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== Claims of the Conditionality and Nonconditionality of Atheism ==

[[Plato]] wrote that "Few men are so obstinate in their atheism, that a pressing danger will not

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compel them to the acknowledgment of a divine power."<ref>http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696</ref> Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for stating that "[[There Are No Atheists in Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]."<ref~~>http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2~~=~~ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696<~~/~~ref~~> Chaplain F.W. Lawson of the 302d Machine Gun Battalion, who was wounded twice in wartime, stated "I doubt if there is such a thing as an atheist. At least there isn't in a front line trench."<ref~~>http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2~~=~~ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696<~~/~~ref~~> On he other hand, the news organization MSNBC featured a story in which atheist veterans claimed that there are atheists in foxholes.<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14322117/</ref>

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compel them to the acknowledgment of a divine power."<ref name="ls">http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696</ref> Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for stating that "[[There Are No Atheists in Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]."<ref name="ls"/> Chaplain F.W. Lawson of the 302d Machine Gun Battalion, who was wounded twice in wartime, stated "I doubt if there is such a thing as an atheist. At least there isn't in a front line trench."<ref name="ls"/> On he other hand, the news organization MSNBC featured a story in which atheist veterans claimed that there are atheists in foxholes.<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14322117/</ref>

==Atheism and [[Communism]] ==

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[[Vladimir Lenin]] similarly wrote: "A Marxist must be a materialist, i. e., an enemy of religion, but a dialectical materialist, i. e., one who treats the struggle against religion not in an abstract way, not on the basis of remote, purely theoretical, never varying preaching, but in a concrete way, on the basis of the class struggle which is going on in practice and is educating the masses more and better than anything else could."<ref>http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm</ref>

[[Image:Lysenko.jpg|right|thumbnail|150px|[[Trofim Denisovich Lysenko]]]]

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The [[theory of evolution]] played a prominent role in regards to atheistic communism.<ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3054/</ref><ref>http://www.icr.org/index.php?module=articles&action=view&ID=276</ref> Communists, in particular [[Stalinism]], favored a version of [[Lamarckism]] called [[Lysenkoism]] developed by [[Trofim Denisovich Lysenko]].<ref>http://www.bookrags.com/research/lysenkoism-wog/</ref>. Lsyenko was made member of the Supreme [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] and head of the Institute of Genetics of the [[Soviet Academy of Sciences]]. <ref>http://www.bartelby.com/65/ly/Lysenko.html</ref> Later Lysenko became President of the All-Union Academy of Agricultural Sciences.<ref~~>http://www.bartelby.com/65/ly/Lysenko.html<~~/~~ref~~> Many [[genetics|geneticists]] were imprisoned and executed for their ''bourgeois science'', and agricultural policies based on Lysenkoism that were adopted under Stalin and Mao caused famines and the death of millions.<ref>http://www.bookrags.com/research/lysenkoism-wog/</ref>.

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The [[theory of evolution]] played a prominent role in regards to atheistic communism.<ref>http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3054/</ref><ref>http://www.icr.org/index.php?module=articles&action=view&ID=276</ref> Communists, in particular [[Stalinism]], favored a version of [[Lamarckism]] called [[Lysenkoism]] developed by [[Trofim Denisovich Lysenko]].<ref>http://www.bookrags.com/research/lysenkoism-wog/</ref>. Lsyenko was made member of the Supreme [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] and head of the Institute of Genetics of the [[Soviet Academy of Sciences]]. <ref name="bb">http://www.bartelby.com/65/ly/Lysenko.html</ref> Later Lysenko became President of the All-Union Academy of Agricultural Sciences.<ref name="bb"/> Many [[genetics|geneticists]] were imprisoned and executed for their ''bourgeois science'', and agricultural policies based on Lysenkoism that were adopted under Stalin and Mao caused famines and the death of millions.<ref>http://www.bookrags.com/research/lysenkoism-wog/</ref>.

