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In Medieval and Renaissance Europe, instances of atheism are rare. The existence of arguments put forward to demonstrate God's existence by [[St. Thomas Aquinas|Aquinas]], Anselm and others suggests that non-belief was not unheard of, but few records of it are known.

In Medieval and Renaissance Europe, instances of atheism are rare. The existence of arguments put forward to demonstrate God's existence by [[St. Thomas Aquinas|Aquinas]], Anselm and others suggests that non-belief was not unheard of, but few records of it are known.

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>