<br /><br />
The picture of Nietzsche above was taken in 1899. Nietzsche died in 1900.]]
'''Atheology''' is a resistance or aversion to [[theology]].<ref>[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheology Atheology], Merriam-Webster dictionary</ref> <ref>[https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/atheology Atheology], Collins dictionary</ref> Atheological arguments are arguments against the existence of God (see also: [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]] and [[Responses Responding to atheist argumentsatheists]] and [[Atheism#Analysis of atheism and common objections to atheism|Analysis of atheism and common objections to atheism]]).
The [[French atheism|French atheist]] Georges Bataille coined the term and concept atheology to express his notions on the “science of the death or destruction of God.”<ref>[https://www.princeton.edu/ihum/reading-groups/atheologies/ Atheologies Reading Group], Princeton University website</ref> See also: [[Atheism and science]]
One of the fundamental reasons for the conflict between the [[atheist worldview]] and the theistic worldview is their frequently incompatible views concerning [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]] and [[supernaturalism]] (see: [[Atheism and the supernatural]]).
The Christian philosopher and [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[Alvin Plantinga]] wrote concerning atheology:{{Cquote|"[S]ome theologians and theistic philosophers have tried to give successful arguments or proofs for the existence of God. This enterprise is called natural theology… Other philosophers, of course, have presented arguments for the falsehood of theistic beliefs; these philosophers conclude that belief in God is demonstrably irrational or unreasonable. We might call this enterprise natural atheology."<ref>[https://strangenotions.com/does-atheology-exist/ Does “Atheology” Exist?] by Dr. Edward Feser</ref>}}
Daniel Lowe, a student at Fuller Theological Seminary, wrote about theology and atheology:
In 1990, the [[atheism|atheist]] philosopher [[Michael Martin]] indicated there was a general [[Atheism and apathy|absence of an atheistic response]] to contemporary work in the [[philosophy]] of religion and in jest he indicated that it was his "cross to bear" to respond to [[theism|theistic]] arguments (See: [[Atheist apologetics]]).<ref>''Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith'' by Luís F. Rodrigues, page 201</ref> Yet, in 1994, Michael Martin was criticized for his eleventh hour cancellation of his debate with [[Greg Bahnsen]] (see: [[Greg Bahnsen and debate]] and [[Press release after Michael Martin pulled out of Martin-Bahnsen debate|Bahnson-Martin debate press release]]).
There is a considerable body of evidence and argumentation for the existence of God and for the validy validity of [[Christianity]] (see: [[Arguments for the existence of God]] and [[Christian apologetics websites|Evidence for Christianity]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]).
In the beginning of the 21st century a militant form of atheology called [[New Atheism]] developed in the [[Western World]] but that movement quickly began to decline within seven years and then quickly died out (see: [[Decline of militant atheism in the West]] and [[Decline of the atheist movement]]).
== Decline of atheology in Western World philosophy departments ==
[[File:Alister McGrath.jpg|right|thumb|150px|[[Alister McGrath]] ]]
''See also'': [[Religion and education]]
[[File:Alister McGrath.jpg|left|thumb|150px|[[Alister McGrath]] ]]In 2001, the atheist and [[Philosophy|philosopher]] Quentin Smith declared:{{cquote|"[[Naturalism|Naturalists]] [atheists] passively watched as realist versions of [[theism]] … began to sweep through the philosophical community, until today perhaps one-quarter or one-third of philosophy professors are theists, with most being orthodox Christians…. God is not 'dead' in academia; he returned to life in the 1960's and is now alive and well in his last academic stronghold, philosophy departments."<ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/theistic-critiques-of-atheism Theistic critiques of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref>}}
The majority of philosophers of religion, or those who have extensively studied the issue of the [[Arguments for the existence of God|existence of God]], are [[theism|theists]] (72 percent).<ref>[http://www.strangenotions.com/atheist-scientists/ Does it matter that many scientists are atheists?]</ref>
As far as [[atheism debates]], the majority of the public [[debate]]s are [[Atheism vs. Christianity debates]] (although there have been a few [[Atheism vs. Islam debates]]).