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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>http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1</ref><ref>http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/5/7/120250.shtml</ref><ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_26_116/ai_56249447</ref><ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818</ref><ref>http://theworldnow.wordpress.com/tag/around-the-world/asia/china/</ref>

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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>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_26_116/ai_56249447</ref><ref>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>

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In regards to atheism, [[North Korea]] is a repressive communist state and is officially atheistic.<ref>http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/IE12Dg01.html</ref> The North Korean government practices brutal repression and atrocities against North Korean [[Christianity|Christians]].<ref~~>http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no~~=1</~~ref~~><ref~~>http:~~/~~/www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/5/7/120250.shtml</ref~~>

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In regards to atheism, [[North Korea]] is a repressive communist state and is officially atheistic.<ref>http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/IE12Dg01.html</ref> The North Korean government practices brutal repression and atrocities against North Korean [[Christianity|Christians]].<ref name="ny"/><ref name="jjl"/>

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[[China]] is a communist country that is also officially atheistic.<ref>http://www.wtop.com/?nid=105&sid=1253071</ref> In 1999, the publication [[Christian Century]] reported that "[[China]] has persecuted religious believers by means of "harassment, prolonged detention, and incarceration in prison or `reform-through-labor' camps and police closure of places of worship."<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_26_116/ai_56249447</ref> In 2003, owners of [[Bible]]s in China were sent to prison camps and 125 Chinese churches were closed.<ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818</ref> China continues to practice religious oppression today.<ref~~>http://theworldnow.wordpress.com/tag/around-the-world/asia/~~china/~~</ref~~>

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[[China]] is a communist country that is also officially atheistic.<ref>http://www.wtop.com/?nid=105&sid=1253071</ref> In 1999, the publication [[Christian Century]] reported that "[[China]] has persecuted religious believers by means of "harassment, prolonged detention, and incarceration in prison or `reform-through-labor' camps and police closure of places of worship."<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_26_116/ai_56249447</ref> In 2003, owners of [[Bible]]s in China were sent to prison camps and 125 Chinese churches were closed.<ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818</ref> China continues to practice religious oppression today.<ref name="china"/>

==Criticism==

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===Atheism and Miracles===

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In regards to [[Atheism and Miracles|atheism and miracles]], modern scholars are divided on the issue of whether or not [[David Hume]] was an atheist.<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-religion/#10</ref> With that caveat in mind, Hume is well known for arguing that it is always more probable that the testimony of a miracle is false than that the miracle occurred.<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/creation-providence.html</ref> Christian apologists [[William Lane Craig]], [[Norman Geisler]], [[C.S. Lewis]], [[JP Holding]], and others have shown the inadequacy and unreasonableness of Hume's position regarding miracles. <ref>~~http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/creation-providence.html~~</ref><ref>http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html</ref><ref>http://www.ses.edu/journal/articles/2.1Hoffman.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth19.html</ref><ref>http://www.cslewisinstitute.org/pages/resources/publications/knowingDoing/2004/Miracles.pdf</ref> <ref>http://www.tektonics.org/gk/hume01.html</ref> <ref>http://www.comereason.org/phil_qstn/phi060.asp</ref>

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In regards to [[Atheism and Miracles|atheism and miracles]], modern scholars are divided on the issue of whether or not [[David Hume]] was an atheist.<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-religion/#10</ref> With that caveat in mind, Hume is well known for arguing that it is always more probable that the testimony of a miracle is false than that the miracle occurred.<ref name="cp">http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/creation-providence.html</ref> Christian apologists [[William Lane Craig]], [[Norman Geisler]], [[C.S. Lewis]], [[JP Holding]], and others have shown the inadequacy and unreasonableness of Hume's position regarding miracles. <ref name="cp"/></ref><ref>http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html</ref><ref>http://www.ses.edu/journal/articles/2.1Hoffman.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth19.html</ref><ref>http://www.cslewisinstitute.org/pages/resources/publications/knowingDoing/2004/Miracles.pdf</ref> <ref>http://www.tektonics.org/gk/hume01.html</ref> <ref>http://www.comereason.org/phil_qstn/phi060.asp</ref>

