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[[File:Cornelius Van Til.jpg|thumb|175px|right|Dr. [[Cornelius Van Til]] ]]

[[File:Cornelius Van Til.jpg|thumb|175px|right|Dr. [[Cornelius Van Til]] ]]

The ''Encyclopedia Britanica'' (Edinborough 1771) in its article on [[atheism]] declared:

The ''Encyclopedia Britanica'' (Edinborough 1771) in its article on [[atheism]] declared; "Many people both ancient and modern have pretended to atheism or have been reckoned atheists by the world, but it is justly questioned whether any man seriously adopted such a principle. [[Atheism and pretentiousness|These pretentions]] therefore must be [[Atheism and arrogance|founded on pride]] or affection."<ref>[The Repressive Denials of Atheism in Britain in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries] by David Berman, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature Vol. 82C (1982), pp. 211-246. Published by: Royal Irish Academy https://www.jstor.org/stable/25506089</ref>

{{Cquote|Many people both ancient and modern have pretended to atheism or have been reckoned atheists by the world, but it is justly questioned whether any man seriously adopted such a principle. [[Atheism and pretentiousness|These pretentions]] therefore must be [[Atheism and arrogance|founded on pride]] or affection.<ref>[The Repressive Denials of Atheism in Britain in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries] by David Berman, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature Vol. 82C (1982), pp. 211-246. Published by: Royal Irish Academy https://www.jstor.org/stable/25506089</ref>}}

It has been asserted by various theists that atheists do not exist. Sir [[Francis Bacon]] wrote in his essay ''Of Atheism'':

It has been asserted by various theists that atheists do not exist. Sir [[Francis Bacon]] wrote in his essay ''Of Atheism'':