Difference between revisions of "Atheism"

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[[File:Atheism.jpg|thumb|alt=atheism|right|226px|[[Portrait]] of [[Paul-Henri Thiry]], Baron d'Holbach (1723 - 1789) was an early advocate of atheism in [[Europe]].]]
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[[File:Atheism.jpg|thumb|alt=atheism|right|225px|[[Portrait]] of [[Paul-Henri Thiry]], Baron d'Holbach (1723 - 1789) was an early advocate of atheism in [[Europe]]. ]]
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'''Atheism''', as defined by the ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', the ''Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', and other [[philosophy]] reference works, is the denial of the existence of [[God]].<ref>Multiple references:
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In terms of contemporary definitions of '''atheism''', the ''Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary'' [[Definition of atheism|defines atheism]] in two ways: "1) a lack of [[belief]] or a strong disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods 2) a philosophical or religious position characterized by disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods."<ref>[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism. “Atheism”] (on or bef. 2019). ''The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary'' (unk. place: Merriam-Webster).</ref> ''Lexico.com'' (Oxford University Press) defines atheism as "Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods."<ref>Oxford University Press (OUP) (2019). [https://lexico.com/definition/atheism "Atheism"]. ''Lexico.com'' (Oxford, UK: OUP).</ref> See: [[Definition of atheism]]
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*Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism "Atheism and agnosticism"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). Retrieved July 17, 2014.
 
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*Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D. (23 June 2007). [http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational "Atheism is more rational?"]. Retrieved July 17, 2014. See [[Creation Ministries International]], [[Jonathan Sarfati]].
 
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*Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].  Retrieved July 15, 2014.</ref> See also: [[Definition of atheism]]
 
  
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Atheism has been examined by many disciplines in terms [[Atheism statistics|of its effects]] on individuals and society and these effects will be covered shortly.
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Atheism, as defined by the ''[[Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'', the ''[[Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'', and other [[philosophy]] reference works, is the denial of the existence of [[God]].<ref>Multiple references:
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*Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism "Atheism and agnosticism"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
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*[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism "{{sc|atheism}}"] (n.d.). ''Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary''. "Definition of {{sc|atheism}} '''1 a''': a lack of belief or a strong disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods '''b''': a philosophical or religious position characterized by disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods [example sentences omitted] Origin and Etymology of {{sc|atheism}} Middle French ''athéisme'', from ''athée'' atheist, from Greek ''atheos'' godless, from ''a-'' + ''theos'' god"; [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/god "{{sc|god}}"] (n.d.). ''Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary''. "Definition of {{sc|god}} '''1''' ''capitalized'': the supreme or ultimate reality: such as '''a''': the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe" [definitions 2 and 3 omitted.] Retrieved on April 22, 2018.
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*"Atheism:...a + theos, denying God." Onions, C. T. ''et al.'', ed. (1966). "Atheism". ''Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology'' (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press).
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*Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D. (23 June 2007). [https://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational "Atheism is more rational?"] ''Creation.com''/feedback archive (Brisbane, Queensland, AU: Creation Ministries International). See [[Creation Ministries International]], [[Jonathan Sarfati]].
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*Day, Donn R. (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20140906135211/http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"]. ''The Divine Conspiracy'' website/atheism articles (unk. publisher). Archived at ''Internet Archive'' on September 6, 2014.
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*Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"] ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7.</ref>  [[Paul Edwards (philosopher)|Paul Edwards]], who was a prominent atheist and editor of the ''[[Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]'', defined an atheist as "a person who maintains that there is no God."<ref>Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"] ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7.</ref> See also: [[Strong atheism]]
  
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As far as individuals adopting an [[Atheist worldview|atheistic worldview]], atheism has a number [[causes of atheism|of causal factors]] and these will be elaborated on below.
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Beginning in the latter portion of the 20th century and continuing beyond, many [[agnosticism|agnostics]] and atheists have argued that the definition of atheism should be a lack of belief in God or gods.<ref name="CRI">Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"] ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7.</ref><ref name="Divine">Day, Donn R. (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20140906135211/http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"]. ''The Divine Conspiracy'' website/atheism articles (unk. publisher). Archived at ''Internet Archive'' on September 6, 2014.</ref><ref>Craig, William Lane (July 16, 2012). [http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism "The proper definition of atheism"]. ''Reasonable Faith'' website/Media/Reasonable [[faith]] podcast (Dallas TX: Reasonable Faith). See [[William Lane Craig]].</ref><ref>Britain is a less religious country than the United States, and the Oxford-dictionaries-based ''Lexico.com'' offers both the narrow/broad definitions of atheism (as noted in a previous footnote, the ''Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary'', which is a traditional American dictionary, offers a more narrow definition of atheism similar to the definition that major encyclopedias of philosophy use). ''Lexico.com'' and other Oxford dictionaries: "Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods". (Oxford University Press [OUP] [2019]. [https://www.lexico.com/definition/atheism "Atheism"]. ''Lexico.com'' [Oxford, UK: OUP].)</ref> See: [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism#Purpose of attempting to dilute the definition of atheism|Purpose of redefining atheism]] and [[Weak atheism]]
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Atheism has been examined by many disciplines in terms [[Atheism statistics|of its effects]] on individuals and [[Atheism and culture|on societies]] and these effects will be covered below.
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As far as individuals adopting an [[Atheist worldview|atheistic worldview]], atheism has [[causes of atheism|a number of causal factors]] and these will be elaborated on below as well.
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As of March 2025, data compiled by the [[Center for the Study of Global Christianity]] at [[Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary]] indicates that there are 831,000 fewer atheists in the world than a year ago.<ref>
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*[https://www.gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2025.pdf Status of Global Atheism/Christianity, 2025, in the Context of 1900–2050] (831,000 fewer atheists in the world than a year ago. See subsequent source)
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*[https://gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2019/04/StatusofGlobalChristianity20191.pdf Status of Global Atheism/Christianity/other religions, 2019, in the Context of 1900–2050]</ref> On March 15, 2024, Frontier Partners International reported concerning [[global atheism]]: "Simultaneously, atheism, which once saw a peak around 1970 with 165 million adherents, is on the decline. The current growth trend for atheism is -0.12 percent, with their number falling from 147 million in 2020 to 146 million in 2024."<ref>[https://www.frontierpartners.org/global-christianity-surges Global Christianity surges beyond projections in 2024], LiCAS.news • Mar 15, 2024, Frontiers Partners International, 2024</ref> The world's atheists have a below replacement level of births (See: [[Atheism and fertility rates]]). See also: [[Global atheism statistics]] and [[Desecularization]]
  
 
==Types of atheism==
 
==Types of atheism==
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''See also:'' [[Schools of atheist thought]] and [[Atheist factions]]
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[[File:Diagoras of melos.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|[[Diagoras of Melos]] was an [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] atheist, poet and [[Sophism|Sophist]] of the 5th century BC.
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See: [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]] ]]
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The [[History of Atheism|history of atheism]] can be dated as early as the 5th century B.C. [[Diagoras of Melos]] was a 5th-century B.C. [[Greek]] atheist, poet and [[Sophism|Sophist]]. Since then many [[schools of atheist thought]] have developed.
  
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''See also:'' [[Schools of atheist thought]] and [[Atheist factions]]
 
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[[File:Diagoras of melos.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|[[Diagoras of Melos]] was a 5th century BC. [[Greek]] atheist, poet and [[sophism|sophist]]. ]]
 
 
===Atheism and why do atheists state they disbelieve?===
 
===Atheism and why do atheists state they disbelieve?===
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''See also:'' [[Weak Atheism|Weak atheism]] and [[Strong atheism]]
  
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Atheists claim there are two main reasons for their denial of the existence of God and/or disbelief in God: the conviction that there is positive evidence or argument that God does not exist ([[Strong atheism]] which is also sometimes called positive atheism), and their claim that theists bear the burden of proof to show that God exists, that they have failed to do so, and that belief is therefore unwarranted ([[Weak atheism]]).
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Atheists claim there are two main reasons for their denial of the existence of God and/or disbelief in God: the conviction that there is positive evidence or argument that God does not exist ([[strong atheism]], which is also sometimes called positive atheism), and their claim that [[theism|theists]] bear the burden of proof to show that God exists, that they have failed to do so, and that belief is therefore unwarranted ([[Weak Atheism|weak atheism]]).
  
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As as alluded to above, [[theism|theists]] and others have posited a number of [[causes of atheism]] and this matter will be further addressed in this article.
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As alluded to above, theists and others have posited a number of [[causes of atheism]] and this matter will be further addressed in this article.
  
 
=== Attempts to broaden the definition of atheism ===
 
=== Attempts to broaden the definition of atheism ===
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In 1876, [[Charles Bradlaugh]] proposed that atheism does not assert "there is no God," and by doing so he endeavored to dilute the traditional definition of atheism.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
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*Discussion on Atheism: Report of a Public Discussion Between the Rev. Brewin Grant, B.A., and C. Bradlaugh, Esq., Held in South Place Chapel, Finsbury, London, on Tuesday Evenings, Commencing June 22, and Ending July 27, 1875, on the Question, "Is Atheism Or is Christianity the True Secular Gospel, as Tending to the Improvement and Happiness of Mankind in this Life by Human Efforts and Material Means.". Brewin Grant Charles Bradlaugh, January 1, 1890, Anti-liberation Society, page 10-12 [https://books.google.com/books?id=Dwk3yV5MOaAC&pg=PA10&lpg=PA10&dq=Charles+Bradlaugh+definition+of+atheism&source=bl&ots=JtjIlK7qaJ&sig=E0HjYgfEyKXdEA4zlLAd9m41cQU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEgQ6AEwB2oVChMIrcijucWLyAIVCXA-Ch00NACw#v=onepage&q=Charles%20Bradlaugh%20definition%20of%20atheism&f=false]
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</ref>  As noted above, in the latter portion of the 20th century, the proposition that the definition of atheism be defined as a mere lack of belief in God or gods began to be commonly advanced by agnostics/atheists.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
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*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref>  It is now common for atheists/agnostics and theists to debate the meaning of the word atheism.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
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*[http://www.apatheticagnostic.com/articles/meds2/med40/med796.html The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”]
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*[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/atheism Oxford Dictionaries]. Oxford Dictionaries, due to their British influence (Atheism is more popular in Britain than in the United States and many other countries where English is spoken, see: [[Atheist Population|Atheist population]] and [[Secular Europe]] and [[Atheism statistics]]), now offers the definition of atheism to be "Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods." which is a departure from its historical meaning before a broader definition of atheism began to be more widely advocated in the latter portion of the 20th century (see: [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"])</ref>
  
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In the late 19th century and more broadly in the latter portion of the 20th century, the proposition that the [[definition of atheism]] also include a mere lack of belief in God or gods began.<ref>Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].</ref>  It is now common for atheists/[[agnosticism|agnostics]] and [[theism|theists]] to debate the meaning of the word atheism.<ref>
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Critics of a broader definition of atheism as a mere lack of belief often point out that such a definition is contrary to the traditional/historical meaning of the word and that such a definition makes atheism indistinguishable from agnosticism.<ref name="CRI"/><ref name="Divine"/><ref>
 
*[http://www.apatheticagnostic.com/articles/meds2/med40/med796.html The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”]
 
*[http://www.apatheticagnostic.com/articles/meds2/med40/med796.html The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”]
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*Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].  Retrieved July 15, 2014.
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*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]
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*[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/atheism Oxford Dictionaries]. Oxford Dictionaries, due to their British influence (Atheism is more popular in Britain than in the United States and many other countries where English is spoken, see: [[Atheist Population|Atheist population]] and [[Secular Europe]] and [[Atheism statistics]]), now offers the definition of atheism to be "Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods." which is a departure from its historical meaning before a broader definition of atheism began to be more widely advocated in the latter portion of the 20th century (see: [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"])</ref>
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*[http://carm.org/cut-atheism Atheism] by Matt Slick
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</ref>
  
 
For more information, please see:  
 
For more information, please see:  
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*[[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism|Attempts to broaden the definition of atheism]]
 
  
 
*[[Definition of atheism]]  
 
*[[Definition of atheism]]  
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*[[Definitions of Atheist and Agnostic|Definitions of atheist and agnostic]]
 
*[[Definitions of Atheist and Agnostic|Definitions of atheist and agnostic]]
  
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=== Some common manifestations of atheism ===
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=== Some common types of atheism ===
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Below are three common ways that atheism manifests itself:
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[[File:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Joseph Stalin]]'s atheistic regime killed tens of millions of people.
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* [[Militant atheism]] which continues to suppress and oppress religious believers today (see also: [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Atheism and intolerance]]).
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See: [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] ]]  
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Below are a few common ways that atheism manifests itself:
  
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* [[Philosophy|Philosophical]] atheism - Atheist philosophers assert that God does not exist. (See also: [[Naturalism (philosophy)|Naturalism]])
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'''1.''' [[Militant atheism]], which continues to suppress and oppress religious believers today.
  
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* [[Practical atheism]]: atheism of the life - that is, ''living'' as though God does not exist.<ref>Dr. [[Martin Luther King]] in his sermon ''Rediscovering Lost Values'' spoke of "practical atheism".  King, Dr. Martin Luther (1954). [http://www.globatron.org/truth/rediscovering-lost-values-martin-luther-king-early-sermon "Rediscovering lost values"].  Retrieved from Globatron, July 16, 2014.  Caution:  Presumably copyrighted work in the U.S. until 2049 and in Canada until 2018.  For fair educational use only.</ref>
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Topics related to militant atheism:
  
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=== Atheist factions ===
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* [[Atheism and communism]]
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheist factions]] and [[Schools of atheist thought]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheism and intolerance]]
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* [[Atheism and intolerance]]
  
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Jacques Rousseau wrote in the ''Daily Maverick'': "[[Elevatorgate]]..has resulted in three weeks of infighting in the secular community. Some might observe that we indulge in these squabbles fairly frequently."<ref>Rousseau, Jacques (July 13, 2011). [http://dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2011-07-13-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-can-rip-my-soul "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can rip my soul"]. Daily Maverick [South Africa].  Retrieved July 16, 2014.</ref> An ex-atheist wrote: "As an Atheist for 40 years, I noticed that there is not just a wide variety of [[Schools of atheist thought|Atheist positions]], but there exists an actual battle between certain [[Atheist factions]]."<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/internet-atheism-is-still-hostile.html "The atheist community and internet atheism is still a hostile wasteland"] (April 7, 2013).  Question Evolution Campaign [blog].</ref>
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* [[New Atheism]]
  
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==== Atheist infighting: Testimony of Blair Scott, former board of director of American Atheists  ====
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* [[Atheism and dogmatism]]
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]]
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* [[Atheism and open-mindedness]]
  
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Blair Scott served on the [[American Atheists]] board of directors.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20140701062412/http://atheists.org/about-us/board-of-directors "Board of directors"] (July 1, 2014).  American Atheists.  Retrieved from Internet Archive, July 16, 2014.</ref>  Mr. Scott formerly served as a State Director for the [[American Atheists]] organization in the state of [[Alabama]].  On December 1, 2012 he quit his post as a director of outreach for the American Atheists due to infighting within the American [[atheist movement]].<ref name="Blair Scott">Scott, Blair (December 1, 2012). [http://news.atheists.org/2012/12/01/an-open-letter-from-blair-scott/ "An open letter from Blair Scott"].  American Atheists.  Retrieved July 16, 2014.</ref>
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'''2.''' Philosophical atheism - Atheist philosophers assert that God does not exist. (See also: [[Naturalism (philosophy)|Naturalism]] and [[Materialism]])
  
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Mr. Blair wrote:
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[[Secular humanism]]  is a philosophy that holds that human beings are the most important figures, and that social problems are best solved without the involvement of religious doctrine.
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{{cquote|I have spent the last week mulling over what I want to do at this point in the movement. I’m tired of the in-fighting: at every level. I am especially tired of allowing myself to get sucked into it and engaging in the very behavior that is irritating...me.<ref name="Blair Scott"/>}}
 
  
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== Atheists have a low retention rate compared to other worldviews ==
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The philosophy of [[postmodernism]] is atheistic (see: [[Atheism and postmodernism]]).
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[[File:Georgetown 2.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.<ref name="retention rate">Nazworth, Nap (July 11, 2012). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ "Study: atheists have lowest 'retention rate' compared to religious groups"]. christianpost.com. Retrieved July 16, 2014.</ref>]]
 
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''See also:'' [[Atheism has a lower retention rate compared to other worldviews]] and [[Desecularization]]  
 
  
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In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.<ref name="retention rate"/>  Similarly, according to recent research by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, in the United States, a majority of those surveyed who were raised in atheist or [[agnosticism|agnostic]] households, or where there was no specific religious attachment, later chose to join a religious faith.<ref>Multiple references:
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'''3.''' Atheistic [[Buddhism]] (some schools of Buddhism are [[theism|theistic]])
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*Pearson, Christopher (May 9, 2009). [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/defectors-to-faith-mark-a-growing-trend/story-e6frg7ko-1225710667095 "Defectors to faith mark a growing trend"]. from theaustralian.com.  Retrieved July 16, 2014.
 
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*Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life (February 2011). [http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1204/religion-changes-affiliations-survey "Faith in Flux"] from ''Faith in Flux:  Changes in Religious Affiliation in the U. S.''  PewResearchCenter.  Retrieved July 16, 2014.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and poor relationships with parents]]
 
  
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A 2012 study by the General Social Survey of the social science research organization NORC at the University of Chicago found that belief in God rises with age, even in atheistic nations<ref>Harms, William (April 18, 2012). [http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/04/18/belief-god-rises-age-even-atheist-nations "Belief in God rises with age, even in atheist nations".] UChicagoNews.  Retrieved July 16, 2014.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and immaturity]].
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'''4.''' [[Practical atheism]]: atheism of the life - that is, ''living'' as though God does not exist.<ref>Dr. [[Martin Luther King]] in his sermon ''Rediscovering Lost Values'' spoke of "practical atheism".  King, Dr. Martin Luther (1954). [http://www.globatron.org/truth/rediscovering-lost-values-martin-luther-king-early-sermon "Rediscovering lost values"]</ref>
  
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In addition, in atheistic [[Communism|Communist]] China, Christianity is experiencing rapid growth.<ref name="Geoff, Robertson">Multiple references:
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'''5.''' Other schools of atheist thought: [[Schools of atheist thought]]
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*B., Geoff (August 9, 2007). [http://www.millennialstar.org/christianity-exploding-in-china/ "Christianity exploding in China"]. The Millennial Star.  Retrieved July 16, 2014.
 
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*Robertson, Laura and Thomas, George (August 15, 2008). [http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/shows/cwn/2008/August/Christianity-Growing-in-China-/ "Christianity growing in China"] from cbn.com website.  Retrieved July 16, 2014.</ref>  On July 3, 2005, the ''[[New York Times]]'' reported concerning many countries in the former [[Soviet Union]]: "A return to religion in [[Romania]] and the region's other formerly Communist countries has in many places outrun the speed at which the church can screen and train clergy..."<ref>Smith, Craig S. (July 3, 2005). [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/03/international/europe/03romania.html "A casualty on Romania's road back from atheism"]. From NYTimes.com.  Retrieved July 16, 2014.</ref>
 
  
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See also:  
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=== Atheist factions ===
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''See also:'' [[Atheist factions]] and [[Western atheism, schisms and political polarization]] and [[Atheist organizations]]
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*[[Desecularization]]
 
  
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*[[Atheist indoctrination]]
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On July 24, 2020, the atheist [[PZ Myers]] wrote about atheism: "Deep rifts, ongoing fragmentation, and crumbling reputations seems to be the order of the day in atheism."<ref>[https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2020/07/24/i-dont-even-know-whats-going-on-in-atheism-anymore/ I don’t even know what’s going on in atheism anymore] by [[PZ Myers]]</ref> See also: [[Atheist factions]] and [[Atheist organizations and scandals]] and [[Atheist scandals]]
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[[File:Richard Dawkins Stockholm.JPG|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|250px|right|[[Richard Dawkins]] was a central figure in the [[Elevatorgate]] controversy.]]
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Jacques Rousseau wrote in the ''Daily Maverick'': "[[Elevatorgate]]..has resulted in three weeks of infighting in the secular community. Some might observe that we indulge in these squabbles fairly frequently."<ref>Rousseau, Jacques (July 13, 2011). [http://dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2011-07-13-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-can-rip-my-soul "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can rip my soul"]. Daily Maverick [South Africa].</ref> An ex-atheist wrote: "As an Atheist for 40 years, I noticed that there is not just a wide variety of [[Schools of atheist thought|Atheist positions]], but there exists an actual battle between certain [[Atheist factions]]."<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/internet-atheism-is-still-hostile.html "The atheist community and internet atheism is still a hostile wasteland"] (April 7, 2013).  Question Evolution Campaign [blog].</ref>
  
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=== Participation in the atheist community more difficult than in many communities ===
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==== Atheist infighting ====
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''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheists and conflict resolution]]
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and loneliness]] and [[Internet atheism]]
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[[Blair Scott]] served on the [[American Atheists]] board of directors.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140701062412/http://atheists.org/about-us/board-of-directors "Board of directors"] (July 1, 2014).  American Atheists</ref>  Mr. Scott formerly served as a State Director for the [[American Atheists]] organization in the state of [[Alabama]].  On December 1, 2012, he quit his post as a director of outreach for the American Atheists due to infighting within the American [[atheist movement]].<ref name="Blair Scott">Former 2012 web page at Atheist.org website entitled "An Open Letter from Blair Scott"</ref>
  
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In an essay entitled ''How the [[Atheist movement|Atheist Movement]] Failed Me'', an [[atheism and women|atheist woman]] noted that participation in the atheist community is often expensive due to the cost of attending [[atheist conferences]] and even local atheist meetings in restaurants and bars challenged her modest budget.<ref>Amanda (August 10, 2012).  [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/08/10/how-the-atheist-movement-failed-me-part-1-cost/ "How the atheist movement failed me–part 1: cost"].  Friendly Atheist blog.  Retrieved on September 9, 2014.</ref>  As a result of the challenges that atheists commonly have in terms of socializing in person, many atheists [[Internet atheism|turn to the internet]] in terms of communicating with other atheists.<ref>Norris, Chuck (May 21, 2007). [http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55789 "How to outlaw Christianity (steps 2 & 3)"].  WorldNetDaily.  Retrieved on September 9, 2014.  See [[Chuck Norris]].</ref> Often internet communication between atheists turns acrimonious and contentious (see: [[Atheist factions]]).
+
Mr. Blair wrote: "I have spent the last week mulling over what I want to do at this point in the movement. I’m tired of the in-fighting: at every level. I am especially tired of allowing myself to get sucked into it and engaging in the very behavior that is irritating...me."<ref name="Blair Scott"/>
  
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For more information, please see: [[Atheism and loneliness]]
+
The atheist Neil Carter wrote: "Friends of mine have noted lately how biting and critical the atheist community can be, not only toward outsiders, but even toward its own members. Has there ever been a subculture more prone to eating its own than this one? I really don’t know."<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2016/06/12/its-past-time-for-atheism-to-grow-up/ It’s Past Time for Atheism to Grow Up] by Neil Carter</ref>
  
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== Claims about the conditionality of atheism and atheists' attitudes towards death ==
+
The atheist [[David Smalley]] said about the atheist movement: "We're eating our own... We’re disintegrating."<ref name="patheos.com">[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/dogmadebate/2017/06/reasonably-controversial-regressive-left-killing-atheist-movement/ Reasonably Controversial: How the Regressive Left Is Killing the Atheist Movement] by David Smalley</ref>
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
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{{See also|Antitheism and antisocial behavior}}
  
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Hannah More wrote: "[T]he mind, which knows not where to fly, flies to God.  In agony, nature is no Atheist.  The soul is drawn to God by a sort of natural impulse; not always, perhaps by an emotion of piety; but from a feeling conviction, that every other refuge is 'a refuge of lies'."<ref>More, Hannah (1815).  [http://archive.org/details/anessayoncharac00moregoog ''An Essay on the Character and Practical Writings of St. Paul''], 5th ed., vol. 2 (London:  T. Cadell and W. Davies), p. 234.  Retrieved from Internet Archive, July 16, 2014.</ref>
+
==== Atheist infighting causing fundraising difficulties ====
 +
[[File:Hemant Mehta at Skepticon 7.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|The [[atheist]] [[Hemant Mehta]] said about raising money from fellow nonbelievers: "Meanwhile, I’ve had one hell of a time convincing people to give to the Foundation Beyond Belief — and I help lead that organization."
 +
<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/01/08/a-few-thoughts-about-fundraising/ A Few Thoughts About Fundraising]</ref>
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
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See also: [[Atheist organizations and fundraising]] and [[Atheism and charity]] ]]
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheist organizations and fundraising]] and [[Atheist fundraising vs. religious fundraising]] and [[Atheism and charity]]
  
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=== Atheism and death ===
+
In 2017, the [[atheist activist]] Lee Moore declared about [[American atheism|American atheist]] organizations:
 +
{{Cquote|If you look at the major atheist groups right now, like the national groups, the ones that are doing the real activist work... They are not bringing in the kind of donations they used to.  Most of them are starved for cash. They're downsizing left and right. Because people aren't just giving like they used to. And I talked to a lot of the major donors out there and they said, "Well, we're kind of tired of seeing the atheist community just fight amongst itself and not really get anything done. We'd rather not give money if we don't think it's going to go somewhere."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvG6LKUbOdk Lee Moore and Steve Shives Talk About the Future of the Atheist Movement]
 +
- video quote comes 21 minutes and 13 seconds into the video</ref>}}
  
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[[File:Atheism and death.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.<ref>Multiple references:
+
==== Eddie Tabash on atheist argumentativeness ====
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*[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm "Fear of death: Worst if you’re a little religious?"] (July 13, 2005).  World Science.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]]
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*Wink, P. L. and Scott, J. A. (July 2005).  [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 "Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study" [abstract&#93;].  ''The Journals of Gerontology, series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences'', vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 207-14.  Abstract retrieved from PubMed.gov on October 6, 2014.</ref> See: [[Atheism and death]] ]]
 
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and death]] and [[Atheism and cryonics]] and [[Atheism and Hell]]
+
The [[American atheism|American atheist]] activist [[Eddie Tabash]] said in a speech to the Michigan Atheists State Convention, "Since we are a bit of a cantankerous, opinionated lot...".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ld9Rfw5HUs Atheists Speak Up - Eddie Tabash - Part 2 of 4]</ref>
  
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On April 2, 2012, ''Science Daily'' reported that ''Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God''.<ref name="Otago">University of Otago [New Zealand] (April 2, 2012).  [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm "Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God"].  ScienceDaily.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.</ref> In a 2012 ''Psychology Today'' article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.<ref name="Heflick">Heflick, Nathan A. (May 25, 2012).  [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201205/atheists-death-and-belief-in-god "Atheists, death and belief in God: The effects of death reminders on atheists' supernatural beliefs"].  Psychology Today website.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.</ref> Under stress, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.<ref>Multiple references:
+
==== Angry and bitter demeanor of militant atheists ====
−
*Ruhr University Bochum (August 9, 2012). [http://aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/pm2012/pm00263.html.en "Learn to forecast the weather after stress"].  aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]]
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*Gregoire, Carolyn (July 31, 2013).  [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/learn-under-stress-brain_n_3678222.html "How the brain learns successfully, even under stress"].  The Huffington Post.  Retrieved on October 3, 2013.</ref>
 
  
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A United States study and a [[Taiwan]]ese study indicated that the irreligious fear death more than the very religious.<ref>Multiple references:
+
On January 1, 2011, [[CNN]] reported:
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*[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm "Fear of death: Worst if you’re a little religious?"] (July 13, 2005).  World Science.
+
{{cquote|People unaffiliated with organized religion, atheists and agnostics also report anger toward God either in the past, or anger focused on a hypothetical image - that is, what they imagined God might be like - said lead study author Julie Exline, Case Western Reserve University psychologist.
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*Wink, Paul. and Scott, Julia. (July 2005).  [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 "Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study"].  ''The Journals of Gerontology. Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences'', vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 207-14.  Retrieved from PubMed.gov.
 
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*Wen, Ya-hui. (December 2010). [http://www.hraljournal.com/Page/4%20Ya-Hui%20Wen.pdf "Religiosity and death anxiety"]. ''The Journal of Human Resource and Adult Learning'', vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 31-37.  Retrieved from The Journal of Human Resource and Adult Learning website.</ref>
 
  
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For additional information, please see the article: [[Atheism and death]]
+
In studies on college students, atheists and agnostics reported more anger at God during their lifetimes than believers.<ref>Landau, Elizabeth (January 1, 2011).  [http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/01/anger-at-god-common-even-among-atheists/ "Anger at God common, even among atheists"].  CNN/The Chart website.</ref>}}
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[[File:Angry atheist.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|An angry atheist speaking to a woman with a Bible in her hand.
 
<br />
 
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<br />
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The Christian philosopher James S. Spiegel says that the path from Christianity to atheism among several of his friends involved moral slippages such as resentment or unforgiveness.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-philosopher-explores-causes-of-atheism-44353/ Christian Philosopher Explores Causes of Atheism]</ref> See:  [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]]]]
 +
According to Anthony DeStefano:
 +
{{cquote|But are (atheists) really dangerous, too?
  
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==== Atheism and Hell ====
+
You bet they are. The truth is, the atheist position is incapable of supporting any coherent system of morality other than ruthless social Darwinism. That’s why it has caused more deaths, murders and bloodshed than any other belief system in the history of the world.
  
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''See also:''  [[Atheism and Hell]]
+
Atheists, of course, are always claiming hysterically that Christianity has been responsible for most of the world’s wars, but that’s just another example of atheistic ignorance. The main reasons for war have always been economic gain, territorial gain, civil and revolutionary conflicts.  According to Philip Axelrod’s monumental "Encyclopedia of Wars," only 6.98 percent or all wars from 8000 BC to the present were religious in nature. If you subtract Islamic wars from the equation, only 3.2 percent of wars were due to specifically Christian causes.  That means that over 96 percent of all the wars on this planet were due to worldly reasons.<ref name="Today's atheists">[https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/03/20/todays-atheists-are-bullies-and-are-doing-their-best-to-intimidate-rest-us-into-silence.html Today's atheists are bullies -- and they are doing their best to intimidate the rest of us into silence] at Fox News</ref>}}
  
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The journalist and [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[Peter Hitchens]], who is the brother of the late atheist [[Christopher Hitchens]], said upon seeing an art exhibit of [[Michelangelo]]'s painting ''The Last Judgment'' he came to the realization that he might be judged which startled him.<ref name="PH">[http://vimeo.com/10354237 "Peter Hitchens author interview—The rage against God"] [interview of Peter Hitchens] (March 22, 2010).  Vimeo video, 8:38, posted by Gorilla Poet Productions.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref> This started a train of thought within Peter Hitchens that eventually led him to become a [[Christian]].<ref name="PH"/> 
+
Various studies found that traumatic events in people's lives have a positive correlation with "emotional atheism".<ref>Carter, Joe (January 12, 2011). [http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2011/01/when-atheists-are-angry-at-god "When atheists are angry at God"].  First Things [The Institute on Religion and Public Life] website.</ref>
  
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For more information, please see: [[Atheism and Hell]]
+
The atheist and [[lesbianism|lesbian]] [[Greta Christina]] told the journalist Chris Mooney on the Point of Inquiry podcast, "there isn't one emotion" that affects atheists "but anger is one of the emotions that many of us have ...[it] drives others to participate in the movement."<ref>Mooney, Chris (May 14, 2012).  [http://www.pointofinquiry.org/greta_christina_why_are_you_atheists_so_angry/ "Greta Christina—Why are you atheists so angry?"] [interview of Greta Christina] Point of Inquiry website.</ref>
  
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==== Atheism and cryonics ====
+
Social science research indicates that [[Antitheism|antitheists]] score the highest among atheists when it comes to personality traits such as [[narcissism]], dogmatism, and anger.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/science-shows-new-atheists-to-be-mean-and-closed-minded/ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded"] (July 18, 2013).  Shadow to Light [blog].
 +
*Haidt, Jonathan (March 5, 2014).  [https://evolution-institute.org/article/why-sam-harris-is-unlikely-to-change-his-mind10/  "Why Sam Harris is unlikely to change his mind"]</ref>  Furthermore, they scored lowest when it comes to agreeableness and positive relations with others.<ref>[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/science-shows-new-atheists-to-be-mean-and-closed-minded/ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded"] (July 18, 2013).  Shadow to Light [blog].</ref>
  
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See: [[Atheism and cryonics]] and [[Atheist cults]]
+
For additional information, please see: [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and  [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]]
  
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[[Cryonics]] is a [[pseudoscience]] that tries to extend life or achieve immortality in a non-theistic way after a person is legally dead (Cryonic procedures are performed shortly after a person's death).<ref name="cryogenesis">Multiple references:
+
== Atheism and its retention rate in individuals ==
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*[http://dujs.dartmouth.edu/winter-2012/cryogenesis-a-review#.VDHE0RYy5l4 "Cryogenesis: A Review"] (March 11, 2012). Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science website.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and its retention rate in individuals]] and [[Conversion from atheism to Christianity]] and [[Atheism and children]] and [[Desecularization]] and [[Atheism and apathy]]
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*Barbaro, Valerie (17 June 2011).  [http://thehumanist.com/july-august-2011/heaven-for-atheists/ "Heaven for atheists"].  TheHumanist.com.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref>  Atheists [[Robert Ettinger]] and [[Isaac Asimov]] played a notable role in the founding of the cryonics movement.<ref name="Ettinger">Multiple references:
+
[[File:Georgetown 2.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household in the United States remain atheists as adults.<ref name="retention rate">Nazworth, Nap (July 11, 2012). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ "Study: atheists have lowest 'retention rate' compared to religious groups"]. christianpost.com.</ref>  
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*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/science-obituaries/8658435/Robert-Ettinger.html "Robert Ettinger"] (July 24, 2011). The Telegraph website.  Retrieved October 6, 2014.  "Despite his Jewish roots, he grew up a determined atheist."
 
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*Klein, Bruce (August 13, 2004).  [http://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/4112-the-father-of-cryonics-robert-c-w-ettinger/ "The Father of Cryonics, Robert C. W. Ettinger"] [Interview with Robert C. W. Ettinger].  Longecity.org.  Retrieved October 6, 2014.
 
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*Pascal, David (November/December 2005).  [http://www.cryonicssociety.org/articles_mensajournal.html "A brain is a terrible thing to waste.  Mensans, cryonics, and the fight to extend human life"]. Mensa Bulletin. Retrieved from The Cryonics Society website on October 6, 2014.
 
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*[http://www.cryonicssociety.org/aboutcryonics_critics.html "Cryonics and critics"] (2012).  The Cryonics Society website.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref> According to The Cryonics Society, Asimov said of cryonics, "Though no one can quantify the probability of cryonics working, I estimate it is at least 90%..."<ref name="critics">[http://www.cryonicssociety.org/aboutcryonics_critics.html "Cryonics and critics"] (2012).  The Cryonics Society website.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref>  For more information, please see: [[Atheism and cryonics]]
 
  
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=== Atheism and transhumanism ===
+
See: [[Atheism and its retention rate in individuals]] ]]
 +
In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.<ref name="retention rate"/>  See also: [[Atheism and children]]
  
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See: [[Atheism and transhumanism]]
+
A 2012 study by the General Social Survey of the social science research organization NORC at the University of Chicago found that belief in God rises with age, even in atheistic nations.<ref>Harms, William (April 18, 2012). [http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/04/18/belief-god-rises-age-even-atheist-nations "Belief in God rises with age, even in atheist nations".] UChicagoNews.</ref> The Pew Forum reports about [[American atheism|American atheists]]: "Among self-identified atheists and agnostics, the median age is 34, and roughly four-in-ten adults in these categories are between the ages of 18 and 29."<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/chapter-3-demographic-profiles-of-religious-groups/ Chapter 3: Demographic Profiles of Religious Groups], Pew Forum</ref> See also: [[Atheism and immaturity]].
  
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=== There are no atheists in foxholes ===
+
In addition, in atheistic Communist China, [[Christianity]] is experiencing rapid growth (see: [[Growth of Christianity in China]]).  Also, there was a collapse of atheism in the former [[Soviet Union]] (see: [[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]).
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<br />
 +
<br />
 +
See also:
  
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''See also:'' [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]] and [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
+
*[[Desecularization]]
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[[File:Foxhole.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring ''[[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]''.<ref>Multiple references:
+
*[[Decline of the atheist movement]]
−
* Taylor-Blake, Bonnie (September 24, 2006). [http://web.archive.org/web/20080617035633/http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696 "'There are no atheists in [the&#93; foxholes'"]. Message posted to The American Dialect Society [Electronic] Mailing List, archived at ListServ 16.0. Retrieved from June 17, 2008 archive at Internet Archive.
+
*[[Atheism and inspiration]]
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*Osborn, Neale (December 15, 2012).  [http://nealebooks.newsvine.com/_news/2012/12/15/15931810-there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes "There are no atheists in foxholes..."]. Newsvine website/Neal Osborn.  Retrieved April 23, 2015.</ref>]]
+
*[[Atheist indoctrination]]
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Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring "[[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]."<ref>[http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,792459,00.html "Milestones [excerpt&#93;"] (October 15, 1945).  ''Time''.  Retrieved from Time magazine website, July 17, 2014.</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://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9905EFD91239E13ABC4D51DFB7678383609EDE "Tells of religion in army.  Chaplain Lawson says there are no atheists in front line"] (November 25, 1918).  ''New York Times'', p. 13.  Retrieved from nytimes.com on July 17, 2014.</ref>On the other hand, the news organization NBC featured a story in which atheist veterans claimed that there are atheists in foxholes.<ref>Breen, Tom (April 2, 2011).[http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42391558/ns/us_news-military/t/army-group-coming-out-atheist-closet/#.UbgMndihjSg "Army group 'coming out of the atheist closet'"] from NBCNews.com Retrieved July 17, 2014.</ref>
 
  
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Research indicates that heavy combat has a positive correlation to the strength of the religious faith in soldiers during the battles and subsequent to the war if they indicated their experience was a negative experience (for more information please see: [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]).
+
=== Difficulty in participating in atheist community ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and loneliness]] and [[Atheism and apathy]] and [[Atheism and motivation]] and [[Internet atheism]]  
  
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Also, due to research showing that death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God, Dr. Nathan Heflick declared in a ''Psychology Today'' article, "But, at a less conscious (or pre-conscious) level, this research suggests that there might be less atheism in foxholes than atheists in foxholes report."<ref name="Heflick"/> Please see: [[Atheism and death]]
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According to an international study done by William Bainbridge, atheism is frequent among people whose interpersonal social obligations are weak and is also linked to lower fertility rates in advanced industrial nations (See also: [[Atheism and fertility rates]]).<ref>Bainbridge, William (2005). "[http://www.religjournal.com/pdf/ijrr01002.pdf Atheism]" (PDF). Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion. 1 (Article 2): 1–26.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and loneliness]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social skills]]
  
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== Denials that atheists exist ==
+
In comparison to many religious groups, which have many meetings/conferences in numerous places in a given day or week that are convenient to attend, atheist meetings and [[atheist conferences]] are sparse.  One of the causes of this situation is the apathy of many atheists (see: [[Atheism and apathy]] and [[Atheism and motivation]]).
  
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''See also:'' [[Denials that atheists exist]] and [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
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Most [[atheist organizations]] are relatively small in terms of active participants as most atheists are apathetic about organized atheism (see: [[Atheism and apathy]]). An exception is the [[Communist Party of China]], which requires its members be atheists (see: [[Atheism and China]] and [[Atheism and communism]]). At the same time, due to the explosive [[growth of Christianity in China]], there are now more Christians in China than Chinese who belong to the Communist Party of China (see also: [[East Asia and global desecularization]]).<ref>[https://www.dw.com/en/in-xi-we-trust-is-china-cracking-down-on-christianity/a-42224752 In Xi we trust - Is China cracking down on Christianity?], DW News</ref>
  
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It has been asserted by various theists that atheists do not exist and that atheists are actively suppressing their belief and knowledge of God and enigmatically engage in self-deception and in the deception of others (see: [[Denials that atheists exist]] and [[Atheism and deception]]). In atheistic [[Japan]], researchers found that Japanese children see the world [[Intelligent design|as designed]].<ref>Multiple references:
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In recent times, the number of people attending atheist conferences has grown smaller.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tippling/2017/07/13/10923/ Whoever I Don’t Like Is Ruining the Atheist Movement] by Jeremiah Traeger
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*Catchpoole, David (July 16, 2009 [GMT+10]).  [http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed "Children see the world as designed"]. Creation.com. Retrieved on January 3, 2015.  See [[Creation Ministries International]].
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*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/dogmadebate/2017/06/reasonably-controversial-regressive-left-killing-atheist-movement/ Reasonably Controversial: How the Regressive Left Is Killing the Atheist Movement] by David Smalley
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*Turner, Dean (1991). [http://books.google.com/books?id=BGU7LZ2bQ4cC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=As+for+me,+I+don%E2%80%99t+see+myself+as+so+much+dust+that+has+appeared+in+the+world+but+as+a+being+that+was+expected,+prefigured,+called+forth.+In+short,+as+a+being+that+could,+it+seems,+come+only+from+a+creator;+and+this+idea+of+a+creating+hand+that+created+me+refers+me+back+to+God.&source=bl&ots=die9xMUdsB&sig=3dAJOK34aBalYieFKcJLdGpwFjY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NXhqVMSmHMexyASUyYKIBw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=As%20for%20me%2C%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20see%20myself%20as%20so%20much%20dust%20that%20has%20appeared%20in%20the%20world%20but%20as%20a%20being%20that%20was%20expected%2C%20prefigured%2C%20called%20forth.%20In%20short%2C%20as%20a%20being%20that%20could%2C%20it%20seems%2C%20come%20only%20from%20a%20creator%3B%20and%20this%20idea%20of%20a%20creating%20hand%20that%20created%20me%20refers%20me%20back%20to%20God.&f=false ''Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility''] (Pasadena, California:  Hope Publishing House), p. 109.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on January 16, 2015.</ref>
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luT2vQ3ctKU #ReasonRally Crash n burn. Thanks SJWs!] by [[Thunderf00t]]</ref> Atheist [[David Smalley]] wrote: "And we wonder why we’re [[Atheism and politics|losing elections]], [[Atheist fundraising vs. religious fundraising#Atheist organizations and fundraising|losing funding]], and our conferences are getting smaller."<ref name="patheos.com"/> In 2017, the atheist activist Lee Moore said about atheist conferences, "Most conferences are gone now. They're either gone or in some kind of life support form."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvG6LKUbOdk Lee Moore and Steve Shives Talk About the Future of the Atheist Movement], video, quote comes at the 11 minute and 44 seconds point of the video</ref>
  
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=== Atheists/agnostics and ultimate purpose ===
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[[File:Jerry Coyne at The Amazing Meeting - 2013.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|[[Jerry Coyne]] speaking at a 2013 [[Atheist conferences|atheist meeting]] entitled The Amazing Meeting (TAM). TAM is an annual meeting. ]]
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Atheist Francois Tremblay wrote about the difficulty of motivating atheists to engage in activities related to atheism: "One last problem that undermines any propagation of atheism is inspiration. Let's be honest here, "there is no god!" is not a very motivating call for most people." (see also: [[Atheism and inspiration]]).<ref>[http://www.liberator.net/articles/TremblayFrancois/herdingcats.html Herding Cats: Why Atheism Will Lose] by Francois Tremblay</ref>  The atheist [[Jerry Coyne]] said about atheist meetings/conferences, "But to me the speakers and talks have often seemed repetitive: the same crew of jet-set skeptics giving the same talks."<ref>[https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2011/06/10/are-there-too-many-atheist-meetings/ Are there too many atheist meetings?] by Jerry Coyne</ref>
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and purpose]] and [[Atheism and beliefs]]
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In an essay entitled ''How the [[Atheist movement|Atheist Movement]] Failed Me'', an [[atheism and women|atheist woman]] noted that participation in the atheist community is often expensive due to the cost of attending [[atheist conferences]] and even local atheist meetings in restaurants and bars challenged her modest budget.<ref>Amanda (August 10, 2012).  [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/08/10/how-the-atheist-movement-failed-me-part-1-cost/ "How the atheist movement failed me–part 1: cost"].  Friendly Atheist blog.</ref>  As a result of the challenges that atheists commonly have in terms of socializing in person, many atheists [[Internet atheism|turn to the internet]] in terms of communicating with other atheists.<ref>Norris, Chuck (May 21, 2007).  [https://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55789 "How to outlaw Christianity (steps 2 & 3)"].  WorldNetDaily. See: [[Chuck Norris]].</ref> Often internet communication between atheists turns contentious (see: [[Atheist factions]]).
  
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One of the most popular arguments for God's existence is the [[teleological argument]]. Derived from the Greek word ''telos'', which refers to purpose or end, this argument hinges on the idea that the world gives evidence of being designed, and concludes that a divine designer must be posited to account for the orderly world we encounter.
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[[Christianity|Christian]] organizations have been significantly more successful than [[atheist organizations]] as far as evangelizing via the internet (see: [[Internet evangelism: Christians vs. atheists]] and [[Internet atheism]]). Beginning sometime between 2008 to 2012, there has been a big decline in [[internet atheism]] in terms of web traffic (See: [[Internet atheism web traffic volume]]).<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/internet-atheism-and-skepticism-thrill.html Internet atheism: The thrill is gone!]</ref>
  
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Academic research and historical data indicate that a significant portion of atheists/agnostics often see their lives and the world as being the product of purposeful design (see: [[Atheism and purpose]]).<ref>Multiple references:
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For more information, please see: [[Atheism and loneliness]]
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*Banerjee, Konika and Bloom, Paul (October 17, 2014).  [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html "Does everything happen for a reason?"]  The New York Times website.  Retrieved on January 16, 2014.
 
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*Catchpoole, David (July 16, 2009 [GMT+10]).  [http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed "Children see the world as designed"].  Creation.com.  Retrieved on January 3, 2015.  See [[Creation Ministries International]].
 
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*Atheist [[Jean-Paul Sartre]] made the candid confession: "As for me, I don’t see myself as so much dust that has appeared in the world but as a being that was expected, prefigured, called forth. In short, as a being that could, it seems, come only from a creator; and this idea of a creating hand that created me refers me back to God. Naturally this is not a clear, exact idea that I set in motion every time I think of myself. It contradicts many of my other ideas; but it is there, floating vaguely. And when I think of myself I often think rather in this way, for want of being able to think otherwise." Source: Turner, Dean (1991). [http://books.google.com/books?id=BGU7LZ2bQ4cC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=As+for+me,+I+don%E2%80%99t+see+myself+as+so+much+dust+that+has+appeared+in+the+world+but+as+a+being+that+was+expected,+prefigured,+called+forth.+In+short,+as+a+being+that+could,+it+seems,+come+only+from+a+creator;+and+this+idea+of+a+creating+hand+that+created+me+refers+me+back+to+God.&source=bl&ots=die9xMUdsB&sig=3dAJOK34aBalYieFKcJLdGpwFjY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NXhqVMSmHMexyASUyYKIBw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=As%20for%20me%2C%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20see%20myself%20as%20so%20much%20dust%20that%20has%20appeared%20in%20the%20world%20but%20as%20a%20being%20that%20was%20expected%2C%20prefigured%2C%20called%20forth.%20In%20short%2C%20as%20a%20being%20that%20could%2C%20it%20seems%2C%20come%20only%20from%20a%20creator%3B%20and%20this%20idea%20of%20a%20creating%20hand%20that%20created%20me%20refers%20me%20back%20to%20God.&f=false ''Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility''] (Pasadena, California:  Hope Publishing House), p. 109.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on January 16, 2015.
 
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*The ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' declares about the agnostic/[[weak atheism|weak atheist]] [[Charles Darwin]]: "In 1885, the Duke of Argyll recounted a conversation he had had with Charles Darwin the year before Darwin's death: 'In the course of that conversation I said to Mr. Darwin, with reference to some of his own remarkable works on the Fertilization of [[Orchid]]s, and upon The [[Earthworm]]s, and various other observations he made of the wonderful contrivances for certain purposes in nature — I said it was impossible to look at these without seeing that they were the effect and the expression of Mind. I shall never forget Mr. Darwin's answer. He looked at me very hard and said, "Well, that often comes over me with overwhelming force; but at other times," and he shook his head vaguely, adding, "it seems to go away."' (Argyll 1885, 244)"
 
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**[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html "Notes to 'Teleological arguments for God's existence'"] [article revised removing reference in January 2015].
 
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**The Duke of Argyll (1885).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=CskhAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22good+words%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fs24VKGOMpDnsATg_4HYDQ&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22it%20seems%20to%20go%20away%22&f=false "What is science?"]  ''Good Words'' [United Kingdom], vol. 26, p. 244.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on January 16, 2015.
 
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</ref>
 
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[[Image:Ncgj688.jpg|right|thumb|[[Jean Paul Sartre]]]]
 
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[[Jean-Paul Sartre]] was one of the leading proponents of atheism of the 20th Century.
 