===Atheism and Questions of Origins===

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*'''Moral depravity:''' Moral depravity has been demonstrated in the atheist community through history and through various studies.<ref>http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527</ref><ref>http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=272</ref><ref>http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Story?id=2682730&page=2</ref><ref>http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=152</ref> The [[Bible]] asserts that "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20gen%201:30%20;&version=49; (Psalms 14:1 (KJV)).] The biblical fool is said to be lacking in sound judgment and the biblical fool is also associated with moral depravity. For example, the biblical book of [[Proverbs]] states: "A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices is hated. The naive inherit foolishness, But the sensible are crowned with knowledge."[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=%20proverbs%2014:16-18%20;&version=49; (Proverbs 14:16-18 (NASB)).] The book of Proverbs also has strong words regarding the depravity of biblical fools: "The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but [it is] abomination to fools to depart from evil." [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2013:19;&version=9; (Proverbs 13:9 (KJV))]. Regarding the deceitfulness of fools Proverbs states: "The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way, But the foolishness of fools is [[deceit]]." [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2014:8;&version=9; (Proverbs 14:8 (KJV)).] Noted Bible commentator and clergyman [[Matthew Henry]] wrote regarding atheism: "A man that is endued with the powers of reason, by which he is capable of knowing, serving, glorifying, and enjoying his Maker, and yet lives without God in the [[earth|world]], is certainly the most despicable and the most miserable animal under the [[sun]]."<ref>http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc1.ii.html</ref>

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*'''Superficiality:''' Noted ex-atheist and psychologist Dr. [[Paul Vitz]] has stated that he had superficial reasons for becoming an atheist such as the desire to be accepted by his [[Stanford]] professors who were united in disbelief regarding God.<ref>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt</ref>

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*'''Superficiality:''' Noted ex-atheist and psychologist Dr. [[Paul Vitz]] has stated that he had superficial reasons for becoming an atheist such as the desire to be accepted by his [[Stanford]] professors who were united in disbelief regarding God.<ref name="vitz">Vitz, Paul, [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt The Psychology of Atheism], September 24, 1997 (lecture notes taken by an audience member).</ref>

* '''Error:''' Some argue that atheism partly stems from a failure to fairly and judiciously consider the facts <ref>"A young man who wishes to remain a sound Atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. There are traps everywhere--'Bibles laid open, millions of surprises,' as Herbert says, 'fine nets and stratagems.' God is, if I may say it, very unscrupulous." -- C.S. Lewis, ''Surprised by Joy''.</ref>

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* '''State churches:''' Rates of atheism are much higher in countries with a state sanctioned religion (such as many European countries), and lower in states without a sanctioned religion (such as the United States). Some argue this is because state churches become bloated, corrupt, and/or out of touch with the religious intuitions of the population, while churches independent of the state are leaner and more adaptable. It is important to distinguish "state-sanctioned churches," where participation is voluntary, from "state-mandated churches" (such as Saudi Arabia) with much lower atheism rates because publicly admitted atheism is punishable by death. <ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118434936941966055.html?mod=googlenews_wsj</ref>

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* '''Poor relationship with father:''' Some argue that a troubled/non-existent relationship with a father may influence one towards holding the position of atheism.<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth12.html</ref> Dr. Paul Vitz wrote a book entitled ''Faith of the Fatherless'' in which he points out that after studying the lives of more than a dozen leading atheists he found that a large majority of them had a father who was present but weak, present but abusive, or absent.<ref~~>Vitz, Paul, [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/~~vitz~~.txt The Psychology of Atheism], September 24, 1997 (lecture notes taken by an audience member).<~~/~~ref~~><ref>Anders, Kerby, [http://www.probe.org/content/view/36/91/ Atheists and Their Fathers] (Probe Ministries)</ref> Dr. Vitz also examined the lives of prominent theists who were contemporaneous to their atheist counterparts and from the same culture and in every instance these prominent theists had a good relationship with his father.<ref~~>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/~~vitz~~.txt<~~/~~ref~~> Dr. Vitz has also stated other common factors he observed in the leading atheists he profiled: they were all intelligent and arrogant.<ref~~>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/~~vitz~~.txt<~~/~~ref~~>