[[Image:Billcraig_czvx.jpg|thumb|150px|left|[[William Lane Craig]]]]
Although atheists commonly claim there are reasonable arguments for [[atheism]], the quality of atheist debate has been quite poor from the proponents of atheism (see: [[Atheism debates]]). In recent times, there have been a number of notable cases of atheists being unwilling to debate (see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).<ref name="foxnews.com">[https://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/19/christian-pastor-atheists-debates/?test=latestnews Christian Philosopher William Lane Craig Is Ready to Debate, but Finds Few Challengers], ''Fox News'' by Lauren Green, August 19, 2011</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God], ''The Telegraph'', May 14, 2011</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040728084300/http://www.serve.com/thibodep/cr/press.htm Boston University Professor Runs from Debate], Press release</ref>
Although atheists commonly claim there are reasonable arguments for [[atheism]], the quality of atheist debate has been quite poor from the proponents of atheism. In recent times, there have been a number of notable cases of atheists being unwilling to debate (see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).<ref name="foxnews.com">[http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/19/christian-pastor-atheists-debates/?test=latestnews Christian Philosopher William Lane Craig Is Ready to Debate, but Finds Few Challengers], ''Fox News'' by Lauren Green, August 19, 2011</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God], ''The Telegraph'', May 14, 2011</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20040728084300/http://www.serve.com/thibodep/cr/press.htm Boston University Professor Runs from Debate], Press release</ref>
[[Image:Billcraig_czvx.jpg|thumb|150px|[[William Lane Craig]]]]
[[William Lane Craig]] is a Christian philosopher and Christian apologist who is well-known for debating prominent atheists. The atheist [[Sam Harris]] quipped about William Lane Craig that he was "The one Christian apologist who seems to have put the fear of God into many of my fellow atheists".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpM0D-MHyzs William Lane Craig Puts the Fear of God in Atheists], video clip of the [[William Lane Craig vs. Sam Harris debate]]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqaHXKLRKzg The God Debate II: Harris vs. Craig], University of Notre Dame YouTube channel</ref>
The [[Atheism|atheist]] [[Luke Muehlhauser ]] wrote about Craig:
{{Cquote|William Lane Craig is a prolific Christian philosopher, apologist, author, and public debater. He is the best debater – on any topic – that I’ve ever heard. As far as I can tell, he has won nearly all his debates with atheists. When debating him, atheists have consistently failed to put forward solid arguments, and consistently failed to point out the flaws in Craig’s arguments.
== Sergei Golovin on atheology and the former Soviet Union ==
[[Image:Khvhkgfiy.jpg|right|thumb|[[Vladimir Lenin]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Atheism and irrationality]] and [[Atheism and historical revisionism]] and [[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]
[[Image:Khvhkgfiy.jpg|left|thumb|[[Vladimir Lenin]] ]]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=httphttps://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>
The article ''After [[Communism]]'s Collapse: Creation in the Crimea'' declares concerning atheology and the former [[Soviet Union]]:
== Books on atheology ==
*''[[Martin Heidegger |Heidegger]] and Philosophical Atheology: A Neo-[[Scholasticism|Scholastic]] Critique'' by Peter S. Dillard, Continuum (January 15, 2009), ISBN-10: 1847064515
*''Atheology: The Implications of Atheism'' by Daniel Keeran, Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 22, 2016), ISBN-10: 1534858466
*''Erring: A [[Postmodernism|Postmodern]] A/theology'' By Mark C. Taylor, Publisher: University of Chicago Press; New edition edition (April 15, 1987), ISBN-10: 0226791424
The book's primary weaknesses are its lack of clarity and its absence of fair representation and careful analysis of theistic arguments. The third part contains simplistic versions of theistic arguments and cursory dismissals with significantly less carefulness and charity than one should expect from an academic philosophy book. It is worth noting that the level of care and effort in faithfully representing, objecting to, strengthening, and reexamining theistic arguments typical among philosophers of religion is not modeled by the brusqueness displayed in the second half of this book.<ref>[https://ndpr.nd.edu/news/systematic-atheology-atheisms-reasoning-with-theology/ JOHN R. SHOOK, ''Systematic Atheology: Atheism's Reasoning with Theology'', Reviewed by Chris Tweedt, Christopher Newport University]</ref>}}
== Etymology ==
Etymology of the word atheology: a- + [[theology]]
== See also ==
*[[Counter-apologetics]]
*[[Atheism vs. theism]]
*[[Militant atheism]]
*[[Atheism and critical thinking]]
*[[Christian apologetics websites]]
*[[Atheist deconversion stories]]
== External links ==