  
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Yet Jean-Paul Sartre made this candid confession:
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=== Abandonment of atheism and communist regimes ===
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{{cquote|As for me, I don’t see myself as so much dust that has appeared in the world but as a being that was expected, prefigured, called forth. In short, as a being that could, it seems, come only from a creator; and this idea of a creating hand that created me refers me back to God. Naturally this is not a clear, exact idea that I set in motion every time I think of myself. It contradicts many of my other ideas; but it is there, floating vaguely. And when I think of myself I ''often'' think rather in this way, for want of ''being able to think otherwise'' [emphasis added].<ref>Ankerberg, Dr. John, et al. (2002).  [http://www.jashow.org/wiki/index.php?title=Is_Jesus_Really_the_Only_Way_to_God/Part_3 "Is Jesus really the only way to God?/Part 3 - Is there an innate knowledge of God in atheists, skeptics, and other opponents of Christianity?"] The John Ankenberg Show website.  Retrieved on January 16, 2015.</ref>}}
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*[[Growth of Christianity in China]]
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*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]
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*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union#Growth of Protestantism in Russia|Growth of Protestantism/Evangelicalism in Russia]]
  
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Furthermore, late in his life, the [[agnosticism|agnostic]]/[[weak atheism|weak atheist]] and evolutionist [[Charles Darwin]] often had overwhelming thoughts that the world [[Intelligent design|was designed]].<ref>Multiple references:
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== Decline of the atheist movement ==
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*[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html "Notes to 'Teleological arguments for God's existence'"] [article revised removing reference in January 2015].
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''See also:'' [[Decline of the atheist movement]] and [[Morale of the atheist movement]] and [[Desecularization]] and [[Atheist movement]]
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*The Duke of Argyll (1885).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=CskhAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22good+words%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fs24VKGOMpDnsATg_4HYDQ&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22it%20seems%20to%20go%20away%22&f=false "What is science?"]  ''Good Words'' [United Kingdom], vol. 26, p. 244.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on January 16, 2015.</ref>
 
  
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See also:
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[[File:Jacques Berlinerblau.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|In 2011, atheist [[Jacques Berlinerblau]] declared: "The Golden Age of [[Secularism]] has passed."<ref name="chronicle.com">Berlinerblau, Jacques (February 4, 2011).  [http://chronicle.com/blogs/brainstorm/obama-at-the-national-prayer-breakfast-raging-christ-fest-secular-wake/31816 "Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast"].  The Chronicle of Higher Education/Brainstorm blog.  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>]]
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Numerous atheists have declared that the "[[atheist movement]] is dead" or that it is dying.<ref>
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190208025358/https://freethoughtblogs.com/reasoner/2017/10/21/the-atheism-movement-dead-or-alive/ The “Atheism Movement:” Dead or Alive?], [[Freethought Blogs]]
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*[http://examiningatheism.blogspot.com/2017/11/seth-andrews-keeps-hearing-reports-of.html Atheist activist Seth Andrews keeps seeing reports on social media and the media that the atheist movement is dying], ''Examining Atheism''
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*[http://examiningatheism.blogspot.com/2017/10/now-that-that-poseur-atheist-aron-ra.html Atheist Aron Ra indicates the atheist movement is dead. Now that that Aron Ra has surrendered....], ''[[Examining Atheism]]''
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*[http://www.atheistrev.com/2013/12/the-day-atheist-movement-died.html The Day the Atheist Movement Died] by Jack Vance at Atheist Revolution
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*[https://twitter.com/jennifurret/status/405391218273554433 Jennifer McCreight on Twitter about the Elevatorgate scandal destroying the atheist movement], [[Jen McCreight]], Twitter
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*[https://freethoughtblogs.com/atrivialknot/2019/03/26/the-ghost-of-atheist-past/ The ghost of atheist past], Freethought Blogs, 2015</ref> See: [[Decline of the atheist movement]]
  
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*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
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Before the atheist movement died/declined, various atheists attempted to change the public's perception concerning atheism and atheists, but they were largely unsuccessful (see: [[Attempts to positively rebrand atheism]]).
  
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==Atheism and [[communism]] ==
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At the 2018 [[American Atheists]] convention, the ex-president of the [[American Atheists]] organization [[David Silverman]] declared regarding the [[Morale of the atheist movement|atheist movement being in a demoralized state]]:
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{{Cquote|It is a hard time to be [[Atheist activist|an atheist activist]]. This has affected us. And it has affected our community...
  
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''see also:'' [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Militant atheism]] and [[Atheism and economics]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheism and Karl Marx]]  
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...it has really affected us. We are suffering a level of [[defeatism]] that I have never seen before...
  
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[[Image:Khvhkgfiy.jpg|left|thumbnail|150px|[[Vladimir Lenin]]]]
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We feel the loss. And we feel like we have lost. We feel like [[Donald Trump and American atheists|we lost the election]]... We see this cascade of attack coming down at us over and over from all different directions and we feel like it's over. I have heard so many times it makes me sick. It makes me sad. It feels like we lost.
  
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=== Atheists Karl Marx and Vladmir Lenin ===
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The [[Atheism and apathy|apathy that follows]]. It doesn't matter. We can't win anyways. It's useless to fight. This apathy is infecting us. It's hurting us.
  
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[[Karl Marx]] said "[Religion] is the opium of the people". Marx also stated: "[[Communism]] begins from the outset (Owen) with atheism; but atheism is at first far from being communism; indeed, that atheism is still mostly an abstraction.<ref>Mulligan, Martin (1959). [http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm "Private property and communism"] translation of Marx, Karl (1932), ''Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844'' (Moscow:  Progress Publishers).  Retrieved on July 17, 2014.  Caution:  Presumably copyrighted in the United States until 2054 and in the United Kingdom until 2029.  For fair educational use only.</ref>
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And people are reacting to each other now. And so that is [[Atheist factions|causing a division]]. Lots and lots of division in our movement. Hard, bad division... And that has resulted in a splintering and factioning of the movement that I have never seen before and none of us have.
  
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[[Vladimir Lenin]] similarly wrote regarding atheism and communism: "A Marxist must be a [[materialism|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>Rothstein, Andrew and Issacs, Bernard (1973). [http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm "The attitude of the worker's party to religion"] translation of Lenin, Vladimir (1909), ''Proletary'', No. 45, May 13 (26), ''Collected Works'', (Moscow: Progress Publishers) vol. 15, pp. 402-13.  Retrieved on July 17, 2014.  Caution:  Presumably copyrighted in the United States until 2068.  For fair educational use only. </ref>
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In other words, we're in a bad situation and it's getting worse.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8VYLMYvImc David Silverman - How the Mighty Get Back Up]</ref>}}
  
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=== The Russian revolution caused the most notable spread of atheism ===
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In 2017, atheist [[David Smalley]] has indicated that [[leftism|leftist]]/[[progressivism|progressive]] atheists were "killing the atheist movement" through being contentious and divisive (see also: [[Atheist factions]]).<ref name="patheos.com"/>  Former [[New Atheism|new atheist]] [[PZ Myers]], who subscribes to progressive politics, says he is no longer a member of the atheist movement.<ref>[https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2017/08/26/get-out-a-message-for-the-atheist-movement/ Get Out! A message for the atheist movement] by PZ Myers</ref>
  
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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=http://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> Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg, a Soviet physicist, wrote that the "[[Bolshevik]] communists were not merely atheists but, according to [[Lenin]]'s terminology, [[militant atheist]]s."<ref name="Lenin & militant atheism">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=ufC9Ar8iuDcC&pg=PA161&dq=The+Bolshevik+communists+were+not+merely+atheists+but,+according+to+Lenin%27s+terminology,+militant+atheists.&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1oFUUdj6PIiK0QGvq4CAAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=The%20Bolshevik%20communists%20were%20not%20merely%20atheists%20but%2C%20according%20to%20Lenin's%20terminology%2C%20militant%20atheists.&f=false|title =''On Superconductivity and Superfluidity: A Scientific Autobiography'' |author=Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg|publisher = Springer Science+Business Media|pages=p. 161|year=2009|quote=The Bolshevik communists were not merely atheists but, according to Lenin's terminology, militant atheists.|accessdate = July 17, 2014}}</ref> However, prior to this, the [[Reign of Terror]] of the [[French Revolution]] established a state which was anti-[[Roman Catholicism]]/Christian in nature <ref>Multiple references:
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The atheist movement saw a number of setbacks during the latter portion of the 20th century and beyond in terms of historical events/trends (See: [[Causes of desecularization]]).  As a result, it has lost a considerable amount of confidence (see also: [[Decline of the atheist movement]] and [[Atheists and the endurance of religion]]).
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*Tallet, Frank and Atkin, Nicholas (1991). [http://books.google.com/books?id=aL4lsWdd-rAC&dq=&hl=en ''Religion, Society and Politics in France Since 1789''] (London: A & C Black), pp. 1-17.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive.
 
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*Spielvogel, Jackson J. (2006).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=ni4PSpOxb6MC&dq ''Western Civilization: Combined Volume''] (Belmont, CA:  Thomson Wadsworth), p. 549.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive.
 
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*Latreille, A. (2002).  "French Revolution", ''New Catholic Encyclopedia'' (2nd ed., Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson/Gale), vol. 5, pp. 972–973.  ISBN 0-7876-4004-2</ref> (anti-clerical [[deism]] and anti-religious atheism and played a significant role in the French Revolution<ref>Multiple references:
 
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*Hunt, Lynn and Censer, Jack (2001).  [http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap7c.html "War, Terror and Resistence", ch. 7, p. 3].  Liberty, Equality, Fraternity:  Exploring the French Revolution website.  Retrieved from George Mason University website/Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media website.
 
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*O'Leary, Margaret R. (June 1, 2012).  ''Forging Freedom: The Life of Cerf Berr of M Delsheim'' (iUniverse), pp. 1-2. </ref>), with the official ideology being the [[Cult of Reason]]; during this time thousands of believers were suppressed and executed by the [[guillotine]].<ref>Multiple references:
 
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<!-- Guillotine -->*{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=bf3m7IVAa9gC&pg=PA461&dq=France+atheism+guillotine++Christians+executed&hl=en&sa=X&ei=l4lUUaTRBufG0QGe0IHACA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=France%20atheism%20guillotine%20%20Christians%20executed&f=false|title =''Christianity: The eBook''|author=James Adair|publisher = JBE Online Books|year=2007|quote=Although the Civil Constitution called for religious liberty, which was extended to Jews as well as Christians, many revolutionaries pushed for the establishment of a new state religion, either the Cult of Reason (atheists) or the Cult of the Supreme Being (Deists). Changes to the calendar eliminated references to Christian holidays, and even the ancient seven-day week, and a list of officially recognized saints included such famous thinkers such as Socrates, Jesus, Marcus Aurelius, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. A period of political persecution, often with religious overtones, broke out, known as the Reign of Terror. Thousands of people were executed by the guillotine, including many of the original leaders of the French Revolution.|pages=p. 461|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}
 
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<!-- France -->*{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=9WkBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA105&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =''Memoirs of the Reign of George III. to the Session of Parliament ending A.D. 1793'', Volume 5|page=105|author=William Belsham|publisher = G.G. & J. Robinson|year=1801|quote=In allusion to the monstrous transactions of this portentous period, it has been eloquently and energetically observed, 'that the reign of atheism in France was avowed the reign of terror. In the full madness of their career, in the highest climax of their horrors, they shut up the temples of God, abolished His worship, and proclaimed death to be an eternal sleep:—in the very centre of Christendom, Revelation underwent a total eclipse, while atheism, performing on a darkened theatre its strange and fearful tragedy, confounded the first elements of society, blended every age, rank, and sex, indiscriminate proscription and massacre, and convulsed all Europe to its centre, that the imperishable memorial of these events might teach the last generations of mankind to consider religion as the pillar of society, the parent of social order, and the safe-guard of nations.'<br>"It is wonderful that, amid the horrors of this dismal period, while 'the death dance of democratic revolution' was still in rapid movement, among the tears of affliction, and the cries of despair, 'the masque, the song, the theatric scene, the buffoon laughter, went on as regularly as in the gay hour of festive peace.'|pages=pp. 105-6|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}
 
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<!-- Reign of Terror -->*{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Tt5rqiCP1p8C&pg=PA57&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =''Christianity, Islam, and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West''|author=William Kilpatrick|publisher = Ignatius Press|year=2012|quote=Actually, it's helpful to think in terms of two Enlightenments: the Enlightenment that cut itself off from God. The former led to the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the abolition of slavery, and the civil rights movement. The latter led to the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror, the suppression of church by state, and the godless philosophies of Marx and Nietzsche and their offspring—National Socialism and communism. More recently the abandonment of God has led to the regime of cultural relativism that regards rights as arbitrary constructions.<br>"It's this second Enlightenment tradition that Cardinal Ratzinger referred to when he wrote, 'The radical detachment of the Enlightenment philosophy from its roots ultimately leads it to dispense with man.' Actually this transition happened not 'ultimately' but almost immediately. The first instance occurred when Enlightenment worship of abstract 'reason' and 'liberty' degenerated quickly into the mass murders committed during the antireligious Reign of Terror in France. 'Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name', said Madam Rolande as she faced the statue of Liberty in the Place de la Revolution movements before her death at the guillotine. She was one of the early victims of a succession of secular systems based on rootless notions of 'liberty', 'equality', and 'reason'.<br>"As many historians have pointed out, the atheist regimes of modern times are guilty of far more crimes than any committed in the name of religion. Communist governments alone were guilty of more than one hundred million murders, most of them committed against their own people.|pages=p. 57|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}</ref>
 
  
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=== Communism, militant atheism, repression, mass murder and Christian persecution ===
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Globally, the [[atheist population]] is declining in terms of the percentage of the world's population that are atheists (see: [[Global atheism statistics]]).
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
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==Atheism and Communism ==
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''see also:'' [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Militant atheism]] and [[Atheism and economics]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheism and Karl Marx]]  
  
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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>Multiple references:
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[[Image:Khvhkgfiy.jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|[[Vladimir Lenin]]]]
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*Kent, Jo Ling (April 28, 2011). [http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/28/china.church.crackdown/index.html?hpt=T2 "Underground Christians fear China crackdown"]. CNN.com.  Retrieved July 18, 2014.
 
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*Yakovlev, Alexander N. (2002). [http://books.google.com/books?visbn=0300103220&id=ChRk43tVxTwC&pg=PA165&lpg=PA165&ots=ICIxg28Jud&dq=a+century+of+violence+in+soviet+russia+the+Russian+Orthodox+clergy&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=C9k9Hr7Vn222WCHf_1iSJOHVsgo#v=onepage&q=&f=false ''A Century of Violence in Soviet Russia''] translated by Austin, Anthony (New Haven: Yale University Press), p. 165.  Retrieved July 18, 2014.
 
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*Braga, Fr. Roman (1996). [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/frroman1.aspx "On compromise in the hierarchy during the Communist yoke"].  Orthodox Christian Information Center.  Retrieved July 18, 2014.
 
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*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
 
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*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"].  NewsMax.  Retrieved from NorthKoreanChristians.com on July 18, 2014.
 
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*[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818 "China sends Bible owners to labor camp"] (November 26, 2003). WorldNetDaily. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
 
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*[http://theworldnow.wordpress.com/tag/around-the-world/asia/china/ "China: Christians tortured while under arrest"] (September 27, 2006).  The World Now.  Retrieved July 18, 2014.</ref> 
 
  
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The [[persecution of Christians in the USSR|persecution of Christians in the Soviet Union]] was the result of the violently atheist [[Soviet]] government.  In the first five years after the [[October Revolution]], 28 bishops and 1,200 priests were murdered, many on the orders of [[Leon Trotsky]].  When [[Joseph Stalin]] came to power in 1927, he ordered his secret police, under [[Genrikh Yagoda]] to intensify persecution of Christians.  In the next few years, 50,000 clergy were murdered, many were [[torture]]d, including [[crucifixion]]. "Russia turned red with the blood of martyrs", said Father Gleb Yakunin of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]].<ref>Ostling, Richard N. (December 4, 1989). [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,150718,00.html "Cross meets Kremlin: Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II"]. ''Time''.  Retrieved from Time magazine website July 18, 2014.</ref>  According to Orthodox Church sources, as many as fifty million Orthodox believers may have died in the twentieth century, mainly from persecution by [[Communists]].<ref>Moore, Rev. Fr. Raphael (October 1999). [http://www.serfes.org/printerVersion2.asp?URL=/orthodox/memoryof.htm "In memory of the 50 million victims of the Orthodox Christian Holocaust"], Spiritual Nourishment for the Soul, Serfes, Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios, compiler. Retrieved July 18, 2014.</ref>
+
=== Atheists Karl Marx, Vladmir Lenin and Chou En-lai ===
 +
[[Karl Marx]] said "[Religion] is the opium of the people." Marx also stated: "[[Communism]] begins from the outset (Owen) with atheism; but atheism is at first far from being communism; indeed, that atheism is still mostly an abstraction."<ref>Mulligan, Martin (1959). [http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm "Private property and communism"] translation of Marx, Karl (1932), ''Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844'' (Moscow:  Progress Publishers).</ref>
  
−
In addition, in the atheistic and communist Soviet Union, 44 anti-religious museums were opened and the largest was the 'The Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism' in [[Leningrad]]’s Kazan cathedral.<ref>Humphrey (December 16, 2008). [http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-anti-christmas.html "Merry Anti-Christmas!"] Quodlibeta. Retrieved July 18, 2014.</ref>  Despite intense effort by the atheistic leaders of the Soviet Union, their efforts were not effective in converting the masses to atheism.<ref>Multiple references:
+
[[Vladimir Lenin]] similarly wrote regarding atheism and Communism: "A Marxist must be a [[materialism|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>Rothstein, Andrew and Issacs, Bernard (1973). [http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm "The attitude of the worker's party to religion"] translation of Lenin, Vladimir (1909), ''Proletary'', No. 45, May 13 (26), ''Collected Works'', (Moscow: Progress Publishers) vol. 15, pp. 402-13.</ref>
−
*Humphrey (December 16, 2008). [http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-anti-christmas.html "Merry Anti-Christmas!"] Quodlibeta.  Retrieved July 18, 2014.
 
−
*Froese, Paul (March 2004). [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpl/jssr/2004/00000043/00000001/art00003?crawler=true "Forced secularization in Soviet Russia:  why an atheistic monopoly failed" [abstract&#93;].  ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'', vol. 43, 1, pp. 35-50.  Abstract retrieved from Ingentaconnect on July 18, 2014.</ref>
 
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[[File:China location.png|thumbnail|right|250px|With its large population, [[China]] has the largest population of atheists with 8 - 14% of Chinese being atheists.<ref>[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf "The largest atheist/agnostic populations"].  Chris & Terri Chapman.  Retrieved July 18, 2014.  Countries with the largest atheist populations.</ref> The religious landscape of China is quickly changing, however, due to the rapid growth of Christianity. <ref name="Geoff, Robertson"/> See also: [[Global atheism]] ]]
 
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[[China]] is a communist country. 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." 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 "China sends Bible owners to labor camp"] (November 26, 2003). ''WorldNetDaily''. Retrieved July 18, 2014.</ref>  China continues to practice religious oppression today.<ref>[http://theworldnow.wordpress.com/tag/around-the-world/asia/china/ "China: Christians tortured while under arrest"] (September 27, 2006). ''The World Now''. Retrieved July 18, 2014.</ref>
 
  
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The efforts of China's atheist leaders in promoting atheism, however, is increasingly losing its effectiveness and the number of [[Christianity|Christians]] in China is rapidly growing.<ref name="Geoff, Robertson"/>  China's state sponsored atheism and atheistic indoctrination has been a failure and a 2007 religious survey in China indicated that only 15% of Chinese identified themselves as atheists.<ref>Briggs, David (January 23, 2011).  [http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/01/23/huffington-post-chinas-state-sponsored-atheism-a-failure/ "Huffington Post: China’s state-sponsored atheism a failure" [excerpt&#93;].  National Post website.  Excerpt retrieved July 18, 2014.</ref>
+
In 1955, the [[China|Chinese]] Communist leader Chou En-lai declared, "We Communists are atheists".<ref>Noebel, David, The Battle for Truth, Harvest House, 2001.</ref>
  
−
[[North Korea]] is a repressive communist state and is officially atheistic.<ref>Lee, Sunny (May 12, 2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20130521065544/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/IE12Dg01.html "God forbid, religion in North Korea?"] Asia Times Online.  Archived at Internet Archive on May 21, 2013.  Retrieved on July 18, 2014.</ref> The North Korean government practices brutal repression and atrocities against North Korean [[Christianity|Christians]].<ref>Multiple references:
+
In 2014, the Communist Party of China reaffirmed that members of their party must be atheists.<ref>
−
*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
+
*[https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/19567-china-s-communist-party-reaffirms-marxism-maoism-atheism China’s Communist Party Reaffirms Marxism, Maoism, Atheism], ''New American'', 2014
−
*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"].  NewsMax.  Retrieved from NorthKoreanChristians.com on July 18, 2014.</ref>
+
*[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/02/china-communist-party-atheism-zhejiang-ban-religious-members-christianity_n_6599722.html China's Communist Party Bans Believers, Doubles Down On Atheism]</ref>
  
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==== Atheistic communism and mass murder ====
+
In 2016, the ''International Business Times'' reported:
 +
{{cquote|A senior Chinese advisor on religious affairs has said the country should promote atheism throughout society, in remarks that appear to reflect a deepening campaign to reinforce traditional Marxist values in China — and could add to concern about official attitudes among believers in the country’s five officially recognized religions.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/senior-chinese-religious-advisor-calls-promotion-atheism-society-2363850 Senior Chinese Religious Advisor Calls For Promotion Of Atheism In Society], ''International Business Times''</ref>}}
  
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It has been estimated that in less than the past 100 years, governments under the banner of communism have caused the death of somewhere between 40,472,000 to 259,432,000 human lives.<ref>Multiple references:
+
=== Russian Revolution caused the most notable spread of atheism ===
−
*[http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hpcws/lelivrenoir.htm "''The Black Book of Communism''"].  Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences website:  Cold War Studies.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.
+
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=https://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>  
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*Rummel, R. J. (November 1993).  [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"]  University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.
 
−
*White, Matthew (February 2011).  [http://necrometrics.com/20c5m.htm "Source list and detailed death tolls for the primary megadeaths of the twentieth century"].  Necrometrics.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.
 
−
*Radosh, Ronald (February 2000).  [http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=2526 "''The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression''"]. First Things [journal] website.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref> Dr. R. J. Rummel, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii, is the scholar who first coined the term democide (death by government). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate regarding the loss of life due to communism is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987.<ref>Rummel, R. J. (November 1993).  [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"]  University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref> [[Richard Dawkins]] has attempted to [[Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism|engage in historical revisionism concerning atheist atrocities and Dawkins was shown to be in gross error]].
 
  
−
=== Atheistic communist regimes and forced labor ===
+
Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg, a Soviet physicist, wrote that the "[[Bolshevik]] communists were not merely atheists but, according to [[Lenin]]'s terminology, militant atheists."<ref name="Lenin & militant atheism">{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ufC9Ar8iuDcC&pg=PA161&dq=The+Bolshevik+communists+were+not+merely+atheists+but,+according+to+Lenin%27s+terminology,+militant+atheists.&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1oFUUdj6PIiK0QGvq4CAAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=The%20Bolshevik%20communists%20were%20not%20merely%20atheists%20but%2C%20according%20to%20Lenin's%20terminology%2C%20militant%20atheists.&f=false|title =''On Superconductivity and Superfluidity: A Scientific Autobiography'' |author=Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg|publisher = Springer Science+Business Media|pages=161|year=2009|quote=The Bolshevik communists were not merely atheists but, according to Lenin's terminology, militant atheists.|accessdate = July 17, 2014}}</ref> However, prior to this, the [[Reign of Terror]] of the [[French Revolution]] established a state which was anti-[[Roman Catholicism]]/Christian in nature <ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Tallet, Frank and Atkin, Nicholas (1991). [https://books.google.com/books?id=aL4lsWdd-rAC&dq=&hl=en ''Religion, Society and Politics in France Since 1789''] (London: A & C Black), pp. 1-17. GoogleBooks archive.
 +
*Spielvogel, Jackson J. (2006).  [https://books.google.com/books?id=ni4PSpOxb6MC&dq ''Western Civilization: Combined Volume''] (Belmont, CA:  Thomson Wadsworth), p. 549.  GoogleBooks archive.
 +
*Latreille, A. (2002).  "French Revolution", ''New Catholic Encyclopedia'' (2nd ed., Farmington Hills, MI:  Thomson/Gale), vol. 5, pp. 972–973.  ISBN 0-7876-4004-2</ref> (anti-clerical [[deism]] and anti-religious atheism and played a significant role in the French Revolution<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Hunt, Lynn and Censer, Jack (2001).  [https://web.archive.org/web/20140905120047/http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap7c.html "War, Terror and Resistence", ch. 7, p. 3].  Liberty, Equality, Fraternity:  Exploring the French Revolution website.  George Mason University website/Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media website.
 +
*O'Leary, Margaret R. (June 1, 2012).  ''Forging Freedom: The Life of Cerf Berr of M Delsheim'' (iUniverse), pp. 1-2.</ref>), with the official ideology being the [[Cult of Reason]]; during this time thousands of believers were suppressed and executed by the [[guillotine]].<ref>Multiple notes:
 +
<!-- Guillotine -->*{{cite web|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bf3m7IVAa9gC&pg=PA461&dq=France+atheism+guillotine++Christians+executed&hl=en&sa=X&ei=l4lUUaTRBufG0QGe0IHACA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=France%20atheism%20guillotine%20%20Christians%20executed&f=false|title =''Christianity: The eBook''|last=Adair|first=James|publisher = JBE Online Books|year=2007|quote=Although the Civil Constitution called for religious liberty, which was extended to Jews as well as Christians, many revolutionaries pushed for the establishment of a new state religion, either the Cult of Reason (atheists) or the Cult of the Supreme Being (Deists). Changes to the calendar eliminated references to Christian holidays, and even the ancient seven-day week, and a list of officially recognized saints included such famous thinkers such as Socrates, Jesus, Marcus Aurelius, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. A period of political persecution, often with religious overtones, broke out, known as the Reign of Terror. Thousands of people were executed by the guillotine, including many of the original leaders of the French Revolution.|pages=461|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}
 +
:
 +
<!-- France -->*{{cite web|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9WkBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA105&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =''Memoirs of the Reign of George III. to the Session of Parliament ending A.D. 1793'', Volume 5|page=105|first=William|last=Belsham|publisher = G.G. & J. Robinson|year=1801|quote=In allusion to the monstrous transactions of this portentous period, it has been eloquently and energetically observed, 'that the reign of atheism in France was avowed the reign of terror. In the full madness of their career, in the highest climax of their horrors, they shut up the temples of God, abolished His worship, and proclaimed death to be an eternal sleep:—in the very centre of Christendom, Revelation underwent a total eclipse, while atheism, performing on a darkened theatre its strange and fearful tragedy, confounded the first elements of society, blended every age, rank, and sex, in indiscriminate proscription and massacre, and convulsed all Europe to its centre, that the imperishable memorial of these events might teach the last generations of mankind to consider religion as the pillar of society, the parent of social order, and the safe-guard of nations.'
 +
:"It is wonderful that, amid the horrors of this dismal period, while 'the death dance of democratic revolution' was still in rapid movement, among the tears of affliction, and the cries of despair, 'the masque, the song, the theatric scene, the buffoon laughter, went on as regularly as in the gay hour of festive peace.'|pages=105–6|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}<!-- Reign of Terror -->
 +
:
 +
*{{cite book no ws|title=Christianity, Islam, and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West|first=William|last=Kilpatrick|location=San Francisco, CA|publisher=Ignatius Press|year=2012|url=https://books.google.com?id=Tt5rqiCP1p8C&pg=PA57&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|quote=Actually, it's helpful to think in terms of two Enlightenments: the Enlightenment that was nourished by Christianity and the Enlightenment that cut itself off from God. The former led to the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the abolition of slavery, and the civil rights movement. The latter led to the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror, the suppression of church by state, and the godless philosophies of Marx and Nietzsche and their offspring—National Socialism and communism. More recently the abandonment of God has led to the regime of cultural relativism that regards rights as arbitrary constructs.
 +
:"It's this second Enlightenment tradition that Cardinal Ratzinger referred to when he wrote, 'The radical detachment of the Enlightenment philosophy from its roots ultimately leads it to dispense with man.' Actually this transition happened not 'ultimately' but almost immediately. The first instance occurred when Enlightenment worship of abstract 'reason' and 'liberty' degenerated quickly into the mass murders committed during the antireligious Reign of Terror in France. 'Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name', said Madame Roland as she faced the statue of Liberty in the Place de la Revolution moments before her death at the guillotine. She was one of the early victims of a succession of secular systems based on rootless notions of 'liberty', 'equality', and 'reason'.
 +
:"As many historians have pointed out, the atheist regimes of modern times are guilty of far more crimes than any committed in the name of religion. Communist governments alone were guilty of more than one hundred million murders, most of them committed against their own people.|pages=p. 57|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}</ref>
  
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In atheistic communist regimes forced labor has often played a significant role in their economies and this practice continues to this day (see: [[Atheism and forced labor]]).<ref>Multiple references:
+
=== Atheistic Communism and mass murder ===
−
*Caplan, Bryan (2010).  [http://econfaculty.gmu.edu/bcaplan/museum/comfaq.htm "Museum of Communism FAQ version 1.3"]. George Mason University website/Department of Economics/Bryan Caplan/Museum of Communism.
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] and [[Atheist atrocities]]
−
*[http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/06/13/north-korea-economic-system-built-forced-labor "North Korea: Economic system built on forced labor: New testimonies say even children must work or face detention camps"] (June 13, 2012). Human Rights Watch website.
+
[[File:Stalin-Lenin.jpg|right|202px|thumb|The militant atheistic regime of [[Joseph Stalin]] killed tens of millions of people.
−
*Pattisson, Pete (November 7, 2014).  [http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/nov/07/qatar-north-korean-forced-labour "Qatar’s ambitious future driven on by North Korean ‘forced labour’"].  ''The Guardian'' website/World/Global Development.
+
<br />
−
*[http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/red.giant/prisons/wu.essay "Labor camps reinforce China's totalitarian rule"] (1999). Cnn.com. Retrieved on March 20, 2013.
+
<br />
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*[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-01/07/c_132086402.htm "China to reform re-education through labor system"] (January 8, 2013).  Xinhua.</ref>
+
Joseph Stalin is the figure on the right and [[Vladimir Lenin]] is the figure on the left,
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
See: [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] ]]
 +
It has been estimated that in less than the past 100 years, governments under the banner of Communism have caused the death of somewhere between 40,472,000 and 259,432,000 human lives.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*[http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hpcws/lelivrenoir.htm "''The Black Book of Communism''"]. Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences website:  Cold War Studies.
 +
*Rummel, R. J. (November 1993).  [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"]  University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War
 +
*White, Matthew (February 2011).  [http://necrometrics.com/20c5m.htm "Source list and detailed death tolls for the primary megadeaths of the twentieth century"].  Necrometrics
 +
*Radosh, Ronald (February 2000).  [http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=2526 "''The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression''"]. First Things [journal] website.</ref> Dr. R. J. Rummel, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii, is the scholar who first coined the term democide (death by government). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate regarding the loss of life due to communism is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987.<ref>Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"] University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.</ref> [[Richard Dawkins]] has attempted to [[Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism|engage in historical revisionism concerning atheist atrocities]] and Dawkins was shown to be in gross error. See also: [[Atheism and historical revisionism]]
  
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=== Atheism, politics and related matters ===
+
Christian apologist Gregory Koukl wrote relative to [[Atheism and Mass Murder|atheism and mass murder]] that "the assertion is that religion has caused most of the killing and bloodshed in the world.
 +
There are people who make accusations and assertions that are empirically false. This is one of them."<ref name="Koukl">Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). [https://www.str.org/articles/the-real-murderers-atheism-or-christianity#.XdaqONVOk2w "The real murderers:  atheism or Christianity?"] Stand to Reason.</ref>
 +
Koukl details the number of people killed in various events involving theism and compares them to the much higher tens of millions of people killed under regimes that advocated atheism.<ref name="Koukl" />  As noted earlier, Richard Dawkins has attempted to [[Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism|engage in historical revisionism concerning atheist atrocities]] and Dawkins was shown to be in gross error.
  
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*[[Militant atheism]]
+
Koukl summarized by stating:
 +
{{cquote|It is true that it's possible that religion can produce evil, and generally when we look closer at the detail it produces evil because the individual people are actually living in a rejection of the tenets of Christianity and a rejection of the God that they are supposed to be following. So it can produce it, but the historical fact is that outright rejection of God and institutionalizing of atheism actually does produce evil on incredible levels. We're talking about tens of millions of people as a result of the rejection of God.<ref name="Koukl" />}}
  
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*[[Atheism and mass murder]]
+
Theodore Beale notes concerning atheism and mass murder:
 +
{{cquote|Apparently it was just an amazing coincidence that every Communist of historical note publicly declared his atheism … .there have been twenty-eight countries in world history that can be confirmed to have been ruled by regimes with avowed atheists at the helm … These twenty-eight historical regimes have been ruled by eighty-nine atheists, of whom more than half have engaged in democidal acts of the sort committed by Stalin and [[Mao Zedong|Mao]] …
  
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*[[Atheism and communism]]
+
The total body count for the ninety years between 1917 and 2007 is approximately 148 million dead at the bloody hands of fifty-two atheists, three times more than all the human beings killed by war, civil war, and individual crime in the entire twentieth century combined.
  
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*[[Atheism and mockery]]
+
The historical record of collective atheism is thus 182,716 times worse on an annual basis than Christianity’s worst and most infamous misdeed, the Spanish Inquisition. It is not only Stalin and Mao who were so murderously inclined, they were merely the worst of the whole [[Atheism and Hell|Hell]]-bound lot. For every Pol Pot whose infamous name is still spoken with horror today, there was a Mengistu, a Bierut, and a Choibalsan, godless men whose names are now forgotten everywhere but in the lands they once ruled with a red hand.
  
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*[[History of Atheism|History of atheism]]
+
Is a 58 percent chance that an atheist leader will murder a noticeable percentage of the population over which he rules sufficient evidence that atheism does, in fact, provide a systematic influence to do bad things? If that is not deemed to be conclusive, how about the fact that the average atheist crime against humanity is 18.3 million percent worse than the very worst depredation committed by Christians, even though atheists have had less than one-twentieth the number of opportunities with which to commit them. If one considers the statistically significant size of the historical atheist set and contrasts it with the fact that not one in a thousand religious leaders have committed similarly large-scale atrocities, it is impossible to conclude otherwise, even if we do not yet understand exactly why this should be the case. Once might be an accident, even twice could be coincidence, but fifty-two incidents in ninety years reeks of causation!<ref name="marry">Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009).  [https://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"].  Creation Ministries International.</ref>}}
 +
[[File:Xi in Maoist outfit.PNG|thumbnail|right|390px|[[Xi Jinping]] is the current General Secretary of the Communist Party of China which requires that all their members be atheists.<ref>[https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/19567-china-s-communist-party-reaffirms-marxism-maoism-atheism China’s Communist Party Reaffirms Marxism, Maoism, Atheism], New American, 2014</ref>
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
See: [[China and atheism]] and [[Atheism and communism]] ]]
 +
See also:
  
 +
*[[Militant atheism]]
 +
*[[Atheism and communism]]
 +
*[[Soviet Union and morality]]
 +
*[[Secular left]]
 
*[[Atheism and politics]]
 
*[[Atheism and politics]]
  
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*[[Decline of the secular left]]
+
=== Communism and religious oppression ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Communism and religious persecution]] and [[Atheistic communism and torture]] and [[Atheism and forced labor]] and [[China and involuntary organ harvesting]]
  
−
*[[Atheism and economics]]
+
The atheism in 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>Multiple references:
 +
*Kent, Jo Ling (April 28, 2011). [https://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/28/china.church.crackdown/index.html?hpt=T2 "Underground Christians fear China crackdown"]. CNN.com
 +
*Yakovlev, Alexander N. (2002). [https://books.google.com/books?visbn=0300103220&id=ChRk43tVxTwC&pg=PA165&lpg=PA165&ots=ICIxg28Jud&dq=a+century+of+violence+in+soviet+russia+the+Russian+Orthodox+clergy&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=C9k9Hr7Vn222WCHf_1iSJOHVsgo#v=onepage&q=&f=false ''A Century of Violence in Soviet Russia''] translated by Austin, Anthony (New Haven: Yale University Press), p. 165. 
 +
*Braga, Fr. Roman (1996). [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/frroman1.aspx "On compromise in the hierarchy during the Communist yoke"].  Orthodox Christian Information Center. 
 +
*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [https://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun
 +
*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"].  NewsMax.  NorthKoreanChristians.com
 +
*[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818 "China sends Bible owners to labor camp"] (November 26, 2003). WorldNetDaily.
 +
*[http://www.epm.org/resources/2003/Jun/12/chinese-police-proudly-record-their-torture-christ/ Chinese Police Proudly Record Their Torture of Christians], By Voice of the Marytrs|June 12, 2003</ref> 
  
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== Criticism of atheism and the atheist community ==
+
==== Religious persecution in the Soviet Union ====
 +
''See also:'' [[Soviet atheism]]
  
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''See also:'' [[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian|Resources for leaving atheism]] and [[Christian apologetics]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]
+
The [[persecution of Christians in the USSR|persecution of Christians in the Soviet Union]] was the result of the violently atheist [[Soviet]] government.  In the first five years after the [[October Revolution]], 28 bishops and 1,200 priests were murdered, many on the orders of [[Leon Trotsky]].  When [[Joseph Stalin]] came to power in 1927, he ordered his secret police, under [[Genrikh Yagoda]] to intensify persecution of Christians.  In the next few years, 50,000 clergy were murdered, many were [[torture]]d, including [[crucifixion]].  "Russia turned red with the blood of martyrs", said Father Gleb Yakunin of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]].<ref>Ostling, Richard N. (December 4, 1989).  [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,150718,00.html "Cross meets Kremlin: Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II"]. ''Time''. Time magazine website.</ref>  According to Orthodox Church sources, as many as fifty million Orthodox believers may have died in the twentieth century, mainly from persecution by [[Communists]].<ref>Moore, Rev. Fr. Raphael (October 1999). [http://www.serfes.org/printerVersion2.asp?URL=/orthodox/memoryof.htm "In memory of the 50 million victims of the Orthodox Christian Holocaust"], Spiritual Nourishment for the Soul, Serfes, Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios, compiler.</ref>
 +
[[File:China location.png|thumbnail|left|205px|With its large population, China has the largest population of atheists.<ref name=20Zuck>[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf "Top 20 Countries With Largest Numbers of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)"] (November 28, 2007). ''The Largest Atheist/Agnostic Populations''. Chris & Terri Chapman website (March 19, 2013 or bef.), first publication date at website from archive at Internet Archive.</ref>
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
The religious landscape of China is quickly changing, however, due to the rapid growth of Christianity. See also: [[China and atheism]] and [[Global atheism]] ]]
 +
In addition, in the atheistic and Communist Soviet Union, 44 anti-religious museums were opened and the largest was the 'The Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism' in [[Leningrad]]’s Kazan Cathedral.<ref>Humphrey (December 16, 2008). [http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-anti-christmas.html "Merry Anti-Christmas!"] Quodlibeta.</ref>  Despite intense effort by the atheistic leaders of the Soviet Union, their efforts were not effective in converting the masses to atheism.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Humphrey (December 16, 2008). [http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-anti-christmas.html "Merry Anti-Christmas!"] Quodlibeta.
 +
*Froese, Paul (March 2004). [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpl/jssr/2004/00000043/00000001/art00003?crawler=true "Forced secularization in Soviet Russia:  why an atheistic monopoly failed" [abstract&#93;].  ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'', vol. 43, 1, pp. 35-50.  Abstract: Ingentaconnect</ref>
  
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The word apologetics comes directly from the ancient Greek word apologia which is a derivative of a word meaning to speak in one's defence.<ref>Thayer and Smith (1999).  [http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/apologia.html "Greek lexicon entry for 'Apologia'"].  ''The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon''.  Retrieved from BibleStudyTools.com.</ref> [[Christian apologetics]] is a field of Christian [[theology]] which focuses on the evidence and arguments for [[Christianity]] and the evidence and arguments opposing other [[worldview]]s.
+
====  Religious persecution in Communist China ====
 +
''See also:'' [[China and atheism]]
  
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=== Biblical statements concerning atheism ===
+
[[China]] has the world's largest atheist population (see: [[China and atheism]]).<ref>Double reference:
 +
*[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf "Top 20 Countries With Largest Numbers of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)"] (November 28, 2007). ''The Largest Atheist/Agnostic Populations''. Chris & Terri Chapman website (March 19, 2013 or bef.), first publication date at website from archive at Internet Archive.
 +
*[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], ''Washington Post'' By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013</ref>  China is a Communist country. 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." 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 "China sends Bible owners to labor camp"] (November 26, 2003). ''WorldNetDaily''.</ref>  China continues to practice religious oppression today.<ref>[http://www.epm.org/resources/2003/Jun/12/chinese-police-proudly-record-their-torture-christ/ Chinese Police Proudly Record Their Torture of Christians], By Voice of the Martyrs|June 12, 2003</ref> 
  
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''see also:'' [[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
+
The efforts of China's atheist leaders in promoting atheism, however, are increasingly losing their effectiveness and the number of Christians in China is rapidly growing (see: [[Growth of Christianity in China]]).  China's state-sponsored atheism and atheistic indoctrination have been a failure and a 2007 religious survey in China indicated that only 15% of Chinese identified themselves as atheists.<ref>Briggs, David (January 23, 2011).  [http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/01/23/huffington-post-chinas-state-sponsored-atheism-a-failure/ "Huffington Post: China’s state-sponsored atheism a failure" [excerpt&#93;].  National Post website.</ref>
 +
[[File:Martyred in the USSR Poster.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The above photograph shows the Russian Nikolai Khmara, a new Baptist convert in the [[Soviet Union]], after his arrest by the [[KGB]]. He was tortured to death and his tongue was cut out.<ref>[http://martyredintheussr.com/ Martyred in the USSR]</ref><ref>[http://www.anabaptists.org/books/russians/trs-1.html The Russians' Secret by Peter Hoover with Serguei V. Petrov, Speaking Without a Tongue, Chapter 1 (Pages 1-3)]</ref> ]]
 +
Researchers estimate that tens of thousands of [[Falun Gong]] prisoners in Communist China have been killed to supply a financially lucrative trade in human organs and cadavers, and that these human rights abuses may be an ongoing concern.<ref>[http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/slaughter-mass-killings-organ-harvesting Review of: Ethan Gutmann, “''The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting and China’s Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem''”, (Prometheus Books, 2014).]</ref>
  
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[[File:Psalmist David2.jpg|thumb|115px|left|The psalmist [[David]] wrote: "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'"]]
+
==== Religious persecution in North Korea ====
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The writers of the [[Bible]] considered the existence of God to be self-evident and [[Moses]] simply wrote: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." ([[Genesis]] 1:1).<ref>Harr, Ken and Lisle, Dr. Jason (August 9, 2007). [http://www.answersingenesis.org/is-god-real/is-there-really-god/ "Chapter 1: Is there really a God?"] ''The New Answers Book''.  Answers in Genesis.  Retrieved July 16, 2014.</ref>
 
  
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Accordingly, the psalmist [[David]] declared:
+
[[North Korea]] is a repressive Communist state and is officially atheistic.<ref>Lee, Sunny (May 12, 2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20130521065544/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/IE12Dg01.html "God forbid, religion in North Korea?"]  Asia Times Online.  Archived at Internet Archive on May 21, 2013.</ref> The North Korean government practices brutal repression and atrocities against North Korean Christians.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [https://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun.
 +
*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"].  NewsMax.  NorthKoreanChristians.com</ref>  Open Doors, an organization based in the United States, has put North Korea at the very top of its list of countries where Christians face significant persecution - for 12 years in a row.<ref>[http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-10-22/repressive-atheist-north-korea-has-surprising-relationship-christian-missionaries Repressive, atheist North Korea has a surprising relationship with Christian missionaries]</ref>
  
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"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." — [[Psalms]] 14:1 ([[King James Bible|KJV]])
+
=== Atheistic Communism and torture ===
 +
See: [[Atheistic communism and torture]]
  
−
The psalmist David also wrote "The heavens declare the glory of God..." — Psalms 19:1
+
=== Atheistic Communist regimes and forced labor ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and forced labor]] and [[Atheism and slavery]]
  
−
In his letter to the Romans the [[Apostle Paul]] declared:
+
In atheistic Communist regimes forced labor has often played a significant role in their economies and this practice continues to this day (see: [[Atheism and forced labor]]).<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Caplan, Bryan (2010).  [http://econfaculty.gmu.edu/bcaplan/museum/comfaq.htm "Museum of Communism FAQ version 1.3"]. George Mason University website/Department of Economics/Bryan Caplan/Museum of Communism.
 +
*[https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/06/13/north-korea-economic-system-built-forced-labor "North Korea: Economic system built on forced labor: New testimonies say even children must work or face detention camps"] (June 13, 2012).  Human Rights Watch website.
 +
*Pattisson, Pete (November 7, 2014).  [https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/nov/07/qatar-north-korean-forced-labour "Qatar’s ambitious future driven on by North Korean ‘forced labour’"].  ''The Guardian'' website/World/Global Development.
 +
*[https://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/red.giant/prisons/wu.essay "Labor camps reinforce China's totalitarian rule"] (1999).  Cnn.com
 +
*[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-01/07/c_132086402.htm "China to reform re-education through labor system"] (January 8, 2013).  Xinhua.</ref>
  
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"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. 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..." — [[Romans]] 1:19-20 (NKJV)
+
== Atheism and the internet ==
  
−
===Commonly Cited Arguments Against Atheism and For Theism ===
+
''See also:'' [[Internet atheism]]
−
[[Image:Anselm.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|[[Anselm of Canterbury]]'s  version of the [[ontological argument]] appeared in his work ''Proslogium''.]]
 
  
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''See also:'' [[Christian apologetics]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]  
+
As noted above, sometime between 2008 and 2012, there has been a big drop in [[internet atheism]] in terms of web traffic (See: [[Internet atheism web traffic volume]]).<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/internet-atheism-and-skepticism-thrill.html Internet atheism: The thrill is gone!]</ref><ref>[https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=atheism,atheist,agnostic,agnosticism General atheism/agnostic terms - World]</ref>
  
−
In relation to the debate between theism and atheism, theists often criticize atheism as being contrary to persuasive argument and have a number of arguments against atheism. [[Arguments for the existence of God]] include:
+
In addition, in terms of reach and its ability to influence, internet atheism is ineffectual (See: [[Internet atheism has a small audience and an insignificant influence on the world]]).<ref>[https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0008429819854353?journalCode=sira ''Who is Not Afraid of Richard Dawkins? Using Google Trends to Assess the Reach of Influential Atheists across Canadian Secular Groups''] by Maryam Dilmaghani, ''Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses'', First Published December 13, 2019 Research Article
−
<br />
+
https://doi.org/10.1177/0008429819854353</ref>
−
* [[Teleological argument]]: The universe exhibits overwhelming evidence of deliberate, intelligent, purposeful design, which implies an [[intelligent design]]er. See also: [[Evolution|Arguments against evolution]] and [[Origin of life]]
 
  
−
*Lack of objective moral standards. Not possessing a coherent basis for [[morality]], [[atheist]]s are fundamentally [[Moral_relativism|incapable]] of having a coherent system of morality.<ref>Multiple references:
+
=== Google Trends: From 2004 to June 2025, the number of worldwide Google searches for the term atheist is significantly down ===
−
*Copan, Paul (2008). [http://www.paulcopan.com/articles/pdf/God-naturalism-morality.pdf "God, naturalism, and the foundations of morality"].  ''The Future of Atheism'', ed. Robert Stewart (Minneapolis: Fortress Press), pp. 141-161.  Retrieved form PaulCopan.com on October 3, 2014.
 
−
*Williams, Peter S. (2011). [http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god "Can moral objectivism do without God?"].  Bethinking.org Retrieved on October 3, 2014.
 
−
*Meister, Chad (2010).  [http://www.equip.org/articles/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality/ "Atheists and the quest for objective morality"].  ''Christian Research Journal'', vol. 33, no. 2.  Retrieved from Christian Research Institute website on October 3, 2014.
 
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*Slick, Matt (2009).  [http://carm.org/failure-of-atheism-to-account-for-morality "The failure of atheism to account for morality"].  Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.</ref>  See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Moral failures of the atheist population|List of the moral failures of the atheist population]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
 
  
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* [[Cosmological argument]]: Every event in our [[universe]] necessarily has a cause. However, it is impossible that there should be an unending chain of causes going back. Therefore, there necessarily must be a cause ''distinct'' from the universe as we know it which is capable of causing all things and is itself uncaused. Atheism denies that that [[First Cause|first cause]] is God. The scientific evidence demonstrates that the [http://www.creationencounter.com/space/lawsofscience.php universe is not eternal] and Christians point out that [http://creation.com/who-created-god the question "Who created God" is an illogical question.]  
+
''See also:'' [[Google trends - Global searches for atheism and agnosticism terms]]
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*[[Atheism and irrationality]] - Atheism cannot account for the laws of logic, consciousness or human reason.
+
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
[[File:Global searches for the term atheism from 2004 to June 7, 2025.png|thumbnail|center|1500px|According to Google Trends, as of June 2025, worldwide Google searches for the term atheist is significantly below its levels in January 2024.]]
 +
{{Clear}}
  
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* [[Bible prophecy]]
+
== Atheism and politics ==
  
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*[[Atheism and the Problem of Evil]] (see also: [[Atheism and hell]] and [[Pascal's wager]])
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and politics]] and [[Atheism and political science]]
  
−
* Historical arguments for the existence of God. For example, arguments stemming from historical accounts such as [[Christian apologetics|Christian historical apologetics]], [[Christian Legal Apologetics|Christian legal apologetics]] and archaeological evidence such as [[Bible Archaeology|Bible archaeology]]
+
Historically, atheists have favored the [[leftism|left]] side of the political aisle (see: [[Atheism and politics]]).
  
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* Atheists lack a coherent and compelling ultimate basis for knowledge.  See: [[Atheism and epistemology]]
+
According to the Pew Forum, in the [[United States]]: "About two-thirds of atheists (69%) identify as [[Democrats]] (or lean in that direction), and a majority (56%) call themselves political [[liberal]]s (compared with just one-in-ten who say they are [[conservative]]s)."<ref>[https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/05/7-facts-about-atheists/ 7 facts about atheists], Pew Forum</ref>
  
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*[[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Common arguments against atheism]]
+
In some regions where the [[secular left]] has considerable influence, they [[Decline of the secular left|are losing]] an increasing amount of their power. For example, in [[secular Europe]] right-wing, nationalist parties are growing and in China conservative [[Protestantism]] is growing rapidly (see: [[Growth of Christianity in China]]).<ref>[http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160114/1033149776/europe-rise-of-right-wing-parties-eu-failure.html EU Failures Fuel Rise of Right-Wing Populist Parties in Europe]. Sputnik News, 2016</ref> 
  
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* [[Ontological argument]]: According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, "Ontological arguments are arguments, for the conclusion that God exists, from premises which are supposed to derive from some source other than observation of the world — e.g., from reason alone."<ref>Oppy, Graham (July 15, 2011). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ontological-arguments/ "Ontological arguments"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref>
+
For more information please see:  
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[[File:Autumn.jpg|291px|right|thumbnail|The [[argument from beauty]]  argues the existence of [[beauty]] in the natural world testifies to the existence of [[God]] who both [[intelligent design|designed]] natural beauty and who possesses a divine beauty.]]
 