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* '''Poor relationship with father:''' Some argue that a troubled/non-existent relationship with a father may influence one towards holding the position of atheism.<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth12.html</ref> Dr. Paul Vitz wrote a book entitled ''Faith of the Fatherless'' in which he points out that after studying the lives of more than a dozen leading atheists he found that a large majority of them had a father who was present but weak, present but abusive, or absent.<ref name="vitz"/><ref>Anders, Kerby, [http://www.probe.org/content/view/36/91/ Atheists and Their Fathers] (Probe Ministries)</ref> Dr. Vitz also examined the lives of prominent theists who were contemporaneous to their atheist counterparts and from the same culture and in every instance these prominent theists had a good relationship with his father.<ref name="vitz"/> Dr. Vitz has also stated other common factors he observed in the leading atheists he profiled: they were all intelligent and arrogant.<ref name="vitz"/>

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* '''Division in religion''': According to Francis Bacon, atheism is caused by "divisions in religion, if they be many; for any one main division addeth zeal to both sides, but many divisions introduce atheism." <ref~~>http://www.philosophyofreligion.info/ofatheism.html</ref>~~

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* '''Division in religion''': According to Francis Bacon, atheism is caused by "divisions in religion, if they be many; for any one main division addeth zeal to both sides, but many divisions introduce atheism." <ref name="pr">http://www.philosophyofreligion.info/ofatheism.html</ref>

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* '''Learned times, peace, and prosperity''': Francis Bacon argued that atheism was partly caused by "~~Learned times, specially with peace and prosperity; for troubles and adversities do more bow men’s minds to religion.~~"~~<ref~~>http://www.philosophyofreligion.info/ofatheism.html</ref>

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* '''Learned times, peace, and prosperity''': Francis Bacon argued that atheism was partly caused by "Learned times, specially with peace and prosperity; for troubles and adversities do more bow men’s minds to religion."<ref name="pr"/>

* '''Negative experiences with [[theism|theists]]'''

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==Notable Incidences of Atheists Converting to Theism==

[[Image:Mlogo.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|Ex-atheist [[Lee Strobel]]]]

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In respect to the issue of [[ex-atheists]] there have been some notable incidences of atheists converting to [[theism]]. [[Lee Strobel]] converted from atheism to Christianity and then became a [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]]. <ref>http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=3884</ref> Before investigating the claims of Christianity Strobel had obtained a undergraduate degree in journalism and also obtained a law degree from Master of Studies in Law degree from [[Yale University|Yale]] Law School. Strobel was an award-winning legal editor of the [[Chicago Tribune]] also won [[Illinois]]’ top honors for investigative reporting (which he shared with a team he led) and public service journalism from [[United Press International]].<ref~~>http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id~~=~~3884<~~/~~ref~~> After a nearly a two year investigation of the evidence for Christianity Strobel became a Christian.<ref>http://www.leestrobel.com/LS_bio.htm</ref>

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In respect to the issue of [[ex-atheists]] there have been some notable incidences of atheists converting to [[theism]]. [[Lee Strobel]] converted from atheism to Christianity and then became a [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]]. <ref name="disc">http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=3884</ref> Before investigating the claims of Christianity Strobel had obtained a undergraduate degree in journalism and also obtained a law degree from Master of Studies in Law degree from [[Yale University|Yale]] Law School. Strobel was an award-winning legal editor of the [[Chicago Tribune]] also won [[Illinois]]’ top honors for investigative reporting (which he shared with a team he led) and public service journalism from [[United Press International]].<ref name="disc"/> After a nearly a two year investigation of the evidence for Christianity Strobel became a Christian.<ref>http://www.leestrobel.com/LS_bio.htm</ref>

