Changes

Modern atheism did not begin until the [[Enlightenment]].  In addition, the [[French Revolution]] increased the spread of atheism in [[Europe]].<ref>http://www.investigatingatheism.info/historyeighteenth.html</ref>  Baron D'Holbach's book ''The System of Nature'' was the first publication which explicitly denied the existence of God. Other atheists from this time included the philosopher [[David Hume]]. Others denied being atheists (heresy and blasphemy were capital offences) but held materialistic, empiricist, broadly deistic views; these include [[Voltaire]], [[Thomas Hobbes]], [[Thomas Paine]], [[John Locke]], [[Immanuel Kant]] and [[Benjamin Franklin]].

Modern atheism did not begin until the [[Enlightenment]].  In addition, the [[French Revolution]] increased the spread of atheism in [[Europe]].<ref>http://www.investigatingatheism.info/historyeighteenth.html</ref>  Baron D'Holbach's book ''The System of Nature'' was the first publication which explicitly denied the existence of God. Other atheists from this time included the philosopher [[David Hume]]. Others denied being atheists (heresy and blasphemy were capital offences) but held materialistic, empiricist, broadly deistic views; these include [[Voltaire]], [[Thomas Hobbes]], [[Thomas Paine]], [[John Locke]], [[Immanuel Kant]] and [[Benjamin Franklin]].

==Militant Atheism and Atheistic Communism==

==Militant Atheism and Atheistic Communism==

The atheism in [[communism|communist]] regimes has been and continues to be [[militant atheism]] and various acts of repression including the razing of thousands of religious buildings and the killing, imprisoning, and oppression of religious leaders and believers.<ref>http://www.academia.org/campus_reports/2000/March_2000_4.html</ref><ref>http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/frroman1.aspx</ref><ref name="ny">http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1</ref><ref name="jjl">http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/5/7/120250.shtml</ref><ref name="mim">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_26_116/ai_56249447</ref><ref name="daily">http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818</ref><ref name="china">http://theworldnow.wordpress.com/tag/around-the-world/asia/china/</ref>  The theory of [[Evolution|evolution]] played a prominent role in regards to atheistic communism.<ref>http://creation.com/the-darwinian-foundation-of-communism</ref>

The atheism in [[communism|communist]] regimes has been and continues to be [[militant atheism]] and various acts of repression including the razing of thousands of religious buildings and the killing, imprisoning, and oppression of religious leaders and believers.<ref>http://www.academia.org/campus_reports/2000/March_2000_4.html</ref><ref>http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/frroman1.aspx</ref><ref name="ny">http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1</ref><ref name="jjl">http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/5/7/120250.shtml</ref><ref name="mim">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_26_116/ai_56249447</ref><ref name="daily">http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818</ref><ref name="china">http://theworldnow.wordpress.com/tag/around-the-world/asia/china/</ref>  The theory of [[Evolution|evolution]] played a prominent role in regards to atheistic communism.<ref>http://creation.com/the-darwinian-foundation-of-communism</ref>