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* Experiential arguments for the existence of God: Arguments based on personal experience and human intuition. According to philosopher [[Alvin Plantinga]] belief in the existence of God exists is a "properly basic" belief and not based on inference from other beliefs but is rationally justified due to one's circumstances of immediate experience of God.<ref>Craig, William Lane (1991).  [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/3truth01.html "Introduction:  the resurrection of theism"].  ''Truth: A Journal of Modern Thought'', vols. 3 & 4.  Retrieved from LeadershipU on July 19, 2014.</ref>
 
  
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* Various social science studies, historical data and other data, demonstrate that atheism often has a harmful effect on individuals and societies. See: [[Atheism statistics]]
+
*[[Atheism and politics]]
 +
*[[Atheism and authoritarianism]]
 +
*[[Secular left]]
 +
*[[Decline of the secular left]]
 +
*[[Atheism and socialism]]
 +
*[[Secular right]]
 +
*[[Atheism and political science]]
 +
*[[Western atheism, schisms and political polarization]]
  
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*[[Presuppositional Apologetics]]
+
== Atheism and history ==
 +
[[File: Voroshilov, Molotov, Stalin, with Nikolai Yezhov.jpg|right|225px]]
 +
[[File: The Commissar Vanishes 2.jpg|thumbnail|right|220px|Nikolai Yezhov walking with [[Joseph Stalin]] in the top photo taken in the mid 1930s. Subsequent to his execution in 1940, Yezhov was edited out of the photo by Soviet Union censors.<ref>From the book  The Commissar Vanishes: The Falsification of Photographs and Art in Stalin's Russia by David King</ref> ]]
  
−
*[[Atheism and love]].  Atheists cannot give a satisfactory/robust explanation for the existence of [[love]].<ref name=love>Multiple references:
+
''See also:'' [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]] and [[Atheists and historical illiteracy]] and [[Atheism and historical revisionism]] and [[Atheist indoctrination]]
−
*Marshall, Dr. Taylor (2013).  [http://www.strangenotions.com/atheists-love/ "How do atheists define love?"] Strange Notions blog.  Retrieved on January 14, 2015.
 
−
*Martin, Robert (July 9, 2014).  [https://atheistforum.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/what-is-love-how-materialist-atheism-fails-to-have-a-satisfactory-answer/ "What is love? How materialist atheism fails to have a satisfactory answer"].  Atheist Forum blog.  Retrieved on January 14, 2015.</ref>
 
  
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*[[Argument from beauty]]<ref>Williams, Peter (Summer 2001).  [http://www.quodlibet.net/articles/williams-aesthetic.shtml "Aesthetic arguments for the existence of God"].  ''Quodlibet Journal'' vol. 3:3.  Retrieved from Quodlibet Journal website on July 19, 2014.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and musical–rhythmic intelligence and artistic intelligence|Atheism and art/music]] and [[Atheism and wonder]]
+
The history of atheism: [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]]
  
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*[[Atheism and Miracles]]
+
=== Atheists and historical illiteracy ===
 +
A common complaint concerning many atheists is their lack of depth when it comes to knowledge of [[history]] and [[historiography]] - particularly in areas such as [[historicity of Jesus|historicity of Jesus Christ]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|atheist mass murders in history]].<ref>Multiple references:
 +
* [https://voxday.net/2014/03/10/the-ignorance-of-cosmos/ "The ignorance of ''Cosmos''"], March 10, 2014.
 +
*Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). [http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527 "The real murderers:  atheism or Christianity?"] Stand to Reason.</ref>
  
−
*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
+
For more information, please see:
  
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*[http://creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge Bible scientific foreknowledge]
+
*[[Atheists and historical illiteracy]]
 +
*[[Historicity of Jesus|Historicity of Jesus Christ]]
  
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* Lack of proof and evidence that atheism is true contrasted with the strong evidence supporting Christianity. A [[Shockofgod|popular YouTube Christian channel]] has flustered the [[Internet atheism|internet atheist community]] by asking atheists what proof and evidence they have that atheism is true.<ref>Multiple references:
+
=== Atheists and historical revisionism ===
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bBE1bos6JU "Shockofgod calls into atheist radio show - hilarious! Part 1"] (November 26, 2009).  YouTube video, 9:37, posted by MultiArchangel.  Retrieved on July 19, 2014.
+
Atheists commonly engage in [[historical revisionism]] in order to illegitimately distort the historical record (see: [[Atheism and historical revisionism]]).
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKBZoWDfQA4 "Shockofgod calls into atheist radio show.  Hilarious! Part 2"] (November 26, 2009).  YouTube video, 8:31, posted by theshockawards.  Retrieved on July 19, 2014.
 
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0 "The question that is causing atheists to abandon atheism"] (August 6, 2010).  YouTube video, 14:54, posted by shockofgod.  Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref> Atheism requires blind faith. Atheism is a [[Atheism is a religion|faith based religion]] and it is a [[worldview]] which has no evidential support.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciVL86XQlvM "There is no proof and evidence that atheism is true:  thus atheism is null and void"] (January 13, 2012). YouTube video, 1:28, posted by shockofgod.  Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref>
 
  
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*Historically, the atheist population has often used mockery as a substitution for reasonable discussion/debate (see: [[Atheism and mockery]]).<ref>
+
=== Religion/irreligion and war ===
−
*[http://www.the-american-interest.com/2015/01/13/charlie-hebdo-and-frances-irreligious-tradition/ Charlie Hebdo and France’s Irreligious Tradition] by Kenneth R. Weinstein]
 
−
*[https://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/dawkins-mock-them-ridicule-them-in-public/ Dawkins: Mock them. Ridicule them! In public]
 
−
*[http://onenewsnow.com/perspectives/matt-barber/2014/05/08/mockery-the-mo-for-atheists ''Mockery - the M.O. for atheists''] by [[Matt Barber]]</ref>
 
−
 
−
*[[Atheism and the Bible]]
 
  
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*[[Atheism website resources|Various Christian apologetic resources focusing on atheism]]
+
''See also:'' [[Irreligion/religion and war]] and [[Atheism and world peace]]
  
−
*[[Atheism and the suppression of science]]
+
Louise Ridley (assistant news editor at the ''Huffington Post UK''), Theodore Beale and others point out that academic studies and other research consistently challenge the link between religion and war.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Ridley, Louise [assistant news editor, ''Huffington Post'', UK] (November 18, 2014).  [http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/14/religions-war-cause-responsible-evidence_n_6156878.html "Does religion really cause war—and do atheists have something to answer for?"]  The Huffington Post, United Kingdom. 
 +
*Day, Vox (August 13, 2012).  [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/08/atheists-abandon-religion-causes-war.html "Atheists abandon 'religion causes war' argument"].  Vox Populi blog. 
 +
*Schumacher, Robin (April 2012).  [http://carm.org/religion-cause-war "The myth that religion is the #1 cause of war"].  Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website.  Edited by Matt Slick. See [[CARM]].
 +
*Price, Tom (2014).  [http://www.bethinking.org/is-religion-harmful/religion-causes-wars "'Religion causes wars'"].  Bethinking.</ref>
  
−
*[[Argument from desire]]
+
== Atheism and economics ==
 +
*[[Atheism and economics]]
 +
*[[Atheism and sloth|Atheism and economic productivity]]
 +
*[[Atheism and economic prosperity]]
 +
*[[Atheists and income]]
  
−
*[[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
+
== Analysis of atheism and common objections to atheism ==
 +
=== Commonly Cited Arguments Against Atheism and For Theism ===
 +
See: [[Arguments for theism and against atheism]]
 +
[[Image:Anselm.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|[[Anselm of Canterbury]]'s  version of the [[ontological argument]] appeared in his work ''Proslogium''.]]
 +
The majority of philosophers of religion, or those who have extensively studied the issue of the existence of God, are [[theism|theists]] (72 percent).<ref>[http://www.strangenotions.com/atheist-scientists/ Does it matter that many scientists are atheists?]</ref>
  
−
*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
+
In relation to the debate between theism and atheism, theists often criticize atheism as being contrary to persuasive argument and have a number of arguments against atheism (See: [[Arguments for theism and against atheism]]).
  
 +
Within Christendom, the discipline of [[Christian apologetics]] has been developed. Christian apologetics is the defense of the [[Christianity|Christian]] faith through logic/evidence based arguments. The word [[apologetics]] comes from the Greek word apologia  (from Greek ἀπολογία), which means "speaking in defense".
  
−
For more information, please see: [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Refutations of atheism]]
+
[[Arguments for the existence of God]] include:
  
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===Atheism and mass murder===
+
* [[Teleological argument]]: The universe exhibits overwhelming evidence of deliberate, intelligent, purposeful design, which implies an [[intelligent design]]er. See also: [[Evolution|Arguments against evolution]] and [[Origin of life]]  
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[[Image:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|right|202px|thumb|The [[militant atheism|militant atheistic]] regime of [[Joseph Stalin]] killed tens of millions of people.]]
 
−
:''See articles: [[Atheism and Mass Murder]]'' and [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Atheism and sadism]] and [[Atheism and forced labor]]
 
−
Christian apologist Gregory Koukl wrote relative to [[Atheism and Mass Murder|atheism and mass murder]] that "the assertion is that religion has caused most of the killing and bloodshed in the world.
 
−
There are people who make accusations and assertions that are empirically false. This is one of them."<ref name="Koukl">Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). [http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527 "The real murderers:  atheism or Christianity?"] Stand to Reason.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref>
 
−
Koukl details the number of people killed in various events involving theism and compares them to the much higher tens of millions of people killed under regimes which advocated atheism.<ref name="Koukl" />  As noted earlier, [[Richard Dawkins]] has attempted to [[Richard Dawkins, atheists atrocities, and historical revisionism|engage in historical revisionism concerning atheist atrocities and Dawkins was shown to be in gross error]].
 
  
−
Koukl summarized by stating:
+
*[[Evidential apologetics]] is an approach in Christian apologetics which emphasizes the use of evidence to demonstrate that God exists and that there is compelling evidence to support Christianity and the Bible. In addition, there are various arguments that atheists or other unbelievers weigh evidence improperly (see: [[Atheism and evidence]]).  
−
{{cquote|It is true that it's possible that religion can produce evil, and generally when we look closer at the detail it produces evil because the individual people are actually living in a rejection of the tenets of Christianity and a rejection of the God that they are supposed to be following. So it can produce it, but the historical fact is that outright rejection of God and institutionalizing of atheism actually does produce evil on incredible levels. We're talking about tens of millions of people as a result of the rejection of God.<ref name="Koukl" />}}
 
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[[Image:Solzhenitsyn.jpg‎|thumb|150px|left|[[Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn]]]]
 
−
[[Nobel Prize]] winner [[Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn]] was asked to account for the great tragedies that occurred under the brutal [[communism|communist]] regime he and fellow citizens suffered under.
 
  
−
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote:
+
*[[Moral Argument|Moral argument]]. [[Objective morality]] exists. Atheism lacks objective moral standards. Not possessing a coherent basis for [[morality]], atheists are fundamentally [[Moral relativism|incapable]] of having a coherent system of morality (See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheist population and immorality]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]] and [[Atheism and lust]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]) .<ref>Multiple references:
−
{{cquote|Over a half century ago, while I was still a child, I recall hearing a number of old people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen [[Russia]]: "Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened.''
+
*Copan, Paul (2008). [http://www.paulcopan.com/articles/pdf/God-naturalism-morality.pdf "God, naturalism, and the foundations of morality"].  ''The Future of Atheism'', ed. Robert Stewart (Minneapolis: Fortress Press), pp. 141-161.  PaulCopan.com
 +
*Williams, Peter S. (2011). [http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god "Can moral objectivism do without God?"].  Bethinking.org
 +
*Meister, Chad (2010).  [http://www.equip.org/articles/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality/ "Atheists and the quest for objective morality"].  ''Christian Research Journal'', vol. 33, no. 2.  Christian Research Institute website
 +
*Slick, Matt (2009).  [http://carm.org/failure-of-atheism-to-account-for-morality "The failure of atheism to account for morality"].  Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website.</ref> Atheism leads to moral and cultural decline (see: [[Atheism and culture]]).
  
−
Since then I have spend well-nigh 50 years working on the history of our revolution; in the process I have read hundreds of books, collected hundreds of personal testimonies, and have already contributed eight volumes of my own toward the effort of clearing away the rubble left by that upheaval. But if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: "Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened."<ref>Humber, Paul G., M.S. (1987). [http://www.icr.org/article/stalins-brutal-faith/ "Stalin's brutal faith"].  ''Acts & Facts''. 16 (10).  Retrieved from Institute for Creation Research on July 19, 2014.</ref>}}
+
* [[Cosmological argument]]: Every event in our [[universe]] necessarily has a cause. However, it is impossible that there should be an unending chain of causes going back. Therefore, there necessarily must be a cause ''distinct'' from the universe as we know it which is capable of causing all things and is itself uncaused. Atheism denies that that [[First Cause|first cause]] is God. Christians point out that the question "Who created God" is an illogical question.<ref>[https://creation.com/who-created-god Who created God] by Don Batten</ref> See also: [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]
−
[[File:Vox Day.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|[[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]] ]]  
+
[[File:Autumn.jpg|200px|right|thumbnail|The [[argument from beauty]] is a commonly used argument for the existence of God. ]]
−
In 2008, [[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]] notes concerning atheism and mass murder:
+
* Historical arguments for the existence of God (subset of evidential apologetics). For example, arguments stemming from historical accounts such as Christian historical apologetics, [[Christian Legal Apologetics|Christian legal apologetics]] and archaeological evidence such as [[Bible Archaeology|Bible archaeology]]
−
{{cquote|Apparently it was just an amazing coincidence that every Communist of historical note publicly declared his atheism … .there have been twenty-eight countries in world history that can be confirmed to have been ruled by regimes with avowed atheists at the helm … These twenty-eight historical regimes have been ruled by eighty-nine atheists, of whom more than half have engaged in democidal acts of the sort committed by Stalin and Mao …
 
  
−
The total body count for the ninety years between 1917 and 2007 is approximately 148 million dead at the bloody hands of fifty-two atheists, three times more than all the human beings killed by war, civil war, and individual crime in the entire twentieth century combined.
+
*[[Argument from beauty]]
  
−
The historical record of collective atheism is thus 182,716 times worse on an annual basis than Christianity’s worst and most infamous misdeed, the Spanish Inquisition. It is not only Stalin and Mao who were so murderously inclined, they were merely the worst of the whole [[Atheism and Hell|Hell]]-bound lot. For every Pol Pot whose infamous name is still spoken with horror today, there was a Mengistu, a Bierut, and a Choibalsan, godless men whose names are now forgotten everywhere but in the lands they once ruled with a red hand.
+
*[[Argument from religious experience]]
  
−
Is a 58 percent chance that an atheist leader will murder a noticeable percentage of the population over which he rules sufficient evidence that atheism does, in fact, provide a systematic influence to do bad things? If that is not deemed to be conclusive, how about the fact that the average atheist crime against humanity is 18.3 million percent worse than the very worst depredation committed by Christians, even though atheists have had less than one-twentieth the number of opportunities with which to commit them. If one considers the statistically significant size of the historical atheist set and contrasts it with the fact that not one in a thousand religious leaders have committed similarly large-scale atrocities, it is impossible to conclude otherwise, even if we do not yet understand exactly why this should be the case. Once might be an accident, even twice could be coincidence, but fifty-two incidents in ninety years reeks of causation!<ref name="marry">Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009).  [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"].  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref>}}
+
*[[Bible prophecy]]
  
−
See also:
+
*[[Atheism and presuppositional apologetics]]
  
−
*[[Militant atheism]]
+
See also:
−
*[[Atheism and communism]]
 
−
*[[Atheism and forced labor]]
 
−
*[[Soviet Union and morality]]
 
−
*[[Secular left]]
 
−
*[[Atheism and politics]]
 
  
−
==== Academic studies consistently challenge the link between religion and war ====
+
*[[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]
 +
*[[Pascal's wager]]
 +
*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
  
−
''See also:'' [[Irreligion/religion and war/peace]]
+
=== Biblical statements concerning atheism ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Bible verses relating to atheism]]
  
−
Louise Ridley (assistant news editor at the ''Huffington Post UK''), [[Vox Day]] and others point out that academic studies and other research consistently challenge the link between religion and war.<ref>Multiple references:
+
The writers of the [[Bible]] considered the existence of God to be self-evident and [[Moses]] simply wrote: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." ([[Genesis]] 1:1).<ref>Harr, Ken and Lisle, Dr. Jason (August 9, 2007). [http://www.answersingenesis.org/is-god-real/is-there-really-god/ "Chapter 1: Is there really a God?"] ''The New Answers Book''.  Answers in Genesis.</ref>
−
*Ridley, Louise [assistant news editor, ''Huffington Post'', UK] (November 18, 2014).  [http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/14/religions-war-cause-responsible-evidence_n_6156878.html "Does religion really cause war—and do atheists have something to answer for?"] The Huffington Post, United Kingdom.  Retrieved on January 15, 2015. 
 
−
*Day, Vox (August 13, 2012).  [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/08/atheists-abandon-religion-causes-war.html "Atheists abandon 'religion causes war' argument"].  Vox Populi blog.  Retrieved on January 15, 2015.
 
−
*Schumacher, Robin (April 2012).  [http://carm.org/religion-cause-war "The myth that religion is the #1 cause of war"].  Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website. Edited by Matt Slick.  Retrieved on January 15, 2015.  See [[CARM]].
 
−
*Price, Tom (2014). [http://www.bethinking.org/is-religion-harmful/religion-causes-wars "'Religion causes wars'"].  Bethinking.  Retrieved on January 15, 2015.</ref>
 
  
−
==== Darwinism and war ====
+
Accordingly, the psalmist [[David]] declared:
  
−
There is historical evidence indicating that [[Darwinism]] was a causal factor for [[WWI]] and [[WWII]] (see: [[Irreligion/religion and war/peace]] and [[World War I and Darwinism]]).
+
"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." — [[Psalms]] 14:1 ([[King James Bible|KJV]])
  
−
===Atheism and uncharitableness  ===
+
==Atheism and debate==
−
:''See also: [[Atheism and charity]]'' and [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Atheism, uncharitableness and depression]]
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism debates]] and [[Atheism vs. theism]]
−
[[File:Beggar.jpg|thumb|right|275px|A child in [[Thailand]] where the nontheistic form of [[Buddhism]] called the Theravada school of Buddhism is prevalent. In 2010, the Pew Research Forum indicated that 93.2% of the people of Thailand were Buddhists.<ref name="pew2010">[http://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf Pew Research Center - Global Religious Landscape 2010 - religious composition by country].</ref>  
+
[[Image:Bahnsen.jpg‎|thumb|right|150px|Dr. [[Greg Bahnsen]] became known as "the man atheists fear most" due to [[Michael Martin]]'s cancellation of their scheduled debate.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=O1gPpUMzcEQC&pg=PA286&lpg=PA286&dq=%22the+man+atheists+fear+most%22+bahnsen&source=bl&ots=PyGQBd8Xrl&sig=ACfU3U1DpS53GaAc_ZfKLnfD6jrP1gozDQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQqrLRu6vgAhXIqlkKHfuaBcQQ6AEwCHoECAAQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22the%20man%20atheists%20fear%20most%22%20bahnsen&f=false Pushing the Antithesis] on Greg Bahnsen</ref><ref name="Bahsen at the Stein debate">[http://www.frame-poythress.org/frame_articles/Bahnsen.htm Bahsen at the Stein debate] by John Frame</ref>]]
−
<br /><br />
+
As far as [[atheism debates]], the majority of the public debates are [[Atheism vs. Christianity debates]] (although there have been a few [[Atheism vs. Islam debates]]). 
−
A comprehensive study by [[Harvard University]] professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.<ref name="Burke Campbell">Multiple references:
 
−
*Burke, Daniel, Religion News Service (May 13, 2009). [http://web.archive.org/web/20130310113024/http://www.pewforum.org/Religion-News/Religious-people-make-better-citizens-study-says.aspx "Religious people make better citizens, study says"]. Pew Research Forum. Archived on March 10, 2013 by Internet Archive.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.
 
−
*Campbell, David and Putnam, Robert (November 14, 2010).  [http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-11-15-column15_ST_N.htm "Religious people are 'better neighbors'"]. USA Today website.  Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref> See: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] ]]
 
  
−
Concerning the issue of [[Atheism and Uncharitableness|atheism and uncharitableness]], the evidence indicates that [[per capita]] charitable giving by atheists and agnostics in America is significantly less than by theists, according to a study by the [[Barna Group]]:
+
Beginning in the latter part of the 20th century, there were a number of notable instances of prominent atheists being reluctant to debate (see: [[Atheism and debate#Notable cases of prominent atheists being reluctant to debate|Notable cases of prominent atheists being reluctant to debate]]).  
−
{{cquote|The typical no-faith American donated just $200 in 2006, which is more than seven times less than the amount contributed by the prototypical active-faith adult ($1500). Even when church-based giving is subtracted from the equation, active-faith adults donated twice as many dollars last year as did atheists and agnostics. In fact, while just 7% of active-faith adults failed to contribute any personal funds in 2006, that compares with 22% among the no-faith adults.<ref> [http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/102-atheists-and-agnostics-take-aim-at-christians "Atheists and agnostics take aim at Christians"] (June 11, 2007). Barna Update.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref>}}
 
  
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A comprehensive study by [[Harvard University]] professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.<ref name ="Burke Campbell"/> The study revealed that forty percent of worship service attending Americans volunteer regularly to help the poor and elderly as opposed to 15% of Americans who never attend services.<ref name = "Burke Campbell"/> Moreover, religious individuals are more likely than non-religious individuals to volunteer for school and youth programs (36% vs. 15%), a neighborhood or civic group (26% vs. 13%), and for health care (21% vs. 13%).<ref name = "Burke Campbell"/>
+
On May 14, 2011, the [[Great Britain|British]] newspaper ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' published a news story entitled ''Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of [[God]]''.<ref name="cowardice">Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011).  [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 Daily Telegraph website.  Retrieved July 25, 2014.  See ''[[Daily Telegraph]]''</ref> In ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' article Dr. [[Daniel Came]], a member of the Faculty of [[Philosophy]] at [[Oxford University]] was quoted as writing to fellow atheist Richard Dawkins concerning his refusal to debate Dr. [[William Lane Craig]], "The absence of a debate with the foremost [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."<ref name="cowardice"/>
−
<br />
 
  
−
See also: [[Atheism, social justice and hypocrisy]]
+
[[Greg Bahnsen]] became known as the "man atheists fear most".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=O1gPpUMzcEQC&pg=PA286&lpg=PA286&dq=%22the+man+atheists+fear+most%22+bahnsen&source=bl&ots=PyGQBd8Xrl&sig=ACfU3U1DpS53GaAc_ZfKLnfD6jrP1gozDQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQqrLRu6vgAhXIqlkKHfuaBcQQ6AEwCHoECAAQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22the%20man%20atheists%20fear%20most%22%20bahnsen&f=false Pushing the Antithesis] on Greg Bahnsen</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080102084144/http://mywebpages.comcast.net/webpages54/ap/biobahn.html "A brief biography of Greg Bahnsen"] (2003).  Applied Presuppositionalism website.  Retrieved from January 2, 2008 archive at Internet Archive on May 14, 2015.</ref>
 +
This is because [[Harvard]]-educated [[Michael Martin]] was scheduled to debate Bahnsen but pulled out of the debate at the "eleventh hour".
 +
A [[Press Release Regarding Michael Martin Pulling Out of Martin-Bahnsen Debate|press release at the time]] said that Dr. Martin offered ruses on why he pulled out and didn't want the scheduled debate recorded but the real reason was that "...Michael Martin is afraid that he will be publicly humiliated just as his friend and fellow atheist, Dr. [[Gordon Stein]], was...".
  
−
==== American atheist organizations focus on church/state issues and creationism - poor largely ignored ====
+
In 1990, 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.<ref>''Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith'' by Luís F. Rodrigues, page 201</ref> See also: [[Atheology]] and [[Atheist apologetics]]
  
−
See also: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] and [[Western atheism and race]] and [[Atheism and love]]
+
A majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the naturalistic [[evolution]]ary position since [[World War II]] have been atheists.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Batten, Don (December 1997).  [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/737/ "A ''Who’s Who'' of evolutionists"]. ''Creation'', vol 20, no. 1, p. 32.  Retrieved from Creation.com [Creation Ministries International] on May 15, 2015.  Don Batten
 +
*Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph. D. (1999).  [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3830 "Chapter 1: Facts and bias"].  ''Refuting Evolution''.  Retrieved from Creation.com [Creation Ministries International] on May 15, 2015.  See [[Jonathan Sarfati]]</ref> After doing poorly in a series of debates in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s,  evolutionists are generally reluctant to debate (see: [[Creation vs. evolution debates]]).
  
−
In June of 2014, the African- American atheist woman Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson wrote in the ''Washington Post'' that white atheists organizations generally focus on church/state separation and creationism issues and not the concerns the less affluent African American population faces.<ref name="Hutchinson">Hutchinson, Sikivu (June 16, 2014).  [http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/06/16/blacks-are-even-discriminated-against-by-atheists/ "Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about"].  Washington Post website.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.</ref> Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations do focus on helping poor African Americans.<ref name="Hutchinson"/>
+
== Atheism and morality/ethics ==
 +
[[File:PzMyers2.jpg|thumbnail|275px|right|The atheist [[PZ Myers]] declared: "I am so, so tired of hearing about [[atheist scandals]] and scumbaggery."<ref>[https://twitter.com/pzmyers/status/1362874184792039425 "I am so, so tired of hearing about atheist scandals and scumbaggery." - Twitter post]</ref>
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
See also: [[Atheism and morality]] ]]
 +
See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheist population and immorality]] and  [[Atheist hypocrisy]] and [[Religion and morality]]
  
−
Also, according to a video posted at [[Freethoughtblogs]] storefront churches provide assistance to local residents including women, and this partly explains the dearth of Hispanic and African-American women atheists in America (Atheists give less to charity than Christians. See: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]]).<ref>Myers, P. Z. (August 6, 2013).  [http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2013/08/06/sikivu-ophelia-and-rebecca-who-says-atheism-lacks-women-stars/ "Sikivu, Ophelia, and Rebecca—who says atheism lacks women stars?"]  Pharyngula.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.</ref>
+
=== Objective morality incompatible with atheism ===
  
−
=== Irreligion and domestic violence ===
+
Under an atheist worldview, there is no logical basis for [[objective morality]] or ultimate meaning and purpose.<ref>
 +
*[https://creation.com/atheism-no-objective-morality Atheism—no objective morality?], [[Creation Ministries International]]
 +
*[http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God?] by Peter S. Williams at Bethinking.org
 +
*[http://www.equip.org/article/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality-2/ Atheists and the Quest for Objective Morality] by Chad Meister at Christian Research Institute
 +
*[http://www.faithdefenders.com/articles/atheism/atheism_absolutes_at.html Atheism and absolutes]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheism and moral relativism]] and [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]
  
−
''See also:'' [[Irreligion and domestic violence]] and [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]]
+
=== Atheism and moral relativism ===
−
[[Image:Cycle.gif|thumbnail|255px|left|Research suggests that irreligiousity is a causal factor for domestic violence.<ref name="vaw">Ellison, C. G., Trinitapoli, J. A., et al. (November 2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17951587 "Race/ethnicity, religious involvement, and domestic violence"] [abstract with link to full article].  ''Violence Against Women'', doi: 10.1177/1077801207308259, vol. 13, no. 11, pp. 1094-1112.  Abstract retrieved from PubMed.gov on October 25, 2014.</ref>]]
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and moral relativism]] and [[Atheism and morality]]
−
The abstract for the 2007 article in the journal ''Violence Against Women'' entitled ''Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence'' indicated:
 
−
{{cquote|The authors explored the relationship between religious involvement and intimate partner violence by analyzing data from the first wave of the National Survey of Families and Households. They found that: (a) religious involvement is correlated with reduced levels of domestic violence; (b) levels of domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; (c) the effects of religious involvement on domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; and (d) religious involvement, specifically church attendance, protects against domestic violence, and this protective effect is stronger for African American men and women and for Hispanic men, groups that, for a variety of reasons, experience elevated risk for this type of violence.<ref name="vaw"/>}} 
 
  
−
A September 9, 2012 article at ''Atlantic Wire'' wrote about the noted atheist [[John Lennon]]:
+
Dr. Phil Fernandes states the following regarding atheism and [[moral relativism]]:
−
{{cquote|But people have mostly forgotten that Lennon was also physically abusive towards women. "I used to be cruel to my woman," he said, citing the lyrics to "Getting Better" in a Playboy interview near the end of his life. "Physically—any woman. I was a hitter. I couldn't express myself and I hit. I fought men and I hit women." In his biography The Lives of John Lennon, Albert Goldman also maintains that Lennon was guilty of spousal abuse.<ref>Wagner, David (September 19, 2012). [http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/09/john-lennon-and-chris-brown-have-something-common/57040/ "John Lennon and Chris Brown have something in common"].  The Wire website.  Retrieved on October 25, 2014.</ref>}}
+
{{cquote|[[Friedrich Nietzsche|Nietzsche]] preached that a group of "supermen" must arise with the courage to create their own values through their "will to power." Nietzsche rejected the "soft" values of Christianity (brotherly love, turning the other cheek, charity, compassion, etc.); he felt they hindered man's creativity and potential....
  
−
For more information, please see:
+
Many other atheists agree with Nietzsche concerning moral relativism. British philosopher [[Bertrand Russell]] (1872-1970) once wrote, "Outside human desires there is no moral standard." [[A. J. Ayer]] believed that moral commands did not result from any objective standard above man. Instead, Ayer stated that moral commands merely express one's [[Subjectivism|subjective]] feelings. When one says that murder is wrong, one is merely saying that he or she feels that murder is wrong. [[Jean-Paul Sartre]], a French [[existentialism|existentialist]], believed that there is no objective meaning to life. Therefore, according to Sartre, man must create his own values.
  
−
*[[Irreligion and domestic violence]]
+
There are many different ways that moral relativists attempt to determine what action should be taken. [[Hedonism]] is probably the most extreme. It declares that whatever brings the most pleasure is right. In other words, if it feels good, do it. If this position is true, then there is no basis from which to judge the actions of [[Adolph Hitler]] as being evil.<ref>Dr. Phil Fernandez, Web article: ''Refuting Moral relativism'', Institute for Bible Defense (Web article is no longer online. Pages 120-121 of the book ''God, Government, and the Road to Tyranny: A Christian View of Government and Morality'' By Phil Fernandes, Eric Purcell and Rorri Wiesinger relates the same thoughts of his former web article.[https://books.google.com/books?id=u6XBuAQAiYUC&pg=PA120&lpg=PA120&dq=Nietzsche+preached+that+a+group+of+%22supermen%22+must+arise+with+the+courage+to+create+their+own+values+through+their+%22will+to+power.%22+Nietzsche+rejected+the+%22soft%22+values+of+Christianity+(brotherly+love,+turning+the+other+cheek,+charity,+compassion,+etc.);+he+felt+they+hindered+man%27s+creativity+and+potential.&source=bl&ots=kwDnaTOHqd&sig=0ywArBSb87JFleWRXZRv6DG3ZVo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjty8qqyIzWAhXHg1QKHe8UAVYQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Nietzsche%20preached%20that%20a%20group%20of%20%22supermen%22%20must%20arise%20with%20the%20courage%20to%20create%20their%20own%20values%20through%20their%20%22will%20to%20power.%22%20Nietzsche%20rejected%20the%20%22soft%22%20values%20of%20Christianity%20(brotherly%20love%2C%20turning%20the%20other%20cheek%2C%20charity%2C%20compassion%2C%20etc.)%3B%20he%20felt%20they%20hindered%20man's%20creativity%20and%20potential.&f=false])</ref>}}
  
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*[[Atheism and women]]
+
=== Atheism and various types of immorality ===
 +
[[Image:115523-004-FA619CA3.jpg|thumb|right|221px| The perverse and cruel atheist [[Marquis de Sade]] in prison, 18th century line engraving. See: [[Atheism and sadism]] ]]
  
−
*[[Atheism and rape]]
+
*[[Atheism and human rights violations]]
 +
*[[Atheism and sexual immorality articles]]
 +
*[[Atheism and violence articles]]
 +
*[[Atheism and deception articles]]
 +
*[[Atheism and unforgiveness articles]]
 +
*[[Atheist mass shooters]]
 +
*[[List of atheist shooters and serial killers]]
 +
*[[Atheist population and immorality|Atheism and various types of immorality]]
  
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*[[Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army]]
+
=== Atheism and sociopathy ===
  
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*[[Atheistic Sweden and rape]]
+
See: [[Atheism and sociopathy]]
  
−
*[[Atheism and love]]
+
=== Atheist mass shooters and serial killers ===
  
−
==== Secular Europe and domestic violence ====
+
*[[Atheist mass shooters]]
  
−
''See also:'' [[Secular Europe and domestic violence]]
+
*[[List of atheist shooters and serial killers]]
  
−
[[File:Flag of Sweden.png|thumbnail|280px|right|Sweden is one of the most atheistic countries in the world.<ref name="Top 50">[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf "Top 50 countries with highest proportion of atheists/agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)"].  Chris and Terri Chapman.  Retrieved on September 10, 2014.</ref>  In Sweden, 81 percent of women said they had been harassed at some point after the age of 15 - compared to the EU average of 55 percent.<ref name="stands">Törnkvist, Ann (March 5, 2014, 8:34).  [http://www.thelocal.se/20140305/sweden-out-top-in-eu-domestic-violence-league "Sweden stands out in domestic violence study"]. The Local. Retrieved on October 25, 2014.</ref>]]
+
=== Study: U.S. public perception of atheist morality ===
 +
In 2014, a University of Kentucky study was published by Will M. Gervais, which was entitled "Everything is permitted? People intuitively judge immorality as representative of atheists", and the study indicated that "even atheist participants viewed immorality as significantly more representative of atheists than of other people."<ref>Gervais, Will M. (April 9, 2014).  "Everything is permitted?  People intuitively judge immorality as representative of atheists". ''PLOS ONE'', {{doi|10.1371/journal.pone.0092302}}.</ref>
  
−
In March of 2014, the [[Sweden|Swedish]] news website ''The Local'' published an article entitled ''Sweden stands out in domestic violence study'' which declared:
+
=== Barna Group studies: Atheism and morality ===
−
{{cquote|A new EU review of violence against women has revealed that one in three European women has been assaulted, and one in twenty has been raped, with the Scandinavian countries at the top of the league tables.
+
'''Barna Group study on the behavior of atheists vs. evangelical Christians:'''
  
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In the Scandinavian countries, in contrast, around half of the women reported physical or sexual violence, which researchers at the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights said could have several explanations...
+
[[Richard Deem]] wrote:
 +
{{Cquote|A random sample of 1003 adults were surveyed in May, 2008 by The Barna Group for their participation in a number of negative behaviors within the previous week. The results showed that there were vast differences in the behaviors of evangelicals compared to agnostics/atheists.
  
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In Sweden, 81 percent of women said they had been harassed at some point after the age of 15 - compared to the EU average of 55 percent. After Sweden, which had the highest rate, Denmark, France, the Netherland and Finland all saw rates above 70 percent. The EU member state with the lowest rate - 24 percent - was Bulgaria.<ref name="stands"/>}}
+
These results show that atheists/agnostics participate in morally questionable behaviors to a much greater degree than [[evangelicalism|evangelical Christians]] - an average of nearly five times the frequency!<ref>[http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/atheists_more_immoral.html Atheism Doesn't Lead to Immoral Behavior - Or Does It?] by Richard Deem</ref>}}
  
−
[[Sweden]] is one of the most atheistic countries in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 46 - 85% of Swedes were agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref name="Top 50"/>  Sweden also has the 3rd highest rate of belief in evolution as far as [[Western World]] nations.<ref name=NGevo>Owen, James (August 10, 2006). [http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/08/060810-evolution.html "Evolution less accepted in U.S. than other Western countries, study finds [photo and caption&#93;"].  National Geographic News.  Photo and caption retrieved on October 25, 2014.</ref>
+
'''Barna Group study related to atheist beliefs about behaviors:'''
  
−
For more information, please see: [[Irreligion and domestic violence]]
+
The [[Barna Group]] found that atheists and [[agnostics]] in America were more likely, than [[theist]]s in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: illegal drug use; excessive drinking; sexual relationships outside of marriage; [[abortion]]; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; obscene language; gambling; [[pornography]] and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in [[homosexuality]]/bisexuality.<ref>[https://www.barna.com/research/practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard/ Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard], Barna Group</ref>
  
−
=== Mass rape and the Soviet Union's army in Germany ===
+
Given the [[Homosexuality and health|many diseases]] associated with homosexuality, the [[Bible|biblical]] prohibition against homosexuality is quite arguably one of the many example where the Bible exhibited knowledge [http://creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge that was ahead of its time].  See also: [[Atheism and sexual immorality articles|Atheism and sexual immorality]]
−
[[File:Joseph-stalin.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|When told that Red Army soldiers sexually assaulted German refugees, the atheist [[Joseph Stalin]] reportedly declared: "We lecture our soldiers too much; let them have their initiative."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1080493/Stalins-army-rapists-The-brutal-war-crime-Russia-Germany-tried-ignore.html | location=London | work=Daily Mail | first=Andrew | last=Roberts | title=Stalin's army of rapists: The brutal war crime that Russia and Germany tried to ignore | date=24 October 2008}}</ref>]]
 
−
''See also:'' [[Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army]] and [[Atheism and rape]]
 
  
−
The journalist Peter Hitchens is the [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] brother of atheist [[Christopher Hitchens]] and he covered the Soviet Union, which had state atheism, during its latter years before it collapsed. According to Peter Hitchens, an atheistic society degraded the morals of the Russian people during the Soviet period (see: [[Soviet Union and morality]]).<ref>[http://creation.com/britain-needs-god ''Britain needs God'']</ref>  
+
=== Atheism and uncharitableness  ===
 +
:''See also: [[Atheism and charity]]'' and [[Atheist organizations and scandals]] and [[Atheism, uncharitableness and depression]]
 +
[[File:Beggar in Cambodia.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Most atheists likely live in [[East Asia]] (see: [[Asian atheism]]).
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
A beggar in [[Cambodia]]. In Cambodia, the vast majority of the population adheres to a nontheistic form of [[Buddhism]] called the Theravada school of Buddhism.
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
A comprehensive study by [[Harvard University]] professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.<ref name="Burke Campbell">Multiple references:
 +
*Burke, Daniel, Religion News Service (May 13, 2009). [https://web.archive.org/web/20130310113024/http://www.pewforum.org/Religion-News/Religious-people-make-better-citizens-study-says.aspx "Religious people make better citizens, study says"]. Pew Research Forum. Archived on March 10, 2013 by Internet Archive.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.
 +
*Campbell, David and Putnam, Robert (November 14, 2010).  [https://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-11-15-column15_ST_N.htm "Religious people are 'better neighbors'"]. USA Today website.  Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref> ]]
  
−
As Allied troops entered and occupied Germany during the latter part of [[World War II]], mass rapes occurred in connection with combat operations and during the occupation which followed. Historians in the [[Western World]] generally conclude that the majority of the rapes were committed by [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] servicemen.  
+
Concerning the issue of [[Atheism and charity|atheism and uncharitableness]], the evidence indicates that [[per capita]] charitable giving by atheists and agnostics in America is significantly less than by theists, according to a study by the [[Barna Group]]:
 +
{{cquote|The typical no-faith American donated just $200 in 2006, which is more than seven times less than the amount contributed by the prototypical active-faith adult ($1500). Even when church-based giving is subtracted from the equation, active-faith adults donated twice as many dollars last year as did atheists and agnostics. In fact, while just 7% of active-faith adults failed to contribute any personal funds in 2006, that compares with 22% among the no-faith adults.<ref>[https://www.barna.com/research/atheists-and-agnostics-take-aim-at-christians/ "Atheists and agnostics take aim at Christians"] (June 11, 2007).  Barna Update.</ref>}}
  
−
The majority of the rapes happened in the Soviet occupation zone.  Estimates of the number of German women sexually assaulted by Soviet soldiers have ranged up to 2 million.<ref name="ElizabethHeineman">{{cite journal |first=Elizabeth |last=Heineman |title=The Hour of the Woman: Memories of Germany's "Crisis Years" and West German National Identity |journal=American Historical Review |volume=101 |issue=2 |year=1996 |pages=354–395 |jstor=2170395 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Kuwert |first=P. |last2=Freyberger |first2=H. |year=2007 |title=The unspoken secret: Sexual violence in World War II |journal=International Psychogeriatrics |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=782–784 |doi=10.1017/S1041610207005376 }}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/berlin_01.shtml|title=BBC - History - World Wars: The Battle for Berlin in World War Two|publisher=Bbc.co.uk|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Schissler">Hanna Schissler ''The Miracle Years: A Cultural History of West Germany, 1949–1968'' [http://books.google.com/books?id=00fCzJKt1QMC&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28&dq=soviet+estimates+rape+tens+of+thousands&source=web&ots=xzyKzJm1sj&sig=cy2AfPmp7ZvT7K9YSWPRkXoyp6E]</ref><ref name="NPR">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106687768|title=Silence Broken On Red Army Rapes In Germany|date=17 July 2009|work=NPR.org|accessdate=10 December 2014}}</ref> The historian William Hitchcock declared that in many cases women were the victims of repeated rapes, some women experienced as many as 60 to 70 rapes.<ref name="Struggle for Europe">{{cite book |first=William I. |last=Hitchcock |title=The Struggle for Europe: The Turbulent History of a Divided Continent, 1945 to the Present |publisher=Anchor Books |year=2004 |url=http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385497992&view=excerpt |isbn=978-0-385-49799-2}}</ref>
+
A comprehensive study by [[Harvard University]] professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.<ref name ="Burke Campbell"/>  
  
−
After the atheist leader of the Soviet Union [[Joseph Stalin]] received a complaint from Yugoslav politician Milovan Djilas about rapes in Yugoslavia, Stalin reportedly said that he should "understand it if a soldier who has crossed thousands of kilometres through blood and fire and death has fun with a woman or takes some trifle."<ref> Anne Applebaum, ''Iron Curtain, The Crushing of Eastern Europe'', p.32</ref> Also, when told that Red Army soldiers sexually assaulted German refugees, Stalin reportedly declared: "We lecture our soldiers too much; let them have their initiative."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1080493/Stalins-army-rapists-The-brutal-war-crime-Russia-Germany-tried-ignore.html | location=London | work=Daily Mail | first=Andrew | last=Roberts | title=Stalin's army of rapists: The brutal war crime that Russia and Germany tried to ignore | date=24 October 2008}}</ref>
+
See also: [[Atheism, social justice and hypocrisy]]  
  
−
Only a handful of Soviet soldiers were ever court martialed for raping German women during the war.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsOouDLL_EA German women raped during WWII by the Soviets] - Video</ref>
+
==== Church-state issues emphasis. Charity low priority ====
 +
See also: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] and [[Western atheism and race]] and [[Atheism and love]]
  
−
See also: [[Atheism and rape]]
+
In June 2014, the African-American atheist woman [[Sikivu Hutchinson]] wrote in the ''Washington Post'' that atheist organizations generally focus on church-state separation and creationism issues and not the concerns the less affluent African American population faces.<ref name="Hutchinson">Hutchinson, Sikivu (June 16, 2014).  [https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/06/16/blacks-are-even-discriminated-against-by-atheists/ "Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about"].  Washington Post website.</ref> Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations do focus on helping poor African Americans.<ref name="Hutchinson"/>
  
−
===Atheism and immoral views===
+
==== Atheist nonprofit scandals ====
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheist organizations and scandals]] and  ''[[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science#Embezzlement allegation|Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science - Embezzlement allegation]]''
  
−
Please see:  
+
In a 2018 YouTube video entitled ''[[David Silverman]] Ousted as President of [[American Atheists]]'', the atheist YouTube channel Utah Outcasts said in a video about David Silverman and atheist organizations: "Many other people were also like maybe he was embezzling funds because we know people in [[Atheist activist|atheist activist]] communities where that kind of sh*t happens. Yes, it was kind of common."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUvX5wTf8TM David Silverman Ousted as President of American Atheists], Utah Atheists, Go to the 3 minute mark in the video</ref>
  
−
*[[Atheism and morality]]
+
Two atheist nonprofit scandals that recently received some publicity were the organizations [[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science]] and the [[We Are Atheism]] organization.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/07/24/richard-dawkins-drops-his-lawsuit-against-former-employee/ Richard Dawkins Drops His Lawsuit Against Former Employee]
 +
*[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/an-ungodly-row-dawkins-sues-his-disciple-2115632.html An ungodly row: Dawkins sues his disciple]
 +
*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/07/24/richard-dawkins-drops-his-lawsuit-against-former-employee/ Richard Dawkins Drops His Lawsuit Against Former Employee]
 +
*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/09/15/an-update-on-we-are-atheism/ An Update on We Are Atheism] by Hemant Mehta, September 15, 2015]</ref>
  
−
*[[Moral failures of the atheist population]]  
+
In addition, David Gorski at Scienceblogs indicated that many atheist/skeptic organizations are poorly run from a financial standpoint.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/10/24/richard-dawkins-sues-josh-timonen/ Richard Dawkins sues Josh Timonen], Posted by David Gorski on October 24, 2010</ref>
  
−
*[[Evolutionary belief and sexual immorality]]  
+
For more information, please see: [[Atheist organizations and scandals]]
  
−
* [[Atheist hypocrisy]]  
+
=== Irreligion and domestic violence ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Irreligion and domestic violence]] and [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]]
 +
[[Image:Cycle.gif|thumbnail|205px|right|Research suggests that irreligiousity is a causal factor for domestic violence.<ref name="vaw">Ellison, C. G., Trinitapoli, J. A., et al. (November 2007). [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17951587 "Race/ethnicity, religious involvement, and domestic violence"] [abstract with link to full article].  ''Violence Against Women'', doi: 10.1177/1077801207308259, vol. 13, no. 11, pp. 1094-1112.  Abstract from PubMed.gov</ref>]]
 +
The abstract for the 2007 article in the journal ''Violence Against Women'' entitled ''Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence'' indicated:
 +
{{cquote|The authors explored the relationship between religious involvement and intimate partner violence by analyzing data from the first wave of the National Survey of Families and Households. They found that: (a) religious involvement is correlated with reduced levels of domestic violence; (b) levels of domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; (c) the effects of religious involvement on domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; and (d) religious involvement, specifically church attendance, protects against domestic violence, and this protective effect is stronger for African American men and women and for Hispanic men, groups that, for a variety of reasons, experience elevated risk for this type of violence.<ref name="vaw"/>}} 
  
−
*[[Atheist conferences#Atheist events and inappropriate sexually related activities|Atheist conferences and inappropriate sexual activity]]
+
===== Secular Europe and domestic violence =====
 +
See also: [[Secular Europe and domestic violence]]
  
−
[[File:Larry Flynt Wheelchair.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|The [[pornography|pornographer]] [[Larry Flynt]] is an atheist.<ref>Multiple references:
+
=== Atheism and racism ===
−
*Flynt writes, "I have left my religious conversion behind and settled into a comfortable state of atheism": see the epilogue of Flynt, Larry and Ross, Kenneth (June 1, 2008).  ''An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit, and Social Outcast''. 
 
−
*"I am not saying he don't believe in God. I am just saying I don't believe in God. That puts me at odds with him." [http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9701/11/falwell.v.flynt/lkl.00.html "Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell" [transcript&#93;] (January 10, 1996).  Larry King Live.  Transcript retrieved from CNN.com on October 3, 2014. </ref> See: [[Atheism and pornography]] <br /><br />
 
−
<small>(photo obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Larry_Flynt_Wheelchair.jpg Wikimedia Commons], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en license agreement])</small>]]
 
  
−
==== Barna Group study on atheism and morality ====
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and racism]] and [[East Asia, China, atheism and racism]] and [[Western atheism and race]]
  
−
The [[Barna Group]] found regarding [[Atheism and Morality|atheism and morality]] that those who hold to the worldviews of atheism or agnosticism in America were more likely, than theists in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: [[Illegal drugs|illegal drug use]]; excessive [[Atheism and alcoholism|drinking]]; sexual relationships outside of marriage; [[abortion]]; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; [[Profanity|obscene]] language; [[gambling]]; [[pornography]] and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in [[homosexuality]]/[[bisexuality]].<ref name="barna">[http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard "Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard"] (September 10, 2001). Barna Update.  Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref> Given the [[Homosexuality and health|many diseases]] associated with homosexuality, the [[Bible|biblical]] prohibition against [[homosexuality]] is quite arguably one of the many example where the Bible exhibited knowledge [http://creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge that was ahead of its time].  See also: [[Atheism and sexual immorality]]
+
The [[atheist population]] has a significant amount of racism within its midst (see: [[Atheism and racism]]).
  
−
==== Objective morality does not exist under an atheist worldview ====
+
=== Atheism and empathy ===
−
 
−
Under an atheist worldview, there is no logical basis for objective morality or ultimate meaning and purpose.<ref>
 
−
*[http://creation.com/atheism-no-objective-morality Atheism—no objective morality?], [[Creation Ministries International]]
 
−
*[http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god
 
−
Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God?] by Peter S. Williams at Bethinking.org
 
−
*[http://www.equip.org/article/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality-2/ Atheists and the Quest for Objective Morality] by Chad Meister at Christian Research Institute
 
−
*[http://www.faithdefenders.com/articles/atheism/atheism_absolutes_at.html Atheism and absolutes]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]
 
−
 
 
−
==== University of Kentucky study by Will M. Gervais ====
 
  
−
In 2014, a University of Kentucky study was published by Will M. Gervais, which was entitled "Everything is permitted? People intuitively judge immorality as representative of atheists", and the study indicated that "even atheist participants viewed immorality as significantly more representative of atheists than of other people."<ref>Gervais, Will M. (April 9, 2014).  "Everything is permitted?  People intuitively judge immorality as representative of atheists". ''PLOS ONE'', {{doi|10.1371/journal.pone.0092302}}.  Retrieved on October 29, 2014.</ref>
+
See: [[Atheism and empathy]]
  
 
=== Atheism and pornography ===
 
=== Atheism and pornography ===
−
 
+
[[File:Larry Flynt Wheelchair.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|The [[pornography|pornographer]] [[Larry Flynt]] is an atheist.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Flynt writes, "I have left my religious conversion behind and settled into a comfortable state of atheism": see the epilogue of Flynt, Larry and Ross, Kenneth (June 1, 2008).  ''An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit, and Social Outcast''. 
 +
*"I am not saying he don't believe in God. I am just saying I don't believe in God. That puts me at odds with him." [https://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9701/11/falwell.v.flynt/lkl.00.html "Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell" [transcript&#93;] (January 10, 1996).  Larry King Live.  Transcript from CNN.com on October 3, 2014.</ref> See: [[Atheism and pornography]] ]]
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and pornography]]  
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and pornography]]  
  
−
One of the [[causes of atheism]] is a [[hedonism|hedonistic]] lifestyle. See: [[Atheism and hedonism]].  
+
One of the causes of atheism is a [[hedonism|hedonistic]] lifestyle. See: [[Atheism and hedonism]].  
  