[[C.S. Lewis]] abandoned his atheism and became a Christian and he was very much influenced by the writings of [[George MacDonald]] and [[G. K. Chesterton]].<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n23_v47/ai_17863106</ref> In ''Surprised by Joy'' Lewis says: "''In reading Chesterton, as in reading MacDonald, I did not know what I was letting myself in for. A young man who wishes to remain a sound Atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. God is, if I may say it, very unscrupulous.''"<ref>'''Lewis''', ''Surprised by Joy'' op cit.</ref>

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==Atheism and its Decline as a Theoretical Position==

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According to Munich theologian [[Wolfhart Pannenberg]] "Atheism as a theoretical position is in decline worldwide."<ref> http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/05/breaking2453432.91875.html</ref> [[Oxford]] scholar [[Alister McGrath]] agrees and has stated that atheism's "future seems increasingly to lie in the private beliefs of individuals rather than in the great public domain it once regarded as its habitat."<ref~~>http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune~~/~~05/breaking2453432.91875.html</ref~~>

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According to Munich theologian [[Wolfhart Pannenberg]] "Atheism as a theoretical position is in decline worldwide."<ref name="wt"> http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/05/breaking2453432.91875.html</ref> [[Oxford]] scholar [[Alister McGrath]] agrees and has stated that atheism's "future seems increasingly to lie in the private beliefs of individuals rather than in the great public domain it once regarded as its habitat."<ref name="wt"/>

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== Views on Atheists ==

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==Brights Movement==

[[Image:Richard_Dawkins.jpg‎|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Richard Dawkins]] is listed as an enthusiastic bright by the [[Brights Movement]] website.]]

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The [[Brights Movement]] was started in 2003 by [[Paul Geisert]] and [[Mynga Futrell]] in 2003 in order to assist in the advocacy of a [[Naturalism|naturalistic worldview]].<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_2_28/ai_114090211/pg_1</ref><ref>http://www.the-brights.net/vision/faq.html#1</ref> The Brights movement had a media campaign and was announced in [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] magazine (by evolutionary biologist [[Richard Dawkins]]), ''[[Free Inquiry]]'' (by Richard Dawkins), and on the ''[[New York Times]]'' op-ed page (by the philosopher and atheist [[Daniel Dennett]]).<ref~~>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_2_28~~/~~ai_114090211/pg_1</ref~~> However, according to a 2004 ''[[Skeptical Enquirer]]'' article the movement the "Brights label reinforced a longstanding stereotype. Atheists already have a terrible rap for being coldhearted [[Rationalism|rationalists]] who attend [[Mensa]] gatherings and dismiss religious believers as simple-minded fools."<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_2_28/ai_114090211/pg_3</ref> In October of 2003 in a article in the ''[[Guardian]]'' Dawkins associated being a "bright" with being an intellectual.<ref>http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,12084,981412,00.html</ref>

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The [[Brights Movement]] was started in 2003 by [[Paul Geisert]] and [[Mynga Futrell]] in 2003 in order to assist in the advocacy of a [[Naturalism|naturalistic worldview]].<ref name="fa">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_2_28/ai_114090211/pg_1</ref><ref>http://www.the-brights.net/vision/faq.html#1</ref> The Brights movement had a media campaign and was announced in [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] magazine (by evolutionary biologist [[Richard Dawkins]]), ''[[Free Inquiry]]'' (by Richard Dawkins), and on the ''[[New York Times]]'' op-ed page (by the philosopher and atheist [[Daniel Dennett]]).<ref name="fa"/> However, according to a 2004 ''[[Skeptical Enquirer]]'' article the movement the "Brights label reinforced a longstanding stereotype. Atheists already have a terrible rap for being coldhearted [[Rationalism|rationalists]] who attend [[Mensa]] gatherings and dismiss religious believers as simple-minded fools."<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2843/is_2_28/ai_114090211/pg_3</ref> In October of 2003 in a article in the ''[[Guardian]]'' Dawkins associated being a "bright" with being an intellectual.<ref>http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,12084,981412,00.html</ref>

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==New Atheism==

Dissent Magazine stated the following regarding the "[[New Atheism]]":

