atheism and communism]]). 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>  

* Most atheists lean politically to the left (see: [[Atheism and politics]]).  In addition, atheism is a part of [[communism|communist]] ideology (see: [[Atheism and communism]]). 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=https://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>  

* Democracy and Christianity: atheists believe that democracy does not rely on Christianity, even though they are clearly linked in Western history and no atheist democracy has ever succeeded (see also: [[Christianity statistics]]).  

* Democracy and Christianity: atheists believe that democracy does not rely on Christianity, even though they are clearly linked in Western history and no atheist democracy has ever succeeded (see also: [[Christianity statistics]]).  

== External links ==

== External links ==

*[http://creation.com/what-all-atheists-have-to-believe What all atheists have to believe] by Calvin Smith

*[https://creation.com/what-all-atheists-have-to-believe What all atheists have to believe] by Calvin Smith

*[https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2018/06/atheists-and-their-beliefs Atheists and their beliefs] by K. E. Colombini, ''First Things''

*[https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2018/06/atheists-and-their-beliefs Atheists and their beliefs] by K. E. Colombini, ''First Things''

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEre_OHbn4w#t=34 The atheist creation story] - Video

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEre_OHbn4w#t=34 The atheist creation story] - Video