−
The infamous [[pornography|pornographers]] [[Hugh Hefner]] and [[Larry Flynt]] are both atheists.<ref>Multiple references:
+
The infamous [[pornography|pornographers]] [[Hugh Hefner]] and [[Larry Flynt]] was and is (taken separately in the order indicated) both atheists (taken together).<ref>Multiple references:
−
*Gottesdiener, Laura (February 23, 2010).  [http://www.salon.com/2013/02/23/10_celebs_you_didnt_know_were_atheists_partner/ "10 celebs you didn't know were atheists"].  Salon.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.
+
*Gottesdiener, Laura (February 23, 2010).  [https://www.salon.com/2013/02/23/10_celebs_you_didnt_know_were_atheists_partner/ "10 celebs you didn't know were atheists"].  Salon.   
 
*Flynt writes, "I have left my religious conversion behind and settled into a comfortable state of atheism": see the epilogue of Flynt, Larry and Ross, Kenneth (June 1, 2008).  ''An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit, and Social Outcast''.
 
*Flynt writes, "I have left my religious conversion behind and settled into a comfortable state of atheism": see the epilogue of Flynt, Larry and Ross, Kenneth (June 1, 2008).  ''An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit, and Social Outcast''.
−
*"I am not saying he don't believe in God. I am just saying I don't believe in God. That puts me at odds with him." [http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9701/11/falwell.v.flynt/lkl.00.html "Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell" [transcript&#93;] (January 10, 1996).  Larry King Live.  Transcript retrieved from CNN.com on October 3, 2014.</ref>
+
*"I am not saying he don't believe in God. I am just saying I don't believe in God. That puts me at odds with him." [https://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9701/11/falwell.v.flynt/lkl.00.html "Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell" [transcript&#93;] (January 10, 1996).  Larry King Live.  Transcript from CNN.com</ref>
  
−
In 2003, ''Arena magazine'' magazine listed Flynt as #1 on the "50 Powerful People in Porn" list.<ref>[http://www.onenewspage.us/people/ms9j0/Larry-Flynt.htm "Larry Flynt"].  One News Page.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.</ref>  Flynt is paralyzed from the waist down due to injuries sustained from a 1978 assassination attempt by the serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin.<ref>Multiple references:
+
In 2003, ''Arena magazine'' magazine listed Flynt as #1 on the "50 Powerful People in Porn" list.<ref>[http://www.onenewspage.us/people/ms9j0/Larry-Flynt.htm "Larry Flynt"].  One News Page.</ref>  Flynt is paralyzed from the waist down due to injuries sustained from a 1978 assassination attempt by the serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin.<ref>Multiple references:
 
*Flynt, Larry and Ross, Kenneth (June 1, 2008).  ''An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit, and Social Outcast'', pp. 170–171.
 
*Flynt, Larry and Ross, Kenneth (June 1, 2008).  ''An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit, and Social Outcast'', pp. 170–171.
−
*[http://www.onenewspage.us/people/ms9j0/Larry-Flynt.htm "Larry Flynt"].  One News Page.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.</ref>
+
*[http://www.onenewspage.us/people/ms9j0/Larry-Flynt.htm "Larry Flynt"].  One News Page.</ref>
  
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=== Atheism and child pornography ===
+
==== RationalWiki and web visitor interest in pornography ====
  
−
See: [[Atheism and child pornography]] and [[Atheistic Denmark and child pornography]] and [[Netherlands and child pornography]]
+
See: [[RationalWiki and web visitor interest in pornography]]
  
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==== Atheistic Denmark and child pornography ====
+
==== Atheism and child pornography ====
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and child pornography]]
  
−
''See also:'' [[Atheistic Denmark and child pornography]] and [[Denmark and bestiality]]
+
In 2005 [[Denmark]] was ranked the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 43 - 80% of Danes are agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref>   
−
[[File:Flag of Denmark.png|left|200px|thumbnail|[[Denmark]] is the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reports that 43 - 80% of Danes are [[agnosticism|agnostics]]/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref name=Top50no2>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html "The largest atheist/agnostic populations:  Top 50 countries with highest proportion of atheists / agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)"] (2005).  Adherents.com/Largest religious communities.</ref> 
 
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<br /><br />
 
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In 2009, Suzanne Ost reported in her book published by Cambridge University Press, that the child pornography material produced in [[Denmark]] (and Holland) still constituted the largest part of child pornography that was currently available, having been transferred into digital format and uploaded onto the internet.<ref name="Ost">Ost, Suzanne (2009).  ''Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses'' (New York: Cambridge University Press), p. 29.</ref>]]
 
−
In 2005 [[Denmark]] was ranked the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 43 - 80% of Danes are [[agnosticism|agnostics]]/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref name=Top50no2/>  Denmark has the highest rate of belief in evolution in the [[Western World]].<ref name=NGevo/>
 
  
 
The 2003 book entitled ''Overcoming Violence Against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem '' written by authors Rahel Nardos; Mary K. Radpour; William S. Hatcher and Michael L. Penn, declared:  
 
The 2003 book entitled ''Overcoming Violence Against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem '' written by authors Rahel Nardos; Mary K. Radpour; William S. Hatcher and Michael L. Penn, declared:  
−
{{cquote|The largest source of commercial child pornography is Denmark. Denmark became the world's leading producer of child pornography when, in 1969, it removed all restrictions on the production and sale of any type of pornographic material. "The result," notes Tim Tate, "was a short-lived explosion in adult pornography, and the birth of commercial child pornography. In his work, Tate links the global spread of child pornography to two men: Willy Strauss, founder of Bambina Sex, the world's first child-pornography magazine, founded in 1971; and Peter Theander, founder of Colour Climax Corporation and the producer of a short, professionally made pornographic film series entitled Lolita. Lolita depicts the sexual abuse of prepubescent boys and girls. Although Danish law at the time rendered the work of Strauss and Theander legal, by 1979 when Denmark finally banned the production and sale of child pornography it had already become such a financial success on the international market that it has proven to be nearly impossible to bring its spread under control.<ref>Nardos, Rahel, et. al. (2003).  ''Overcoming Violence Against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem'', p. 59.</ref>}}
+
{{cquote|The largest source of commercial child pornography is Denmark. Denmark became the world's leading producer of child pornography when, in 1969, it removed all restrictions on the production and sale of any type of pornographic material. "The result," notes Tim Tate, "was a short-lived explosion in adult pornography, and the birth of commercial child pornography. ....by 1979 when Denmark finally banned the production and sale of child pornography it had already become such a financial success on the international market that it has proven to be nearly impossible to bring its spread under control.<ref>Nardos, Rahel, et. al. (2003).  ''Overcoming Violence Against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem'', p. 59.</ref>}}
  
−
Suzanne Ost, in her 2009 book ''Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses'' published by Cambridge University Press, wrote about the child pornography created by Denmark/Holland during this period:
+
Suzanne Ost, in her 2009 book ''Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses'' published by Cambridge University Press, wrote about the child pornography created by Denmark/Holland during this period: "Taylor and Quayle note that the material produced during this period still constitutes the largest part of child pornography that is currently available, having been transferred into digital format and uploaded onto the internet."<ref>''Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses'' by Suzanne Ost, Cambridge University Press, page 29, 2009</ref>
−
{{cquote|Taylor and Quayle note that the material produced during this period still constitutes the largest part of child pornography that is currently available, having been transferred into digital format and uploaded onto the internet.<ref name="Ost"/>}}
 
  
−
==== Atheistic Japan and child pornography ====
+
=== Atheism, pedophilia and NAMBLA ===
 +
[[Image:Harry Hay.jpg|thumb|150px|Many consider atheist [[Harry Hay]] to be the founder of the American homosexual movement.]]
  
−
[[Japan]] is one of the most atheistic countries in the world.<ref name="athmap">Multiple references:
+
''see also:'' [[Atheism, pedophilia and NAMBLA]] and [[Teenage homosexuality]]  
−
*[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf "Top 50 countries with highest proportion of atheists/agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)"].  Chris and Terri Chapman.  Retrieved on September 10, 2014.
 
−
*Fisher, Max and Dewey, Caitlin (May 23, 2013).  [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ "A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live"].  The Washington Post website.  Retrieved on September 13, 2014.</ref>
 
  
−
CNN reported in 2014, "The U.S. State Department's 2013 report on human rights practices in Japan labels the country "an international hub for the production and trafficking of child pornography."<ref>Mullen, Jethro and Wakatsuki, Yoko (June 18, 2014). [http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/17/world/asia/japan-child-porn-law/ "Japan passes law banning possession of child pornography"].  CNN website.</ref>
+
The [[North American Man/Boy Love Association]] (NAMBLA) was founded in December 1978 and is an activist homosexuality and [[pedophilia]]/pederasty coalition group.
  
−
For more information, please see:  
+
Some of the well known atheist advocates of the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) are:
  
−
*[[Atheism and child pornography]]
+
1. The atheist and homosexual [[David Thorstad]] was a founding member of the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA).<ref>Abbott, Matt C. (August 22, 2010).  [http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/100822 "The mind of a pederast"]. RenewAmerica.</ref>
  
−
*[[Atheistic Denmark and child pornography]]
+
2. '''[[Harry Hay]]''' (1912 - 2002) was an [[liberal]] advocate of [[statutory rape]] and the widely acknowledged founder and progenitor of the  activist [[homosexual agenda]] in the [[United States]]. Hay joined the [[Communist Party of the United States]] (CPUSA) in 1934.<ref>Bronski, Michael (October 31, 2002).  [http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/documents/02511115.htm "The real Harry Hay"].  The Phoenix.com.</ref>  Harry Hay was an atheist.<ref>Kincaid, Cliff, Accuracy in Media (January 7, 2010). [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/ss_politics0010_01_07.asp "Twisted: administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association"].  WorldTribune.com.</ref> He was a vociferous advocate of man/boy love.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Lord, Jeffrey (October 5, 2006).  [http://spectator.org/articles/46366/when-nancy-met-harry "Special report:  when Nancy met Harry"].  The American Spectator website.
 +
*Kincaid, Cliff, Accuracy in Media (January 7, 2010). [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/ss_politics0010_01_07.asp "Twisted: administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association"].  WorldTribune.com.</ref> In 1986, Hay marched in a [[homosexual|gay]] parade wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words "[[NAMBLA]] walks with me."<ref>Baldwin, Hon. Steve (2002). [http://www.mega.nu/ampp/baldwin_pedophilia_homosexuality.pdf "Child molestation and the homosexual movement"]. ''Regent University Law Review'', vol. 14, pp. 267-282. The Architecture of Modern Political Power</ref>
  
−
*[[Netherlands and child pornography]]
+
3. The writer [[Samuel R. Delany]] is an atheist and a homosexual.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Delany, Samuel R. (2006).  ''About Writing:  Seven Essays, Four Letters, and Five Interviews'' (Middletown: Wesleyan), p. 36.
 +
*[http://www.enotes.com/topics/samuel-r-delany/critical-essays/delany-samuel-r-vol-141#critical-essays-delany-samuel-r-vol-141-introduction "Introduction"] (2001).  ''Contemporary Literary Criticism'', ed. Hunter, Jeffrey W., vol. 141 (Gale Cengage).  eNotes.com</ref> Delaney said he was a supporter of NAMBLA.<ref>Freedman, Carl (2009).  ''Conversations with Samuel R. Delany'' (Jackson: Univ. Press of Mississippi), p. 143.</ref>
  
−
*[[Godless Britain and child pornography]]
+
See also: [[Richard Dawkins on child molestation and so called "gentle pedophiles"]] and [[John Maynard Keynes and pederasty]]
  
−
*[[Atheistic Czech Republic and child pornography]]
+
=== Atheism and slavery/forced labor ===
−
 
+
*[[Atheism and slavery]]
−
*[[Atheistic Sweden and child pornography]]
+
*[[Atheism and forced labor]]
−
 
 
−
=== Nontheistic Thailand and child prostitution ===
 
−
 
 
−
''See also:'' [[Atheistic Thailand and child prostitution]]
 
  
−
In [[Thailand]], the nontheistic form of [[Buddhism]] called the Theravada school of Buddhism is prevalent.
+
=== Dietary practices of atheists. Eating of dogs, cats, horses and babies/children ===
  
−
According to a report compiled by Police Colonel Naras Savestanan, Ph.D., Deputy Director-General, Department of Special Investigation, Ministry of Justice, Thailand:
+
See: [[Dietary practices of atheists]] (Dietary habits of various irreligious regions)
−
{{cquote|Thailand has been identified as one of the most popular destinations for child sex abusers since 1980s...
 
  
−
In 2007, there were 500,000 sexually alluring web pages and 250 websites showing nude video clips
+
==== Atheists and the eating of babies/children ====
−
of teenagers in Thailand.<ref>Savestanan, Naras, Pol. Col, Ph. D. (April 12, 2011). [http://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CCPCJ/CCPCJ_Sessions/CCPCJ_20/Thematic_Discussions/Asian-Group_Thailands-response_Savestanan.pdf ''Thematic Discussions, Asian Group:  Thailand’s Response to Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Its Progress and Challenges''].  United Nations website/Office on Drugs and Crime/Commissions/The 20th Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.</ref>}}
 
  
−
Thailand’s Health System Research Institute declared that child prostitutes make up 40% of all prostitutes in Thailand.<ref>Duthel, Heinz, ''Kathoey Ladyboy: Thailand's Got Talent'', p. 192</ref>
+
*[[Atheists eat babies meme#Atheistic China and baby eating|Communist China and baby eating]]
 +
*[[Atheists eat babies meme|Atheists and the eating of babies/children]] ([[China]], [[Soviet Union]], [[North Korea]] and other issues)
  
−
Thailand is often called "a child molesters' paradise".<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/05/thailand.pedophiles/ Thailand fights to stem tide of child sex tourists] By Dan Rivers, CNN</ref>
+
===== Major news organizations reporting on China baby flesh powder scandal =====
  
−
For more information, please see: [[Nontheistic Thailand and child prostitution]]
+
*[https://abcnews.go.com/Health/chinese-made-infant-flesh-capsules-seized-korea/story?id=16296176 Chinese-Made Infant Flesh Capsules Seized in S. Korea], ''ABC News''
  
−
=== Atheism, pedophilia/pederasty and NAMBLA ===
+
*[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/31/chinese-cannibalism-infant-flesh-outrages-world/ Chinese cannibalism of infant flesh outrages the world], ''Washington Times''
  
−
''see also:'' [[Atheism, pederasty and NAMBLA]] and [[Teenage homosexuality]] and [[Homosexuality and pederasty]]
+
*[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2140702/South-Korea-customs-officials-thousands-pills-filled-powdered-human-baby-flesh.html Thousands of pills filled with powdered human baby flesh discovered by customs officials in South Korea], ''The Daily Mail''
−
[[Image:Harry Hay.jpg|thumbnail|150px|Many consider atheist [[Harry Hay]] to be the founder of the American [[homosexuality|homosexual]] movement.]]
 
−
The [[North American Man-Boy Love Association]] (NAMBLA) was founded in December 1978 and is an activist homosexuality and [[pedophilia]]/pederasty coalition group.
 
  
−
Some of the well known atheist advocates of the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) are:
+
*[https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/05/horrifyingly-ground-baby-pills-are-real-thing/328490/ Horrifyingly, Ground Baby Pills Are a Real Thing] by Alexander Abad-Santos, ''The Atlantic''
−
 
 
−
1. The atheist and [[homosexuality|homosexual]] [[David Thorstad]] was a founding member of the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA).<ref>Abbott, Matt C. (August 22, 2010).  [http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/100822 "The mind of a pederast"]. RenewAmerica.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
2. '''[[Harry Hay]]''' (1912 - 2002) was an [[liberal]] advocate of [[statutory rape]] and the widely acknowledged founder and progenitor of the  activist [[homosexual agenda]] in the [[United States]]. Hay joined the [[Communist Party of the United States]] (CPUSA) in 1934. <ref>Bronski, Michael (October 31, 2002).  [http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/documents/02511115.htm "The real Harry Hay"].  The Phoenix.com.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>  Harry Hay was an atheist.<ref>Kincaid, Cliff, Accuracy in Media (January 7, 2010). [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/ss_politics0010_01_07.asp "Twisted: administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association"].  WorldTribune.com.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref> He was a vociferous advocate of man/boy love. <ref>Multiple references:
 
−
*Lord, Jeffrey (October 5, 2006).  [http://spectator.org/articles/46366/when-nancy-met-harry "Special report:  when Nancy met Harry"].  The American Spectator website.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014. 
 
−
*Kincaid, Cliff, Accuracy in Media (January 7, 2010). [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/ss_politics0010_01_07.asp "Twisted: administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association"].  WorldTribune.com.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref> In 1986, Hay marched in a [[homosexual|gay]] parade wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words "[[NAMBLA]] walks with me."<ref>Baldwin, Hon. Steve (2002). [http://www.mega.nu/ampp/baldwin_pedophilia_homosexuality.pdf "Child molestation and the homosexual movement"]. ''Regent University Law Review'', vol. 14, pp. 267-282.  Retrieved from The Architecture of Modern Political Power on July 20, 2014.</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
3. The writer [[Samuel R. Delany]] is an atheist and a [[homosexuality|homosexual]].<ref>Multiple references:
 
−
*Delany, Samuel R. (2006).  ''About Writing:  Seven Essays, Four Letters, and Five Interviews'' (Middletown: Wesleyan), p. 36.
 
−
*[http://www.enotes.com/topics/samuel-r-delany/critical-essays/delany-samuel-r-vol-141#critical-essays-delany-samuel-r-vol-141-introduction "Introduction"] (2001).  ''Contemporary Literary Criticism'', ed. Hunter, Jeffrey W., vol. 141 (Gale Cengage).  Retrieved from eNotes.com on July 20, 2014.</ref> Delaney said he was a supporter of NAMBLA.<ref>Freedman, Carl (2009).  ''Conversations with Samuel R. Delany'' (Jackson: Univ. Press of Mississippi), p. 143.</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
See also: [[Richard Dawkins on child molestation and so called "gentle pedophiles"]] and [[John Maynard Keynes and pederasty]]
 
  
 
=== Immorality of prominent atheists ===
 
=== Immorality of prominent atheists ===
−
 
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]
−
 
+
[[File:JAMES RANDI.jpg|thumbnail|170px|left|[[James Randi]] ]]
 
[[James Randi]] is a leader within the atheist community. Brian Thompson, former James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Outreach Coordinator, wrote:
 
[[James Randi]] is a leader within the atheist community. Brian Thompson, former James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Outreach Coordinator, wrote:
 
{{cquote|But I no longer identify with this community of benevolent know-it-alls, because not all of them are the best folks in the world. In fact, a good percentage of the top ten worst humans I’ve ever met are prominent members of the skeptics’ club. They’re dishonest, mean-spirited, narcissistic, [[misogyny|misogynistic]]. Pick a personality flaw, and I can probably point you to someone who epitomizes it. And that person has probably had a speaking slot at a major skeptical conference.
 
{{cquote|But I no longer identify with this community of benevolent know-it-alls, because not all of them are the best folks in the world. In fact, a good percentage of the top ten worst humans I’ve ever met are prominent members of the skeptics’ club. They’re dishonest, mean-spirited, narcissistic, [[misogyny|misogynistic]]. Pick a personality flaw, and I can probably point you to someone who epitomizes it. And that person has probably had a speaking slot at a major skeptical conference.
  
−
I grew particularly disgusted with the boys’ club attitude I saw among skeptical leaders and luminaries. The kind of attitude that’s dismissive of women, sexually predatory, and downright gross. When I first started going to skeptical conferences as a fresh-faced know-it-all, I started hearing things about people I once admired. Then I started seeing things myself. Then I got a job with the JREF, and the pattern continued.<ref>Myers, P. Z. (March 31, 2014).  [http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/03/31/when-will-this-situation-improve/ "When will this situation improve?"] Pharyngula. Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref>}}
+
I grew particularly disgusted with the boys’ club attitude I saw among skeptical leaders and luminaries. The kind of attitude that’s dismissive of women, sexually predatory, and downright gross. When I first started going to skeptical conferences as a fresh-faced know-it-all, I started hearing things about people I once admired. Then I started seeing things myself. Then I got a job with the JREF, and the pattern continued.<ref>Myers, P. Z. (March 31, 2014).  [http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/03/31/when-will-this-situation-improve/ "When will this situation improve?"] Pharyngula.</ref>}}
  
 
See also:
 
See also:
  
 
*[[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]
 
*[[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]
 +
*[[Richard Carrier, adultery, divorce and polyamory]]
 +
*[[Atheist conferences#Atheist events and inappropriate sexually related activities|Atheist conferences and inappropriate sexual activity]]
  
−
*[[Richard Carrier, adultery, divorce and polyamory]]
+
=== Atheism and rape ===
 +
*[[Atheism and rape]]
 +
*[[Mass rape during the occupation of Germany|Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army]]
  
 
=== Atheism and abortion ===
 
=== Atheism and abortion ===
−
 
−
[[Image:115523-004-FA619CA3.jpg|thumb|right|251px| The perverse and cruel atheist [[Marquis de Sade]] in prison, 18th century line engraving.]]
 
 
The ''Journal of Medical Ethics'' wrote this about the atheist and [[sadism|sadist]] [[Marquis de Sade]]:
 
The ''Journal of Medical Ethics'' wrote this about the atheist and [[sadism|sadist]] [[Marquis de Sade]]:
−
{{cquote|In 1795 the Marquis de Sade published his ''La Philosophie dans le boudoir'', in which he proposed the use of induced abortion for social reasons and as a means of [[population control]]. It is from this time that medical and social acceptance of abortion can be dated, although previously the subject had not been discussed in public in modern times. It is suggested that it was largely due to de Sade's writing that induced abortion received the impetus which resulted in its subsequent spread in western society.<ref>Farr, A. D. (1980).  [http://jme.bmj.com/content/6/1/7.abstract "The Marquis de Sade and induced abortion"].  ''Journal of Medical Ethics'', 6, pp. 7-10.  Retrieved from Journal of Medical Ethics website on July 20, 2014.</ref>}}  
+
{{cquote|In 1795 the Marquis de Sade published his ''La Philosophie dans le boudoir'', in which he proposed the use of induced abortion for social reasons and as a means of [[population control]]. It is from this time that medical and social acceptance of abortion can be dated, although previously the subject had not been discussed in public in modern times. It is suggested that it was largely due to de Sade's writing that induced abortion received the impetus which resulted in its subsequent spread in western society.<ref>Farr, A. D. (1980).  [https://jme.bmj.com/content/6/1/7.abstract "The Marquis de Sade and induced abortion"].  ''Journal of Medical Ethics'', 6, pp. 7-10.  Journal of Medical Ethics website</ref>}}  
  
−
[[Population control]] is based on [[pseudoscience]] and ill founded [[economics|economic]] assumptions.<ref>Egnor, Michael (November 30, 2010).  [http://www.evolutionnews.org/2010/11/pz_myers_on_abortion040971.html "P. Z. Myers on abortion"].  Evolution News and Views.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref> ''[[CBS News]]'' reported: "According to a mail-in survey of nearly 4,000 British doctors, those who were atheist or agnostic were almost twice as willing to take actions designed to hasten the end of life."<ref>Katz, Neil (August 26, 2010).  [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-atheist-doctors-twice-as-likely-to-pull-plug/ "Study: atheist doctors twice as likely to pull plug"]. CBSNews.com.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>
+
[[Population control]] is based on [[pseudoscience]] and ill founded [[economics|economic]] assumptions.<ref>Egnor, Michael (November 30, 2010).  [http://www.evolutionnews.org/2010/11/pz_myers_on_abortion040971.html "P. Z. Myers on abortion"].  Evolution News and Views.</ref> ''[[CBS News]]'' reported: "According to a mail-in survey of nearly 4,000 British doctors, those who were atheist or agnostic were almost twice as willing to take actions designed to hasten the end of life."<ref>Katz, Neil (August 26, 2010).  [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-atheist-doctors-twice-as-likely-to-pull-plug/ "Study: atheist doctors twice as likely to pull plug"]. CBSNews.com.</ref>
  
−
=== Atheism and lower empathy for others ===
+
=== Atheism and profanity ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and profanity]] and [[Atheism and culture]]
  
−
''See also:'' [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] and [[Atheism and love]]
+
Studies indicate that atheists engage in more [[profanity]] than Christians/theists and are more likely to believe that obscene language is acceptable to engage in.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*[https://www.barna.org/component/content/article/5-barna-update/45-barna-update-sp-657/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard#.VwcQ8jEn_7Y  "Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard"] (September 10, 2001).  Barna Update.
 +
*Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012).  [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "The Science of Swearing"].  ''Observer'', vol. 25, no. 5. The Association for Psychological Science website.
 +
*Ritter, Ryan S., Preston, J. L. et al. (June 18, 2013). [http://spp.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/06/18/1948550613492345.full.pdf+html "Happy tweets: Christians are happier, more socially connected, and less analytical than atheists on Twitter" [abstract&#93;].  ''Social Psychological and Personality Science'', 1948550613492345.  Abstract: Sage Journals Subscription required for full article.</ref>
 +
Use of profanity by individuals is negatively correlated with conscientiousness and agreeableness.<ref>Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012).  [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "The Science of Swearing"].  ''Observer'', vol. 25, no. 5. The Association for Psychological Science website</ref>
  
−
In 2007 the Baptist Press reported:
+
For more information, please see: [[Atheism and profanity]]
−
{{cquote|...a pollster at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, found that adults who profess a belief in God are significantly more likely than atheists to say that forgiveness, patience, generosity and a concern for others are "very important." In fact, the poll found that on 11 of 12 values, there was a double-digit gap between theists and atheists, with theists more likely to label each value "very important."
 
  
−
The survey by sociologist and pollster Reginald Bibby examined the beliefs of 1,600 Canadians, 82 percent who said they believed in "God or a higher power" and 18 percent who said they did not.<ref>Foust, Michael (October 23, 2007).  [http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=26675 "Poll:  Atheists less likely to 'do good'"] Baptist Press.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>}}
+
=== Irreligion and crime/prison population ===
 +
*[[Religion and crime reduction]]
 +
*[[Irreligious prison population]]
  
−
=== Atheism and moral relativism ===
+
=== Atheism and psychopathy ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and psychopathy]]
 +
[[File:Jeffrey Dahmer Milwaukee Police 1991 mugshot.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The [[serial killer]] [[Jeffrey Dahmer]] engaged in [[cannibalism]]. He was an atheist while he committed these acts.<ref>[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1sv4ky_serial-killer-jeffrey-dahmer-blames-atheism-and-evolution-belief-for-murders_news Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer blames Atheism and Evolution belief for Murders]</ref> See: [[Atheism and cannibalism]] ]]
 +
A [[psychopath]] is someone with an anti-social [[personality disorder]] characterized by [[violent]], [[perverted]] or immoral behavior often leading to [[criminal]]ity. Psychopaths have little or no concern for other people. Some psychopaths equate [[love]] with sexual arousal.<ref>{{cite book |title=Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us |author=Robert D. Hare |publisher=Guilford Press |place=New York and London |year=2011 |pages=52 |isbn=978-16062-35782 |url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1606235788}}</ref>
  
−
''See also:'' [[Moral relativism]] and [[Atheism and morality]]
+
A 2016 study relating to atheism and psychopathy published in ''Plus One'' indicates:
 +
{{Cquote|Similarly, a survey of 312 college students examining the relationship between Religious/Spiritual Well-Being (RSWB) and ‘dark triad’ personality traits found that “RSWB was confirmed to be negatively correlated with these negative aspects of personality, in particular with subclinical psychopathy.”
  
−
[[Image:998086u.jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|An essay by the [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] Dr. James Spiegel describes [[Bertrand Russell]] as a "misogynistic and a serial adulterer; a chronic seducer of women, especially very young women, even in his old age."<ref>Spiegel, James (2010).  ''The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief'', p. 72. Chicago:  Moody Publishers.</ref>  Bertrand Russell was an agnostic who had favorable views towards atheism.<ref> Russell, Bertrand (1947). [http://web.archive.org/web/20100411082750/http://www.luminary.us/russell/atheist_agnostic.html "Am I an atheist or an agnostic?"]  www.luminary.us.  Archived at Internet Archive on April 11, 2010.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.  Caution:  Presumably copyrighted in the U.S. until 2042 and in Canada until 2020.  For fair educational use only.  Most online sources say "by which one prove," probably a mistake.</ref>]]
+
...moral concern is associated with a spiritual worldview.<ref>[http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0149989 Why Do You Believe in God? Relationships between Religious Belief, Analytic Thinking, Mentalizing and Moral Concern] by Anthony Ian Jack , Jared Parker Friedman, Richard Eleftherios Boyatzis, Scott Nolan Taylor, ''Plus One'', March 23, 2016</ref>}}
−
Dr. Phil Fernandes states the following regarding atheism and [[Moral relativism|moral relativism]]:
 
−
{{cquote|[[Friedrich Nietzsche|Nietzsche]] preached that a group of "supermen" must arise with the courage to create their own values through their "will to power." Nietzsche rejected the "soft" values of [[Christianity]] (brotherly love, turning the other cheek, charity, compassion, etc.); he felt they hindered man's creativity and potential....
 
  
−
Many other atheists agree with Nietzsche concerning moral relativism. British philosopher [[Bertrand Russell]] (1872-1970) once wrote, "Outside human desires there is no moral standard." [[A. J. Ayer]] believed that moral commands did not result from any objective standard above man. Instead, Ayer stated that moral commands merely express one's subjective feelings. When one says that murder is wrong, one is merely saying that he or she feels that murder is wrong. [[Jean-Paul Sartre]], a French [[existentialism|existentialist]], believed that there is no objective meaning to life. Therefore, according to Sartre, man must create his own values.
+
According to the 2014 journal article ''Correlates of psychopathic personality traits in everyday life: results from a large community survey'' published in the journal ''Frontiers of Psychology''  lack of belief in [[God]] is positively associated with [[psychopath]]y.<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4106400/ Correlates of psychopathic personality traits in everyday life: results from a large community survey] by Scott O. Lilienfeld, Robert D. Latzman, Ashley L. Watts, Sarah F. Smith, and Kevin Dutton, ''Frontiers of Psychology'', 2014</ref>
  
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There are many different ways that moral relativists attempt to determine what action should be taken. [[Hedonism]] is probably the most extreme. It declares that whatever brings the most pleasure is right. In other words, if it feels good, do it. If this position is true, then there is no basis from which to judge the actions of [[Adolph Hitler]] as being evil.<ref>Fernandes, Phil (May 25, 1997). [http://instituteofbiblicaldefense.com/1997/05/refuting-moral-relativism/ "Refuting moral relativism"].  Institute of Biblical Defense.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>}}
+
=== Atheism and theft crimes ===
  
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Given that atheistic [[evolution|evolutionary]] thinking has engendered [[social darwinism]] and given that the proponents of atheism [[Atheism and morality|have no rational basis]] for morality, the immoral views that atheists often hold and [[Atheism and Uncharitableness|the low per capita giving of American atheists]] is not unpredictable.
+
*[[Atheism and stealing|Atheism and theft crimes]]
 +
*[[Irreligion and car theft]]
 +
*[[Secular Europe and pickpocketing]]
 +
*[[Atheist organizations and scandals]]
  
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=== Atheism and profanity ===
+
=== Atheism and infanticide ===
−
 
+
[[Infanticide]] is the practice of killing very young children. An infant is a child too young to speak.<ref>MedicineNet.com http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=3966.</ref>
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and profanity]]
+
[[File:Chow chow.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Each year thousands of [[dog]]s are stolen in atheist, communist controlled mainland [[China]] and as many as 20 million dogs are killed in China to satisfy the dog meat industry.<ref>[https://www.unilad.co.uk/featured/stop-pet-dogs-stolen-for-meat/ The Chinese Government Must Stop Pet Dogs Being Stolen For Meat] by JERRY GADIANO, Unilad website</ref> For more information, please see: [[Atheists and dog meat eating]]
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+
<br />
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Studies indicate that atheists engage in more [[profanity]] than Christians/theists and are more likely to believe that obscene language is acceptable to engage in.<ref>Multiple references:
+
<br />
−
*[http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard "Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard"] (September 10, 2001). Barna Update. Retrieved on July 19, 2014.
+
According to ''ABC News'', gruesome techniques are used in Chinese dog slaughterhouses.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjbWQAASPcs Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality], ABC News, YouTube</ref>  Brutal beatings of dogs are occurring in the Chinese dog meat trade during the slaughtering process.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjbWQAASPcs Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality], ABC News, YouTube</ref> See: [[Atheism and animal abuse]]
−
*Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "The Science of Swearing"].  ''Observer'', vol. 25, no. 5. Retrieved from The Association for Psychological Science website on October 25, 2014.
+
<br />
−
*Ritter, Ryan S., Preston, J. L. et al. (June 18, 2013). [http://spp.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/06/18/1948550613492345.full.pdf+html "Happy tweets: Christians are happier, more socially connected, and less analytical than atheists on Twitter" [abstract&#93;]. ''Social Psychological and Personality Science'', 1948550613492345. Abstract retrieved from Sage Journals on October 25, 2014.  Subscription required for full article.</ref>
+
<br />
−
Use of profanity by individuals is negatively correlated with conscientiousness and agreeableness.<ref>Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012).  [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "The Science of Swearing"].  ''Observer'', vol. 25, no. 5.  Retrieved from The Association for Psychological Science website on October 25, 2014.</ref>
+
[[China]] has the world's largest atheist population.<ref>Double references:
 +
*[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf "Top 20 Countries With Largest Numbers of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)"] (November 28, 2007). ''The Largest Atheist/Agnostic Populations''. Chris & Terri Chapman website (March 19, 2013 or bef.), first publication date at website from archive at Internet Archive.
 +
*[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], ''Washington Post'' By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013</ref> It also has [[state atheism]] (See: [[China and atheism]]).
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
Most atheists in the world are [[East Asia]]n (see: [[Asian atheism]]).]]
 +
Below is an article on atheism and infanticide:
  
−
For more information, please see: [[Atheism and profanity]]
+
*[[Atheism and infanticide]]
  
 
=== Atheism and bestiality ===
 
=== Atheism and bestiality ===
−
 
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and bestiality]]
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and bestiality]]
  
−
[[Bestiality]] is the act of engaging in sexual relations with an animal.  In addition to being repulsive and being a sexual [[taboo]] in societies, bestiality can cause harm to both animals and humans.<ref>Multiple references:
+
=== Atheism and cannibalism ===
−
*Nadeau, Barbie Latza (October 14, 2014).  [http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/10/14/denmark-s-bestiality-problem-it-s-legal.html "Denmark’s bestiality problem: It’s legal"].  The Daily Beast website.
 
−
*[http://aldf.org/resources/laws-cases/the-crime-of-bestialityzoophilia-sexual-assault-of-an-animal/ "The crime of bestiality/zoophilia: Sexual assault of an animal"] (2013 or bef.).  Animal Legal Defense Fund website/Resources/Laws-cases.
 
−
*[http://stopbestiality.wordpress.com/2011/01/17/does-having-sex-with-animals-harm-anyone/ "Does having sex with animals harm anyone?  Animals show great stress"] (January 17, 2011).  StopBestiality website.
 
−
*Zequi, Stênio de Cássio, Ph. D. et. al. (July 2012).  [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02512.x/abstract "Sex with animals (SWA): Behavioral characteristics and possible association with penile cancer. A multicenter study"] ''Journal of Sexual Medicine'', vol. 9, iss. 10, pp. 1860-7.  Retrieved from Wiley Online Library/Urology/Sexual medicine.
 
−
*[http://stopbestiality.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/study-links-bestiality-and-penile-cancer/ "Study links bestiality and penile cancer; Women’s health risk too?"] (November 29, 2011). StopBestiality website.
 
−
*Westneat, Danny (December 30, 2005).  [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002711400_danny30.html "Horse sex story was online hit"].  ''Seattle Times'' website.
 
−
*Ascione, Frank, ed. ''The International Handbook of Animal Abuse and Cruelty: Theory, Research'', pp. 217-8.</ref>
 
  
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In 2014, a global news channel which broadcasts documentaries about current topics, reported concerning [[secular Europe]]: "Bestiality is having a weird renaissance in Europe."<ref>[https://sites.google.com/site/newsreport3738/ Vice News report on bestiality upsurge in Europe]</ref> See also: [[Bestiality and secular Europe]]
+
See: [[Atheism and cannibalism]]
  
−
The [[atheist]] philosopher Peter Singer defends the practice [[bestiality]] (as well as [[abortion]], infanticide and [[euthanasia]]).  Despite holding these views the liberal and pro-[[evolution]] academic establishment rewarded his views with a bioethics chair at [[Princeton University]].<ref>Multiple references:
+
=== Atheism and animal abuse ===
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*Smith, Justin (November 22, 2006).  [http://creation.com/the-basis-of-a-christian-worldview "The basis of a Christian worldview"].  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.
 
−
*Sarfati, Jonathan (June 2, 2007).  [http://creation.com/answer-to-philosophy-religion-professor-on-biblical-exegesis-and-the-problem-of-evil "CMI answers philosophy/religion professor on biblical exegesis and the problem of evil"].  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>
 
  
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The prominent atheist [[PZ Myers|P. Z. Meyers]] declared, "I don’t object to bestiality in a very limited set of specific conditions...."<ref name="achilles">Multiple references:
+
See: [[Atheism and animal abuse]] (Brutal dog/cat meat trades, etc.)
−
*Warden, Rick (August 10, 2012).  [http://templestream.blogspot.com/2012/08/atheist-achilles-heels-objective.html "Atheist achilles heels: objective morality and sacred life"].  Templestream Blog.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.
 
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*Myers, P. Z. (May 22, 2012).  [http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2012/05/22/the-objective-morality-gotcha/ "The 'objective morality' gotcha"]  Pharyngula.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>
 
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[[File:Peter Singer MIT Veritas.jpg|right|thumbnail|250px|The [[atheist]] philosopher [[Peter Singer]] defends the practice of [[bestiality]]  Despite holding these immoral views academia rewarded his views with a bioethics chair at [[Princeton University]].<ref>Multiple references:
 
−
*Smith, Justin (November 22, 2006).  [http://creation.com/the-basis-of-a-christian-worldview "The basis of a Christian worldview"].  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.
 
−
*Sarfati, Jonathan (June 2, 2007).  [http://creation.com/answer-to-philosophy-religion-professor-on-biblical-exegesis-and-the-problem-of-evil "CMI answers philosophy/religion professor on biblical exegesis and the problem of evil"].  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.
 
−
*Carter, Joe (June 22, 2011).  [http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2011/06/the-dangerous-mind-of-peter-singer "The dangerous mind of Peter Singer"].  First Things.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.  See [[First Things]].</ref> See: [[Atheism and bestiality]] ]]
 
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The Bible says that bestiality is a perversion and, under the [[Old Testament]] [[Pentateuch|Jewish Law]], punishable by death (Exodus 22:19, Leviticus 18:23, Leviticus 20:15 and Deuteronomy 27:21). The atheistic worldview does not lend itself to the establishment of morality within society and individuals (see: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheism and deception]]).
 
  
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The [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] and author Michael Caputo writes:
+
=== Atheism and veganism ===
−
{{cquote|Although bestiality is not openly supported by well known [[Militant atheism|Militant Atheist]] sites, support for it is inherent in their insistence that decisions of a sexual nature should be left up to the individual adults to determine. God disagrees.<ref>Caputo, Michael (betw. 2008-11). [http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/god_bible_bestiality.htm "God, the Bible and bestiality"].  Militant Atheism Exposed.  Retrieved on July 20, 2014.</ref>}}
 
  
−
For additional information please see:
+
See: [[Atheism and veganism]]
  
−
*[[Atheism and bestiality]]
+
=== Atheism and hypocrisy ===
−
*[[Evolutionary belief and bestiality]]
+
''See also:'' [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
−
*[[Christopher Hitchens on bestiality]]
 
−
*[[Academia and bestiality|Atheism, academia and bestiality]]
 
  
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In areas of the [[Western World]] where there is a significant amount of atheism and [[evolution]]ary belief, there have been notable problems related to bestiality (see: [[Geographic areas where bestiality is posing a notable problem]]).
+
In order to attempt to justify their atheism, atheists often engage in [[Hypocrisy|hypocritical]] argumentation.  In addition, atheists often engage in hypocritical behavior. Please see: [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
  
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=== Atheism and incest ===
+
=== Atheism and social justice ===
 +
See: [[Atheism and social justice]]
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and incest]]
+
=== Atheism and care of the environment ===
  
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[[Lawrence Krauss]] is a prominent atheist and atheist activist.  In response to the question, "Why is [[incest]] wrong?", Krauss said, "It's not clear to me that it is wrong."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp7dRpWIdBo Lawrence Krauss on incest]</ref>  Krauss belongs to the [[New Atheism]] school of atheism which is a form of [[militant atheism]].
+
See: [[Atheism and the environment|Atheism and care of the environment]]
  
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The YouTube channel [[TheAmazingAtheist]] is the most popular atheist YouTube channel with over 685,972 subscribers as of June of 2015.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAmazingAtheist/about About TheAmazingAtheist YouTube channel]</ref> The AmazingAtheist produced a video entitled '' Atheist Libertarian Defends Incest, Polygamy and Cannibalism!''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMYBndRD9Ko Atheist Libertarian Defends Incest, Polygamy and Cannibalism!]</ref>
+
=== Atheism and other moral issues ===
 +
For more information please see:  [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]]
  
−
For more information, please see: [[Atheism and incest]]
+
=== Earlier definitions of atheism ===
 +
Dictionaries point out that previous/archaic meanings of the word atheism are: ungodliness. wickedness, immorality<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130509103942/http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9779.htm Dictionary Says 'Atheism' Means 'Immorality'!?]</ref><ref>[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism Definition of atheism - Merriam-Webster dictionary]</ref>
  
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=== Irreligious prison population ===
+
== Atheism and philosophy topics ==
 +
[[File:Cerebellum.jpg|right|thumb|240px|If [[Naturalism (philosophy)|philosophical naturalism]] were true, then we ought not to trust our capacity for reason for the human brain would be a byproduct of blind/unintelligent natural forces.
 +
<ref>
 +
*[http://creationevolutiondesign.blogspot.com/2006/09/cs-lewis-argument-from-reason.html C.S. Lewis' argument from reason]
 +
*[http://www.evolutionnews.org/2013/11/cs_lewis_and_th079541.html C.S. Lewis and the Argument from Reason] by Jay W. Richards, November 25, 2013
 +
*[http://www.acton.org/pub/religion-liberty/volume-6-number-6/cs-lewis-and-materialism C.S. Lewis and Materialism] by John G. West
 +
*[http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=8669 C.S. Lewis On The Validity of Reasoning]
 +
*[http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2012/04/cs-lewis-on-rationality-and-materialism.html C.S. Lewis on Rationality and Materialism ]
 +
*[http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2008/08/naturalisms-hot.html Naturalism's Hot Water]
 +
</ref>
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
See: [[Atheism and reason]] and [[Atheism and the brain]] ]]
 +
=== Atheism and naturalism ===
  
−
*[[Irreligious prison population]]
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and naturalism]]
  
−
=== Atheism and cannibalism ===
+
Scientific naturalism proposes that only explanations which can be scientifically tested are valid, yet this proposition cannot be scientifically tested. Therefore, scientific naturalism is self-refuting.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU_K_a7fW1A William Lane Craig on Scientific Naturalism] by Dr. [[William Lane Craig]]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and incoherency]]
−
[[File:Jeffrey Dahmer Milwaukee Police 1991 mugshot.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The [[serial killer]] [[Jeffrey Dahmer]] engaged in [[cannibalism]]. He was an [[atheism|atheist]] while he committed these acts.<ref>[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1sv4ky_serial-killer-jeffrey-dahmer-blames-atheism-and-evolution-belief-for-murders_news Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer blames Atheism and Evolution belief for Murders]</ref> See: [[Atheism and cannibalism]] ]]
 
−
See: [[Atheism and cannibalism]]
 
  
−
===== Cannibalism and communist regimes =====
+
=== Atheism and issues relating to knowledge acquisition ===
  
−
During the [[Cultural Revolution]], there were incidences of the Chinese [[Red Guards]] engaging in [[cannibalism]].<ref>[http://www.oodegr.co/english/atheismos/Atheistic_cannibalism.htm Atheistic cannibalism. How atheism can turn Man into a beast], Source:  "The Black Bible of Communism" (Greek edition), Athens 2006.  Excerpt taken from pages 504, 505. of the 4th edition</ref> The renowned author Lu Xun, a sympathizer of Communism, at a moment when he no longer concurred with nationalism and anti-Westernism, wrote: "The Chinese are cannibals..."<ref>[http://www.oodegr.co/english/atheismos/Atheistic_cannibalism.htm Atheistic cannibalism: How atheism can turn Man into a beast], Source:  "The Black Bible of Communism" (Greek edition), Athens 2006.  Excerpt taken from pages 504, 505. of the 4th edition</ref>
+
*[[Atheism and knowledge]]
  
−
[[Pol Pot]]'s regime also engaged in acts of vindictive cannibalism.<ref>[http://www.oodegr.co/english/atheismos/Atheistic_cannibalism.htm Atheistic cannibalism: How atheism can turn Man into a beast], Source:  "The Black Bible of Communism" (Greek edition), Athens 2006.  Excerpt taken from pages 504, 505. of the 4th edition</ref>
+
*[[Atheism and epistemology]]
  
−
Kerry Kubulius in his article entitled ''Cannibalism in the [[Soviet Union]]'' wrote:
+
*[[Atheism and reason]]
−
{{cquote|In the years 1920-21, the Soviet Union was hit hard by famine. Civil war had wiped out grain stores, and drought affected harvests...
 