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{{cquote|A number of prominent authors and scientists have published books in the past year that advocate a "New Atheism." The books, which include [[Daniel Dennett]]'s ''Breaking the Spell'', [[Richard Dawkins]]'s ''[[The God Delusion]]'', and [[Christopher ~~Hitchen~~]]'s ''God is Not Great'', have sparked considerable public controversy across the political spectrum.<ref>http://dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=928</ref>}}

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{{cquote|A number of prominent authors and scientists have published books in the past year that advocate a "New Atheism." The books, which include [[Daniel Dennett]]'s ''Breaking the Spell'', [[Richard Dawkins]]'s ''[[The God Delusion]]'', and [[Christopher Hitchens]]' ''God is Not Great'', have sparked considerable public controversy across the political spectrum.<ref>http://dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=928</ref>}}

[[Image:Mohler.jpg‎|thumbnail|200px|right|Dr. Albert Mohler Jr.]]

Dr. [[Alfred Mohler Jr.]] describes some of the key attributes of the "New Atheism":

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*"Maybe the atheist cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman." - [[Francis ~~Thomson~~]]<ref>http://www.afcministry.com/Atheism_Examined.htm</ref>

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*"Maybe the atheist cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman." - [[Francis Thompson]]<ref>http://www.afcministry.com/Atheism_Examined.htm</ref>

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*"A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion." - Sir [[Francis Bacon]] <ref>http://www.notable-quotes.com/a/atheism_quotes.html</ref>

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*"A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion." - Sir [[Francis Bacon]] <ref name="jjj">http://www.notable-quotes.com/a/atheism_quotes.html</ref>

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[[Image:Joseph-addison-3-sized.jpg‎|right|thumbnail|175px|[[Joseph Addison]]]]

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*"To be an atheist requires an indefinitely greater measure of faith than to recieve all the great truths which atheism would deny." - [[Joseph Addison]], The Spectator, Mar. 8, 1711 <ref~~>http:~~/~~/www.notable-quotes.com/a/atheism_quotes.html</ref~~>

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*"To be an atheist requires an indefinitely greater measure of faith than to recieve all the great truths which atheism would deny." - [[Joseph Addison]], The Spectator, Mar. 8, 1711 <ref name="jjj"/>

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*"It is hard to see how a great man can be an atheist. Without the sustaining influence of faith in a divine power we could have little faith in ourselves. We need to feel that behind us is intelligence and love. Doubters do not achieve; skeptics do not contribute; cynics do not create. Faith is the great motive power, and no man realizes his full possibilities unless he has the deep conviction that life is eternally important, and that his work, well done, is a part of an unending plan." - [[Calvin Coolidge]], speech, Jul. 25, 1924 <ref~~>http:~~/~~/www.notable-quotes.com/a/atheism_quotes.html</ref~~>

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*"It is hard to see how a great man can be an atheist. Without the sustaining influence of faith in a divine power we could have little faith in ourselves. We need to feel that behind us is intelligence and love. Doubters do not achieve; skeptics do not contribute; cynics do not create. Faith is the great motive power, and no man realizes his full possibilities unless he has the deep conviction that life is eternally important, and that his work, well done, is a part of an unending plan." - [[Calvin Coolidge]], speech, Jul. 25, 1924 <ref name="jjj"/>

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*"Among the repulsions of atheism for me has been its drastic un-interestingness as an intellectual position. Where was the ingenuity, the ambiguity, the humanity of saying that the universe just happened to happen and that when we're dead we're dead?" - [[John Updike]] <ref>http://www.just-quotes.com/atheism_quotes.html</ref>

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*"Among the repulsions of atheism for me has been its drastic un-interestingness as an intellectual position. Where was the ingenuity, the ambiguity, the humanity of saying that the universe just happened to happen and that when we're dead we're dead?" - [[John Updike]] <ref name="jjk">http://www.just-quotes.com/atheism_quotes.html</ref>

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*"God never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it." - Sir [[Francis Bacon]] <ref~~>http:~~/~~/www.just-quotes.com/atheism_quotes.html</ref~~>

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*"God never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it." - Sir [[Francis Bacon]] <ref name="jjk"/>

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