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{{cquote|The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." -Psalm 14:1 (KJV)}}

{{cquote|The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God."<ref>Psalm 14:1 (KJV)</ref>}}

{{cquote|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...<ref>Romans 1:20 (KJV)</ref>}}

{{cquote|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...<ref>Romans 1:20 (KJV)</ref>}}

'''Atheism''', as defined by the ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' and the ''Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', is the denial of the existence of any [[God]].<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1998</ref>

'''Atheism''', as defined by the ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' and the ''Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', is the denial of the existence of any [[God]].<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism/</ref><ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1998</ref>

The term "atheism" also includes uncertainty about whether God exists or not, that is, people who never believe in God or actively deny His existence (see also [[agnosticism]]). There are two kinds of atheism, strong atheism, or someone who believes strongly that there is no God, and weak atheism, or someone who believes that there probably is no God.

The term "atheism" also includes uncertainty about whether God exists or not, that is, people who never believe in God or actively deny His existence (see also [[agnosticism]]). There are two kinds of atheism, strong atheism, or someone who believes strongly that there is no God, and weak atheism, or someone who believes that there probably is no God.  Atheists often equivocate that they actually have a lack of belief in any God, as opposed to having the positive belief that there is no God. This equivocation stems from the fact that if they hold positive beliefs, then their worldview can be categorized as a religion.

== Minority View and Well Known Atheists ==

== Minority View and Well Known Atheists ==

In recorded history atheism has been a minority view (if we discount Buddhists), although there have been pockets of atheistic thought such as amongst the literati in pre-modern China who followed Confucian teachings.

In recorded history atheism has been a minority view, although there have been pockets of atheistic thought such as amongst the literati in pre-modern China who followed Confucian teachings.

Well-known atheists include [[Abraham Lincoln]], [[Ayn Rand]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Douglas Adams]], [[Ernest Hemingway]], [[Helen Keller]], [[John Adams]], [[John Lennon]], [[Kurt Vonnegut]], [[Richard Dawkins]], and [[Thomas Edison]].

Well-known atheists include [[Joseph Stalin]], [[Bertrand Russell]], [[Ayn Rand]], [[Richard Dawkins]] ,[[Douglas Adams]], [[Ernest Hemingway]], and [[David Hume]].

==Atheism and Communism ==

==Atheism and Communism ==

== Atheist Population ==

== Atheist Population ==

It is difficult to accurately determine the proportion of the population that is atheist because survey definitions, and even real life definitions, are often unclear. Some people are unsure of the existence of God, but they are sometimes counted as atheists. People who think that the existence of god cannot be proven or disproven are called agnostics (see [[Agnosticism]]). Furthermore, surveys containing an option for "no religion" are not necessarily identifying atheists. Individuals may believe in some form of god but not subscribe to any particular religion.   

It is difficult to accurately determine the proportion of the population that is atheist because survey definitions, and even real life definitions, are often unclear. Some people are unsure of the existence of God, but they are sometimes counted as atheists. People who think that the existance of god cannot be proven or disproven are called agnostics (see [[Agnosticism]]). Furthermore, surveys containing an option for "no religion" are not necessarily identifying atheists. Individuals may believe in some form of god but not subscribe to any particular religion.   

Specific research on atheists 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.

Specific research on atheists 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.

|-

|-

| Atheist

| Atheist

| 34.8%

| 39.6%

| 47.6%

| 47.6%

|-

|-

|-

|-

| Homosexual

| Homosexual

| 26.9%

| 22.6%

| NA

| NA

|-

|-

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Religion]]

[[Category:Religion]]

[[Category:Philosophy]]

[[Category:Philosophy]]