  
−
It goes without saying that cannibalism in the Soviet Union was outlawed. Those who were caught cannibalizing their fellow citizens were sent to prisons, even though cannibalism was practiced in the Gulag, as well...
+
*[[Atheism and evidence]]
  
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While some individuals ate the bodies of the already dead, others murdered for the purpose of providing themselves with food. Gangs of children would kill adults, while adults would find children to murder and eat. Escaped prisoners might take along fellow inmates to serve as future meals – unbeknownst to the escapees' companions themselves.
+
*[[Atheism and logic]]
  
−
Cannibalism in the Soviet Union was sometimes a result of an individual or individuals seeking revenge.<ref>[https://suite.io/kerry-kubilius/ez6270 ''Cannibalism in the Soviet Union'] by Kerry Kubulius</ref>}}
+
*[[Atheism and logical fallacies]]
  
−
===== Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer and cannibalism =====
+
*[[Atheism and critical thinking]]
  
−
The infamous [[serial killer]] [[Jeffrey Dahmer]] engaged in cannibalism. He was an atheist when he committed these acts.<ref>[http://listverse.com/2010/06/05/10-people-who-give-atheism-a-bad-name/ 10 People Who Give Atheism a Bad Name]</ref>
+
*[[Atheism and meaninglessness]]
  
−
===== Popular YouTube atheist TheAmazingAtheist on cannibalism =====
+
=== Why atheism is irrational ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and irrationality]] and [[Irreligion and superstition]]
  
−
The YouTube channel [[TheAmazingAtheist]] is the most popular atheist YouTube channel with over 685,972 subscribers as of June of 2015.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAmazingAtheist/about About TheAmazingAtheist YouTube channel]</ref> The AmazingAtheist produced a video entitled '' Atheist Libertarian Defends Incest, Polygamy and Cannibalism!''.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMYBndRD9Ko Atheist Libertarian Defends Incest, Polygamy and Cannibalism!]</ref>
+
A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that [[Atheism and irrationality|atheism is irrational]].<ref name="athdef"/> In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.<ref name="inconsist"/>  For example, the atheistic worldview cannot account for the laws of [[logic]].<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Lisle, Dr. Jason (October 10, 2007).  [https://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/atheism/atheism-an-irrational-worldview/ "Atheism: An irrational worldview"]. AnswersinGenesis.
 +
*Slick, Matt (2010). [http://carm.org/christian-worldview-atheist-worldview-and-logic "The Christian worldview, the atheist worldview, and logic"].  Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry.
 +
*Petersen, Jason (2013).  [https://web.archive.org/web/20160807221254/http://answersforhope.org/can-atheism-coherently-explain-the-laws-of-logic/ "Can atheism coherently explain the laws of logic?"] Answers for Hope. 
 +
*Audio of a formal 1985 debate between Christian Greg Bahnsen and skeptic Gordon Stein at the University of California, Irvine on the question "Does God exist?"  See Dr. [[Greg Bahnsen]]
 +
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1hSx2evTGM "Greg Bahnsen vs. Gordon Stein:  The Great Debate (FULL)"] (May 19, 2011).  YouTube video, 2:10:44, posted by Argin Gerigorian. 
 +
**Andy (December 5, 2006).  [http://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2006/12/05/greg-bahnsen-vs-gordon-stein-the-great-debate/ "Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein mp3"].  The Domain for Truth.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and critical thinking]]
  
−
===== Marquis de Sade's writings and cannibalism =====
+
The atheist worldview cannot explain the existence of [[consciousness]] either and the [[theism|theistic]] worldview can offer a reasonable explanation.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Piippo, John (March 20, 2012).  [http://www.johnpiippo.com/2012/03/argument-from-consciousness-for.html "The argument from consciousness for the existence of God"].  John Piippo.
 +
*Piippo, John (April 14, 2014).  [http://www.johnpiippo.com/2014/04/one-of-atheisms-irresolvable-problems.html "Consciousness:  One of atheism's irresolvable problems"].  John Piippo.</ref> 
 +
[[File:113320508 2b86fdb94a.jpg|thumb|201px|right|A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that [[Atheism and irrationality|atheism is irrational]].<ref name="athdef">Multiple references:
 +
*Slick, Matt (2010).  [http://carm.org/cut-atheism "Atheism"].  Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry. 
 +
*Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"].  ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Internet Christian Library
 +
*Gilson, Tom (March 21, 2012).  [http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2012/03/21/atheists-dont-own-reason/10924 "Atheists don’t own reason"].  FaithStreet/On Faith. 
 +
*McInerny, Professor Ralph (1985).  [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html "Why the burden of proof is on the atheist"].  ''Truth Journal'', vol. 1. LeadershipU
 +
*Platinga, Alvin (1991).  [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/3truth02.html "Theism, atheism, and rationality"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 3.  LeadershipU. See [[Alvin Plantinga]].
 +
*Day, Vox (2008). [http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf ''The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens''](Dallas TX:  Benbella Books). ISBN 1933771364; ISBN 978-1933771366.</ref> In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.<ref name="inconsist">Multiple references:
 +
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4K_WZpIkM4 "William Lane Craig on scientific naturalism"] (January 12, 2008).  YouTube video, 9:55, posted by Drcraigvideos
 +
*[http://vimeo.com/102663614 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 1"] (August 5, 2014).  Vimeo video, 8:10, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
 +
*[http://vimeo.com/103277405 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism with J.P. Moreland, part 2"] (August 12, 2014).  Vimeo video, 7:43, posted by Jefferson Drexler. 
 +
*[http://vimeo.com/103865278 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 3"] (August 19, 2014).  Vimeo video, 7:21, posted by Jefferson Drexler. 
 +
*[http://vimeo.com/105068126 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 4"] (September 2, 2014).  Vimeo video, 6:40, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
 +
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6cTlDn4PiU "The incoherence of atheism - Ravi Zacharias"] (February 5, 2013).  YouTube video, 51:59, posted by Christianity Reason and Science. 
 +
*Cooper, Jordan (August 31, 2012).  [http://justandsinner.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-incoherence-of-atheism.html "The incoherence of atheism"].  Just and Sinner blog. 
 +
*Randy (November 12, 2012).  [http://ephesians4-15.blogspot.com/2012/11/more-on-inconsistent-atheists.html "More on inconsistent atheists"].  Speak the Truth in Love. 
 +
*Geisler, Norman and McCoy, Daniel J. (June 2014).  ''The Atheist's Fatal Flaw: Exposing Conflicting Beliefs'' (Ada, MI:  Baker Publishing Group).  See [[Norman Geisler]]</ref>]]
  
−
John Attarian wrote concerning the atheist Marquis de Sade: "For the Sadean egotist, then, everything is permitted. Sade incessantly rationalized the most depraved and libertine sexuality, and every crime including cannibalism and murder.<ref>[http://www.firstprinciplesjournal.com/articles.aspx?article=520 Dostoevsky vs. Marquis de Sade] by John Attarian (MA 46:4, Fall 2004) - 08/01/08</ref>}}
+
For more information, please see:
  
−
For more information, please see: [[Atheism and cannibalism]]
+
*[[Atheism and irrationality]]
 +
*[[Atheism and logic]]
 +
*[[Atheism and incoherency]]
 +
*[[Irreligion and superstition]]
 +
*[[Atheism and groupthink]]
 +
*[[Atheism and epistemology]]
 +
*[[Atheism and postmodernism]]
  
−
=== Atheism and other moral issues ===
+
=== Atheism and reason ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and reason]] and [[Atheists and unreasonableness]]
  
−
For more more information please see:  [[Atheism and morality]] and  [[Moral failures of the atheist population|List of the moral failures of the atheist population]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]]
+
If [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]] is true, then we ought not to trust our capacity for [[reason]] for the human [[brain]] would be a byproduct of blind/unintelligent natural forces.
 +
<ref name="C.S. Lewis' argument from reason">*[http://creationevolutiondesign.blogspot.com/2006/09/cs-lewis-argument-from-reason.html C.S. Lewis' argument from reason]
 +
*[http://www.evolutionnews.org/2013/11/cs_lewis_and_th079541.html C.S. Lewis and the Argument from Reason] by Jay W. Richards, November 25, 2013
 +
*[http://www.acton.org/pub/religion-liberty/volume-6-number-6/cs-lewis-and-materialism C.S. Lewis and Materialism] by John G. West
 +
*[http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=8669 C.S. Lewis On The Validity of Reasoning]
 +
*[http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2008/08/naturalisms-hot.html Naturalism's Hot Water]</ref>  Therefore, believing in naturalism is self-defeating.
  
−
[[File:Michael Nugent.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|According to atheist [[Michael Nugent]], his fellow atheist [[PZ Myers]] behaves in manner that is contrary to fostering [[social justice]] in society.<ref>*[http://www.michaelnugent.com/2014/09/19/the-lbj-legend-and-my-email-to-pz-myers/ The LBJ legend and my email to PZ Myers] by Michael Nugent on September 19, 2014
+
In short, atheism/naturalism and reason are incompatible.<ref name="C.S. Lewis' argument from reason"/>
−
*[http://www.michaelnugent.com/2015/04/07/atheist-ireland-dissociates-from-pz-myers/  
 
−
Atheist Ireland publicly dissociates itself from the harmful and hateful rhetoric of PZ Myers] by Michael Nugent, April 7, 2015</ref>]]
 
  
−
=== Atheism and hypocrisy ===
+
=== Atheism and personhood ===
  
−
''See also:'' [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
+
See: [[Atheism and personhood]]
  
−
In order to attempt to justify their atheism, atheists often engage in [[Hypocrisy|hypocritical]] argumentation.  In addition, atheists often engage in hypocritical behavior. Please see: [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
+
=== Atheism and the problem of consciousness ===
  
−
==== Atheism and social justice ====
+
See: [[Atheism and consciousness]]
  
−
See also: [[Atheism and social justice]]
+
=== Atheism and free will ===
  
−
As noted above, historically,  the [[secular left]] has been dominant within the atheist community (see: [[Atheism and politics]]).
+
See: [[Atheism and free will]]
  
−
According to leading [[Progressivism|progressive]]/leftists websites, progressive values include: freedom; opportunity; responsibility; cooperation/community; caring and responsibility, carried out with strength; protection/fairness; honesty and open communication.<ref>[http://thinkprogress.org/election/2013/03/22/1761431/what-it-means-to-be-a-progressive-a-manifesto/ What It Means To Be A Progressive: A Manifesto], Thinkprogress.org</ref><ref>[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/09/658017/-What-are-Progressive-Values What are Progressive Values], Dailykos.com</ref> These practices are often seen as being conducive to [[social justice]].
+
=== Atheism and human worth ===
  
−
The atheists population has not lived up to these standards (see: [[Atheism and social justice]]).
+
See: [[Atheism and human worth]]
  
−
=== Why atheism is irrational ===
+
=== Atheism and evidence ===
−
+
See: [[Atheism and evidence]]
−
''See also:'' [[Atheism and irrationality]] and [[Atheism and logic]] and [[Irreligion and superstition]] and [[Atheism and epistemology]]
 
  
−
A common and legitimate criticism of the [[atheist worldview]] is that [[Atheism and irrationality|atheism is irrational]]. <ref name="athdef"/> In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.<ref name="inconsist"/>  For example, the atheistic worldview cannot account for the laws of [[logic]].<ref>Multiple references:
+
=== Logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit ===
−
*Lisle, Dr. Jason (October 10, 2007).  [http://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/atheism/atheism-an-irrational-worldview/ "Atheism: An irrational worldview"]. AnswersinGenesis.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
+
List of logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit: [[Atheism and logical fallacies]]
−
*Slick, Matt (2010).  [http://carm.org/christian-worldview-atheist-worldview-and-logic "The Christian worldview, the atheist worldview, and logic"].  Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
 
−
*Petersen, Jason (2013).  [http://answersforhope.org/portfolio_item/can-atheism-coherently-explain-the-laws-of-logic/ "Can atheism coherently explain the laws of logic?"] Answers for Hope.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
 
−
*Audio of a formal 1985 debate between Christian Greg Bahnsen and skeptic Gordon Stein at the University of California, Irvine on the question "Does God exist?"  See Dr. [[Greg Bahnsen]]
 
−
**[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1hSx2evTGM "Greg Bahnsen vs. Gordon Stein:  The Great Debate (FULL)"] (May 19, 2011).  YouTube video, 2:10:44, posted by Argin Gerigorian.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.
 
−
**Andy (December 5, 2006).  [http://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2006/12/05/greg-bahnsen-vs-gordon-stein-the-great-debate/ "Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein mp3"].  The Domain for Truth.  Retrieved on October 4, 2014.</ref>
 
−
[[File:113320508 2b86fdb94a.jpg|thumb|201px|right|A common and legitimate criticism of the [[atheist worldview]] is that [[Atheism and irrationality|atheism is irrational]].<ref name="athdef">Multiple references:
 
−
*Slick, Matt (2010).  [http://carm.org/cut-atheism "Atheism"].  Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.
 
−
*Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"].  ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7.  Retrieved from Internet Christian Library on September 22, 2014.
 
−
*Gilson, Tom (March 21, 2012).  [http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2012/03/21/atheists-dont-own-reason/10924 "Atheists don’t own reason"].  FaithStreet/On Faith.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014. 
 
−
*McInerny, Professor Ralph (1985).  [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html "Why the burden of proof is on the atheist"].  ''Truth Journal'', vol. 1.  Retrieved from LeadershipU on October 3, 2014. 
 
−
*Platinga, Alvin (1991).  [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/3truth02.html "Theism, atheism, and rationality"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 3.  Retrieved from LeadershipU on October 3, 2014.  See [[Alvin Plantinga]].
 
−
*Day, Vox (2008). [http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf ''The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens''](Dallas TX:  Benbella Books). ISBN-10: 1933771364; ISBN-13: 978-1933771366.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.  Caution:  Copyrighted material.  For fair educational use only.</ref> In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.<ref name="inconsist">Multiple references:
 
−
*Grayknight (May 29, 2010).  [http://grayknight.hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Atheist-Inconsistencies "Top 10 atheist inconsistencies"].  Grayknight.hubpages.com.  Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
 
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4K_WZpIkM4 "William Lane Craig on scientific naturalism"] (January 12, 2008).  YouTube video, 9:55, posted by Drcraigvideos.  Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
 
−
*Sullivan, Dr. Scott (August 19, 2014).  [http://www.scottmsullivan.com/why-atheism-is-incoherent/ "Why atheism is incoherent"].  Podcast, 23:17.  Spiritual Combat.  Retrieved from ClassicalTheist on October 8, 2014.
 
−
*[http://vimeo.com/102663614 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 1"] (August 5, 2014).  Vimeo video, 8:10, posted by Jefferson Drexler.  Retreived on October 8, 2014.
 
−
*[http://vimeo.com/103277405 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism with J.P. Moreland, part 2"] (August 12, 2014).  Vimeo video, 7:43, posted by Jefferson Drexler.  Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
 
−
*[http://vimeo.com/103865278 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 3"] (August 19, 2014).  Vimeo video, 7:21, posted by Jefferson Drexler.  Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
 
−
*[http://vimeo.com/105068126 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 4"] (September 2, 2014).  Vimeo video, 6:40, posted by Jefferson Drexler.  Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
 
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6cTlDn4PiU "The incoherence of atheism - Ravi Zacharias"] (February 5, 2013).  YouTube video, 51:59, posted by Christianity Reason and Science.  Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
 
−
*Cooper, Jordan (August 31, 2012).  [http://justandsinner.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-incoherence-of-atheism.html "The incoherence of atheism"].  Just and Sinner blog.  Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
 
−
*Randy (November 12, 2012).  [http://ephesians4-15.blogspot.com/2012/11/more-on-inconsistent-atheists.html "More on inconsistent atheists"].  Speak the Truth in Love.  Retrieved on October 8, 2014.
 
−
*Geisler, Norman and McCoy, Daniel J. (June 2014).  ''The Atheist's Fatal Flaw: Exposing Conflicting Beliefs'' (Ada, MI:  Baker Publishing Group).  See [[Norman Geisler]]</ref>]]
 
−
The atheist worldview cannot explain the existence of [[consciousness]] either and the [[theism|theistic]] worldview can offer a reasonable explanation.<ref>Multiple references:
 
−
*Piippo, John (March 20, 2012).  [http://www.johnpiippo.com/2012/03/argument-from-consciousness-for.html "The argument from consciousness for the existence of God"].  John Piippo. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
 
−
*Piippo, John (April 14, 2014).  [http://www.johnpiippo.com/2014/04/one-of-atheisms-irresolvable-problems.html "Consciousness:  One of atheism's irresolvable problems"].  John Piippo.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref> 
 
  
−
Additionally, naturalism and reason are incompatible and believing in naturalism is therefore self-defeating. In short, if naturalism is true, then we ought not to trust our capacity for reason for the human brain would be a byproduct of blind/unintelligent natural forces.<ref>Multiple references:
+
=== Atheism and meaninglessness ===
−
*Jones, Stephen E. (September 5, 2006).  [http://creationevolutiondesign.blogspot.com/2006/09/cs-lewis-argument-from-reason.html "C.S. Lewis' argument from reason"].  Creationevolutiondesign.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and meaninglessness]] and [[Atheism and the meaning of life]] and [[Nihilism]] and [[Absurdism]] and [[Existentialism]]
−
*Richards, Jay W. (November 25, 2013).  [http://www.evolutionnews.org/2013/11/cs_lewis_and_th079541.html "C.S. Lewis and the argument from reason"].  Evolution News and Views.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
 
−
*West, John G. (November-December 1996) [http://www.acton.org/pub/religion-liberty/volume-6-number-6/cs-lewis-and-materialism "C.S. Lewis and materialism"].  ''Religion and Liberty'', vol. 6, no. 6.  Retrieved from ActonInstitute website on October 6, 2014.
 
−
*Briggs, Matt (July 30, 2013).  [http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=8669 "C.S. Lewis on the validity of reasoning"].  William M. Briggs [blog].  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
 
−
*Chad (April 9, 2012).  [http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2012/04/cs-lewis-on-rationality-and-materialism.html "C.S. Lewis on rationality and materialism"].  Truthbomb Apologetics.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref>
 
  
−
For more information, please see:
+
Under an atheistic worldview, there is no objective meaning or purpose in life.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Anderson, James (July 16, 2013).  [http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/can-life-have-meaning-without-god "Can life have meaning without God?"] The Gospel Coalition.  "Atheism’s universe is meaningless and valueless". J.W. Wartick—"Always Have a Reason" [blog
 +
*Galloway, Katie (December 23, 2013).  [http://www.bethinking.org/atheism/reclaiming-reason-from-atheism "Reclaiming reason from atheism".]  Bethinking.  ["Why atheism?"]
 +
*Sirrahc (April 19, 2012).  [http://aviewfromtheright.com/2012/04/19/heat-death-and-atheist-inconsistency-or-isnt-it-ironic/ "Heat death and atheist inconsistency (or, isn’t it ironic?)"].  A View from the Right
 +
*Shramek, Dustin (2009).  [http://www.oocities.org/athens/delphi/8449/atheism.html "Atheism and death: Why the atheist must face death with despair"].  Contend for the Faith [archive].  Archive
 +
*Brake, Aaron (2013).  [http://pleaseconvinceme.com/2013/apathy-atheism-and-the-absurdity-of-life-without-god/ "Apathy, atheism, and the absurdity of life without God"].  Pleaseconvinceme. 
 +
*Prayson, Daniel (December 16, 2010).  [http://withalliamgod.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/the-meaningless-life-of-atheism/ "The meaningless life of atheism"].  With All I Am.</ref>  Through [[Jesus Christ]], Christianity offers objective meaning and purpose to life.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Slick, Matt (2012).  [http://carm.org/meaning-of-life "What does the Bible say about the meaning/purpose of life?"].  Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website
 +
*[Under a Christian worldview] [http://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_MeaningLife.htm "What is the purpose and meaning of life?"] (2009).  Christian Bible Reference Site.</ref>
  
−
*[[Atheism and irrationality]]
+
For more information, please see: [[Atheism and meaninglessness]] and [[Atheism and the meaning of life]]
  
−
*[[Atheism and logic]]
+
=== Atheists/agnostics and ultimate purpose ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and purpose]] and [[Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism]] and [[Atheism and beliefs]]
  
−
*[[Atheism and reason]]
+
One of the most popular arguments for God's existence is the [[teleological argument]]. Derived from the Greek word ''telos'', which refers to purpose or end, this argument hinges on the idea that the world gives evidence of being designed, and concludes that a divine designer must be posited to account for the orderly world we encounter.
  
−
*[[Irreligion and superstition]]
+
Academic research and historical data indicate that a significant portion of atheists/agnostics often see their lives and the world as being the product of purposeful design (see: [[Atheism and purpose]]).<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Banerjee, Konika and Bloom, Paul (October 17, 2014).  [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html "Does everything happen for a reason?"]  The New York Times website
 +
*Catchpoole, David (July 16, 2009 [GMT+10]).  [https://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed "Children see the world as designed"].  Creation.com.  See [[Creation Ministries International]].
 +
*Atheist [[Jean-Paul Sartre]] made the candid confession: "As for me, I don’t see myself as so much dust that has appeared in the world but as a being that was expected, prefigured, called forth. In short, as a being that could, it seems, come only from a creator; and this idea of a creating hand that created me refers me back to God. Naturally this is not a clear, exact idea that I set in motion every time I think of myself. It contradicts many of my other ideas; but it is there, floating vaguely. And when I think of myself I often think rather in this way, for want of being able to think otherwise." Source: Turner, Dean (1991). [https://books.google.com/books?id=BGU7LZ2bQ4cC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=As+for+me,+I+don%E2%80%99t+see+myself+as+so+much+dust+that+has+appeared+in+the+world+but+as+a+being+that+was+expected,+prefigured,+called+forth.+In+short,+as+a+being+that+could,+it+seems,+come+only+from+a+creator;+and+this+idea+of+a+creating+hand+that+created+me+refers+me+back+to+God.&source=bl&ots=die9xMUdsB&sig=3dAJOK34aBalYieFKcJLdGpwFjY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NXhqVMSmHMexyASUyYKIBw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=As%20for%20me%2C%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20see%20myself%20as%20so%20much%20dust%20that%20has%20appeared%20in%20the%20world%20but%20as%20a%20being%20that%20was%20expected%2C%20prefigured%2C%20called%20forth.%20In%20short%2C%20as%20a%20being%20that%20could%2C%20it%20seems%2C%20come%20only%20from%20a%20creator%3B%20and%20this%20idea%20of%20a%20creating%20hand%20that%20created%20me%20refers%20me%20back%20to%20God.&f=false ''Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility''] (Pasadena, California:  Hope Publishing House), p. 109. GoogleBooks archive.
 +
*The ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' declares about the agnostic/[[weak atheism|weak atheist]] Charles Darwin: "In 1885, the Duke of Argyll recounted a conversation he had had with Charles Darwin the year before Darwin's death: 'In the course of that conversation I said to Mr. Darwin, with reference to some of his own remarkable works on the Fertilization of [[Orchid]]s, and upon The [[Earthworm]]s, and various other observations he made of the wonderful contrivances for certain purposes in nature — I said it was impossible to look at these without seeing that they were the effect and the expression of Mind. I shall never forget Mr. Darwin's answer. He looked at me very hard and said, "Well, that often comes over me with overwhelming force; but at other times," and he shook his head vaguely, adding, "it seems to go away."' (Argyll 1885, 244)"
 +
**[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html "Notes to 'Teleological arguments for God's existence'"] [article revised removing reference in January 2015].
 +
**The Duke of Argyll (1885).  [https://books.google.com/books?id=CskhAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22good+words%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fs24VKGOMpDnsATg_4HYDQ&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22it%20seems%20to%20go%20away%22&f=false "What is science?"]  ''Good Words'' [United Kingdom], vol. 26, p. 244. GoogleBooks archive
 +
</ref>
  
−
*[[Atheism and epistemology]]
+
See also:
  
−
=== Logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit ===
+
*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
−
 
 
−
List of logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit: [[Atheism and logical fallacies]]
 
−
 
 
−
=== Atheism and meaninglessness ===
 
−
 
 
−
''See also:'' [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]
 
  
−
Under an atheistic worldview, there is no objective meaning or purpose in life.<ref>Multiple references:
+
=== Atheism and evil/suffering ===
−
*Anderson, James (July 16, 2013).  [http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/can-life-have-meaning-without-god "Can life have meaning without God?"] The Gospel Coalition.  Retrieved on October 4, 2014.
 
−
*Wartick, J. W. (January 3, 2011).  [http://jwwartick.com/2011/01/03/atheism-meaningless/ "Atheism’s universe is meaningless and valueless"]. J.W. Wartick—"Always Have a Reason" [blog].  Retrieved on October 4, 2014.
 
−
*Galloway, Katie (December 23, 2013).  [http://www.bethinking.org/atheism/reclaiming-reason-from-atheism "Reclaiming reason from atheism".]  Bethinking.  Retrieved on October 4, 2014.  ["Why atheism?"]
 
−
*Sirrahc (April 19, 2012).  [http://aviewfromtheright.com/2012/04/19/heat-death-and-atheist-inconsistency-or-isnt-it-ironic/ "Heat death and atheist inconsistency (or, isn’t it ironic?)"].  A View from the Right.  Retrieved on October 5, 2014.
 
−
*Shramek, Dustin (2009).  [http://www.oocities.org/athens/delphi/8449/atheism.html "Atheism and death: Why the atheist must face death with despair"].  Contend for the Faith [archive].  Archive retrieved on October 5, 2014.
 
−
*Brake, Aaron (2013).  [http://pleaseconvinceme.com/2013/apathy-atheism-and-the-absurdity-of-life-without-god/ "Apathy, atheism, and the absurdity of life without God"].  Pleaseconvinceme.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
 
−
*Prayson, Daniel (December 16, 2010).  [http://withalliamgod.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/the-meaningless-life-of-atheism/ "The meaningless life of atheism"].  With All I Am.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref>  Through [[Jesus Christ]], [[Christianity]] offers objective meaning and purpose to life.<ref>Multiple references:
 
−
*Slick, Matt (2012).  [http://carm.org/meaning-of-life "What does the Bible say about the meaning/purpose of life?"].  Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website.  Retrieved on October 4, 2014.
 
−
*[Under a Christian worldview] [http://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_MeaningLife.htm "What is the purpose and meaning of life?"] (2009).  Christian Bible Reference Site.  Retrieved on October 4, 2014.</ref>
 
  
−
For more information, please see: [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]
+
*[[Atheism and the Problem of Evil|Atheism and the problem of evil]]
  
 +
*[[Atheism and suffering]]
 
=== Arrogance of atheism/atheists ===
 
=== Arrogance of atheism/atheists ===
−
 
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and arrogance]] and [[Atheism and narcissism]] and [[Atheism and deception]]  
−
''See also:'' [[Atheism and arrogance]] and [[Atheism and deception]] and [[Atheism and the suppression of science]]
 
−
[[Image:Cherry Blossom Japan.jpg|thumb|250px|Even in atheistic [[Japan]], researchers found that Japanese children see the world [[Intelligent design|as designed]].<ref>Catchpoole, David (July 16, 2009 [GMT+10]).  [http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed "Children see the world as designed"].  Creation.com.  Retrieved on January 3, 2015.  See [[Creation Ministries International]].</ref>]]
 
  
 
One of the common and well-founded charges against atheists is their arrogance and presumptuousness.<ref>Multiple references:
 
One of the common and well-founded charges against atheists is their arrogance and presumptuousness.<ref>Multiple references:
−
*Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"].  ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7.  Retrieved from Internet Christian Library on September 22, 2014.
+
*Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"].  ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7.  Internet Christian Library  
−
*Copan, Paul (April 6, 2009).  [http://www.equip.org/articles/the-presumptuousness-of-atheism/ "The presumptuousness of atheism"].  Christian Research Institute.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.
+
*Copan, Paul (April 6, 2009).  [http://www.equip.org/articles/the-presumptuousness-of-atheism/ "The presumptuousness of atheism"].  Christian Research Institute.  
−
*Cupp, S. E. (December 29, 2010).  [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/arrogance-atheists-batter-believers-religion-smug-certainty-article-1.469613 "The arrogance of the atheists: They batter believers in religion with smug certainty"].  ''New York Daily News''. Retrieved on October 3, 2014.  See atheist commentator [[S.E. Cupp]]
+
*Cupp, S. E. (December 29, 2010).  [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/arrogance-atheists-batter-believers-religion-smug-certainty-article-1.469613 "The arrogance of the atheists: They batter believers in religion with smug certainty"].  ''New York Daily News''.   See atheist commentator [[S.E. Cupp]]
−
*O'Neill, Brendan (August 14, 2013).  [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100230985/how-atheists-became-the-most-colossally-smug-and-annoying-people-on-the-planet/ "How atheists became the most colossally smug and annoying people on the planet"].  The Telegraph website/Brendan O'Neill [blog].  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.  [atheist author]   
+
*O'Neill, Brendan (August 14, 2013).  [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100230985/how-atheists-became-the-most-colossally-smug-and-annoying-people-on-the-planet/ "How atheists became the most colossally smug and annoying people on the planet"].  The Telegraph website/Brendan O'Neill [blog].  [atheist author]   
−
*Delzell, Dan (October 17, 2011).  [http://www.christianpost.com/news/how-anger-fuels-atheistic-arrogance-58281/ "How anger fuels atheistic arrogance"].  Christian Post website.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.
+
*Delzell, Dan (October 17, 2011).  [http://www.christianpost.com/news/how-anger-fuels-atheistic-arrogance-58281/ "How anger fuels atheistic arrogance"].  Christian Post website.  
−
*[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/atheist_arrogance.htm "Militant atheist arrogance and pride"] (2007).  Militant Atheism Exposed.  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.</ref>
+
*[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/atheist_arrogance.htm "Militant atheist arrogance and pride"] (2007).  Militant Atheism Exposed.</ref>
  
 
==== Why atheism is an arrogant ideology  ====
 
==== Why atheism is an arrogant ideology  ====
 +
''See also:'' [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Arguments against atheism]] and [[Atheism and arrogance]]
 +
[[File:Old Nietzsche, 1899.JPG|thumbnail|220px|right|[[Friedrich Nietzsche]] wrote: "But now God is dead. You superior men, this God was your greatest danger. Only since he is in the grave, have you risen again. Only now comes the great noontide; only now the superior man will be – Lord!".<ref>[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/atheist_arrogance.htm Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, In Michael Curtis (Ed.) The Great Political Theories, Vol. 2 (New York: Avon Books, 1962, PP. 261-262). Cited in, Christopher, J.R., G.G, Wittet, Modern Western Civilization. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1991, Pages 232, 233]</ref>
 +
<br /><br />
  
−
''See also:'' [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Arguments against atheism]] and [[Atheism and arrogance]]
 
  
−
Atheists [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism|lack proof and evidence]] that God does not exist and ignore the [[Christian apologetics websites|clear and abundant proof and evidence]] that He does exist.  The philosopher [[Mortimer Adler]] pointed out that atheism asserts an unreasonable [[Universal negative|universal negative]] that is self-defeating.<ref name="defensive">Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"].  ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7.  Retrieved from Internet Christian Library on September 22, 2014.</ref> 
 
  
−
Contrary to the mistaken notion of individuals who are inexperienced in [[logic]]/[[philosophy]], there are plenty of cases where universal negatives [[Universal negative|can be proven]].<ref>Ferguson, Shawn (August 14, 2014).  [http://blog.faithbeyondbelief.ca/2014/08/the-universal-negative-can-it-be-proven.html "The universal negative: Can it be proven?"]  Faith Beyond Belief.  Retrieved on September 22, 2014.</ref>  However, atheists' universal negative claim that God does not exist is not a reasonable universal negative claim.<ref name="defensive"/>
 
  
−
Given their limited understanding of the vast expanse of the universe/reality, atheists unconvincing pretend to have godlike powers when they claim to know God does not exist.<ref name="defensive"/>
 
  
−
As noted above, the popular YouTube Christian [[Shockofgod]] created an uproar when he asked the atheist community the question, "What proof and evidence do you have that atheism is accurate and correct?"<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0 "The question that is causing atheists to abandon atheism"] (August 6, 2010).  YouTube video, 14:54, posted by shockofgod. Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref>  See also: [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism]]
+
The picture of Nietzsche above was taken in 1899. Nietzsche died in 1900. See: [[Atheism and arrogance]] ]]
 +
Atheists [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism|lack proof and evidence]] that God does not exist and ignore the [[Christian apologetics websites|clear and abundant proof and evidence]] that He does exist.  The philosopher [[Mortimer Adler]] pointed out that atheism asserts an unreasonable [[universal negative]] that is self-defeating.<ref name="defensive">Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"].  ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Internet Christian Library</ref>   
  
−
==== Study relating the arrogance of New Atheists and discovery of errors by New Atheists ====
+
Contrary to the mistaken notion of individuals who are inexperienced in [[logic]]/philosophy, there are plenty of cases where universal negatives [[Universal negative|can be proven]].<ref>[https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writings/question-answer/must-the-atheist-be-omniscient/ Must the Atheist Be Omniscient?] by Dr. William Lane Craig</ref>  However, atheists' universal negative claim that God does not exist is not a reasonable universal negative claim.<ref name="defensive"/>
  
−
Using special text analysis software, the social psychologist Jonathan Haidt found that [[New Atheism|New Atheists]] very often wrote in dogmatic terms in their major works using words such as “always,” “never,” “certainly,” “every,” and “undeniable.”<ref name="JHaidt">Haidt, Jonathan (March 5, 2014). [http://www.thisviewoflife.com/index.php/magazine/articles/why-sam-harris-is-unlikely-to-change-his-mind10 "Why Sam Harris is unlikely to change his mind"].  This View of Life.  Retrieved on September 22, 2014.</ref>  Of the 75,000 words in [[Sam Harris]]'s ''The End of Faith'', 2.24% of them connote or are associated with certainty.<ref name="JHaidt"/>  And sadly, the works of New Atheists often betray an amateurish knowledge of philosophy/religion. For example, atheist philosopher Dr. [[Michael Ruse]] declared concerning [[Richard Dawkins]]' book ''The God Delusion'': "''The God Delusion'' makes me embarrassed to be an atheist."<ref>McGrath, Alister (January 25, 2007).  [http://www.alternet.org/media/47052?page=entire "The Dawkins delusion"].  AlterNet.  Retrieved on September 22, 2014.</ref> [[Vox Day]]'s book ''[http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf The Irrational atheist]'' found multiple errors in reasoning and factual errors when it came to the works of New Atheist authors.<ref>Cosner, Lisa (December 2008).  [http://creation.com/review-irrational-atheist-by-vox-day "Excellent refutation of ‘new atheists’ flawed by heterodox open theism"].  Review of Day, Vox (2008), ''The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens'' (Dallas TX:  Benbella Books).  ''Journal of Creation'', vol. 22, no. 3, pp. 28-31.  Retrieved from Creation.com on September 22, 2014.</ref> See also: [[Richard Dawkins and pseudoscience]]
+
Atheists have also given themselves pretentious monikers such as [[freethinker]], rationalist and "bright". See also: [[Brights Movement]] and [[Atheism and intelligence]]
  
−
==== Militant atheism, arrogance and religious freedom ====
+
In addition, historically militant atheists have commonly endeavored to limit the religious freedom of others while imposing their errant, atheistic ideology on others. See also: [[Atheism and intolerance]]
  
−
In addition, historically [[militant atheism|militant atheists]] have commonly endeavored to limit the religious freedom of others while imposing their errant, atheistic ideology on others. See also: [[Atheism and intolerance]]
+
==== Atheists and lack of open-mindedness ====
  
−
==== Pretentious monikers ====
+
Research indicates that atheists are less open-minded (see: [[Atheism and open-mindedness]]).
  
−
Atheists have also given themselves pretentious monikers such as freethinker, rationalist and "bright". See also: [[Brights Movement]] and [[Atheism and intelligence]] and [[Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences]]
+
See:
  
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==== Other instances of the arrogance of atheists ====
+
*[[Atheism and open-mindedness]]
  
−
For more instances of the arrogance of atheists, please see: [[Atheism and arrogance]]
+
*[[Atheism and dogmatism]]
  
−
[[File:Angry atheist.jpg|thumbnail|right|325px|An angry atheist speaking to a woman with a Bible in her hand.
+
*[[New Atheism, dogmatism and Jonathon Haidt's study]]
−
<br />
 
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<br />
 
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<small>Photo obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Anger#mediaviewer/File:Anger_during_a_protest_by_David_Shankbone.jpg Wikimedia Commons], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ license agreement]</small>]]
 
  
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=== Angry and bitter demeanor of militant atheists and anti-theists ===
+
== Atheism and religion ==
 +
=== Atheism is a religion ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism is a religion]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
 +
[[File:Sanderson Jones.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The [[British atheism|British atheist]] Sanderson Jones is a founder of the [[Sunday Assembly]] "atheist church" movement.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/atheist-church-split_n_4550456.html Atheist Church Split: Sunday Assembly And Godless Revival's 'Denominational Chasm'], Huffington Post, 2014</ref>]]
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and  [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]]
+
See: [[Atheism is a religion]]
  
−
On January 1, 2011, [[CNN]] reported:
+
[[Atheism is a religion]].<ref name="Atheismisareligion">Multiple references:
−
{{cquote|People unaffiliated with organized religion, atheists and agnostics also report anger toward God either in the past, or anger focused on a hypothetical image - that is, what they imagined God might be like - said lead study author Julie Exline, Case Western Reserve University psychologist.
+
*[https://creation.com/atheism-a-religion Is Atheism a religion?] by Daniel Smartt, Published: 4 May 2010(GMT+10)
 +
*Hodge, Bodie; Patterson, Roger (2016). ''[https://assets.answersingenesis.org/doc/prod/etc/sample/10-2-476_sample.pdf ''World Religions and Cults Vol. 3'']. Master Books. 29–44. ISBN: 978-0-89051-970-7.
 +
*Hodge, Bodie; Ham, Ken (February 20, 2017). [https://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/atheism/atheism-is-religion/ Atheism Is Religion]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved March 27, 2018.</ref>  And many of the leaders of the atheist movement, such as the evolutionist and [[New Atheism|new atheist]]/agnostic Richard Dawkins, argue for agnosticism/atheism with a religious fervor.
 +
 +
In addition, although many atheists deny that atheism is a worldview, atheists commonly share a [[Atheism and beliefs|number of beliefs]] such as [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]], belief in evolution and [[Origin of life|abiogenesis]].<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Slick, Matt (October 2011).  [http://carm.org/atheism-worldview "Is atheism a worldview?"]  Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website.  See [[CARM]]
 +
*Hearn, Brian F. (December 31, 2009).  [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-a-worldview.aspx "Atheism a worldview?"]  Apologetics.net.
 +
*Hearn, Brian F. (May 2, 2012).  [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-is-a-worldview-%28II%29.aspx "Atheism is a worldview II"].  Apologetics.net.
 +
*Bannister, Andy (October 14, 2013).  [http://www.rzim.eu/the-scandanavian-sceptic-or-why-atheism-is-a-belief-system "The Scandanavian sceptic (or why atheism is a belief system)"].  Ravi Zacharias International Ministries website. See [[Ravi Zacharias]]</ref> 
  
−
In studies on college students, atheists and agnostics reported more anger at God during their lifetimes than believers.<ref>Landau, Elizabeth (January 1, 2011).  [http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/01/anger-at-god-common-even-among-atheists/ "Anger at God common, even among atheists"].  CNN/The Chart website. Retrieved on September 23, 2014.</ref>}}
+
Roderick Ninian Smart, a Scottish writer and professor, defined a seven-part scheme of understanding both religious and secular worldviews<ref>Smart, Ninian (1996).  [https://books.google.com/books?id=14j2UrLCi64C&pg=PA130&lpg=PA130&dq=ninian+smart+narrative&source=bl&ots=Hq3WwG_mVT&sig=j-8FpwSdqohURYodSdcl46erSJY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FgybT6zxIc-_gAe864X6Dg&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=ninian%20smart%20narrative&f=false ''Dimensions of the Sacred'' [preview&#93;] (Oakland, CA: University of California Press).  Preview: GoogleBooks</ref> These can be understood as narrative, experiential, social, ethical, doctrinal, ritual and material.
  
−
Various studies found that traumatic events in people's lives has a positive correlation with "emotional atheism".<ref>Carter, Joe (January 12, 2011). [http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2011/01/when-atheists-are-angry-at-god "When atheists are angry at God"].  First Things [The Institute on Religion and Public Life] website.  Retrieved on September 23, 2014.</ref>
+
English Pastor Daniel Smartt defines atheism as a religion, using Ninian Smart's seven dimensions of worldview as a list of criteria. It is not necessary in Smartt's model for every one of these to be present in order for something to be a religion.<ref>Smartt, Daniel (November 6, 2008). [https://archive.is/L3cY5 "Atheism religion naturalism morally relative"]. Archive of SpiritualLiving360°.</ref> However, it can be argued that all seven are present in the case of atheism.<ref name="Atheismisareligion"/>
 +
<ref>*Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009).  [https://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"].  Creation Ministries International.</ref>
  
−
The atheist and [[lesbianism|lesbian]] [[Greta Christina]] told the journalist Chris Mooney on the Point of Inquiry podcast, "there isn't one emotion" that affects atheists "but anger is one of the emotions that many of us have ...[it] drives others to participate in the movement."<ref>Mooney, Chris (May 14, 2012).  [http://www.pointofinquiry.org/greta_christina_why_are_you_atheists_so_angry/ "Greta Christina—Why are you atheists so angry?"] [interview of Greta Christina] Point of Inquiry website.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref>
+
In 2013, a trend of atheist services began and atheist services were reported in the ''[[New York Times]]'', ''[[The Blaze]]'' and other major news outlets.<ref>Multiple references:
−
[[File:G. Christina.jpg|thumbnail|left|230px|Picture of [[Greta Christina]] in 2010.
+
*Thier, Dave (June 23, 2013).  [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/us/in-the-bible-belt-offering-atheists-a-spiritual-home.html?_r=0 "In the Bible belt offering atheists a spiritual home"].  Nytimes.com
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<br />
+
*Hallowell, Billy (April 17, 2013). [https://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/17/atheist-sunday-morning-worship-services-are-on-the-rise/ "Bizarre trend: atheist Sunday morning ‘worship’ services are on the rise (minus God, of course)"]  TheBlaze.
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<br />
+
*Ortberg, Mallory (January 5, 2013).  [http://gawker.com/5973377/londons-first-atheist-church-opens-tomorrow "London's first atheist church opens tomorrow".]  Gawker.</ref>
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<small>(photo from [https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgipps/4988339630/in/photolist-2rDM3o-bt3Ftm-bFXxr4-5nz1zL-7fobnw-7fobys-7fjigk-7fjiwX-7fobh5-5T99Aj-5T4L6K-5T98K1-5T96wf-5T4NZF-7e8Beb-7c7bCe-7e8zi9-7caZdy-8ANxzG-7e8xjS-8AKsPT-68xpDc-68xpDt-6rdw8-bHrFL6-bHrFKZ-fznm8w-eUwdEY-bqezJr-e3JzYN-fQtemN-axf5DW-dQotEq-7agx5n-okT16-MvRwB-8ANxss-8ANxSw-8UMG16-9LdtG8-bnvf16-adV2DK-bG97z6-bG97fc-bG96TK-btehjh-82T2J-oAdNG-2VKxNd-2uHoFH Flickr], see: [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/ license agreement])</small>]]
 
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[[Vox Day]] declared:
 
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{{cquote|...the age at which most people become atheists indicates that it is almost never an intellectual decision, but an emotional one.<ref>Day, Vox (January 11, 2011).  [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2011/01/answering-atheists-question.html "Answering an atheist's question"].  Vox Popoli. Retrieved on September 22, 2014.</ref>}}
 
  
−
Social science research indicates that anti-theists score the highest among atheists when it comes to personality traits such as [[narcissism]], dogmatism, and anger.<ref>Multiple references:
+
See also:  
−
*[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/science-shows-new-atheists-to-be-mean-and-closed-minded/ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded"] (July 18, 2013).  Shadow to Light [blog].
 
−
*Haidt, Jonathan (March 5, 2014).  [http://www.thisviewoflife.com/index.php/magazine/articles/why-sam-harris-is-unlikely-to-change-his-mind10 "Why Sam Harris is unlikely to change his mind"].  This View of Life website.</ref>  Furthermore, they scored lowest when it comes to agreeableness and positive relations with others.<ref>[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/science-shows-new-atheists-to-be-mean-and-closed-minded/ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded"] (July 18, 2013).  Shadow to Light [blog].</ref>
 
  
−
Although anti-theists, militant atheists and [[New Atheism|New Atheists]] give the general public the perception that atheists are exceedingly angry individuals, research indicates that the atheist population as a whole is not angrier than the general population (see: [[Various types of atheists/non-believers and anger]]).
+
*[[Atheism is a religion]]
 +
*[[Atheist indoctrination]]
 +
*[[Atheist cults]]
  
−
[[Jesus Christ]] and [[Christianity|Christendom]] have emphasized the important of forgiveness and in the last few decades mental health specialists have increasingly seen the importance of forgiveness to alleviate anger and other emotional problems within individuals.<ref>Gangdev, Prakash (April-June 2009).  [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2755173/ "Forgiveness: A note for psychiatrists"].  ''Indian Journal of Psychiatry'', vol 51, no. 2, pp. 153–156.  Retrieved from National Institutes of Health website/U.S. National Library of Medicine/National Center for Biotechnology Information/PubMed Central.</ref>
+
=== Atheist cults ===
 +
See: [[Atheist cults]]
  
−
For more information please see: [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and  [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]]
+
[[File:2384975035 230a0eac30.jpg|thumb|right|170px|The [[Wall Street Journal]] reported: "A comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows ...that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to [[superstition]], tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians."<ref name="online.wsj.com">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>]]
  
−
===Atheism and miracles===
+
=== Atheism and spirituality ===
−
[[Image:Billcraig_czvx.jpg‎‎|thumb|150px|Dr. [[William Lane Craig]] ]]
+
*[[Atheism and spirituality]]
−
:''See main article: [[Atheism and Miracles]]''
 
−
In relation to [[Atheism and Miracles|atheism and miracles]], modern scholars are divided on the issue of whether or not [[David Hume]] was an atheist.<ref>Russell, Paul (February 11, 2013). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-religion/#10 "Hume on religion"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). Retrieved July 20, 2014.
 
−
</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>Multiple references:
 
−
*Lennox, John (2009).  [http://www.bethinking.org/are-miracles-possible/the-question-of-miracles-the-contemporary-influence-of-hume "The question of miracles: the contemporary influence of Hume"].  BeThinking.  Retrieved on July 21, 2014.
 
−
*Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986).  [http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html "The problem of miracles: a historical and philosophical perspective"].  ''Gospel Perspectives'', vol 6, ed. by David Wenham and Craig Blomberg (Sheffield, England: JSOT Press), pp. 9-40.  Retrieved from LeadershipU on July 20, 2014.</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>Multiple references:
 
−
*Lennox, John (2009).  [http://www.bethinking.org/are-miracles-possible/the-question-of-miracles-the-contemporary-influence-of-hume "The question of miracles: the contemporary influence of Hume"].  BeThinking.  Retrieved on July 21, 2014.
 
−
*Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986).  [http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html "The problem of miracles: a historical and philosophical perspective"].  ''Gospel Perspectives'', vol 6, ed. by David Wenham and Craig Blomberg (Sheffield, England: JSOT Press), pp. 9-40.  Retrieved from LeadershipU on July 20, 2014.
 
−
*Hoffman, Paul K. (Spring 1999).  [http://www.galaxie.com/article/caj02-1-03?highlight=hoffmanA "A jurisprudential analysis of Hume’s ‘in principal’ argument against miracles" [excerpt&#93;].  ''Christian Apologetics Journal'', 2:1, p. 2.  Retrieved from Galaxie Software on July 21, 2014.  Subscription required for full article.
 
−
*Geisler, Professor Norman (1985).  [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth19.html "Miracles and modern scientific thought"].  ''Truth Journal'', vol. 1.  Retrieved from LeadershipU on July 21, 2014.
 
−
*Lewis, C. S. (1960).  [http://books.google.com/books/about/Miracles.html?id=tH8di3qQDhEC ''Miracles''] (New York:  HarperCollins).  Abstract retrieved from Google Books on July 20, 2014.
 
−
*Holding, J. P. [http://www.tektonics.org/gk/hume01.html "David Hume: a critique"].  Tekton Apologetics.  Retrieved on July 21, 2014.
 
−
*Esposito, Lenny (2002).  [http://www.comereason.org/phil_qstn/phi060.asp "Are miracles logically impossible?"]  Come Reason Ministries.  Retrieved July 21, 2014.</ref>
 
  
−
The ''Christian Post'' reporter Stoyan Zaimov wrote:
+
=== Irreligion and superstition ===
−
{{cquote|Double-blind prayer experiments: where people pray for others with terminal illness. [[Gary Habermas|Habermas]] admitted that most such experiments have not worked, but the three that he knows of that have indeed worked were cases of orthodox-Christians praying for the sick.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-apologist-10-reasons-for-the-fall-of-atheism-106531/ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism] by Stoyan Zaimov,'' Christian Post'', October 14, 2013</ref>}}
+
''See also:'' [[Irreligion and superstition]]
  
−
===Atheism and questions of origins===
+
In September 2008, the [[Wall Street Journal]] reported:
 +
{{cquote|The reality is that the New Atheist campaign, by discouraging [[religion]], won't create a new group of intelligent, skeptical, enlightened beings. Far from it: It might actually encourage new levels of mass [[superstition]]. And that's not a conclusion to take on faith—it's what the empirical data tell us.
  
−
:''See articles: [[Atheism and Evolution]]'' and [[Evolution as a secular origins myth]]
+
"What Americans Really Believe," a comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows that [[Conservative Christianity|traditional Christian religion]] greatly decreases belief in everything from the efficacy of palm readers to the usefulness of [[astrology]]. It also shows that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to superstition, tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians...."<ref name="paranormal">Hemingway, Molly Ziegler (September 19, 2008). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html "Look who's irrational now"].  The Wall Street Journal website.</ref>}}
−
[[Creationism|Creationist]] scientists state that the [[First Law of Thermodynamics|first law of thermodynamics]] and the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics|second law of thermodynamics]] argue against an eternal universe or a universe created by natural processes and argue for a universe created by [[God]].<ref>Multiple references:
+
[[File:Loc of United States.png|thumbnail|175px|right|According to Pew Forum, [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Protestant]] churches in America grew by 2 million from 2007 to 2014.<ref>[https://www.wnd.com/2015/05/why-conservative-churches-are-still-growing/ Why conservative churches are still growing]</ref> See: [[Atheism vs. Christianity]] ]]
−
*Hergenrather, John (2004). [http://www.creationencounter.com/space/lawsofscience.php "Evidences for God from space:  can laws of science explain the origin of the universe?"]  Creation Encounter.  Retrieved on July 21, 2014.
 
−
*Thompson, Bert (2003).  [http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=12&article=310 "So long, eternal universe; 'Hello beginning, hello end!'"]  Apologetics Press.  Retrieved on July 21, 2014.
 
−
*Brown, Dr. Walt (2008). [http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/AstroPhysicalSciences14.html "Chapter 2: astronomical and physical sciences", p. 53.] ''In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood'', 8th ed.  Retrieved on July 23, 2014 from The Center for Scientific Creation.</ref> A majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the evolutionary position which employs [[methodological naturalism]] since [[World War II]] have had the worldview of atheism.<ref name="Batten and Sarfati"/>  [[Creation science|Creation scientists]] assert that the theory of [[Evolution|evolution]] is an inadequate explanation for the variety of life forms on earth.<ref>Morris, Henry M., PhD. (January 2001). [http://www.icr.org/home/resources/resources_tracts_scientificcaseagainstevolution/ "The scientific case against evolution"].  Institute for Creation Research. Retrieved on July 23, 2014. </ref> In addition, the current [[origin of life|naturalistic explanations for the origin of life are inadequate]].  The theory of evolution [[Social effects of the theory of evolution|has had a number of negative social effects]].
 
  
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=== Atheists and the history of Christianity/atheism ===
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=== Atheism and the occult ===
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheists and historical illiteracy]] and [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]] and [[Atheist indoctrination]]
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See: [[Atheism and the occult]]
  
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A common complaint concerning many atheists is their lack of depth when it comes to knowledge of [[history]] and [[historiography]] - particularly in areas such as [[historicity of Jesus|historicity of Jesus Christ]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|atheist mass murders in history]].<ref>Multiple references:
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=== Atheism vs. Abrahamic religions and religion ===
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*Day, Vox (March 10, 2014).  [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-ignorance-of-cosmos.html "The ignorance of ''Cosmos''"].  Vox Populi blog.  Retrieved on January 14, 2015.  See [[Vox Day]].
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*[[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
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*Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). [http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527 "The real murderers:  atheism or Christianity?"] Stand to Reason.  Retrieved July 19, 2014.</ref>
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*[[Atheism vs. religion]]
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For more information, please see: [[Atheists and historical illiteracy]]
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*[[Atheism vs. Judaism]]
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*[[Atheism vs. theism]]
  
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==Atheism and mental and physical health==
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=== Atheism vs. Islam ===
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:''See main article: [[Atheism vs. Islam]]''
  
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:''See also:'' [[Atheism and health]] and [[Atheism and obesity]] and [[Atheism and alcoholism]]
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=== Atheism and miracles ===
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:''See main article: [[Atheism and Miracles]]''
  
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The is considerable amount of [[science|scientific]] evidence that suggest that theism is more conducive to mental and physical health than atheism and some of the more significant findings are given below <ref>Multiple references:
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In relation to [[Atheism and Miracles|atheism and miracles]], modern scholars are divided on the issue of whether or not [[David Hume]] was an atheist.<ref>Russell, Paul (February 11, 2013). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-religion/#10 "Hume on religion"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).  
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*Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). [http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2811%2962799-7/fulltext "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice"]. ''Mayo Clinic Proceedings'' vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic Proceedings website on July 20, 2014.
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</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>Multiple references:
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*[http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/index.php/research/research-library "Research library"].  Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health.  Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
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*Lennox, John (2009).  [http://www.bethinking.org/are-miracles-possible/the-question-of-miracles-the-contemporary-influence-of-hume "The question of miracles: the contemporary influence of Hume"].  BeThinking.  
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*McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000).  [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf "Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review"].  ''Health Psychology''. vol. 19:3. pp. 211-222.  Retrieved from University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website on July 24, 2014.
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*Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986).  [http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html "The problem of miracles: a historical and philosophical perspective"].  ''Gospel Perspectives'', vol 6, ed. by David Wenham and Craig Blomberg (Sheffield, England: JSOT Press), pp. 9-40.  LeadershipU</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>Multiple references:
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*Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009).  [http://www.ionainstitute.ie/pdfs/Religion-Exec_summary.pdf "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary&#93;].  Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website.  Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
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*Lennox, John (2009).  [http://www.bethinking.org/are-miracles-possible/the-question-of-miracles-the-contemporary-influence-of-hume "The question of miracles: the contemporary influence of Hume"].  BeThinking.   
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*McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (2009).  [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications"]. ''Psychological Bulletin'', vol. 135: 1, pp. 69–93.  Retrieved from University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website on July 24, 2014.
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*Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986).  [http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html "The problem of miracles: a historical and philosophical perspective"]. ''Gospel Perspectives'', vol 6, ed. by David Wenham and Craig Blomberg (Sheffield, England: JSOT Press), pp. 9-40.  LeadershipU
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*University of Colorado at Boulder (May 17, 1999).  [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/05/990517064323.htm "Research shows religion plays a major role in health, longevity"].  ScienceDaily.  Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
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*Hoffman, Paul K. (Spring 1999).  [http://www.galaxie.com/article/caj02-1-03?highlight=hoffmanA "A jurisprudential analysis of Hume’s ‘in principal’ argument against miracles" [excerpt&#93;].  ''Christian Apologetics Journal'', 2:1, p. 2.  Galaxie Software.  Subscription required for full article.
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*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004).  [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract&#93;]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8.  Abstract retrieved from National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med on July 24, 2014.
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*Geisler, Professor Norman (1985).  [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth19.html "Miracles and modern scientific thought"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 1.  LeadershipU
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*University of Warwick (December 2003).  [http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/A/20037338.html "Psychology researcher [Dr. Stephen Joseph&#93; says spiritual meaning of Christmas brings more happiness than materialism"].  Scienceblog.  Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
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*Lewis, C. S. (1960).  [https://books.google.com/books/about/Miracles.html?id=tH8di3qQDhEC ''Miracles''] (New York:  HarperCollins).  Abstract: Google Books
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</ref> (For more information please see: [[Atheism and health]]).
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*Holding, J. P. [http://www.tektonics.org/gk/hume01.html "David Hume: a critique"].  Tekton Apologetics.
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*Esposito, Lenny (2002).  [http://www.comereason.org/phil_qstn/phi060.asp "Are miracles logically impossible?"] Come Reason Ministries.</ref>
  
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=== Mayo Clinic, university studies, and other research ===
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The ''Christian Post'' reporter Stoyan Zaimov wrote: "Double-blind prayer experiments: where people pray for others with terminal illness. [[Gary Habermas|Habermas]] admitted that most such experiments have not worked, but the three that he knows of that have indeed worked were cases of orthodox-Christians praying for the sick."<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-apologist-10-reasons-for-the-fall-of-atheism-106531/ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism] by Stoyan Zaimov,'' Christian Post'', October 14, 2013</ref>
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[[Image:Mayo-clinic-gondaoverview.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The prestigious [[Mayo Clinic]] found that  
 
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religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better physical health and mental health outcomes.<ref name="Mueller">Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). [http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2811%2962799-7/fulltext "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice"]. ''Mayo Clinic Proceedings'' vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235.  Retrieved from Mayo Clinic Proceedings website on July 20, 2014.</ref>]]
 
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The prestigious [[Mayo Clinic]] reported the following on December 11, 2001:
 
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{{cquote|In an article also published in this issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Mayo Clinic researchers reviewed published studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews and subject reviews that examined the association between religious involvement and spirituality and physical health, mental health, health-related quality of life and other health outcomes.
 
  
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The authors report a majority of the nearly 350 studies of physical health and 850 studies of mental health that have used religious and spiritual variables have found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes.<ref name="Mueller"/>}}
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==== Atheists who believe in life after death ====
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and the supernatural]]
  
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The [[Iona Institute]] reported:
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A survey involving 15,738 individuals found that 32 percent of Americans who identified themselves as agnostics and atheists believe in an afterlife of some kind.<ref>[http://www.theskepticsguide.org/one-third-of-atheists-agnostics-believe-in-an-afterlife Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife], Skepticsguide.com</ref><ref>[http://relationshipsinamerica.com/religion/do-people-still-believe-in-life-after-death Do people still believe in life after death?], Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture Study</ref>
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{{cquote|A meta-analysis of all studies, both published and unpublished, relating to religious involvement and longevity was carried out in 2000. Forty-two studies were included, involving some 126,000 subjects. Active religious involvement increased the chance of living longer by some 29%, and participation in public religious practices, such as church attendance, increased the chance of living longer by 43%.<ref>Multiple references:
 
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*Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009).  [http://www.ionainstitute.ie/pdfs/Religion-Exec_summary.pdf "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary&#93;].  Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website.  Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
 
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*McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000).  [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf "Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review"].  ''Health Psychology''. vol. 19:3. pp. 211-222.  Retrieved from University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website on July 24, 2014.</ref>}}
 
  
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In December of 2003, the University of Warwick reported:
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== Atheism and death ==
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{{cquote|Dr. Stephen Joseph, from the University of Warwick, said: "Religious people seem to have a greater purpose in life, which is why they are happier. Looking at the research evidence, it seems that those who celebrate the Christian meaning of [[Christmas]] are on the whole likely to be happier.<ref>University of Warwick (December 2003).  [http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/A/20037338.html "Psychology researcher [Dr. Stephen Joseph&#93; says spiritual meaning of Christmas brings more happiness than materialism"].  Scienceblog. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.</ref>}}
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[[File:Atheism and death.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.<ref>Multiple references:
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140330091500/http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm "Fear of death: Worst if you’re a little religious?"] (July 13, 2005).  World Science.
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*Wink, P. L. and Scott, J. A. (July 2005).  [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 "Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study" [abstract&#93;].  ''The Journals of Gerontology, series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences'', vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 207-14. PubMed.gov</ref> See: [[Atheism and death]] ]]
  
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[[Duke University]] has established the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health.<ref>[http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/ Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health] Retrieved on July 24, 2014.</ref> The Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health is based in the Center for Aging at Duke and gives opportunities for scholarly trans-disciplinary conversation and the development of collaborative research projects.<ref>[http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/index.php/about-us "About us."] The Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health.  Retrieved on July 24, 2014.</ref> In respect to the atheism and mental and physical health, the center offers many studies which suggest that theism is more beneficial than atheism.<ref>[http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/index.php/research/research-library "Research library"].  Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health.  Retrieved on July 24, 2014.</ref>
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and death]] and [[Atheist funerals]] and [[Atheism and Hell]]  
  
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=== Religious belief and self-control ===
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''Science Daily'' reported that ''Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God''.<ref name="Otago">University of Otago [New Zealand] (April 2, 2012).  [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm "Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God"].  ScienceDaily.</ref> In a ''Psychology Today'' article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.<ref name="Heflick">Heflick, Nathan A. (May 25, 2012).  [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201205/atheists-death-and-belief-in-god "Atheists, death and belief in God: The effects of death reminders on atheists' supernatural beliefs"].  Psychology Today website.</ref> Under stress, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.<ref>Multiple references:
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*Ruhr University Bochum (August 9, 2012). [http://aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/pm2012/pm00263.html.en "Learn to forecast the weather after stress"].  aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de. 
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*Gregoire, Carolyn (July 31, 2013).  [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/learn-under-stress-brain_n_3678222.html "How the brain learns successfully, even under stress"].  The Huffington Post.</ref>
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and obesity]] and [[Atheism and alcohol abuse]] and [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Atheism and suicide]]
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A United States study and a [[Taiwan]]ese study indicated that the irreligious fear death more than the very religious.<ref>Multiple references:
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140330091500/http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm "Fear of death: Worst if you’re a little religious?"] (July 13, 2005).  World Science.
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*Wink, Paul. and Scott, Julia. (July 2005).  [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 "Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study"].  ''The Journals of Gerontology. Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences'', vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 207-14. PubMed.gov.
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*Wen, Ya-hui. (December 2010). [http://www.hraljournal.com/Page/4%20Ya-Hui%20Wen.pdf "Religiosity and death anxiety"]. ''The Journal of Human Resource and Adult Learning'', vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 31-37. The Journal of Human Resource and Adult Learning website.</ref>
  
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In the journal article ''Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications'', psychologists McCullough and Willoughby theorize that many of the positive links of religiousness with health and social behavior may be caused by religion's beneficial influences on [[self-control]]/self-regulation.<ref>Multiple references:
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==== Atheists and belief in life after death ====
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*McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (January 2009).  [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications"] ''Psychological Bulletin'', vol. 135, no. 1, pp. 69-93.  Retrieved from University of Miami department of psychology website on September 10, 2014.
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and life after death]] and [[Atheists and supernatural beliefs]]
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*Alternate source of abstract: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054 "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications" [abstract&#93;].  Retrieved from PubMed.gov on September 10, 2014.</ref> Furthermore, a 2012 Queen's University study published in ''Psychological Science'' found that religion replenishes self-control.<ref>Multiple references:
 
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*Rounding, Kevin and Lee, Albert et al. [Queen’s University] (June 2012). [http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/05/02/0956797611431987.abstract "Religion replenishes self-control" [abstract&#93;]. ''Psychological Science'', vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 635-642.  Retrieved from Sage Journals on September 13, 2014.  Purchase required for full article.
 
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*Craig, Anne (January 24, 2012). [http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/qu-qsf012412.php "Queen's study finds religion helps us gain self-control"].  Queen's University website [Canada].  Retrieved from EurekAlert on September 13, 2014.</ref>  Also, numerous studies indicate that those who engage in regular spiritual practices have lower mortality rates.<ref>Multiple references:
 
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*McCullough, M. E. and Hoyt, W. T. et al. (May 2000).  [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10868765 "Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review" [abstract&#93;].  ''Health Psychology'', 19:3, pp. 211-22.  Retrieved from PubMed on September 13, 2014.
 
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*Puchalski, Christina M. (October 2001). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1305900/ "The role of spirituality in health care"].  ''Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings'', 14:4, pp. 352–357.  Retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information on September 13, 2014.</ref>
 
  
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===Atheism and suicide===
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A significant percentage of atheists believe in life after death (see: [[Atheism and life after death]]).<ref>[http://www.theskepticsguide.org/one-third-of-atheists-agnostics-believe-in-an-afterlife Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife]</ref>
  
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:''See also:'' [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Atheism and suicide]] and [[Hopelessness of atheism]] and [[Atheism, gender and suicide]] and [[Atheism, marriage and suicide]]
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For additional information, please see:  
  
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Although there are recent studies relating to [[Atheism and suicide|atheism being a causal factor for suicide for some individuals]], an early proponent of atheism being a causal factor for [[suicide]] was the Reverend Dr. [[Robert Stuart MacArthur]].<ref>Multiple references:
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* [[Atheism and cryonics]]
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*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004).  [http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [summary&#93;]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8.  Summary retrieved from Adherents.com on July 25, 2014.  Website contains link to article at American Journal of Psychiatry website.
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*[[Atheism and transhumanism]]
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*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004).  [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract&#93;]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8.  Abstract retrieved from National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med on July 24, 2014.
 
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*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction"] (September 17, 1894).  ''New York Times'', p. 2.  Retrieved from nytimes.com on July 24, 2014.</ref> In 1894, the [[NY Times|''New York Times'']] stated the following in relation to atheism and suicide:
 
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{{cquote|Dr. Martin urged that a great cause of suicide was atheism. It was, he said, a remarkable fact that where atheism prevailed most, there suicides were most numerous. In [[Paris]], a recent census showed one suicide to every 2,700 of the population. After the publication of Paine's "Age of Reason" suicides increased.<ref name="nytimes">[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction"] (September 17, 1894).  ''New York Times'', p. 2.  Retrieved from nytimes.com on July 24, 2014.</ref>}}
 
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[[Image:Desperation_man.jpg‎ |thumb|left|200px|Pitzer College sociologist Phil Zuckerman stated concerning suicide rates: "this is the one indicator of societal health in which religious nations fare much better than secular nations."]]
 
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The same ''New York Times'' article quotes the Reverend Dr. MacArthur describing suicide in the following manner:
 
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{{cquote|It is mean and not manly; it is dastardly and not daring. A man who involves his innocent wife and children in financial disaster and disgrace and takes his life and leaves them to bear the burden he was unwilling to bear, is a coward.<ref name="nytimes"/>}}
 
  
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In 2004, the ''American Journal of Psychiatry'' reported:
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==== Atheism and Hell ====
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{{cquote|Religiously unaffiliated subjects had significantly more lifetime suicide attempts and more first-degree relatives who committed suicide than subjects who endorsed a religious affiliation. Unaffiliated subjects were younger, less often married, less often had children, and had less contact with family members. Furthermore, subjects with no religious affiliation perceived fewer reasons for living, particularly fewer moral objections to suicide. In terms of clinical characteristics, religiously unaffiliated subjects had more lifetime impulsivity, aggression, and past substance use disorder. No differences in the level of subjective and objective depression, hopelessness, or stressful life events were found.<ref>Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract&#93;]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8.  Abstract retrieved from National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med on July 24, 2014.</ref>}}
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''See also:''  [[Atheism and Hell]]
  
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For more information please see:  
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The journalist and [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[Peter Hitchens]], who is the brother of the late atheist [[Christopher Hitchens]], said upon seeing an art exhibit of [[Michelangelo]]'s painting ''The Last Judgment'' he came to the realization that he might be judged which startled him.<ref name="PH">[http://vimeo.com/10354237 "Peter Hitchens author interview—The rage against God"] [interview of Peter Hitchens] (March 22, 2010).  Vimeo video, 8:38, posted by Gorilla Poet Productions.</ref> This started a train of thought within Peter Hitchens that eventually led him to become a [[Christian]].<ref name="PH"/>
  
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*[[Atheism and suicide]]
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== Atheism and science ==
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[[Image:Newton.jpg|alt=atheism quotes|right|thumbnail|200px|[[Isaac Newton]] wrote: "I have a fundamental belief in the [[Bible]] as the Word of [[God]], written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily. Opposition to godliness is atheism in profession and idolatry in practice. Atheism is so senseless and odious to mankind that it never had many professors." See also: [[Atheism Quotes|Atheism quotes]] ]]
  
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*[[Atheism and loneliness]]
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and science]]
  
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*[[Hopelessness of atheism]]
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=== Atheism and the suppression of science ===
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See: [[Atheism and the suppression of science]]
  
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[[File:Stephen-Fry.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|[[Stephen Fry]] is an [[atheist]] and a [[homosexual]]. See: [[Atheism and obesity]] ]]
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=== Atheism and the social sciences ===
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See: [[Atheism and the social sciences]]
  
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=== Atheism and obesity ===
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=== Atheism and the foundation of modern science ===
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''See also:'' [[Christianity and science]]
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and obesity]]  
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The birth of modern [[science]] occurred in Christianized Europe.<ref>Bumbulis, Michael, Ph. D. (November 24, 1996). [http://www.ldolphin.org/bumbulis/#anchor5343749 "Christianity and the birth of science; The evidence; Clue #1. The founders/fathers of modern science were shaped by a culture that was predominantly Christian."] Lambert Dolphin's Library.  Archived at Internet Archive on July 20, 2014.</ref>
  
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According to the [[Gallup Organization]], "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."<ref name="Gallup">Newport, Frank, et al. (December 23, 2010).  [http://www.gallup.com/poll/145379/Religious-Americans-Lead-Healthier-Lives.aspx "Very religious Americans lead healthier lives"]. Gallup. Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref> For more information please [[Atheism and obesity]]
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[[Sociology|Sociologist]] [[Rodney Stark]] investigated the individuals who made the most significant scientific contributions between 1543 and 1680 A.D., the time of the [[Scientific Revolution]].
 +
In Stark's list of 52 top scientific contributors,<ref name="Origins">Williams, Alex (August 2004).  [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1581/ "The biblical origins of science; a review of ''For The Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-hunts and the End of Slavery'' by Rodney Stark"], ''Journal of Creation'', vol. 18:2, pp. 49–52.</ref> only one ([[Edmund Halley]]) was a skeptic and another ([[Paracelsus]]) was a [[pantheism|pantheist]].
 +
The other 50 were Christians, 30 of whom could be characterized as being devout Christians.<ref name="Origins" />
  
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Gallup declared concerning the study which measured the degree to which religiosity affects health practices: "[[Generalized linear model]] analysis was used to estimate marginal scores all five reported metrics after controlling for age (in years), gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, education (number of years), log of income, and region of the country... Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey Jan. 2-July 28, 2010, with a random sample of 554,066 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, selected using random-digit-dial sampling."<ref name="Gallup"/>
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Sir [[Francis Bacon]], sometimes referred to as "the Father of Modern Science", wrote in his essay entitled ''Of Atheism'': "I had rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the [[Talmud]], and the [[Koran|Alcoran]], than that this universal frame is without a mind."<ref name="bacon">Bacon, Francis (1601). [http://www.authorama.com/essays-of-francis-bacon-17.html ''The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, of Francis Ld. Verulam Viscount St. Albans''; "Of atheism"]. Authorama.</ref>
  
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[[China]] has the world's largest atheist population.<ref name="athmap"/>  In 2014, the ''Wall Street Journal'' reported that atheistic China has 300 million overweight individuals and it has the second highest obesity rate in the world.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgJvV62yD2E "Chubby China: nation of 300 million overweight people"] (May 30, 2014).  YouTube video, 3:52, posted by Wall Street Journal.  Retrieved on September 13, 2014.</ref>
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=== Atheism and environmental science ===
  
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According to a 2012 report by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of obese children in China has reached 120 million.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_yk-aM0cyk "Child obesity reaches 120 million in China"] (August 31, 2012).  YouTube video, 1:37, posted by NTDTV.  Retrieved on September 13, 2014.</ref>  A recent study published in the ''Obesity Reviews'' journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of [[diabetes]] was four times that of their [[United States|American]] peers.<ref name="Pang Li">Li, Pang (September 14, 2012). [http://www.china.org.cn/china/2012-09/14/content_26521029.htm "Obesity is a growing concern in China"].  China.org.cn.  Retrieved on September 14, 2014.</ref>  Due to their past [[One-child Policy|one-child policy]], which had exceptions, China now has a lot of over-pampered and over-fed children.<ref>Multiple references:
+
See: [[Atheism and the environment|Atheism and environmental science]]
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yuf8yg0Dbig "Rising Chinese child obesity and fat camps"] (October 25, 2007).  YouTube video, 6:38, posted by Journeyman Pictures.  Retrieved on September 14, 2014
 
−
*Burkitt, Laurie (May 29, 2014).  [http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/05/29/as-obesity-rises-chinese-kids-are-almost-as-fat-as-americans/ "As obesity rises, Chinese kids are almost as fat as Americans"], Wall Street Journal website/Chinarealtime.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
 
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgJvV62yD2E "Chubby China: nation of 300 million overweight people"] (May 30, 2014).  YouTube video, 3:52, posted by Wall Street Journal.  Retrieved on September 13, 2014.</ref>
 
−
<br /><br />
 
−
A recent study published in the ''Obesity Reviews'' journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of [[diabetes]] was four times that of their [[United States|American]] peers.<ref name="Pang Li"/>
 
−
[[File:Flag of the PRC.png|thumbnail|250px|right|[[China]] has the largest atheist population in the world.<ref name="athmap"/> In 2014, the British medical journal'' Lancet'' reported that the Chinese now have the second highest obesity rate in the world.<ref>Multiple references:
 
−
*Burkitt, Laurie (May 29, 2014).  [http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/05/29/as-obesity-rises-chinese-kids-are-almost-as-fat-as-americans/ "As obesity rises, Chinese kids are almost as fat as Americans"], Wall Street Journal website/Chinarealtime.  Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
 
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgJvV62yD2E "Chubby China: nation of 300 million overweight people"] (May 30, 2014).  YouTube video, 3:52, posted by Wall Street Journal.  Retrieved on September 13, 2014.</ref>
 
−
<br /><br />
 
−
A recent study published in the ''Obesity Reviews'' journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of [[diabetes]] was four times that of their [[United States|American]] peers.<ref name="Pang Li"/> See: [[Atheism and obesity]] ]]
 
  
−
Please see:
+
===Atheism and questions of origins===
 +
:''See articles: [[Atheism and Evolution]]'' and [[Evolution as a secular origins myth]]
 +
[[Creationism|Creationist]] scientists state that the [[First Law of Thermodynamics|first law of thermodynamics]] and the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics|second law of thermodynamics]] argue against an eternal universe or a universe created by natural processes and argue for a universe created by [[God]].<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Hergenrather, John (2004).  [http://www.creationencounter.com/space/lawsofscience.php "Evidences for God from space:  can laws of science explain the origin of the universe?"]  Creation Encounter.
 +
*Thompson, Bert (2003).  [http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=12&article=310 "So long, eternal universe; 'Hello beginning, hello end!'"]  Apologetics Press. 
 +
*Brown, Dr. Walt (2008).  [http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/AstroPhysicalSciences14.html "Chapter 2: astronomical and physical sciences", p. 53.]  ''In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood'', 8th ed. The Center for Scientific Creation.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]
  
−
* [[Atheism and obesity]]  
+
A majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the evolutionary position which employs [[methodological naturalism]] since [[World War II]] have had the worldview of atheism/agnosticism.<ref>
 +
* Dr. Don Batten, [https://creation.com/a-whos-who-of-evolutionists A ''Who’s Who'' of evolutionists] ''Creation'' 20(1):32, December 1997.
 +
* [[Jonathan Sarfati]], Ph.D.,F.M., [http://www.creation.com/content/view/3830 ''Refuting Evolution'', Chapter 1, Facts and Bias]
 +
</ref>  [[Creation science|Creation scientists]] assert that the theory of evolution is an inadequate explanation for the variety of life forms on earth.<ref>Morris, Henry M., PhD. (January 2001). [https://www.icr.org/home/resources/resources_tracts_scientificcaseagainstevolution/ "The scientific case against evolution"].  Institute for Creation Research.</ref> The theory of evolution [[Social effects of the theory of evolution|has had a number of negative social effects]].
  
−
* [[Atheism and health]]
+
In addition, the current naturalistic explanations for the [[origin of life]] are inadequate.<ref>[https://creation.com/origin-of-life Origin of life] by Dr. Don Batten</ref>
  
−
* [[Atheism and the fat acceptance movement]]
+
=== Atheism and scientific community ===
 +
*[[Atheism and science]]
 +
*[[Scientists and belief in the existence of God]]
 +
*[[Atheism and the origin of the universe|Atheist scientists and the origin of the universe]]
 +
*[[Atheists and the National Academy of Sciences]]
  
−
* [[Atheism and gluttony]]
+
=== Atheism and scientific fraud and speculation ===
 +
*[[Atheism and deception|Atheism and scientific fraud and speculation]]
  
−
==== Atheistic areas of the world and obesity ====
+
=== Atheism and food science ===
  
−
* [[China and obesity]]
+
*[[Atheism and food science]]
  
−
* [[Secular Europe and obesity]]
+
=== Atheism and culinary science ===
−
<br />
 
  
−
==== Various generations and rates of irreligion/obesity ====
+
*[[Atheism and culinary science]]
  
−
*[[Millennials, irreligion and obesity]]
+
=== RationalWiki's flouting of nutritional science ===
  
−
*[[Generation X, irreligion and obesity]]
+
*[[Rational Media Board of Director and RationalWiki Moderater User: Spud and ultra-processed/unhealthy/junk food]]
  
−
*[[Baby boom generation, irreligion and obesity]]
+
==Atheism and mental and physical health==
−
<br />
+
:''See also:'' [[Atheism and health]] and [[Atheism and life expectancy]] and [[Atheism and alcoholism]] and [[Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts]]
 +
 
 +
The is considerable amount of [[science|scientific]] evidence that suggest that theism is more conducive to mental and physical health than atheism and some of the more significant findings are given below <ref>Multiple references:
 +
*[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3671693/ Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications] by Harold G. Koenig, ISRN Psychiatry. 2012; 2012: 278730.
 +
*Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). [http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2811%2962799-7/fulltext "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice"]. ''Mayo Clinic Proceedings'' vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235.  Mayo Clinic Proceedings website
 +
*[http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/index.php/research/research-library "Research library"].  Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health.
 +
*McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000).  [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf "Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review"].  ''Health Psychology''. vol. 19:3. pp. 211-222.  University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website
 +
*Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009).  [http://www.ionainstitute.ie/the-benefits-of-religious-practise/  "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary&#93;].  Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website. 
 +
*McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (2009).  [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications"]. ''Psychological Bulletin'', vol. 135: 1, pp. 69–93.  University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website
 +
*University of Colorado at Boulder (May 17, 1999).  [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/05/990517064323.htm "Research shows religion plays a major role in health, longevity"].  ScienceDaily. 
 +
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004).  [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract&#93;]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8.  Abstract: National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med
 +
*University of Warwick (December 2003).  [http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/A/20037338.html "Psychology researcher [Dr. Stephen Joseph&#93; says spiritual meaning of Christmas brings more happiness than materialism"].  Scienceblog.
 +
</ref> For more information please see: [[Atheism and health]] and [[Atheism and life expectancy]]
  
−
=== Atheism and alcoholism ===
+
=== Mayo Clinic and other studies ===
−
[[File:Europe pol 2004.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in [[Europe]], "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref name=whoalc>[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/alcohol-use/data-and-statistics "Data and statistics"] (September 2014 or bef.). Health topics/Disease prevention/Alcohol use. Retrieved from World Health Organization (WHO)/Regional office for Europe</ref>]]
+
[[Image:Mayo-clinic-gondaoverview.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The prestigious [[Mayo Clinic]] found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better physical health and mental health outcomes.<ref name="Mueller">Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). [https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)62799-7/abstract "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice"]. ''Mayo Clinic Proceedings'' vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235. Mayo Clinic Proceedings website</ref> See: [[Atheism and health]] ]]
−
''See also:'' [[Atheism and alcoholism]]
+
The prestigious [[Mayo Clinic]] reported the following on December 11, 2001:
 +
{{cquote|In an article also published in this issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Mayo Clinic researchers reviewed published studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews and subject reviews that examined the association between religious involvement and spirituality and physical health, mental health, health-related quality of life and other health outcomes.
  
−
Atheists and atheistic cultures often have significant problems with excess alcohol usage (For more information please see: [[Atheism and alcoholism]]).  
+
The authors report a majority of the nearly 350 studies of physical health and 850 studies of mental health that have used religious and spiritual variables have found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes.<ref name="Mueller"/>}}
  
−
==== Secular countries/regions and alcoholism ====
+
The [[Iona Institute]] reported:
 +
{{cquote|A meta-analysis of all studies, both published and unpublished, relating to religious involvement and longevity was carried out in 2000. Forty-two studies were included, involving some 126,000 subjects. Active religious involvement increased the chance of living longer by some 29%, and participation in public religious practices, such as church attendance, increased the chance of living longer by 43%.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009).  [http://www.ionainstitute.ie/the-benefits-of-religious-practise/ "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary&#93;].  Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website.
 +
*McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000).  [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf "Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review"].  ''Health Psychology''. vol. 19:3. pp. 211-222.  University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website</ref>}}
  
−
'''Secular Europe:'''
+
=== Atheists and negative emotions/thoughts ===
  
−
According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in [[Europe]], "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref name=whoalc/>
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and emotional problems]] and [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence]] and [[Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts]]
−
<br />
 
−
*[[Secular Europe and alcoholism]]
 
  
−
*[[Godless Britain and alcoholism]]
+
[[Emotional intelligence]] "refers to the ability to perceive, control and evaluate emotions."<ref>[http://psychology.about.com/od/personalitydevelopment/a/emotionalintell.htm Emotional intelligence]</ref> Research indicates that religiosity is positively associated with ability in emotional intelligence.<ref>[https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10943-016-0335-3 Divine Emotions: On the Link Between Emotional Intelligence and Religious Belief], ''Journal of Religion and Health'', December 2017, Volume 56, Issue 6, pp 1998–2009</ref><ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4733549/ THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE WITH RELIGIOUS COPING AND GENERAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS] by Masoumeh Bagheri Nesami, Amir Hossein Goudarzian, Houman Zarei, Pedram Esameili, Milad Dehghan Pour, and Hesam Mirani, ''Materia Sociomedica''. 2015 Dec; 27(6): 412–416. doi: 10.5455/msm.2015.27.412-416</ref><ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222857921_Religiosity_and_perceived_emotional_intelligence_among_Christians Religiosity and perceived emotional intelligence among Christians], Personality and Individual Differences 41(3):479-490 · August 2006, DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2006.01.016</ref> See also: [[Atheism and emotional problems]] and [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence]] and [[Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts]]
  
−
*[[Atheistic France and alcoholism]]
+
===Atheism and suicide===
 +
:''See also:''  [[Atheism and suicide]] and [[Atheism and depression]] and [[Hopelessness of atheism]] and [[Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism]]
  
−
*[[Atheistic Germany and alcoholism]]
+
Although there are recent studies relating to [[Atheism and suicide|atheism being a causal factor for suicide for some individuals]], an early proponent of atheism being a causal factor for [[suicide]] was the Reverend Dr. [[Robert Stuart MacArthur]].<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004).  [http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [summary&#93;]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8.  Summary: Adherents.com. Website contains link to article at American Journal of Psychiatry website.
 +
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004).  [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract&#93;]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8.  Abstract: National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med
 +
*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction"] (September 17, 1894).  ''New York Times'', p. 2.</ref> In 1894, the [[NY Times|''New York Times'']] stated the following in relation to atheism and suicide:
 +
{{cquote|Dr. Martin urged that a great cause of suicide was atheism. It was, he said, a remarkable fact that where atheism prevailed most, there suicides were most numerous. In [[Paris]], a recent census showed one suicide to every 2,700 of the population. After the publication of Paine's "Age of Reason" suicides increased.<ref name="nytimes">[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction"] (September 17, 1894).  ''New York Times'', p. 2.</ref>}}
 +
[[Image:Desperation_man.jpg‎ |thumb|left|200px|Atheists have higher suicide rates. See: [[Atheism and suicide]] ]]
  
−
*[[Atheistic Czech Republic and alcoholism]]
+
The website Adherents.com reported the following in respect to atheism and suicide:
 +
{{cquote|Pitzer College sociologist Phil Zuckerman compiled country-by-country survey, polling and census numbers relating to atheism, agnosticism, disbelief in God and people who state they are non-religious or have no religious preference...In examining various indicators of societal health, Zuckerman concludes about suicide:
  
−
*[[Atheistic Estonia and alcoholism]]
+
"...According to the 2003 World Health Organization's report on international male suicides rates (which compared 100 countries), of the top ten nations with the highest male suicide rates, all but one (Sri Lanka) are strongly irreligious nations with high levels of atheism."<ref>http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html</ref>}}
  
−
*[[Godless Finland and alcoholism]]
+
Concerning [[atheism and depression]], a University of Michigan study involving 19,775 individuals found that religious people are less likely than atheists to suffer [[depression]] when they are lonely.<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6136603/Lonely-religious-people-depressed-God-friend.html Lonely religious people are less depressed than atheists because they see God as a friend replacement, study finds], ''Daily Mail'', 2018</ref>
  
−
*[[Atheistic Denmark and alcoholism]]
+
For more information please see:
  
−
*[[Atheistic Netherlands and alcoholism]]
+
*[[Atheism and suicide]]
 +
*[[Atheism and loneliness]]
 +
*[[Hopelessness of atheism]]
  
−
*[[Atheistic Sweden and alcoholism]]
+
=== Atheism and mental illness ===
 +
[[File:Angry atheist.jpg|thumbnail|right|240px|An angry atheist speaking to a woman with a Bible in her hand.
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
The Christian philosopher James S. Spiegel says the path from Christianity to atheism among several of his friends involved moral slippage such as resentment or unforgiveness.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-philosopher-explores-causes-of-atheism-44353/ Christian Philosopher Explores Causes of Atheism]</ref>
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
See: [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]] ]]
 +
See also: [[Atheism and mental illness]]
  
 +
The abstract for the journal article ''Health and Well-Being Among the Non-religious: Atheists, Agnostics, and No Preference Compared with Religious Group Members'' published in the ''Journal of Religion and Health'' indicates: "On dimensions related to psychological well-being, atheists and agnostics tended to have worse outcomes than either those with religious affiliation or those with no religious preference."<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26743877 ''Health and Well-Being Among the Non-religious: Atheists, Agnostics, and No Preference Compared with Religious Group Members''] by Hayward RD, Krause N, Ironson G, Hill PC, Emmons R., ''Journal of Religion and Health'', 2016 Jun;55(3):1024-1037. doi: 10.1007/s10943-015-0179-2.</ref>
  
−
'''Australia:'''
+
''Global News'' reported:
 +
{{Cquote|Children who are raised with [[religion|religious]] or [[spirituality|spiritual]] beliefs tend to have better mental health into their adulthood, a new study from the [[Harvard]] T.H. Chan School of Public Health found.
  
−
An Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) report indicated that 20% of Australians drink at levels putting them at risk of lifetime harm.<ref>Mower, Jane (November 19, 2013).  [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-20/alcohol-to-blame-for-one-in-eight-deaths---report/5102594 "One in eight deaths of young Australians attributable to alcohol: National Council on Drugs report"].  Australian Broadcasting Company website/News.</ref>
+
According to the study’s findings, people who attended weekly religious services or [[Prayer|prayed]] or [[Meditation|meditated]] daily in their childhood reported greater life satisfaction in their 20s. People who grew up in a religious household also reported fewer symptoms of depression and lower rates of [[Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder|post-traumatic stress disorder]].<ref>[https://globalnews.ca/news/4468745/religion-children-mental-health/ Religion can help improve children’s mental health, new study finds], ''Global News'', 2018</ref>}}
  
−
For more information, please see: [[Godless Australia and alcoholism]]
+
=== Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts ===
  
 +
*[[Atheism and emotional problems]]
  
−
'''Asian countries:'''
+
*[[Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts]]
  
−
See: [[Godless Asian countries and alcoholism]]
+
*[[Atheism and anger]]
  
 +
*[[Atheism and anxiety]]
  
−
'''Godless communism and alcoholism:'''
+
*[[Atheism and death anxiety]]
  
−
*[[Soviet Union and alcoholism]]
+
=== Irreligion and recovery from illnesses ===
  
−
*[[Communist East Germany and alcoholism]]
+
See: [[Irreligion and recovery from illnesses]]
  
 +
[[File:Europe pol 2004.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|According to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in Europe, "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref name=whoalc>[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/alcohol-use/data-and-statistics "Data and statistics"] (September 2014 or bef.).  Health topics/Disease prevention/Alcohol use.  World Health Organization (WHO)/Regional office for Europe</ref>]]
  
−
'''American Atheism, gender, race and alcoholism:'''
+
=== Atheism and alcoholism ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and alcoholism]]
  
−
*[[Atheist Americans, gender and alcoholism]]
+
At least 100 studies suggests religion has a positive effect on preventing alcohol-related problems, researchers Christopher Ellison, Jennifer Barrett and Benjamin Moulton noted in an article in the ''Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion'' on “Gender, Marital Status, and Alcohol Behavior: The Neglected Role of Religion.”<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-briggs/charlie-sheen-circus-and-_b_836934.html The Doubled-Edged Sword of Religion and Alcoholism]</ref>
  
−
*[[Atheist Americans, race and alcoholism]]
+
Atheists and atheistic cultures often have significant problems with excess alcohol usage (For more information please see: [[Atheism and alcoholism]]).
  
−
[[File:Powder meth foil small.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.<ref name=athdrug>Multiple references:
+
For example, as far as secular Europe, according to the [[World Health Organization]]'s (WHO) regional office in Europe, "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.<ref name=whoalc/>
−
*Denison, Jim (October 9, 2013).  [http://www.christianpost.com/news/believers-consume-fewer-drugs-than-atheists-106266/ "Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists"].  Christian Post website/CP Opinion.
 
−
*Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung [Swiss National Science Foundation] (October 3, 2013).  [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm "Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists"].  Science Daily website/Science News.
 
−
*[http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications"] ''Psychological Bulletin'', vol. 135, no. 1, pp. 69-93.  Retrieved from University of Miami department of psychology website on September 10, 2014.
 
−
*Alternate source of abstract: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054 "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications" [abstract&#93;].  Retrieved from PubMed.gov on September 10, 2014.</ref> ]]
 
  
 
=== Atheism and illegal drug use and drug addition ===
 
=== Atheism and illegal drug use and drug addition ===
−
 
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and drug addiction]]
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and drug addiction]]
  
−
Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.<ref name=athdrug/>  
+
Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/believers-consume-fewer-drugs-than-atheists-106266/ Believers Consume Fewer Drugs Than Atheists], ''Christian Post'', By Jim Denison, Christian Post Columnist, October 9, 2013|9:47 am</ref><ref>[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists], Science Daily, Date:October 3, 2013, Source: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung]</ref><ref>Multiple references:
 +
*McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (January 2009).  [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications"] ''Psychological Bulletin'', vol. 135, no. 1, pp. 69-93.  Retrieved from University of Miami department of psychology website on September 10, 2014.
 +
*Alternate source of abstract: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054 "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications" [abstract&#93;].  Retrieved from PubMed.gov on September 10, 2014.</ref>
  
−
According to ''Science Daily'':
+
According to ''Science Daily'': "Young [[Switzerland|Swiss]] men who say that they believe in [[God]] are less likely to smoke cigarettes or pot or take ecstasy pills than Swiss men of the same age group who describe themselves as atheists. Belief is a protective factor against addictive behaviour. This is the conclusion reached by a study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.<ref>Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung [Swiss National Science Foundation] (October 3, 2013).  [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm "Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists"].  Science Daily website/Science News.</ref>
−
{{cquote|Young [[Switzerland|Swiss]] men who say that they believe in [[God]] are less likely to smoke cigarettes or pot or take ecstasy pills than Swiss men of the same age group who describe themselves as atheists. Belief is a protective factor against addictive behaviour. This is the conclusion reached by a study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.<ref>Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung [Swiss National Science Foundation] (October 3, 2013).  [http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm "Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists"].  Science Daily website/Science News.</ref>}}
 
  
 
=== Atheism and loneliness ===
 
=== Atheism and loneliness ===
  
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and loneliness]]
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and loneliness]]
−
 
+
[[File:Depressed man.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Secular societies commonly have significant levels of loneliness.
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
See: [[Atheism and loneliness]] ]]
 
Loneliness has been linked to many physical and mental health problems.<ref>Multiple references:
 
Loneliness has been linked to many physical and mental health problems.<ref>Multiple references:
 
*Gammon, Katherine (March 2, 2012).  [http://www.livescience.com/18800-loneliness-health-problems.html "Why loneliness can be deadly"].  Live Science website.
 
*Gammon, Katherine (March 2, 2012).  [http://www.livescience.com/18800-loneliness-health-problems.html "Why loneliness can be deadly"].  Live Science website.
 
*Booth, Robert (October 12, 2014).  "Number of severely lonely men over 50 set to rise to 1m in 15 years", ''The Guardian''.</ref>
 
*Booth, Robert (October 12, 2014).  "Number of severely lonely men over 50 set to rise to 1m in 15 years", ''The Guardian''.</ref>
−
[[File:Depressed man.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Secular societies commonly have significant levels of loneliness. See: [[Atheism and loneliness]] ]]
+
 
−
Compared to religious cultures where an extended family and a sense of community prevails, secular countries [[Secular countries and loneliness|are often lonelier societies]]. In addition, numerous studies and other data indicate that atheists often have lower [[emotional intelligence]] and lower social skills (see: [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheiam and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social skills]]).
+
Compared to deeply religious cultures where an extended family and a sense of community often exists, secular countries [[Secular countries and loneliness|are often lonelier societies]]. In addition, numerous studies and other data indicate that atheists often have lower [[emotional intelligence]] and lower social skills (see: [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social skills]]).
  
 
For more information, please see:
 
For more information, please see:
Line 1,182: Line 1,307:
 
*[[Atheism and loneliness]]
 
*[[Atheism and loneliness]]
  
−
*[[Secular Europe and loneliness]]
+
=== Atheism and obesity ===
−
 
 
−
*[[Godless England and loneliness]]
 
−
 
 
−
*[[Atheistic Germany and loneliness]]
 
−
 
 
−
*[[Atheistic France and loneliness]]
 
  
−
*[[Atheistic Japan and loneliness]]
+
See: [[Atheism and obesity]]
  
−
*[[Atheistic Sweden and loneliness]]
+
=== Atheism and cancer ===
  
−
*[[Godless Finland and loneliness]]
+
See: [[Atheism and cancer]]
  
−
*[[Godless Australia and loneliness]]
+
=== Atheist and higher levels of harmful genetic mutations ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheists and genetic mutations]]
  
−
*[[Atheistic China and loneliness]]
+
There is research which suggests that the atheist population has higher levels of harmful genetic [[mutations]] (see: [[Atheists and genetic mutations]]).<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/religion-healthy-atheism-mutant-genes-756984 RELIGIOUS PEOPLE LIVE HEALTHIER, LONGER LIVES—WHILE ATHEISTS COLLECT MUTANT GENES], Newsweek, 2017</ref> <ref>[Atheists are more likely to be left handed, study finds], ''The Telegraph'', 2017</ref>
  
 
=== Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism ===
 
=== Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism ===
−
[[File:Basketball.jpg|right|300px|thumbnail|Numerous studies report that athletes to be more religious than non-athletes.<ref name="Bell">Bell, Nathan T. (January 7, 2009). [http://thesportjournal.org/article/strength-of-religious-faith-of-athletes-and-nonathletes-at-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions/ "Strength of religious faith of athletes and nonathletes at two NCAA Division III institutions"].  The Sport Journal [online publication] (Daphne, AL: United States Sports Academy).  Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref>]]
 
−
''See also:'' [[Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism]] and [[Atheism and obesity]]
 
  
 +
''See also:'' [[Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism]] and [[Irreligion and unsportsmanlike conduct]] and [[Atheism and obesity]]
 +
[[File:Basketball.jpg|right|200px|thumbnail|Numerous studies report that athletes to be more religious than non-athletes.<ref>[http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/strength-religious-faith-athletes-and-nonathletes-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>]]
 
''The [[Sport]]s Journal'' is a monthly refereed journal published by the United States Sports Academy.  
 
''The [[Sport]]s Journal'' is a monthly refereed journal published by the United States Sports Academy.  
−
A journal article appeared in the Sports Journal entitled ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions''. The article was submitted by Nathan T. Bell, Scott R. Johnson, and Jeffrey C. Petersen from Ball State University.<ref name="Bell"/>
+
A journal article appeared in the Sports Journal entitled ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions''. The article was submitted by Nathan T. Bell, Scott R. Johnson, and Jeffrey C. Petersen from Ball State University.<ref name="thesportjournal.org">[http://thesportjournal.org/article/strength-of-religious-faith-of-athletes-and-nonathletes-at-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions/ ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>
 
An excerpt from the abstract of the journal article ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'' declares:
 
An excerpt from the abstract of the journal article ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'' declares:
−
{{cquote|Numerous studies report athletes to be more religious than nonathletes (Fischer, 1997; Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, & Storch, 2001; Storch et al., 2004). According to Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, and Storch (2001), four reasons may explain why religion interacts with athletic performance.<ref name="Bell"/>}}
+
{{cquote|Numerous studies report athletes to be more religious than nonathletes (Fischer, 1997; Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, & Storch, 2001; Storch et al., 2004). According to Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, and Storch (2001), four reasons may explain why religion interacts with athletic performance.<ref name="thesportjournal.org">[http://thesportjournal.org/article/strength-of-religious-faith-of-athletes-and-nonathletes-at-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions/ ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>}}
  
−
See also: [[Atheism and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence]]
+
{{See also|Atheism and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence}}
  
−
== Atheism is a religion ==
+
=== Atheism and mental toughness ===
  
−
''See also:'' [[Atheism is a religion]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
+
See: [[Atheism and mental toughness]]
  
−
Many of the leaders of the atheist movement, such as the evolutionist and [[weak atheism|weak atheist]]/[[agnosticism|agnostic]] [[Richard Dawkins]], argue for [[agnosticism]]/atheism with a religious fervor.
+
=== Atheists, aging populations and cancer/Alzheimer's disease ===
−
[[File:Richard Dawkins pic.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|260px|right|The [[Oxford University]] Professor [[Daniel Came]] wrote to the [[New Atheism|new atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]]: "The absence of a debate with the foremost [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as [[Atheism and cowardice|cowardice]] on your part."<ref>Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011).  [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 Daily Telegraph website.  Retrieved July 25, 2014.  See [[Daily Telegraph]]</ref>]]
 
−
In addition, although many atheists deny that [[Atheist worldview|atheism is a worldview]], atheists commonly share a [[Atheism and beliefs|number of beliefs]] such as [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]], [[Evolution|belief in evolution]] and [[Origin of life|abiogenesis]].<ref>Multiple references:
 
−
*Slick, Matt (October 2011).  [http://carm.org/atheism-worldview "Is atheism a worldview?"]  Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website.  Retrieved on October 25, 2014.  See [[CARM]]
 
−
*Hearn, Brian F. (December 31, 2009).  [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-a-worldview.aspx "Atheism a worldview?"]  Apologetics.net.  Retrieved on October 25, 2014.
 
−
*Hearn, Brian F. (May 2, 2012).  [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-is-a-worldview-%28II%29.aspx "Atheism is a worldview II"].  Apologetics.net.  Retrieved on October 25, 2014.
 
−
*Bannister, Andy (October 14, 2013).  [http://www.rzim.eu/the-scandanavian-sceptic-or-why-atheism-is-a-belief-system "The Scandanavian sceptic (or why atheism is a belief system)"].  Ravi Zacharias International Ministries website.  Retrieved on October 25, 2014.  See [[Ravi Zacharias]]</ref> 
 
  
−
Roderick Ninian Smart, a Scottish writer and professor, defined a seven-part scheme of understanding both religious and secular worldviews<ref>Smart, Ninian (1996).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=14j2UrLCi64C&pg=PA130&lpg=PA130&dq=ninian+smart+narrative&source=bl&ots=Hq3WwG_mVT&sig=j-8FpwSdqohURYodSdcl46erSJY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FgybT6zxIc-_gAe864X6Dg&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=ninian%20smart%20narrative&f=false ''Dimensions of the Sacred'' [preview&#93;] (Oakland, CA: University of California Press).  Preview retrieved from GoogleBooks on July 25, 2014.</ref>  These can be understood as narrative, experiential, social, ethical, doctrinal, ritual and material.
+
*[[Atheism and cancer]]
  
−
English Pastor Daniel Smartt defines atheism as a religion, using Ninian Smart's seven dimensions of worldview as a list of criteria. It is not necessary in Smartt's model for every one of these to be present in order for something to be a religion.<ref>Smartt, Daniel (November 6, 2008).  [http://archive.is/L3cY5 "Atheism religion naturalism morally relative"].  Archive of SpiritualLiving360°.  Retrieved on April 23, 2015.</ref>. However, it can be argued that all seven are present in the case of atheism.<ref>Multiple references:
+
*[[Atheism and Alzheimer's disease]]
−
*Smartt, Daniel (May 4, 2010).  [http://creation.com/atheism-a-religion "Atheism: a religion"].  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.
 
−
*Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009).  [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"].  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 19, 2014.</ref>
 
  
−
In 2013, a trend of atheist services began and atheist services were reported in the ''[[New York Times]]'', ''[[The Blaze]]'' and other major news outlets.<ref>Multiple references:
+
=== Atheism and veganism ===
−
*Thier, Dave (June 23, 2013).  [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/us/in-the-bible-belt-offering-atheists-a-spiritual-home.html?_r=0 "In the Bible belt offering atheists a spiritual home"].  Nytimes.com.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.
 
−
*Hallowell, Billy (April 17, 2013).  [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/17/atheist-sunday-morning-worship-services-are-on-the-rise/ "Bizarre trend: atheist Sunday morning ‘worship’ services are on the rise (minus God, of course)"]  TheBlaze.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.
 
−
*Ortberg, Mallory (January 5, 2013).  [http://gawker.com/5973377/londons-first-atheist-church-opens-tomorrow "London's first atheist church opens tomorrow".]  Gawker.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.</ref>
 
  
−
See also:  
+
See: [[Atheism and veganism]]
  
−
*[[Atheism is a religion]]
+
=== Atheism in medicine ===
  
−
*[[Atheist indoctrination]]
+
See: [[Atheism in medicine]]
  
−
*[[Atheist cults]]  
+
== Atheism and intelligence ==
 +
[[File:Cerebellum.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Brain researchers have conducted a number of studies focusing on the differences between atheists and the religious. See: [[Atheism and the brain]] ]]
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and intelligence]] and [[Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences|Atheism and Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences]] and [[Causes of atheism]]  
  
−
=== Atheism is a religion and its legal implications relative to the teaching of evolution ===
+
Within various countries, standardized [[intelligence testing|intelligence test]] (IQ) scores related to the issue of atheists/agnostics vs. theists intelligence scores yield conflicting results.<ref>
 +
*[http://www.doxa.ws/other/smarter.html "Who is smarter; are atheists smarter than Christians?  An examination of studies"] (2007).  Doxa: Christian Thought in the 21st Century.  Retrieved on October 29, 2014.
 +
*[http://www.randalolson.com/2014/08/24/the-myth-of-the-smarter-atheist/ The myth of the smarter Atheist] by Randy Olson, Posted on August 24, 2014</ref>  Part of the problem is that social scientists use variant definitions of atheism.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
*Briggs, Dr. William M. (2013).  [http://www.strangenotions.com/atheists-higher-iqs/ "Do atheists really have higher IQs than believers?"]  Strange Notions.  Retrieved on October 29, 2014.
 +
*Wright, Bradley (January 26, 2012).  [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/blackwhiteandgray/2012/01/how-many-americans-are-atheists-fewer-than-you-might-think/ "How many Americans are atheists? Fewer than you might think"].  Black, White and Gray.  Retrieved on October 29, 2014.</ref> See also: [[Atheism, intelligence and the General Social Survey]]
  
−
[[Atheism is a religion]] and [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic]] notions of origins are religious which has legal implications relative to [[evolution]] being taught in public schools.<ref>Multiple references:
+
However, within individuals, families and societies irreligion/religion can have an effect on intelligence - especially over time (See: [[Atheism and intelligence]]).  
−
*Smartt, Daniel (May 4, 2010).  [http://creation.com/atheism-a-religion "Atheism: a religion"].  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.
 
−
*Calvert, John, J. D. (June 22, 2010).  [http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Kitzmiller%27s_error_summary.pdf "Summary of 'Kitzmiller’s error: using an exclusive rather than inclusive definition of religion'"].  Intelligent Design Network.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.
 
−
*Calvert, John, J. D. (Spring 2009). [http://www.intelligentdesignnetwork.org/Kitzmiller%27s_Error.pdf "Kitzmiller's error:  defining 'religion' exclusively rather than inclusively"].  ''Liberty University Law Review'', vol. 3:2, pp. 213-328.  Retrieved from Intelligent Design Network on July 26, 2014.</ref>
 
  
−
Since [[World War II]] a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the theory of evolution which employs [[methodological naturalism]] have been atheists or [[agnosticism|agnostics]].<ref name="Batten and Sarfati">Multiple references:
+
For more information, please see:
−
* Batten, Dr. Don (December 1997). [http://creation.com/a-whos-who-of-evolutionists "A ''Who’s Who'' of evolutionists"].  Creation Ministries International. Originally published in ''Creation'' 20(1):32. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
 
−
* Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D., F.M. (1999). [http://creation.com/refuting-evolution-chapter-1-evolution-creation-science-religion-facts-bias "Chapter 1: Facts and bias", ''Refuting Evolution''].  Retrieved July 17, 2014.
 
−
</ref>
 
  
−
John Calvert, a lawyer and [[intelligent design]] proponent declared:
+
*[[Intelligence trends in religious countries and secular countries]]
−
{{cquote|The Seventh Judicial Circuit of the Court of Appeals of the [[United States]] held that atheism is a [[religion]]. Therefore, it cannot be promoted by a public school. Currently, public schools are often unwittingly promoting atheism through a dogmatic and uncritical teaching of [[Evolution|materialistic theories of origins]].<ref>Morehouse, Darrin. ([http://www.highway30cofc.truepath.com/Articles/SpiritualWarfare;AtheismisaReligionPart1.pdf "Spiritual warfare; atheism is a religion part 1"].  Highway 30 website.  Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>}}
+
*[[Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences]]
  
−
The atheist philosopher of science [[Michael Ruse]] admitted: "Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today."<ref>Ruse, M. (May 13, 2000). "How evolution became a religion: creationists correct?"  ''National Post'', pp. B1, B3, B7.</ref> In the their [[Question evolution! campaign]], [[Creation Ministries International]] asks as a part of their 15 questions for evolutionists: "Why is a fundamentally religious idea, a dogmatic belief system that fails to explain the evidence, taught in science classes?...If “you can’t teach religion in science classes”, why is evolution taught?<ref>Batten, Don (2011).  [http://creation.com/15-questions "15 questions for evolutionists".]  Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.</ref>
+
=== Atheism, intelligence and open-mindedness ===
  
−
=== Atheist cults ===
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and open-mindedness]] and [[Atheism and dogmatism]] and [[Atheism and intolerance]] and [[Atheism and groupthink]]
−
[[File:Temple of Reason.jpg|left|thumbnail|180px|The Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg was turned into a Temple of Reason by the [[Cult of Reason]]. ]]
 
−
''See also:'' [[Atheist cults]]
 
  
−
Within the [[Atheism is a religion|atheist religion]], there have been a number of [[atheist cults]] and atheistic groups which have had a cultish following. Some of these atheist cults/groups still exist today.  In 2015, FtBCon which is an online conference organized by the [[Freethoughtblogs|Freethought Blogs]] network, recognized that nonreligious/secular cults exist (for example, the atheist cult of [[objectivism]]).<ref>Multiple refences:
+
Highly intelligent people tend to be open-minded and have intellectual curiosity.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/eleven-common-traits-of-highly-intelligent-people-a7480246.html Eleven common traits of highly intelligent people] by Shana Lebowicz, The Independent, Friday 16 December 2016 18:24</ref>
−
*Lee, Adam (January 24, 2015) [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/daylightatheism/2015/01/reminder-secular-cults-at-ftbcon-tonight/ "Reminder: Secular cults panel at FtBCon tonight!]  Daylight Atheism [blog]. Retrieved from Patheos website.
 
−
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm4SNcH1ak8 "FtBCon3: Secular cults"] (January 24, 2015).  YouTube video, 1:20:45, posted by Jason Thibeault.</ref>
 
  
−
An example of an atheist cult in history is the [[Cult of Reason]] during the [[French Revolution]].  The [[France|French]] atheist Pierre Gaspard Chaumette encouraged the "worship of [[Reason]]".<ref>Multiple references:
+
Research indicates that atheists are less open-minded (see: [[Atheism and open-mindedness]]).
−
*Pierre Gaspard Chaumette was an atheist, see Gellis, Roberta (2009), ''The English Heiress, Book 1'' (Akron, OH:  Cerridwen Press), p. 211.
 
−
*Pierre Gaspard Chaumette encouraged the "worship of Reason", see: Rush, Benjamin (1809).  "On Animal Life" and footnote from Carlson, Eric T., M.D. et al., editor (1981), [http://books.google.com/books/about/Benjamin_Rush_s_Lectures_on_the_Mind.html?id=Sfpu7mMW9qIC ''Memoirs of the American Philosophical Society:  Benjamin Rush's Lectures on the Mind''] (Philadelphia, PA:  American Philosophical Society), vol. 144, p. 170.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on October 24, 2014.</ref>
 
  
−
The atheist cults or atheist groups which have had a cultish following which have formed in history or exist today are often a result of factors such as: [[utopia]]n thinking, fanatical devolution to various atheistic ideologies, a poor understanding of science/technology (or a penchant for materialist [[Pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] thinking) and wishful thinking. 
+
=== Study on emotional intelligence and religiosity ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]]
  
−
For example, [[cryonics]] is a pseudoscience that tries to extend life or achieve immortality in a non-theistic way after a person is legally dead (Cryonic procedures are performed shortly after a person's death).<ref name="cryogenesis"/> See also: [[Atheism and death]]
+
A 2004 study by Ellen Paek examined the extent to which religious orientation/behavior and found significant positive correlations were found between level of religious commitment and an individual's perceived [[emotional intelligence]].<ref>''Journal of Organizational Behavior'', Paek, Ellen (2006). "[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886906000961 Religiosity and perceived emotional intelligence among Christians". Personality and Individual Differences] (International Society for the Study of Individual Differences) 41 (3): 479–490</ref> See also: [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]]  
  
−
The atheists [[Robert Ettinger]] and [[Isaac Asimov]] played a significant role in the founding/launching of the [[cryonics]] movement (see: [[Atheism and cryonics]]).<ref name="Ettinger"/>  According to The Cryonics Society, Asimov said of cryonics, "Though no one can quantify the probability of cryonics working, I estimate it is at least 90%..."<ref name="critics"/>
+
According to the prominent brain researcher Antonio Damasio and other brain researchers, emotions play a critical role in high-level cognition and allow individuals to make better decisions.<ref>
 +
*[http://intentionalworkplace.com/2012/03/15/how-emotion-shapes-decision-making/ How emotion affects decision making], The Intentional Workplace
 +
*[http://people.hss.caltech.edu/~steve/bechara.pdf The role of emotion in decision-making: Evidence from neurological patients with orbitofrontal damage], Antoine Becharam, Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
 +
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wup_K2WN0I When Emotions Make Better Decisions - Antonio Damasio] - short video
 +
*[https://news.usc.edu/29569/Antonio-and-Hanna-Damasio-Receive-Honorary-Degrees/ News item about Professor Antonio Damasio], University of Southern California
 +
</ref>
  
−
For a more complete listing and description of atheist cults or atheistic groups which have a cultish following, please see: [[Atheist cults]].
+
=== Brain studies of atheists ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and the brain]] and [[Religiosity and larger frontal lobes]]
  
−
See also: [[Atheist indoctrination]]
+
Brain researchers have conducted a number of studies focusing on the differences between atheists and the religious (see: [[Atheism and the brain]] and [[Religiosity and larger frontal lobes]]).
  
−
== Atheism and women  ==
+
==== Atheists and dopamine levels in the brain ====
  
−
''see also:'' [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]] and [[Elevatorgate]] and [[Prominent atheists whose wives believe in the existence of God]]
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and motivation]]  
  
−
[[File:2404429188 ea8f1fc48b.jpg|thumbnail|right|255px|Studies and web traffic data appear to indicate that women in the [[Western World]] tend to be more religious than men.<ref>Multiple references:
+
According to ''Scientific American'': "Research also suggests that a religious brain exhibits higher levels of [[dopamine]], a hormone associated with increased attention and motivation."<ref>[http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/askthebrains/ Ask the Brains, Scientific American, Dec 23, 2011]</ref> See: [[Atheism and motivation]]
−
*Britt, Robert Roy (February 28, 2009). [http://www.livescience.com/7689-women-religious-men.html "Women more religious than men"].  Livescience.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.
 
−
*See [[Atheism_and_women#Prominent_general_atheist_websites_appear_to_receive_significantly_less_traffic_from_women|Atheism and women: Demographic breakdown of atheist websites]]</ref>]]
 
  
−
=== Recent studies ===
+
=== Atheism and the problem of consciousness ===
  
−
==== Surveys by country ====
+
See: [[Atheism and consciousness]]
  
−
In November of 2010, ''Discover'' magazine published survey results published by the World Values Survey which showed significant differences between the percentage of men and women who are atheists for various countries with men outnumbering women within the [[Atheist Population|atheist population]].<ref>Khan, Razib (November 18, 2010).  [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/sex-differences-in-global-atheism-part-n/ "Gene expression; "Sex differences in global atheism, part N"].  Discover magazine website.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and women]]
+
== Atheism and women  ==
 +
''see also:'' [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]] and [[Elevatorgate]] and [[Prominent atheists whose wives believe in the existence of God]]
  
−
==== United States surveys ====
+
[[File:women.jpg|thumbnail|right|205px|Studies indicate that women tend to be more religious than men (See: [[Atheism and women]]). ]]
  
−
In 2015, ''BloombergView'' reported concerning the [[United States]]: "According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, ...women are 52 percent of the U.S. population but only 36 percent of atheists and agnostics.<ref name=agap>Carter, Stephen L. (March 27, 2015).  [http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-27/the-atheism-gap "The atheism gap"].  BloombergView website.</ref>
+
=== Recent studies ===
  
−
A 2009 article in LiveScience.com entitled ''Women More Religious Than Men'' reported: "A new analysis of survey data finds women pray more often then men, are more likely to believe in God, and are more religious than men in a variety of other ways...The latest findings, released Friday, are no surprise, only confirming what other studies have found for decades. <ref name=Britt>Britt, Robert Roy (February 28, 2009). [http://www.livescience.com/7689-women-religious-men.html "Women more religious than men"].  Livescience.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014</ref>  In 2007, the Pew Research Center found that American women were more religious than American men.<ref name=Britt/>
+
=== Atheist Alliance International analysis ===
  
−
==== Large atheist group survey and atheist meetings ====
+
In 2016, Atheist Alliance International (AAI) conducted an annually recurring atheist census project and found: "At the time of writing, the Atheist Census Project recorded that on average worldwide 73.2% of respondents were male. The result is consistent with other research... As such, the focus of many scholarly papers has been on seeking to explain this persistent observation."<ref>[https://www.atheistalliance.org/about-aai/position-statements/1206-aai-position-statement-gender-balance.html AAI Position Statement - Gender Balance]</ref>
  
−
In 2011, Beliefnetnews reported concerning the race and gender of American atheists:
+
==== Surveys by country ====
−
{{cquote|From the smallest local meetings to the largest conferences, the vast majority of speakers and attendees are almost always white men. Leading figures of the atheist movement — [[Richard Dawkins]], [[Sam Harris]], [[Christopher Hitchens]] and [[Daniel Dennett]] — are all white men.
+
In November 2010, ''Discover'' magazine published survey results published by the World Values Survey which showed significant differences between the percentage of men and women who are atheists for various countries with men outnumbering women within the [[Atheist Population|atheist population]].<ref>Khan, Razib (November 18, 2010).  [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/sex-differences-in-global-atheism-part-n/ "Gene expression; "Sex differences in global atheism, part N"]. Discover magazine website.</ref>
  
−
But making atheism more diverse is proving to be no easy task.
+
==== United States surveys ====
−
 
+
In 2015, ''BloombergView'' reported concerning the [[United States]]: "According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, ...women are 52 percent of the U.S. population but only 36 percent of atheists and agnostics.<ref name=agap>Carter, Stephen L. (March 27, 2015).  [http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-27/the-atheism-gap "The atheism gap"].  BloombergView website.</ref>
−
Surveys suggest most atheists are white men. A recent survey of 4,000 members of the Freedom from Religion Foundation found that 95 percent were white, and men comprised a majority.<ref>MacDonald, G. Jeffrey (2011).  [http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/01/atheists-diversity-woes-have-n.php "Atheists’ diversity woes have no black-and-white answers"].  Beliefnet.  Retrieved on July 26, 2014.</ref>}}
 
−
 
 
−
[[File:Ayaan-Hirsi-Ali.JPG|thumbnail|right|175px|When [[Ayaan Hirsi Ali]] decries [[Islam|Muslim]] [[misogyny]], she is applauded by the atheist community.<br /><br /> Women who decry the misogyny of atheist men often face a harsh backlash. See: [[Atheist hypocrisy]] and [[Elevatorgate]] ]]
 
−
 
 
−
For more information, please see:
 
−
 
 
−
*[[Research on atheist conferences]]
 
−
 
 
−
*[[Atheist conferences]]
 
−
 
 
−
=== Sam Harris on atheism/women ===
 
  
−
In 2014, the prominent New Atheist [[Sam Harris]] said that atheist activism lacks an “[[estrogen]] vibe” and was “to some degree intrinsically male”.<ref name="Lee"/> Due feminist atheist backlash, Harris wrote a long blog post indicating that his comments were taken out of context.<ref>Harris, Sam (September 15, 2014). [http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/im-not-the-sexist-pig-youre-looking-for “I’m not the sexist pig you’re looking for”].  Sam Harris.  Retrieved on September 23, 2014.  See [[Sam Harris]].</ref>
+
A 2009 article in LiveScience.com entitled ''Women More Religious Than Men'' reported: "A new analysis of survey data finds women pray more often then men, are more likely to believe in God, and are more religious than men in a variety of other ways...The latest findings, released Friday, are no surprise, only confirming what other studies have found for decades.<ref name=Britt>Britt, Robert Roy (February 28, 2009). [http://www.livescience.com/7689-women-religious-men.html "Women more religious than men"].  Livescience.</ref> In 2007, the Pew Research Center found that American women were more religious than American men.<ref name=Britt/>
  
 
=== Atheism and sexism ===
 
=== Atheism and sexism ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and sexism]]
  
−
Most atheists are politically on the [[leftist|left]] (see: [[Atheism and politics]] and [[Secular left]]).  Part of leftist ideology is [[feminism]]. However, there is a significant amount of [[misogyny]] among atheists (see: [[Atheism and women]]).  
+
Most atheists are politically on the [[leftist|left]] (see: [[Atheism and politics]] and [[Secular left]]).  Part of leftist ideology is [[feminism]]. However, there is a significant amount of [[misogyny]] among atheists (see: [[Atheism and women]]).
  
−
Atheist women currently experience a considerable amount of [[sexism]] and harassment from atheist men. For example, in 2014, the prominent atheist [[PZ Myers]] said of fellow [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]]' attitude towards women: "At a time when our movement needs to expand its reach, it’s a tragedy that our most eminent spokesman has so enthusiastically expressed such a regressive attitude.”<ref name="Lee">Lee, Adam (September 18, 2014). [http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/18/richard-dawkins-sexist-atheists-bad-name "Richard Dawkins has lost it: ignorant sexism gives atheists a bad name"]. The Guardian website.  Retrieved on September 23, 2014</ref> 
+
For more information please see:  
  
−
For more information please see:
+
*[[Atheism and sexism]]
 +
*[[Atheism and rape]]
 +
*[[Sexual harassment at atheist conferences]]
 +
*[[Elevatorgate]]
 +
*[[Richard Dawkins and women]]
 +
*[[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships|Atheist leaders and immoral relationships]]
  
−
*[[Atheism and women]]
+
=== Atheism and women's rights ===
  
−
*[[Irreligion and domestic violence]]
+
See: [[Atheism and women's rights]]
  
−
*[[Secular Europe and domestic violence]]
+
=== Atheist feminism ===
  
−
*[[Atheism and sexism]]
+
See: [[Atheist feminism]]
  
−
*[[Atheism and rape]]
+
=== Atheism and Asian/white males ===
  
−
*[[Elevatorgate]]
+
*[[Atheism and Asian males]]
  
−
*[[Richard Dawkins and women]]
+
*[[Atheism and white males]]
  
−
*[[Atheist leaders and immoral relationships]]
+
=== Atheist websites appear to receive significantly less traffic from women ===
  
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== Atheism and marriageability ==
+
See: [[Atheist websites appear to receive significantly less traffic from women]]
  
−
''See also:'' [[Atheism and marriage]] and [[Prominent atheists whose wives believe in the existence of God]]
+
== Atheism and marriage/relationships ==
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and marriage]] and [[Atheism and illegitimate births]]  
  
 
=== Atheism and rates of marriage in the United States ===
 
=== Atheism and rates of marriage in the United States ===
−
 
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and marriageability]] and [[Atheism and women]]
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and marriageability]] and [[Atheism and women]]
  
−
The [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] Michael Caputo wrote:
+
The Christian apologist Michael Caputo wrote: "Recently the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has published its mammoth study on Religion in America based on 35,000 interviews... According to the Pew Forum a whopping 37% of atheists never marry as opposed to 19% of the American population, 17% of Protestants and 17% of Catholics."<ref name="marry"/>
−
{{cquote|Recently the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has published its mammoth study on Religion in America based on 35,000 interviews... According to the Pew Forum a whopping 37% of atheists never marry as opposed to 19% of the American population, 17% of Protestants and 17% of Catholics.<ref name="marry"/>}}
 
  
−
[[Vox Day]] declared that according to the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) "more than half of all atheists and [[agnosticism|agnostics]] don’t get married."<ref name="marry"/>
+
Theodore Beale declared that according to the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) "more than half of all atheists and agnostics don’t get married."<ref name="marry"/>
  
 
For more information please see:  [[Atheism and marriageability]]
 
For more information please see:  [[Atheism and marriageability]]
  
 
=== Atheist marriages ===
 
=== Atheist marriages ===
−
 
 
See: [[Atheist marriages]]
 
See: [[Atheist marriages]]
  
−
=== Atheism and interfaith marriages ===
+
=== Atheism and polyamory ===
 +
*[[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]
  
−
See: [[Atheism and interfaith marriages]]
+
=== Atheism and divorce ===
 +
See: [[Atheism and divorce]]
  
−
== Atheism and its inability to explain love ==
+
=== Atheism and interfaith marriages ===
 +
* [[Atheism and interfaith marriages]]
 +
* [[Prominent atheists whose wives believe in the existence of God]]
  
−
See also: [[Atheism and love]]
+
=== Atheism and its inability to explain love ===
 +
See also: [[Atheism and love]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness]]
  
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From a [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]], moral and spiritual perspective, atheists have an inability to satisfactorily explain the existence of [[love]].<ref name=love/> See: [[Atheism and love]]
+
From a [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]], moral and spiritual perspective, atheists have an inability to satisfactorily explain the existence of [[love]].<ref name="How do atheists define love">[http://www.strangenotions.com/atheists-love/ How do atheists define love?] by Dr. Taylor Marshall</ref><ref name="atheistforum.wordpress.com">[https://atheistforum.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/what-is-love-how-materialist-atheism-fails-to-have-a-satisfactory-answer/ What is love? how materialist atheism fails to have a satisfactory answer], July 9, 2014</ref>]
 +
From a  moral, [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] and spiritual perspective, atheists have an inability to satisfactorily explain the existence of [[love]].<ref name="How do atheists define love"/><ref name="atheistforum.wordpress.com"/>
  
−
== Atheism and sexuality ==
+
=== Atheism and sexuality ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and sexuality]] and [[Atheism and romance]] and [[Atheism and fertility rates]]
  
−
''See also:'' [[Atheism and sexuality]]
+
Research shows that religious women (especially [[evangelicalism|evangelical]]/low-church [[Protestantism|Protestant]] women) are more sexually satisfied than irreligious women.<ref>The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 115</ref><ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2008/11/25/the-christian-sexual-awakening.html Why Are Christians Having Better Sex Than the Rest of Us?] by Tucker Carlson, The Daily Beast, November 11, 25, 2008</ref><ref>[http://blog.getrelationshiphelp.com/2009/07/christian-women-have-more-sexual-fun.html Christian Women Have More Sexual Fun], Relationship Center in Springfield Missouri</ref>
−
 
 
−
Research shows that religious women (especially [[evangelicalism|evangelical]]/low-church [[Protestantism|Protestant]] women) are more sexually satisfied than irreligious women.<ref>The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 115</ref><ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2008/11/25/the-christian-sexual-awakening.html Why Are Christians Having Better Sex Than the Rest of Us?] by Tucker Carlson, The Daily Beast, November 11, 25, 2008</ref><ref>[http://blog.getrelationshiphelp.com/2009/07/christian-women-have-more-sexual-fun.html Christian Women Have More Sexual Fun], Relationship Center in Springfield Missouri</ref>
 
  
 
A social science study also reports that Hispanic men are more sexually satisfied than other ethnic groups in the United States.<ref>The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 114</ref>  
 
A social science study also reports that Hispanic men are more sexually satisfied than other ethnic groups in the United States.<ref>The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 114</ref>  
 
Hispanics are known for their religiosity (See also: [[Western atheism and race]]).
 
Hispanics are known for their religiosity (See also: [[Western atheism and race]]).
  
−
In addition, atheist/agnostic populations have sub-replacement levels of fertility (see: [[Atheism and sexuality]]).
+
In addition, the atheist and agnostic populations have sub-replacement levels of fertility (see: [[Atheism and sexuality]] and [[Atheism and romance]]).
  
−
== Western atheism and race ==
+
===  Atheists and physical attractiveness ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheists and physical attractiveness]]
  
−
''See also:'' [[Western atheism and race]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
+
The English anthropologist Edward Dutton indicates that using [[right-wing]] politics as a proxy for religiosity, there is evidence that atheists are less attractive and he pointed out that right-wing politicians are more likely to have symmetrical faces according to a study.<ref>[https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unique-everybody-else/201806/defending-atheist-mutational-load-theory-part-2 Defending Atheist Mutational Load Theory — Part 2] by
 +
Scott A. McGreal MSc., Psychology Today, June 22, 2018</ref>
  
−
=== Atheism and race in the United States and Eurocentric naturalism ===
+
== Atheism and race ==
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism, race and gender]] and [[Atheism and racism]]
  
−
In 2015, ''BloombergView'' reported:
+
=== Asian atheism ===
−
{{cquote|According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, only 3 percent of U.S. atheists and agnostics are black, 6 percent are Hispanic, and 4 percent are Asian. Some 82 percent are white. (The relevant figures for the population at large at the time of the survey were 66 percent white, 11 percent black, 15 percent Hispanic, 5 percent Asian.)
+
''See also:'' [[Asian atheism]] and [[East Asia, China, atheism and racism]]
  
−
...Craig Keener, in his huge review of claims of miracles in a wide variety of cultures, concludes that routine rejection of the possibility of the [[supernatural]] represents an impulse that is [[Secular Europe|deeply Eurocentric]].<ref name=agap/>}}
+
[[East Asia]], in particular what are often termed “Confucian societies.” It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s atheists are actually East Asian."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150905135558/http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/most-atheists-are-not-white/ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales], Discover magazine</ref>  
  
−
At the same time, due to immigration, [[Europe]] is expected to become [[desecularization|more desecularized]] in the 21st century (See also: [[Global atheism]] and [[Atheist population|Atheist population]]).
+
As noted above, the current [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] mostly resides in East [[Asia]] (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia among whites.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> See: [[China and atheism]]
  
−
=== NY Times report about atheism and race in the United States ===
+
As noted above, China is experiencing an explosive growth of Christianity (see: [[Growth of Christianity in China]] and [[East Asia and global desecularization]]).
  
−
As note earlier, an atheists' meeting was organized in the [[United States]] concerning the future direction of the atheist movement and 370 people attended. The conference, sponsored by the Council for Secular Humanism, drew members from all the major atheist organizations in the United States. The ''[[New York Times]]'' described the attendees as "The largely white and male crowd — imagine a [[Star Trek]] convention, but older..."<ref>Oppenheimer, Mark (October 15, 2010). [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/16/us/16beliefs.html "Atheists debate how pushy to be"].  Nytimes.com.  Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref> According to the Quantcast data, white males appear to be the group of individuals who are most receptive to Richard Dawkins' and atheist [[Sam Harris]]' message.<ref>Multiple references:
+
=== Western atheism and race ===
−
*[http://www.quantcast.com/richarddawkins.net/demographics "Richarddawkins.net traffic and demographic statistics: US Demographics"].  Quαntcast.  Retrieved on July 28, 2014.
+
[[File:Sikivu Hutchinson.JPG|thumbnail|200px|right|Atheist Sikivu Hutchinson says that white atheists organizations generally focus on church/state separation and [[creationism]] issues and not on the concerns the less affluent African-American population faces.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/06/16/blacks-are-even-discriminated-against-by-atheists/ Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about] by Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson, Washington Post June 16, 2014</ref>  
−
*[http://www.quantcast.com/samharris.org/demographics "Samharris.org traffic and demographic statistics: US Demographics"]. Quαntcast.  Retrieved on July 28, 2014.</ref> These findings, combined with the aforementioned data indicating that [[Atheism appears to be significantly less appealing to women|atheism is significantly less appealing to women]], suggests that atheist movement in the [[Western world]] and [[New Atheism]] movement are significantly more appealing to white males.
 
  
−
=== Atheism and evolutionary racism ===
+
Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations significantly help poor African-Americans.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/> See also: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] ]]
−
[[File:Ota Benga at Bronx Zoo.jpg|thumbnail|right|255px|An [[Evolutionary racism|evolutionary racist]] put [[Ota Benga]] on display at the Bronx Zoo in the monkey house.<ref name=Benga>Bergman, Jerry (April 2000). [http://creation.com/ota-benga-the-pygmy-put-on-display-in-a-zoo "Ota Benga: the pygmy put on display in a zoo"].  ''Journal of Creation'', vol. 14:1, pp. 81-90.  Retrieved from Creation Ministries International on July 27, 2014.</ref>]]
+
''See also:'' [[Western atheism and race]] and [[Black atheism]] and [[Atheism and diversity]]
−
''See also:'' [[Atheism and evolutionary racism]] and [[Social effects of the theory of evolution]]
 
  
−
Since [[World War II]] a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the [[evolution|evolutionary position]] which employs methodological naturalism have been atheists.<ref name="Batten and Sarfati"/>  The errant and ill founded writings of atheist [[Charles Darwin]] (see: [[Charles_Darwin#Religious Views of Charles Darwin|religious views of Charles Darwin]])<ref name="Wieland">Multiple references:
+
==== Atheism and race: United States and Europe ====
−
* Wieland, Carl (September 1992). [http://www.creation.com/content/view/1877 "Darwin's real message: have you missed it?"] ''Creation'', vol. 14:4, pp. 16-19.  Retrieved from Creation Ministries International on July 26, 2014.
+
In 2015, ''BloombergView'' reported:
−
* Gruber, Howard E. and Barrett, Paul H. (1974).  ''Darwin on Man'' (New York:  E. P. Dutton), p. 276.
+
{{cquote|According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, only 3 percent of U.S. atheists and agnostics are black, 6 percent are Hispanic, and 4 percent are Asian. Some 82 percent are white. (The relevant figures for the population at large at the time of the survey were 66 percent white, 11 percent black, 15 percent Hispanic, 5 percent Asian.)
−
* Mayr, Ernst (May-June 1977).  "Darwin and natural selection."  ''American Scientist''.  pp. 321-327.
 
−
</ref>, which became very influential in the late 19th century, provided a pretext for racism. [[Evolutionary racism]] refers to a [[racist]] philosophy based on [[Charles Darwin]]'s [[Evolution|evolutionary theory]].  It assumes that men have continually evolved, and thus some races are more evolved than others.  It replaces [[Christian]] [[morality]] with the [[atheistic]] "survival of the fittest" ideology of [[Social Darwinism]].
 
  
−
Charles Darwin wrote in his work  ''[[The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex]]'':
+
...Craig Keener, in his huge review of claims of miracles in a wide variety of cultures, concludes that routine rejection of the possibility of the [[supernatural]] represents an impulse that is [[Secular Europe|deeply Eurocentric]].<ref name=agap/>}}
−
{{cquote|At some future period not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilised races of man will almost certainly exterminate and replace the savage races throughout the world. At the same time the anthropomorphous apes...will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest Allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilised state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as the baboon, instead of as now between the Negro or Australian and the gorilla.<ref>Multiple references:
 
−
*[http://www.aim.org/wls/90/ "What liberals say:  Charles Darwin"]. [quoting Darwin, Charles, ''The Descent of Man''].  Accuracy in Media.  Retrieved on July 27, 2014.
 
−
*DeMar, Gary (September 20, 2005) [http://creation.com/charles-darwins-yard-apes "Charles Darwin's 'yard apes'"] [quoting Darwin, Charles, ''The Descent of Man'', chapter 6].  The American Vision [website].  Adapted and republished at Creation Ministries International.  Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>}}
 
  
−
An example of evolutionary racism is when an [[Evolutionary racism|evolutionary racist]] put [[Ota Benga]] on display at the Bronx Zoo in the monkey house.<ref name=Benga/> In addition, evolutionary racism was directed at [[Michelle Obama]].<ref>Catchpoole, David (December 8, 2009). [http://creation.com/obama-racism-row "Michele Obama racism row—what's it based on?"] Creation Ministries International. Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>  
+
In the United States, blacks have the highest rate of religiosity.<ref>[https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/gallup-blacks-most-religious-group-us Gallup: Blacks Most Religious Group in U.S.]</ref> Among Hispanics, religion has traditionally played a significant role in daily activity.<ref>[http://www.diocesephoenix.org/old_site/fc/CatecheticalLeadership/ChurchDocs/UnderstandingtheHispanicCulture.pdf Understanding Hispanic culture]</ref>
−
[[File:StephenGould.jpg|thumb|right|[[Stephen Jay Gould]] ]]
 
−
The atheist [[Ernst Haeckel]] was a virulent evolutionary racist.  The [[agnostic]] and staunch evolutionist [[Stephen Gould]] admitted the following:
 
−
{{cquote|[[Ernst Haeckel|Haeckel]] was the chief apostle of evolution in [[Germany]]....  His evolutionary racism; his call to the [[German]] people for racial purity and unflinching devotion to a "just" state; his belief that harsh, inexorable laws of evolution ruled human civilization and nature alike, conferring upon favored races the right to dominate others; the irrational [[mysticism]] that had always stood in strange communion with his brave words about objective science - all contributed to the rise of [[Nazism]]. — Stephen J. Gould, "Ontogeny and Phylogeny," Belknap Press: Cambridge MA, 1977, pp.77-78).<ref>Gould, Stephen J. (1977).  [http://members.iinet.net.au/~sejones/social.html ''Ontogeny and Phylogeny''] (Cambridge MA: Belknap Press), pp. 77-78.  Retrieved from Stephen E. Jones' (B.S. biology) Home Page on July 27, 2014.</ref>}}
 
  
−
=== Creativity Movement ===
+
In 2011, Beliefnetnews reported concerning the race and gender of American atheists:
 +
{{cquote|From the smallest local meetings to the largest conferences, the vast majority of speakers and attendees are almost always white men. Leading figures of the atheist movement — [[Richard Dawkins]], [[Sam Harris]], [[Christopher Hitchens]] and [[Daniel Dennett]] — are all white men.
  
−
''See also:'' [[Creativity Movement]] and [[Atheist cults]]
+
But making atheism more diverse is proving to be no easy task.
  
−
The '''[[Creativity Movement]]''', formerly known as the ''World Church Of The Creator'', is an atheistic [[white supremacist]] organization.<ref>Multiple references:
+
Surveys suggest most atheists are white men. A recent survey of 4,000 members of the [[Freedom From Religion Foundation|Freedom from Religion Foundation]] found that 95 percent were white, and men comprised a majority.<ref>http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/01/atheists-diversity-woes-have-n.php</ref>}}
−
*Swain, Carol M. and Nieli, Russ (March 24, 2003), eds.  [http://books.google.com/books?id=RonIunZ521sC&pg=PA247&dq=atheism+white+supremacy&hl=en&ei=u_OOTaGaM6Xi0gHJztygCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q&f=false "Chapter 9:  Lisa Turner" [preview&#93;.] ''Contemporary Voices of White Nationalism in America'' (Cambridge University Press), p. 246-259.  Preview accessed from GoogleBooks on July 26, 2014.  (See [[Cambridge University Press]].)  World Church of the Creator, an organization that espouses an atheistic and white supremacist religious philosophy known as Creativity.
 
−
*Swain, Carol M. (2002). [http://books.google.com/books?id=HB1wyFPRGm4C&pg=PA23&dq=atheism+white+supremacy&hl=en&ei=Re-OTfbHHuuD0QHOycm1Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=atheistic&f=false ''The New White Nationalism in America: Its Challenge to Integration'' [preview&#93;] (New York:  Cambridge University Press).  Preview accessed from GoogleBooks on July 26, 2014. (See [[Cambridge University Press]].)  For instance, Ben Klassen, founder of the atheistic World Church of the Creator and the author of ''The White Man's Bible'', discusses Christianity extensively in his writings and denounces religion that has brought untold horror into the world and divided the white race.
 
−
*Clarke, Peter B. and Beyer, Peter (May 7, 2009), eds. [http://books.google.com/books?id=rBgn3xB75ZcC&pg=PA493&dq=competing+atheistic+white+racist+movement&hl=en&ei=5uWOTeSkCamw0QH7m92bCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=competing%20atheistic%20white%20racist%20movement&f=false ''The World's Religions: Continuities and Transformations'' [preview&#93;] (New York: Taylor & Francis).  Preview accessed from GoogleBooks on July 26, 2014.  A competing atheistic or panthestic white racist movement also appeared, which included the ''Church of the Creator''/Creativity (Gardell 2003: 129–134).</ref> The movement has denounced [[Christianity]],<ref name="Swain">Swain, Carol M. (2002). [http://books.google.com/books?id=HB1wyFPRGm4C&pg=PA23&dq=atheism+white+supremacy&hl=en&ei=Re-OTfbHHuuD0QHOycm1Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEgQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=atheistic&f=false ''The New White Nationalism in America: Its Challenge to Integration'' [preview&#93;] (New York:  Cambridge University Press).  Preview accessed from GoogleBooks on July 26, 2014. (See [[Cambridge University Press]].)  For instance, Ben Klassen, founder of the atheistic World Church of the Creator and the author of ''The White Man's Bible'', discusses Christianity extensively in his writings and denounces religion that has brought untold horror into the world and divided the white race.</ref> as it purports to promote [[Agape|love]] for all of mankind.<ref name="Ludwig Feuerbach">Feuerbach, Ludwig (1854). [http://books.google.com/books?id=GTEKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA266&dq=christianity+love+for+mankind&hl=en&ei=CFSbTbyAJcrUgQekjsCSBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CEEQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=christianity%20love%20for%20mankind&f=false ''The Essence of Christianity''] (London: John Chapman), translated by Evans, Marian.  Translation of ''Das Wesen des Christentums'' (1841), 2nd ed. (Leipzig).  Retrieved on July 27, 2014.  "Christ loved men: he wished to bless and unite them all without distinction of sex, age, rank or nationality. Christ is the love of mankind to itself embodied in an image–in accordance with the nature of religion as we have developed it—or contemplated as a person, but a person who (we mean, of course, as a religious object) has only the significance of an image, who is only ideal.  For this reason love is pronounced to be the characteristic mark of the disciples." (p. 266)</ref> It denounces religion for bringing horror into the world by dividing the white race.<ref name="Swain"/>
 
  
−
== Decline of atheism in terms of the global population ==
+
=== RationalWiki/RationalMedia Foundation board of trustees and the lack of Black representation ===
  
−
[[File:Birkbeck College, University of London.jpg|right|thumbnail|250px|[[Eric Kaufmann]], a professor at [[Birkbeck College, University of London]], using a wealth of demographic studies argues the decline of atheism in terms of its [[global atheism|global adherents]] is an established trend that will persist for the foreseeable future and the rate of decline will accelerate.<ref name="sneps">Multiple references:
+
See: [[RationalMedia Foundation board of trustees and the lack of Black representation]]
−
*Kaufmann, Eric. (2009 or aft.). [http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf "Shall the religious inherit the earth?: demography and politics in the twenty-first century"].  www.sneps.net.  Paper similar to book ''Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?  Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century''.  Publ. in unknown publication. ("Most observers accept that the aftermath...") Retrieved July 27, 2014.
 
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*Kitman, Frank (May 18, 2011).  [http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html "Eric Kaufmann: shall the religious inherit the earth?"]  Kitman TV.  Retrieved July 27, 2014.
 
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*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics "Atheist demographic series"] (2009-2011).  Kitman TV.  Retrieved July 27, 2014.
 
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*[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth "Eric Kaufmann: shall the religious inherit the earth?" [Festival of dangerous ideas 2010, Sydney Opera House&#93;] (September 5, 2010).  Fora.tv video, 1:03:56, posted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation.  Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>]]  
 
  
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''See also:'' [[Global atheism]] and [[Atheist movement]] and [[Desecularization]] and [[Atheist Population]] and [[Growth of Christianity in China]] and [[Secular Europe]] and [[Decline of the secular left]]
+
== Atheism and education ==
 +
*[[Religion and education]]  
 +
*[[Atheist indoctrination|Atheistic indoctrination and education]]
 +
*[[Atheism and academia]]  
 +
*[[Atheism and academic performance]]
 +
== Atheism and culture: Art, architecture, music, language, poetry, dance and humor ==
 +
[[File:Destroy the old world Cultural Revolution poster.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A [[People's Republic of China]] propaganda poster stating "Destroy the Old World & Forge the New World," with a worker smashing a [[crucifix]], a [[Buddha]] murti, and a classical Chinese sacred text; 1967.]]
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and culture]]
  
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Atheists as a percentage of the world's population have declined since 1970 and global atheism is expected to face long term decline.<ref>Multiple references:
+
[[Culture]] consists of the "language, habits, ideas, beliefs, customs, social organization, inherited artifacts, technical processes, and values."<ref>[http://www.eng.auburn.edu/~sjreeves/cm/culture.html Christianity and culture]</ref>
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*Kumar, Anugrah (July 20, 2013).  [http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-world-is-turning-more-religious-atheism-declining-100518/ "Study: world is turning more religious; atheism declining"].  The Christian Post.  Retrieved on July 27, 2014.
 
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*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/globally-worldviews-of-atheism-and-non.html "Globally the worldviews of atheism and non-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity is exploding in adherents"] (May 19, 2012).  Question Evolution Campaign.  Retrieved on July 27, 2014.
 
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*Kaufmann, Eric (2009 or aft.).  [http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf "Shall the religious inherit the earth?: demography and politics in the twenty-first century"].  www.sneps.net.  Paper similar to book ''Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?  Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century''.  Publ. in unknown publication. ("Most observers accept that the aftermath...") Retrieved July 27, 2014.
 
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*[http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/documents/StatusOfGlobalMission.pdf "Status of global mission, 2014, in the context of AD 1800–2025"] (2014). Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary website.  Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>  
 
  
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On July 24, 2013, ''CNS News'' reported:
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Atheism has not produced any outstanding cultural achievements and it has had a negative effect on cultures (see: [[Atheism and culture]] and [[Atheism and its anti-civilizational effects]] and [[Atheism statistics]]).  
−
{{cquote|Atheism is in decline worldwide, with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass."<ref>Chapman, Michael W. (July 24, 2013). [http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 "Global study: atheists in decline, only 1.8% of world population by 2020"]. Cnsnews.com.  Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>}}
 
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=== Sub-replacement levels of fertility of atheistic populations. High fertility of religious conservatives ===
 
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and marriage]] and [[Atheist marriages]]
+
For example, relative to [[Christianity]], which has a large collection of art, music and poetry associated it, atheism has a very small collection of art, music and poetry associated with it (see: [[Atheist art]] and [[Atheist music]] and [[Atheist poetry]]).
  
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On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] who teaches at Birbeck College, [[University of London]] wrote:  "I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious."<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/97-of-worlds-population-growth-is.html "97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious"] (April 30, 2013). Question Evolution Campaign.  Retrieved on October 29, 2014.</ref>
+
It is often said that atheism is boring, stale and difficult to believe (see: [[Atheism and inspiration]]). As noted above, research indicates that atheists are less open-minded (see: [[Atheism and open-mindedness]]).  
  
−
Michael Blume, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany, wrote about the sub-replacement level of fertility among [[Atheist Population|atheistic populations]]: "Most societies or communities that have espoused atheistic beliefs have not survived more than a century."<ref name=leake>Leake, Jonathan (January 2, 2011).  [http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Society/article496716.ece "Atheists a dying breed as nature 'favours faithful'"].  London Times website. Retrieved on April 23, 2015.</ref> Blume also indicated concerning concerning his research on this matter: "What I found was the complete lack of a single case of a secular population, community or movement that would just manage to retain replacement level."<ref name=leake/>
+
For additional information, please see:
  
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[[File:Europe map CIA 2005.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|In 2014, the Pew Research Forum indicated that [[Europe]] will go from 11% of the world's population to 7% of the world's population by 2050.<ref name="PewProj">Kochhar, Rakesh (February 3, 2014).  [http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/02/03/10-projections-for-the-global-population-in-2050/ "10 projections for the global population in 2050"].  FactTank/Pew Research Center website.  Retrieved on January 3, 2015.</ref> See: [[Secular Europe]] ]]
+
*[[Atheist art]]
 +
*[[Atheism and architecture]]
 +
*[[Atheist music]]  
 +
*[[Atheist population and verbal–linguistic intelligence|Atheism and linguistic/oratory skills]]
 +
*[[Atheist poetry]]  
 +
*[[Atheism and dance]]
 +
*[[Atheism and humor]]
  
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=== Expected religious and racial demographic changes in the Western World ===
+
== Global atheism ==
 +
=== Global decline of atheism  ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and diversity]] and [[Atheism and culture]]
 +
[[File:Blue Marble.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Atheism is in decline worldwide in terms of number of atheists and the percentage of atheists in world.<ref>
 +
*[https://www.gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2025.pdf Status of Global Atheism/Christianity, 2025, in the Context of 1900–2050] (831,000 less atheists in the world than a year ago.
 +
*[https://gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2019/04/StatusofGlobalChristianity20191.pdf Status of Global Atheism/Christianity/other religions, 2019, in the Context of 1900–2050]</ref>
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
See: [[Global atheism statistics]] ]]
  
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See also: [[Secular Europe|Desecularization of secular Europe in the 21st century]]
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Atheists as a percentage of the world's population have declined since 1970 and global atheism is expected to face long-term decline.<ref>
 +
*[http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-world-is-turning-more-religious-atheism-declining-100518/ Study: World is becoming more religious]
 +
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/globally-worldviews-of-atheism-and-non.html Globally the worldviews of atheism and non-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity is exploding in adherents]
 +
*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]
 +
*[http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/documents/StatusOfGlobalMission.pdf Gordon-Conwell Seminary - Status of Global Mission, 2014, in the Context of AD 1800–2025]</ref> See: [[Desecularization]] and [[Global atheism statistics]]
  
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In the [[United Kingdom]], by the year 2050, 30 percent of the population is expected to be non-white.<ref>Kirkup, James (May 5, 2014).  [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10809481/Non-white-people-almost-30-per-cent-of-population-by-2050.html "Non-white people almost 30 per cent of population by 2050"].  The Telegraph.  Retrieved on January 14, 2015.</ref> In the United States, the Hispanic population is expected to triple by the year 2050 and become 30% of the United States population.<ref>Nasser, Haya El (February 12, 2008).  "U.S. Hispanic population to triple by 2050".  USA Today website.  Retrieved from various websites ("The U.S. population will soar to 438 million...") on January 14, 2015.</ref> ''[[Yale University|Yale]] Daily News'' reported in an article entitled "White Europeans: An endangered species?" that "Without a major shift in the current fertility trends, industrialized Europe will see its native population decline by about three-fourths over the 21st century."<ref>Wagener, Trevor (February 27, 2008).  [http://yaledailynews.com/blog/2008/02/27/white-europeans-an-endangered-species/ "White Europeans: an endangered species?"] ''Yale Daily News''.  Retrieved on January 3, 2014.</ref>
+
In 2024, Frontier Partners International reported concerning [[global atheism]]: "Simultaneously, atheism, which once saw a peak around 1970 with 165 million adherents, is on the decline. The current growth trend for atheism is -0.12 percent, with their number falling from 147 million in 2020 to 146 million in 2024."<ref>[https://www.frontierpartners.org/global-christianity-surges Global Christianity surges beyond projections in 2024], LiCAS.news • Mar 15, 2024, Frontiers Patners Intertnational, 2024</ref> See also: [[Desecularization]] and [[Global atheism statistics]]
  
−
For information on the projected growth of [[Evangelical Christianity|Evangelical Christianity]] and [[Islam]] in Europe, please see:
+
According to the ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'', 2% of the world's population self-identifies as atheist and the average annual global change for atheism from 2000 to 2010 was −0.17%.<ref name="eb-2010">{{cite web|title=Religion: Year in Review 2010: Worldwide Adherents of All Religions|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310135559/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1731588/Religion-Year-In-Review-2010/298437/Worldwide-Adherents-of-All-Religions|work=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.|accessdate=2013-11-21}}</ref>
  
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[[Secular Europe|Desecularization of secular Europe in the 21st century]]
+
=== Decline of the number of atheists in the world ===
  
−
=== Growth of evangelical Christianity in secular geographic regions ===
+
''See also:'' [[Decline of the number of atheists in the world]]
  
−
*[[Growth of Christianity in China|Growth of evangelical Christianity in China]]  
+
According to the [[Center for the Study of Global Christianity]], the number of atheists in the world is now shrinking and will continue to do so.<ref>[https://www.gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2024.pdf Status of Global Atheism/Christianity, 2024, in the Context of 1900–2050]</ref><ref>[https://www.gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2023.pdf Status of Global Atheism/Christianity/other religions, 2023, in the Context of 1900–2050]</ref> See also: [[Decline of the number of atheists in the world]] and [[Future of atheism in China]] and [[European desecularization in the 21st century]] and [[Decline of Europe]]
  
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*[[Secular Europe|Desecularization of secular Europe in the 21st century]]
+
=== Demographics of atheism ===
 +
[[Demography]] is the study of human populations, and is a major specialty in the disciplines of sociology, economics, history, geography, statistics and epidemiology.
  
−
*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]
+
*[[Demographics of atheism]]
  
−
== Atheism and Abrahamic religions ==
+
==== Atheism and specific countries/areas ====
 +
*[[China and atheism]]
 +
*[[French atheism]]
 +
*[[British atheism]]
 +
*[[Secular Europe]]
 +
*[[American atheism]]
 +
[[File:Europe map.png|thumbnail|right|226px|[[Europe]], which is less religious than the United States has a subreplacement level of births, is projected to have a population that is 30% less small by the end of the century (see: [[Atheism and fertility rates]]).<ref>[https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/total-population-outlook-from-unstat-3/assessment-1#:~:text=The%20greatest%20declines%20occur%20under,30%20%25%20of%20its%20current%20size. Population trends 1950 – 2100: globally and within Europe]</ref>
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
In 2014, the Pew Research Forum indicated that [[Europe]] will go from 11% of the world's population to 7% of the world's population by 2050.<ref>[https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/02/03/10-projections-for-the-global-population-in-2050/ 10 projections for the global population in 2050] By Rakesh Kochhar, Pew Research Forum, February 3, 2014</ref>]]
 +
*[[European desecularization in the 21st century]]
 +
*[[Irreligion in Australia]]
 +
*[[Irreligion in New Zealand]]
 +
*[[Atheism in the Anglosphere]]
  
−
*[[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
+
==== Religious people moving to irreligious regions ====
  
−
*[[Atheism vs. Islam]]
+
*[[Religion and migration]]
 +
*[[Growth of evangelical Christianity in irreligious regions]]
  
−
== Atheism statistics and atheist population ==
+
=== Atheism statistics ===
  
 
*[[Atheism statistics]]
 
*[[Atheism statistics]]
 +
*[[Christianity vs. atheism statistics]]
 +
*[[Atheist women statistics]]
 +
*[[Research on atheism]]
  
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*[[Atheist population]]
+
=== Atheist movement and leadership ===
−
 
 
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*[[Atheism and intelligence]]
 
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*[[Atheism and education]]
 
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==== Atheist movement and leadership ====
 
−
 
 
 
* [[Atheist movement]]
 
* [[Atheist movement]]
−
 
 
* [[Atheism and leadership]]
 
* [[Atheism and leadership]]
  
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==Atheism and deception==
+
=== Poor international cooperation among atheists ===
−
[[Image:CharlesDarwin.jpg|thumb|150px|right|[[Charles Darwin]]]]
 
−
''For more information please see'': [[Atheism and deception]] and [[Atheism and truth]] and [[Irreligion and superstition]] and [[Atheist cults]]
 
  
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As alluded to earlier, prior to [[Charles Darwin]] publishing his [[evolution|evolutionist]] work ''On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life'', Darwin wrote in his private notebooks that he was a [[materialism|materialist]], which is a type of atheist.(see: [http://www.conservapedia.com/Charles_Darwin#Religious_Views_of_Charles_Darwin Religious views of Charles Darwin])<ref name="Wieland"/>  Charles Darwin’s casual mentioning of a ‘creator’ in earlier editions of ''The Origin of Species'' appears to have been a merely a [[deceit|deceitful]] ploy to downplay the implications of his [[materialism|materialistic]] theory. <ref name="Wieland"/>
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and international cooperation among atheists]]
  
−
German scientist [[Ernst Haeckel]] was a very influential proponent of the evolutionary position and Haeckel was an advocate of atheism.<ref name="nytimes2">[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C03EFDD123EE033A2575AC0A9659C946697D6CF "Kaiser honors Haeckel"] (March 9, 1907).  ''New York Times'', p. 1.  Retrieved from Nytimes.com on July 28, 2014.</ref>  Ernst Haeckel attempted to portray himself as an ethical proponent of atheism, however, history shows he was a deceitful individual.<ref>Multiple references:
+
In recent years, international cooperation among atheists has been low (see: [[Atheism and international cooperation among atheists]]).
−
*Wakefield, Gerard (2002).  [http://www.creationism.org/wakefield/haeckel.htm "Investigating Genesis series: 'Another evolution fraud exposed'".]  www.creationism.org.  Retrieved on July 28, 2014.
 
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*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C03EFDD123EE033A2575AC0A9659C946697D6CF "Kaiser honors Haeckel"] (March 9, 1907).  ''New York Times'', p. 1.  Retrieved from Nytimes.com on July 28, 2014.
 
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*Wells, Jonathan (June 12, 2002).  [http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=1180 "Critics rave over ''Icons of Evolution'': a response to published reviews"].  Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture.  Retrieved on July 28, 2014.
 
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*Wells, Jonathan (January 2001). [http://www.discovery.org/articleFiles/PDFs/survivalOfTheFakest.pdf "Survival of the fakest"].  ''The American Spectator''.  Retrieved from the Discovery Institute Center for Science and Culture:  essential readings on July 29, 2014.</ref>
 
−
The March 9, 1907 edition of the ''New York Times'' refers to Ernst Haeckel as the "celebrated Darwinian and founder of the Association for the Propagation of Ethical Atheism."<ref name="nytimes2"/>
 
  
−
For more information please see: [[Atheism and deception]] and [[Atheism and truth]]
+
== Views on atheists ==
 +
''See also:'' [[Views on atheists]] and [[Distrust of atheists]] and [[Atheism and social outcasts]] and [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Atheophobia]]
 +
[[File:Sam Harris-2010.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|[[Sam Harris]] ]]
  
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== Irreligion and superstition==
+
Sociological research indicates that atheists are widely distrusted in both religious cultures and nonreligious cultures.<ref name="USATodayviewsonatheists">[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-12-10/religion-atheism/51777612/1 Study: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists]</ref><ref name="CPviewsonatheists">[http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheists-widely-distrusted-even-among-themselves-culturally-ingrained-uk-study-finds-160480/ Atheists Widely Distrusted, Even Among Themselves, UK Study Finds], Christian Post, 2015</ref><ref name="Independentviewsonatheists">[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/anti-atheist-distrust-deeply-and-culturally-ingrained-study-finds-a6952276.html Anti-atheist distrust ‘deeply and culturally ingrained’, study finds], ''The Independent'', 2015</ref><ref>Edgell, Gerteis & Hartmann 2006</ref> 
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[[Image:2384975035_230a0eac30.jpg‎‎|thumb|right|170px|The [[Wall Street Journal]] reported: "A comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows ...that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to [[superstition]], tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians."<ref name="paranormal">Hemingway, Molly Ziegler (September 19, 2008). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html "Look who's irrational now"].  The Wall Street Journal website.  Retrieved on July 29, 2014.</ref>]]
 
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''See also:'' [[Irreligion and superstition]] and [[Theory of Evolution, Liberalism, Atheism, and Irrationality]] and [[Atheist cults]]
 
  
−
In September of 2008, the [[Wall Street Journal]] reported:
+
According to a study published in the ''International Journal for The Psychology of Religion'': "anti-atheist prejudice is not confined either to dominantly religious countries or to religious individuals, but rather appears to be a robust judgment about atheists."<ref name="Independentviewsonatheists"/> The study found that many atheists do not trust other atheists as well.<ref name="Independentviewsonatheists"/>
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{{cquote|The reality is that the [[New Atheism|New Atheist]] campaign, by discouraging [[religion]], won't create a new group of intelligent, skeptical, enlightened beings. Far from it: It might actually encourage new levels of mass [[superstition]]. And that's not a conclusion to take on faith—it's what the empirical data tell us.
 
  
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"What Americans Really Believe," a comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows that [[Conservative Christianity|traditional Christian religion]] greatly decreases belief in everything from the efficacy of palm readers to the usefulness of [[astrology]]. It also shows that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to superstition, tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians....
+
Various atheists have attempted to change the public's perception of atheism and atheists, but their efforts were largely unsuccessful (see: [[Attempts to positively rebrand atheism]]).  
  
−
This is not a new finding. In his 1983 book "The Whys of a Philosophical Scrivener," skeptic and science writer Martin Gardner cited the decline of traditional religious belief among the better educated as one of the causes for an increase in pseudoscience, cults and superstition. He referenced a 1980 study published in the magazine ''Skeptical Inquirer'' that showed irreligious college students to be by far the most likely to embrace paranormal beliefs, while born-again Christian college students were the least likely.<ref name="paranormal"/>}}
+
=== Other topics related to views on atheists ===
 +
*[[Persecution of atheists]]
 +
*[[Atheophobia]] is a fear and/or hatred of atheism/atheists.
  
−
For more information please see: [[Irreligion and superstition]]
+
== Desecularization and its causes ==
 +
''See also:'' [[Desecularization]] and [[Causes of desecularization]]
  
−
==Intellectuals increasingly rejecting atheistic ideology ==
+
[[Desecularization]] is the process by which [[religion]] reasserts its societal influence though religious values, institutions, sectors of society and symbols in reaction to previous and/or co-occurring [[secularization]] processes.<ref>''Religion and the State in Russia and China: Suppression, Survival and Revival'' by Christopher Marsh, 2011, page 11 (Christopher Marsh cites the definitions of desecularization given by Peter L. Berger and Vyacheslav Karpov)</ref>
−
According to Munich theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg "Atheism as a theoretical position is in decline worldwide." (see: [[Global atheism]]).<ref name="wt">Siemon-Netto, Uwe (March 3, 2005). [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/05/breaking2453432.91875.html "God not so dead:  atheism in decline worldwide"].  UPI.  Retrieved from World Tribune.com on July 29, 2014.</ref> Given that the evolutionary position is a often cited component of the ideology of atheism in the [[Western world]], the gradual loss of public support of the evolutionary position is one of the many factors which are eroding the ideology of atheism.  [[Oxford]] scholar [[Alister McGrath]] cites a number of additional factors in regards to the decline of atheism as an intellectual position.<ref>Multiple references:
 
−
*McGrath, Alister (February 28, 2005).  [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/march/21.36.html "The twilight of atheism" [preview&#93;].  Christianity Today website.  Preview retrieved on July 29, 2014.  Subscription required for full access.
 
−
*Holst, Wayne (2004).  [http://www.s8int.com/Godless.html "''Twilight of the Godless'' by Alister McGrath"].  ''The Toronto Star''.  Retreived from s8int.com on July 29, 2014.</ref>
 
  
−
Given the many factors which are eroding atheistic ideology McGrath states:
+
As noted above, from 2024 to 2025, the number of atheists in the world dropped by 831,000 atheists according to the [[Center for the Study of Global Christianity]] at [[Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary]].<ref>[https://www.gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2025.pdf Status of Global Atheism/Christianity, 2025, in the Context of 1900–2050]</ref><ref>[https://www.gordonconwell.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/01/Status-of-Global-Christianity-2024.pdf Status of Global Atheism/Christianity, 2024, in the Context of 1900–2050]</ref>
−
{{cquote|...Atheism is in trouble. Its future seems increasingly to lie in the private beliefs of individuals rather than in the great public domain it once regarded as its natural habitat.<ref>McGrath, Alister (February 28, 2005).  [http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/march/21.36.html "The twilight of atheism" [preview&#93;].  Christianity Today website.  Preview retrieved on July 29, 2014.  Subscription required for full access.</ref>}}
 
  
−
== Christian websites and other resources with a large focus on the topic of atheism  ==
+
The [[theology|theologian]] and [[Harvard University]] academic Harvey Cox asserted that [[grassroots]] movements such as [[fundamentalism]] and the [[Charismatic movement]]/[[pentecostalism]] are significant religious forces that are resistant to secularization forces.<ref>[http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8028-4691-4 Publisher's Weekly Review of'' The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics'' by Peter L. Berger]</ref><ref>[https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/harvey-cox/fire-from-heaven/ Kirkus Reviews- ''FIRE FROM HEAVEN: Pentecostalism, Spirituality, and the Reshaping of Religion in the Twenty-First Century'' by Harvey Cox]</ref> In her book ''The Battle for God'', Karen Armstrong wrote: "One of the most startling developments of the late 20th century has been the emergence within every major religious tradition of a militant piety known as 'fundamentalism'… this religious resurgence has taken many observers by surprise."<ref>Karen Armstrong, The Battle for God, p. 9</ref>
−
[[File:TFT.JPG|thumb|right|400px|[[True Free Thinker]] is a [[Christian apologetics]] website run by Ken Ammi which offers many [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|refutations of atheism]].]]
+
Today, even the highly [[secular]]ized public and political sphere of [[France]] is showing a new and more open attitude towards religion.<ref>[https://edoc.unibas.ch/50856/3/20170119190142_5880ff06238b8.pdf How religious is the public sphere? – A critical stance on the debate about public religion and post-secularity], Draft Version, Jens Koehrsen (Köhrsen). Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology, Germany. École des hautes études en sciences socials, France. Published in: Acta Sociologica 55 (3), S. 273-288.</ref>
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''See also:'' [[Atheism vs. Christianity]] and [[Internet atheism]]
 
  
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Four of the more notable Christian apologetics websites/blogs which have a large focus on the topic of atheism are: [[True Free Thinker]], the [[Creation Ministries International and atheism|Creation Ministries International resources on atheism]], the [[Fixed Point Foundation]] website, and the [[Atheism Analyzed]] blog.
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=== Atheism and sub-replacement levels of fertility ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and fertility rates]]
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[[File:Jacques Berlinerblau.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|In 2011, atheist [[Jacques Berlinerblau]] declared: "The Golden Age of [[Secularism]] has passed."<ref name="chronicle.com"/>]]
 +
Michael Blume, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany, wrote about the sub-replacement level of fertility among [[Atheist Population|atheistic populations]]: "Most societies or communities that have espoused atheistic beliefs have not survived more than a century."<ref name="scilogs.eu">[http://www.scilogs.eu/en/blog/biology-of-religion/2011-01-06/atheists-a-dying-breed-as-nature-favours-faithful-sunday-times-jan-02-2011-jonathan-leake-full-draft-version Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful]</ref> Blume also indicated concerning concerning his research on this matter: "What I found was the complete lack of a single case of a secular population, community or movement that would just manage to retain replacement level."<ref name="scilogs.eu"/>  See also: [[Atheism and sexuality]]
  
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The [[Freedom from Atheism Foundation]] has a significant social media presence. The [[Militant atheism YouTube channel]] has a collection of videos on militant atheism.
+
On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] who teaches at Birbeck College, University of London wrote:
 +
{{cquote|I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious.
  
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== Liberal media - apostles of atheism and public relations efforts of atheists ==
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On the other hand, the secular West and East Asia has very low fertility and a rapidly aging population... In the coming decades, the developed world's demand for workers to pay its pensions and work in its service sector will soar alongside the booming supply of young people in the third world. Ergo, we can expect significant immigration to the secular West which will import religious revival on the back of ethnic change. In addition, those with religious beliefs tend to have higher birth rates than the secular population, with fundamentalists having far larger families. The epicentre of these trends will be in immigration gateway cities like New York (a third white), Amsterdam (half Dutch), Los Angeles (28% white), and London, 45% white British.
 +
<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/97-of-worlds-population-growth-is.html 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious], Tuesday, April 30, 2013</ref>}}
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and the media]]
+
At a conference, Kaufmann said of religious demographic projections concerning the 21st century:
 +
{{cquote|Part of the reason I think [[demography]] is very important, at least if we are going to speak about the future, is that it is the most predictable of the [[social sciences]].
  
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The Media Research Center released a study in 2008 reporting pro-atheism bias by major press outlets in the [[United States]].<ref name=mrc>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTxORumTarg "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias"] (July 17, 2008). YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks! Retrieved on July 25, 2014.</ref>  The study found that 80% of mainstream media coverage of atheism was positive and that 71% of Christian-themed stories had an atheist counterpoint or were written from an atheist perspective.<ref name=mrc/>  The study is not surprising given the [[Liberal bias|liberal bias that commonly exists in the major media outlets]].
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...if you look at a population and its age structure now. You can tell a lot about the future. ...So by looking at the relative age structure of different populations you can already say a lot about the future...
  
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=== Atheism and public relations ===
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...Religious [[fundamentalism]] is going to be on the increase in the future and not just out there in the developing world..., but in the developed world as well.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7vCDeKPRSo Eric Kaufmann - Religion, Demography and Politics in the 21st Century]</ref>}}
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Atheism statistics]]
+
=== Secularism is exhausted and unconfident ===
 +
''See also:'' [[Decline of the atheist movement]]
  
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The biggest challenge facing atheists public relations efforts is that most theists do not think about atheism and would prefer not to as they it is an [[Atheism and irrationality|unreasonable]], [[Atheism and arrogance|arrogant]] and [[Unattractiveness of atheism|unattractive worldview]]. As a result, many atheist campaigns, particularly one's by militant atheists, are designed to be provocative which has the effect of further lowering the public's view of atheism/atheists.  
+
[[Eric Kaufmann]], an [[agnosticism|agnostic]] professor whose academic research specialty is how demographic changes affect religion/irreligion and politics, wrote in 2010:
 +
{{cquote|Worldwide, the march of religion can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears exhausted and lacking in confidence... Secularism's greatest triumphs owe less to science than to popular social movements like nationalism, [[socialism]] and 1960s anarchist-[[liberalism]]. Ironically, secularism's demographic deficit means that it will probably only succeed in the twenty-first century if it can create a secular form of 'religious' enthusiasm.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/uploadsepk/JQR%20Demography.pdf Shall the religious inherit the earth? - Eric Kaufmann]</ref>}}
  
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In areas of the [[Western World]] where theists are in the majority, atheists on the [[Secular left|left end of the political spectrum]], using the strategy of [[identity politics]], have made various attempts to portray atheists as an oppressed minority, but this has not much lessoned the low opinion and/or antipathy many theists hold towards atheists for multiple reasons (see: [[Views on atheists]]). For more information, please see: [[Atheism and public relations]]
+
[[File:Edward Tabash 2013.jpg|thumbnail|right|190px|[[Eddie Tabash]] ]]
 +
The American atheist activist [[Eddie Tabash]] said at the 2010 Michigan Atheists State Convention:
 +
{{Cquote|In every generation there has been a promising beginning of a true vanguard movement that will finally achieve widespread public acceptance for nonbelief. Yet, in each generation there has been an ultimately disappointing failure to actually register the [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic alternative]] to supernatural claims in the public consciousness...<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iix6OjLH6aM Atheists Speak Up - Eddie Tabash]</ref>}}
  
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== Causes of atheism ==
+
In recent years, a number of notable atheists have expressed pessimism about the future of the [[atheist movement]] (see: [[Decline of the atheist movement]]).
  
−
:''See main article: [[Causes of atheism]]'' and [[Atheism and hedonism]] and [[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
+
=== Causes of desecularization ===
 +
*[[Causes of desecularization]]
 +
*[[Decline of the secular left]]
  
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There are a number of psychological, societal, familial, economic and spiritual factors which cause atheism which have been proposed over the centuries.  Please see: [[Causes of atheism]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]].
+
=== Zero secularization rates in France and Protestant Europe ===
 +
''See also:'' [[British atheism]]
  
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==Atheism and the foundation of modern science==
+
In April 2010, Eric Kaufmann declared "the rate of secularisation has flattened to zero in most of [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Europe]] and [[France]]."<ref>[https://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/shall_the_religious_inherit_the_earth/ Shall the Religious Inherit the earth] by Eric Kaufmann</ref>
  
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''See also:'' [[Christianity and science]]
+
''The Guardian'' published an article in 2017 entitled ''Nearly 50% are of [[Nones|no religion]] – but has [[UK]] hit ‘peak secular’?'' which declared:
 +
{{Cquote|But, Bullivant told the ''Observer'' that the “growth of no religion may have stalled”. After consistent decline, in the past few years the proportion of [[nones]] appears to have stabilised. “Younger people tend to be more non-religious, so you’d expect it to keep going – but it hasn’t. The steady growth of non-Christian religions is a contributing factor, but I wonder if everyone who is going to give up their Anglican affiliation has done so by now? We’ve seen a vast shedding of nominal Christianity, and perhaps it’s now down to its hardcore.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/13/uk-losing-faith-religion-young-reject-parents-beliefs ''Nearly 50% are of no religion – but has UK hit ‘peak secular’?''], ''The Guardian'', 2017</ref>}}
  
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The birth of modern [[science]] occurred in Christianized [[Europe]].<ref>Bumbulis, Michael, Ph. D. (November 24, 1996). [http://www.ldolphin.org/bumbulis/#anchor5343749 "Christianity and the birth of science; The evidence; Clue #1. The founders/fathers of modern science were shaped by a culture that was predominantly Christian."] Lambert Dolphin's Library.  Archived at Internet Archive on July 20, 2014.  Retrieved from archive on July 29, 2014.
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=== Growth of evangelical Christianity in secular regions ===
 +
*[[Growth of Christianity in China|Growth of evangelical Christianity in China]]
 +
*[[East Asia and global desecularization]]
 +
*[[Growth of evangelical Christianity#Evangelical Christianity and the developed world|Growth of evangelical Christianity in the developed world]]
 +
*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]
 +
*[[Growth of Protestantism in Russia]]
 +
*[[Growth of evangelical Christianity in New Zealand]]
  
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</ref>
+
=== Future of desecularization via the continued global resurgence of religion ===
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[[Sociology|Sociologist]] [[Rodney Stark]] investigated the individuals who made the most significant scientific contributions between 1543 and 1680 A.D., the time of the [[Scientific Revolution]].
+
''See also:'' [[Growth of global desecularization]] and [[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
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In Stark's list of 52 top scientific contributors,<ref name="Origins">Williams, Alex (August 2004).  [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1581/ "The biblical origins of science; a review of ''For The Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-hunts and the End of Slavery'' by Rodney Stark"], ''Journal of Creation'', vol. 18:2, pp. 49–52. Retrieved from Creation Ministries International on July 30, 2014.</ref> only one ([[Edmund Halley]]) was a skeptic and another ([[Paracelsus]]) was a [[pantheism|pantheist]].
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[[File:Birkbeck College, University of London.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|[[Eric Kaufmann]] using a wealth of demographic studies, argues that there will be a significant decline of global atheism in the 21st century which will impact the [[Western World]].<ref>
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The other 50 were Christians, 30 of whom could be characterized as being devout Christians.<ref name="Origins" />
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*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]
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Sir [[Francis Bacon]], sometimes referred to as "the Father of Modern Science", wrote in his essay entitled ''Of Atheism'' the following: "I had rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the [[Talmud]], and the [[Koran|Alcoran]], than that this universal frame is without a mind."<ref name="bacon">Bacon, Francis (1601).  [http://www.authorama.com/essays-of-francis-bacon-17.html ''The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, of Francis Ld. Verulam Viscount St. Albans''; "Of atheism"]. Authorama.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref>
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*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]
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‎
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*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]
 +
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NtvDErEmBY Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref>]]  
 +
Eric Kaufmann using a wealth of demographic studies, argues that there will be a significant decline of global atheism in the 21st century which will impact the [[Western World]].<ref>
 +
*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]
 +
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]
 +
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NtvDErEmBY Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref> In addition, Kaufmann argues that religious conservatism has a long term trend of rising and that their influence in the world will significantly increase.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]</ref> Kaufmann is author of the book ''Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books/about/Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth.html?id=nXVylycU2gQC Shall the religious inherit the earth by David Kaufmann]</ref><ref name="sneps.net">[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Early paper - Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]</ref> In the [[Western World]] due to immigration and the higher birth rates of religious people, Kaufman writes: "Committed religious populations are growing in the West, and will reverse the march of secularism before 2050."<ref name="sneps.net"/>  
  
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==Atheism and debate==
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Kaufmann told a secular audience in Australia: "The trends that are happening worldwide inevitably in an age of globalization are going to affect us."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NtvDErEmBY Shall the religious inherit the earth]</ref> Furthermore, Kaufmann also argues that secularization may reverse itself significantly earlier than 2050 in the West due to religious immigration and a religious population which is increasingly resistant to secularization in Europe.<ref>*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/08/european-christian-immigration-will.html European immigration will pour Christian creationists into Europe]
 +
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-future-of-european-darwinism-and_16.html The future of European Darwinism and atheism is bleak]</ref>
  
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'''See also:''' [[Atheism debates]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]] and [[Atheist factions]]
+
In addition, in the latter portion of the 20th century and continuing into the 21st century, the atheist movement has had lower confidence/morale due to various historical events/trends (see: [[Atheists and the endurance of religion]]).
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[[Image:Bahnsen.jpg‎|thumb|150px|Dr. [[Greg Bahnsen]] became known as the man atheists fear most due to [[Michael Martin]]'s cancellation of their scheduled debate. See: [[Greg Bahnsen and debate]] ]]
 
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Historically speaking, atheism has [[Atheism debates|fared very poorly in debates]]. In addition, due to prominent atheists dodging debates, the cowardice associated with atheism has become so obvious that it is making newspaper headlines (For more information please see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).<ref>Multiple references:
 
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*Green, Lauren (August 19, 2011).  [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"].  FoxNews.com.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.
 
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*Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011).  [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 Daily Telegraph website.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.  See [[The Daily Telegraph]].</ref>
 
  
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[[Richard Dawkins]], who flip-flops between being an [[agnosticism|agnostic]] and an atheist as far as his public persona (see: [[Richard Dawkins and agnosticism]]),  has [[Instances of Richard Dawkins ducking debates|established a reputation of avoiding his strongest debate opponents]]. On May 14, 2011, the [[Great Britain|British]] newspaper ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' published a news story entitled ''Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God''.<ref name=refuse>Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011).  [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 Daily Telegraph website.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.  See [[The Daily Telegraph]].</ref>
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==== Growth of desecularization in the 21st century ====
  
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In [[The Daily Telegraph]] article Dr. [[Daniel Came]], a  a member of the Faculty of [[Philosophy]] at [[Oxford University]] was quoted as writing to fellow atheist Richard Dawkins concerning his refusal to debate Dr. [[William Lane Craig]], "The absence of a debate with the foremost [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."<ref name=refuse/>  Also, atheists [[Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates|tend to dodge creation vs. evolution debates.]]  
+
*[[Growth of global desecularization]]
  
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For more information see: [[Atheism debates]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]]
+
*[[Acceleration of 21st century desecularization]]
  
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=== Creation vs. evolution debates ===
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*[[Future of atheism in China]]
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See also: [[Creation scientists tend to win debates with evolutionists]]
 
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The worldwide atheist community was challenged to a debate by [[Creation Ministries International]] as prominent atheists were speaking at a 2010 global atheist convention in [[Australia]].<ref name="truefree">Ammi, Ken (May 2010).  [http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/richard-dawkins-cowardly-clown "Richard Dawkins, the cowardly clown"].  True Freethinker.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref> [[Richard Dawkins]], [[PZ Myers]] and other prominent atheists refused to debate Creation Ministries International.<ref name="truefree"/> Generally speaking, creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates (see: [[Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates]].
 
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== Atheist philosopher Michael Martin and the state of atheist apologetics ==
 
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''See also:'' [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]
 
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In 1990, the atheist philosopher [[Michael Martin]] indicated there was a general 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.<ref>Rodrigues, Luís F. (2010).  ''Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith'' (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO), p. 201.</ref>  In addition, 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|Press release concerning Michael Martin pulling out of Martin-Bahnsen debate]]).  Today, there is a growth of Christian apologetics in the world, while the atheist apologetic community is in a state of stagnation. (See: [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Growth of Christian apologetics]]).
 
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==Notable atheists who became ex-atheists ==
 
  
 +
== Notable atheists who became ex-atheists ==
 
''See:'' [[Ex-atheists]]
 
''See:'' [[Ex-atheists]]
  
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== Views on atheists ==
+
== Claims about the conditionality and existence of atheism ==
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]] and [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]
  
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''See also:'' [[Views on atheists]] and [[Atheism statistics]] and [[Atheism and social outcasts]] and [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Atheophobia]]
+
Hannah More wrote: "[T]he mind, which knows not where to fly, flies to God. In agony, nature is no Atheist. The soul is drawn to God by a sort of natural impulse; not always, perhaps by an emotion of piety; but from a feeling conviction, that every other refuge is 'a refuge of lies'."<ref>More, Hannah (1815).  [https://archive.org/details/anessayoncharac00moregoog ''An Essay on the Character and Practical Writings of St. Paul''], 5th ed., vol. 2 (London:  T. Cadell and W. Davies), p. 234.</ref>
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[[File:Sam Harris 01.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|[[Sam Harris]]
 
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<br />
 
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<br />
 
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<small>(photo obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sam_Harris_01.jpg Wikimedia commons], see [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sam_Harris_01.jpg license agreement])</small> ]]
 
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Concerning various [[Views on Atheists|views on atheists]], research in the American Sociological Review finds that among several groups listed, those who hold the position of atheism are the group that Americans relate least to in terms of their vision of American society and are the group most likely to be mentioned as one that Americans would not want to have marry into their family.<ref>Edgell, Penny, et al. (April 2006).  [http://asr.sagepub.com/content/71/2/211.abstract "Atheists as 'other': moral boundaries and cultural membership in American society" [abstract&#93;]. ''American Sociological Review'', vol. 71, pp. 211-234.  Abstract retrieved at American Sociological Review website on July 30, 2014.  Subscription or fee required for full article.</ref>Dr. [[Sam Harris]], a founder of the [[New Atheism]] movement, is well aware of the stigma surrounding atheism and has advocated that atheists no longer call themselves atheists.<ref name="Harris">Roberts, Jessica, et al. (June 19, 2007).  [http://news21.com/story/2007/06/19/interview_with_an_atheist "Interview with an atheist"]. News21. Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref> In fact, Dr. Harris has said concerning the label of atheist, "It's right next to child molester as a designation."<ref name="Harris"/>
 
  
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=== Americans and Canadians distrust atheists as much as rapists ===
+
=== There are no atheists in foxholes ===
 +
''See also:'' [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]] and [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]] and [[There are no atheists on a sinking ship]] and [[There are no atheists on turbulent airplanes]]
 +
[[File:Foxhole.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring ''[[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]''.<ref>Multiple references:
 +
* Taylor-Blake, Bonnie (September 24, 2006). [https://web.archive.org/web/20080617035633/http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696 "'There are no atheists in [the&#93; foxholes'"]. Message posted to The American Dialect Society [Electronic] Mailing List, archived at ListServ 16.0. Archive at Internet Archive.
 +
*Osborn, Neale (December 15, 2012).  [http://nealebooks.newsvine.com/_news/2012/12/15/15931810-there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes "There are no atheists in foxholes..."]. Newsvine website/Neal Osborn.</ref>] ]]
 +
Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring "[[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]."<ref>[http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,792459,00.html "Milestones [excerpt&#93;"] (October 15, 1945).  ''Time''.  magazine website</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://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9905EFD91239E13ABC4D51DFB7678383609EDE "Tells of religion in army.  Chaplain Lawson says there are no atheists in front line"] (November 25, 1918).  ''New York Times'', p. 13.</ref> On the other hand, the news organization NBC featured a story in which atheist veterans claimed that there are atheists in foxholes.<ref>Breen, Tom (April 2, 2011).[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/42391558/ns/us_news-military/t/army-group-coming-out-atheist-closet/#.UbgMndihjSg "Army group 'coming out of the atheist closet'"] from NBCNews.com</ref>
  
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and rape]] and [[Atheism and morality]]
+
Research indicates that heavy combat has a positive correlation to the strength of the religious faith in soldiers during the battles and subsequent to the war if they indicated their experience was a negative experience (for more information please see: [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]).
  
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On December 10, 2011, USA Today reported in a story entitled ''Study: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists'':
+
Also, due to research showing that death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God, Dr. Nathan Heflick declared in a ''Psychology Today'' article, "But, at a less conscious (or pre-conscious) level, this research suggests that there might be less atheism in foxholes than atheists in foxholes report."<ref name="Heflick"/> Please see: [[Atheism and death]]
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{{cquote|The study, conducted among 350 Americans adults and 420 Canadian college students, asked participants to decide if a fictional driver damaged a parked car and left the scene, then found a wallet and took the money, was the driver more likely to be a teacher, an atheist teacher, or a rapist teacher?
 
  
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The participants, who were from religious and nonreligious backgrounds, most often chose the atheist teacher.
+
=== Denials that atheists exist ===
 +
* [[Denials that atheists exist]]
  
−
The study is part of an attempt to understand what needs religion fulfills in people. Among the conclusions is a sense of trust in others.
+
== Causes of atheism ==
 +
:''See main article: [[Causes of atheism]]'' and [[Atheism and hedonism]] and [[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
  
−
"People find atheists very suspect," Shariff said. "They don't fear God so we should distrust them; they do not have the same moral obligations of others. This is a common refrain against atheists. People fear them as a group."<ref>Winston, Kimberly, Religion News Service (December 10, 2011).  [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-12-10/religion-atheism/51777612/1 "Study: atheists distrusted as much as rapists"]. USA Today website.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref>}}
+
There are a number of psychological, societal, familial, economic and spiritual factors which cause atheism which have been proposed over the centuries.  Please see: [[Causes of atheism]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]].
  
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=== Christian patience, forgiveness and long-suffering towards atheists ===
+
== Christian websites and other resources with a large focus on the topic of atheism  ==
 +
[[File:TFT.JPG|thumb|right|275px|[[True Freethinker]] is a [[Christian apologetics]] Facebook page run by Ken Ammi which offers many [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|refutations of atheism]].]]
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism vs. Christianity]] and [[Internet atheism]]
  
−
See: [[Christian patience, forgiveness and long-suffering towards atheists]]
+
Five of the more notable Christian apologetics websites/blogs which have a large focus on the topic of atheism are: the [[Atheism is dead (website)|Atheism is dead]] website; the [[Shadow To Light blog]]; the [[True Freethinker]] website; the [[Creation Ministries International and atheism|Creation Ministries International resources on atheism]] and the [[Fixed Point Foundation]] website.
  
−
=== Persecution of atheists ===
+
=== Freedom from Atheism Foundation (FFAF) ===
 +
In 2012, the [[Freedom From Atheism Foundation]] (FFAF) was formed as an online interfaith civil rights group to provide support for victims of militant atheism, protect the rights of religious believers, and address the increasing amount of atheist intolerance around the world.  The groups' many admins are all anonymous due to the large amount of hate mail, threats, and stalking the site receives from militant atheists. 
  
−
''See also:'' [[Persecution of atheists]]
+
As of October 2017 the group has [https://www.facebook.com/FFAF.International over 750,000 followers] and makes an average of 80 posts a week.  Along with tens of thousands of religious supporters, the group also found support from atheist author and biologist PZ Myers.<ref>http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/05/09/i-support-the-freedom-from-atheism-foundation/</ref>  A May 2014 article in the ''Christian Post'' titled "Freedom From Religion? How About Freedom From Atheism?" profiled the Freedom From Atheism Foundation in greater detail.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/freedom-from-religion-how-about-freedom-from-atheism-119389/</ref>
  
−
As [[atheism vs. Islam]] conflict has increased in the world, there are growing reports of [[Islam]]ic governments imprisoning/executing atheists and radical Islamacists killing atheists, but they are still relatively few in number.<ref>Multiple references:
+
=== Online videos related to atheism ===
−
*Churchill, Bob (December 17, 2014).  [http://www.religionnews.com/2014/12/17/atheists-new-persecuted-minority-international-report-concludes-commentary/ "Atheists: the new persecuted minority, international report concludes (commentary)"].  Religion News Service website.
+
*[[Atheism videos]]
−
*Mohiuddin, Asif (April 1, 2015).  [http://observers.france24.com/content/20150401-bangladesh-atheist-blogger-murders-rahman "Bangladesh struck by wave of atheist blogger murders"]. France 24/Observers.
+
*[[Creation vs. Evolution Videos]]
−
*Evans, Robert (December 9, 2012).  [http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/10/us-religion-atheists-idUSBRE8B900520121210 "Atheists around world suffer persecution, discrimination: report"]. Reuters website</ref>  For more information, please see: [[Persecution of atheists]]
 
  
−
=== Atheophobia ===
+
The [[Militant atheism YouTube channel]] has a collection of videos on militant atheism.
  
−
[[Atheophobia]] is a fear and/or hatred of atheism/atheists.<ref>Multiple references:
+
== Atheism and the media ==
−
*Wiktionary contributors (June 16, 2014). [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/atheophobia "atheophobia"].  Wiktionary.  Retrieved on January 2, 2015.
+
''See also:'' [[Atheism and the media]] and  [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Atheism news]]
−
*Wiktionary contributors (2014). [http://www.allwords.com/word-atheophobia.html?PageSpeed=noscript "Definition of atheophobia"]. Allwords.com.  Retrieved on January 2, 2015.</ref> For a [[Atheophobia|number of]] moral/practical reasons, fear of atheism/atheists is unwarranted. For more information, please see: [[Atheophobia]].
 
  
−
==New Atheism==
+
The Media Research Center released a study in 2008 reporting pro-atheism bias by major press outlets in the [[United States]].<ref name=mrc>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTxORumTarg "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias"] (July 17, 2008).  YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks!</ref>  The study found that 80% of mainstream media coverage of atheism was positive and that 71% of Christian-themed stories had an atheist counterpoint or were written from an atheist perspective.<ref name=mrc/>  The study is not surprising given the liberal bias [[Liberal bias|that commonly exists in the major media outlets]].
  
−
''See also:'' [[New Atheism]] and [[Atheist factions]] and [[Brights Movement]] and [[Militant atheism]] and [[Atheist cults]]
+
See also:  
−
[[Image:Hitchens,_Stanford.jpg‎ |left|thumb|200px|[[Christopher Hitchens]] ]]
 
−
Dissent Magazine stated the following about the "[[New Atheism]]":
 
−
{{cquote|A number of prominent authors and scientists have published books in the past year that advocate a "New Atheism." The books, which include <big><sup>[[Daniel Dennett]]'s ''Breaking the Spell''</sup></big>, <big><sup>[[Richard Dawkins]]</sup></big>'s ''<big><sup>[[The God Delusion]]</sup></big>'', and <big><sup>[[Christopher Hitchens]]' ''God is Not Great''</sup></big>, have sparked considerable public controversy across the political spectrum.<ref>Cohen, Mitchell (August 5, 2007).  [http://www.dissentmagazine.org/online_articles/the-new-atheism "The new atheism"].  Dissent magazine website.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref>}}
 
−
 
 
−
Dr. Albert Mohler Jr. describes some of the key attributes of the "New Atheism":
 
−
{{cquote|Now, ''Wired'' magazine comes out with a cover story on atheism for its November 2006 issue. In "The New Atheism," ''Wired'' contributing editor Gary Wolf explains that this newly assertive form of atheism declares a very simple message: "No heaven. No hell. Just science."...
 
−
 
 
−
Wolf accomplishes a great deal in his article, thoughtfully introducing the work of [[Militant atheism|militant atheists]] such as Dawkins, Harris, and Dennett. At the same time, he probes more deeply into the actual meaning of the New Atheism as a movement and a message.
 
−
 
 
−
At the beginning of his article, he gets right to the point: "The New Atheists will not let us off the hook simply because we are not doctrinaire believers. They condemn not just belief in God but respect for belief in God. Religion is not only wrong; it's evil. Now that the battle has been joined, there's no excuse for shirking."<ref>Mohler, Dr. R. Albert, Jr. (November 21, 2006).  [http://www.albertmohler.com/2006/11/21/the-new-atheism "The new atheism?"] AlbertMohler.com.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref>}}
 
−
 
 
−
=== Impact of the New Atheism ===
 
−
 
 
−
''See:'' [[Impact of the New Atheism]]
 
  
−
== American Atheists ==
+
*[[Atheism and the media#Post 2010 drop in volume of atheism news stories|Drop in news stories about atheism]]
 +
*[[Atheism and the media#Post 2010 the percentage of negative news stories about atheism has increased|Negative news stories about atheism]].
 +
*[[Attempts to positively rebrand atheism]]
  
−
See: [[American atheism]]
+
=== Celebrity atheists ===
  
−
==French Revolution and atheism/deism ==
+
See: [[Celebrity atheists]]
−
 
 
−
see: [[History of Atheism]]
 
  
 
== Atheism and homosexuality ==
 
== Atheism and homosexuality ==
−
 
 
See:  
 
See:  
  
 
*[[Atheist actions against homosexuals]]
 
*[[Atheist actions against homosexuals]]
−
 
 
*[[Atheism and homosexuality]]
 
*[[Atheism and homosexuality]]
  
−
== Atheist population as a percentage of various countries' populations==
+
== Other well-known proponents of atheism ==
−
 
+
''See:'' [[Famous atheists]] and [[Famous agnostics]]
−
:''See main article: [[Atheist Population]]''
+
[[Image:nietzsche2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Friedrich Nietzsche]] ]]
 +
*[[Diagoras of Melos]]
 +
*[[Friedrich Nietzsche]]
 +
*[[A. J. Ayer]]
 +
*[[Ludwig Feuerbach]]
 +
*[[Friedrich Engels]]
 +
*[[Sigmund Freud]]
 +
*[[Adolf Hitler]]<ref name="Today's atheists"/>
 +
*[[Albert Camus]]
 +
*[[Ayn Rand]]
 +
*[[Madalyn Murray O'Hair]]
 +
*[[Paul Kurtz]]
 +
*[[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]]
  
−
Specific research on the worldwide [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] 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. A survey published in the 2005 ''[[Encyclopedia Britannica]]'' declared that 2.3% of the world's population consists of individuals who profess "atheism, skepticism, disbelief, or irreligion, including the militantly antireligious." Concerning the 2.3% figure just mentioned, the 2005 survey cited by ''Encyclopedia Britannica'' survey did not include [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] in regards to the 2.3% figure and Buddhism can be [[Theism|theistic]] or atheistic.<ref>Anonymous (July 17, 2013). [http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/beliefs/atheism.htm "Is Buddhism atheistic?"]  ReligionFacts.  Retrieved on July 30, 2014.</ref>
+
=== Well-known proponents of skepticism/atheism/agnosticism ===
 +
*[[David Hume]]
 +
*[[Bertrand Russell]]
  
−
[[Ipsos]], a major global market research company, published a report on report on religious belief/skepticism from a worlwide perspective and the report provides [http://www.ipsos-na.com/download/pr.aspx?id=10670 various statistics gained from survey results].
+
== Atheist organizations ==
 +
See: [[Atheist organizations]]
  
−
== Other well known proponents of atheism ==
+
=== Atheist organizations and fundraising ===
−
[[File:Ncvjgfu.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|[[Mao Zedong]] ]]
+
*[[Atheist organizations and fundraising]]
−
 
 
−
''See also:'' [[Famous atheists]] and [[Famous agnostics]]
 
−
 
 
−
Prominent holders of the position of atheism and atheist schools of thought have been or include:
 
−
* Carvaka school: an atheistic and materialistic offshoot of [[Hinduism]] in the 6th century B.C.
 
−
* Samkhya school: an atheistic school of classical Indian philosophy, originating in the 6th century B.C.
 
−
* [[Diagoras]]: [[Greek Philosophy|Greek philosopher]] who denied the existence of the Greek pantheon
 
−
* [[Lucretius]]: [[Greeks| Greek]] philosopher espousing materialism, and stated that man should not believe in the gods because their ideas about the gods and their fear of death made men unhappy
 
−
* [[Friedrich Nietzsche]]: Prominent 19th century atheist philosopher
 
−
* [[Mao Zedong]]: Chinese Communist leader
 
−
* [[Benito Mussolini]]
 
−
* [[Paul Kurtz]]: founder of the Council of [[Secular Humanism]]
 
−
* [[Ayn Rand]]
 
−
* [[Isaac Asimov]]
 
−
* [[Douglas Adams]]
 
−
* [[Marquis de Sade]]<ref>Wallace, Irving et al. (betw. 1975-1981).  [http://www.trivia-library.com/a/biography-of-famous-atheist-marquis-de-sade.htm "Marquis de Sade (1740-1814)"].  Trivia-Library.com.  Retrieved July 31, 2014.</ref>
 
−
* [[Mark Rothko]] (1903–1970) [[painter]], classified as an [[Abstract Expressionism|abstract expressionist]].
 
  
 
==Atheism quotes==
 
==Atheism quotes==
  
−
''See articles: [[Atheism Quotes]]'' and [[Humorous quotes about atheism and evolution]]
+
See articles: [[Atheism Quotes]]
  
 
== Atheism news ==
 
== Atheism news ==
−
 
 
See: [[Atheism news]]
 
See: [[Atheism news]]
  
−
== Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian ==  
+
== Recommended reading ==
 +
*[[Christian apologetics books on atheism]]
  
−
* [[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
+
== Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian ==
−
 
+
*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
−
*[http://creation.com/good-news Some good news]
+
*[https://creation.com/good-news Some good news]
 +
*[https://rightsmarts.com/atheism-is-dead Atheism Is Dead]
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
  
 +
*[[Doubt]]
 
*[[Atheism articles]]
 
*[[Atheism articles]]
−
*[[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]
+
*[[Atheism symbols]]
−
*[[History of Atheism]]
+
*[[Essay: Atheism and evolution essays]]
−
*[[Martyred in the USSR: Militant Atheism in former Soviet Union]]
 
 
*[[Atheism and satanic deception]]
 
*[[Atheism and satanic deception]]
−
*[[Atheism and beliefs]]
 
−
*[[Atheism and belief]]
 
−
*[[Atheism and Evolution]]
 
 
*[[Second generation atheist]]
 
*[[Second generation atheist]]
−
*[[Poe's law]]
 
−
*[[Atheism symbols]]
 
−
*[[Comedy and satires concerning atheism and evolution]] ('''large collection''' of comedy/satire concerning atheism and [[evolution]])
 
−
*[[Essay: Atheism and evolution essays|Atheism and evolution essays]]
 
  
−
==Online videos concerning atheism and related topics==
+
'''Humor:'''
−
*[[Atheism videos]]
+
 
−
*[[Creation vs. Evolution Videos]]
+
*[[Essay:Comedy and satires concerning atheism and evolution|Comedies and satires of atheism and evolution]]
 +
 
 +
'''Conservapedia statistics about its atheism articles:'''
 +
 
 +
*[[Conservapedia:Atheism articles statistics]]
 +
 
 +
*[[Conservapedia:Atheism Project|Conservapedia Atheism Project]]
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
−
 
 
''see also:'' [[Atheism website resources]]
 
''see also:'' [[Atheism website resources]]
  
 
'''General articles on atheism:'''
 
'''General articles on atheism:'''
  
−
* [http://creation.com/atheism Atheism] by [[Creation Ministries International]]
+
*[https://creation.com/atheism Atheism] by [[Creation Ministries International]]
−
*[http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/horrific-human-toll-of-militant-atheism-exposed/ Horrific Human Toll of 'Militant Atheism' Exposed: USSR's genocide against Christians largely ignored - World Net Daily]
+
*[https://www.wnd.com/2013/03/horrific-human-toll-of-militant-atheism-exposed/ Horrific Human Toll of 'Militant Atheism' Exposed: USSR's genocide against Christians largely ignored - World Net Daily]
−
*[http://creation.com/atheism-agnosticism-and-humanism-godless-religions-questions-and-answers Atheism, agnosticism and humanism: godless religions] by [[Creation Ministries International]]
+
*[https://creation.com/atheism-agnosticism-and-humanism-godless-religions-questions-and-answers Atheism, agnosticism and humanism: godless religions] by [[Creation Ministries International]]
 +
*[https://www.bethinking.org/tag/atheism/page/all Atheism articles - Bethinking.org]
 
*[http://www.truefreethinker.com/atheism True Free Thinker - atheism section]
 
*[http://www.truefreethinker.com/atheism True Free Thinker - atheism section]
 
*[http://www.carm.org/atheism.htm Atheism] by [[Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry]]
 
*[http://www.carm.org/atheism.htm Atheism] by [[Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry]]
 +
*[https://www.wnd.com/2017/04/former-atheists-case-for-christ-hits-big-screen/ Former Atheist's 'Case For Christ Hits Big Screen], 2017
  
 
'''Prominent atheists:'''
 
'''Prominent atheists:'''
Line 1,769: Line 1,878:
 
*[[Conservapedia atheism articles]]
 
*[[Conservapedia atheism articles]]
  
−
== Recommended reading ==
+
== References ==
−
'''General Works Relating to Atheism and/or Defense of Theism''':
 
−
 
 
−
*[http://www.amazon.com/Top-Evidences-God-Creation-ebook/dp/B00E4DS2J0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380144491&sr=8-1&keywords=jason+browning Top 15 Evidences for God and Creation] by Jason Browning
 
−
*''True Reason: Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism'', Publisher: Kregel Publications; Reprint edition (February 1, 2014), ISBN-10: 0825443385
 
−
*[[Alister McGrath]], (2004), ''The Twilight of Atheism: The Rise and Fall of Disbelief in the Modern World''  ISBN 0-385-50061-0
 
−
*[[Ravi Zacharias]], (1994, 2004), ''A Shattered Visage: The Real Face of Atheism''  ISBN 0801065119
 
−
*[[Ravi Zacharias]], (1994, 1996), ''Can Man Live Without God?''  ISBN 0849939437
 
−
*[[Josh McDowell]] and Don Stewart, (1982) ''Understanding Secular Religions'', Here's Life Publishers, San Bernardino, California, ISBN 0-86605-093-0
 
−
 
 
−
'''Books related to ex-atheists:'''
 
−
 
 
−
* ''Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life'' by C.S. Lewis, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich (March 23, 1966), ISBN-10: 0156870118, ISBN-13: 978-0156870115
 
−
 
 
−
*''There is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind'' by [[Anthony Flew]] (2007) with Roy Abraham Varghese (ISBN 978-0-06-133529-7)
 
−
 
 
−
*''A Defense of the Integrity of Antony Flew's "There is a God" From His Own Letters'' by Anthony Horvath, Publisher: [[Athanatos Christian Ministries]], September 3, 2011<ref>[http://athanatosministries.org/store/products/a-defense-of-the-integrity-of-antony-flews-there-is-a-god-from-his-own-letters ''A Defense of the Integrity of Antony Flew's "There is a God" From His Own Letters''] by Anthony Horvath, Publisher: [[Athanatos Christian Ministries]], September 3, 2011</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
'''Book on the [[New Atheism]]''':
 
−
 
 
−
* Dr. Phil Fernandes, ''The Atheist Delusion'', Xulon Press, (2009), ISBN-13: 9781607915829
 
−
* [[Vox Day]], (2008),''The Irrational Atheist'', BenBella Books, Inc. ISBN 1933771364 (free pdf of the abbreviated version of his book: [http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf The Irrational atheist])
 
−
*R. Albert Mohler Jr., (2008), ''Atheism Remix: A Christian Confronts the New Atheists'', Crossway, ISBN 9781433504976
 
−
 
−
 
 
−
'''Atheism and history''':
 
−
 
 
−
*Dimitry Pospielovsky, (December, 1987), ''A History of Marxist-Leninist Atheism and [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] Antireligious Policies'', Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 0312381328
 
−
*Dimitry Pospielovsky, (November, 1987), ''Soviet Antireligious Campaigns and Persecutions (History of Soviet Atheism in Theory and Practice and the Believers, Vol 2)'', Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 0312009054
 
−
*Dimitry Pospielovsky, (August, 1988), ''Soviet Studies on the Church and the Believer's Response to Atheism: A History of Soviet Atheism in Theory and Practice and the Believers, Vol 3'', Palgrave Macmillan, hardcover: ISBN 0312012918, paperback edition: ISBN 0312012926
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
'''Books on the causes of atheism:'''
 
−
 
 
−
*[[Books on the causes of atheism]]
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
{{Nb Atheism}}
 
−
 
 
−
== Notes ==
 
 
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
 
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
  
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[[Category:Religion]]
 
[[Category:Religion]]
 
[[Category:Philosophy]]
 
[[Category:Philosophy]]
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[[Category:Featured articles]]
 

Latest revision as of 03:52, June 28, 2026

atheism
Portrait of Paul-Henri Thiry, Baron d'Holbach (1723 - 1789) was an early advocate of atheism in Europe.

In terms of contemporary definitions of atheism, the Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary defines atheism in two ways: "1) a lack of belief or a strong disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods 2) a philosophical or religious position characterized by disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods."[1] Lexico.com (Oxford University Press) defines atheism as "Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods."[2] See: Definition of atheism

Atheism, as defined by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, and other philosophy reference works, is the denial of the existence of God.[3] Paul Edwards, who was a prominent atheist and editor of the Encyclopedia of Philosophy, defined an atheist as "a person who maintains that there is no God."[4] See also: Strong atheism

Beginning in the latter portion of the 20th century and continuing beyond, many agnostics and atheists have argued that the definition of atheism should be a lack of belief in God or gods.[5][6][7][8] See: Purpose of redefining atheism and Weak atheism

Atheism has been examined by many disciplines in terms of its effects on individuals and on societies and these effects will be covered below.

As far as individuals adopting an atheistic worldview, atheism has a number of causal factors and these will be elaborated on below as well.

As of March 2025, data compiled by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary indicates that there are 831,000 fewer atheists in the world than a year ago.[9] On March 15, 2024, Frontier Partners International reported concerning global atheism: "Simultaneously, atheism, which once saw a peak around 1970 with 165 million adherents, is on the decline. The current growth trend for atheism is -0.12 percent, with their number falling from 147 million in 2020 to 146 million in 2024."[10] The world's atheists have a below replacement level of births (See: Atheism and fertility rates). See also: Global atheism statistics and Desecularization

Types of atheism

See also: Schools of atheist thought and Atheist factions

Diagoras of Melos was an ancient Greek atheist, poet and Sophist of the 5th century BC. See: History of atheism

The history of atheism can be dated as early as the 5th century B.C. Diagoras of Melos was a 5th-century B.C. Greek atheist, poet and Sophist. Since then many schools of atheist thought have developed.

Atheism and why do atheists state they disbelieve?

See also: Weak atheism and Strong atheism

Atheists claim there are two main reasons for their denial of the existence of God and/or disbelief in God: the conviction that there is positive evidence or argument that God does not exist (strong atheism, which is also sometimes called positive atheism), and their claim that theists bear the burden of proof to show that God exists, that they have failed to do so, and that belief is therefore unwarranted (weak atheism).

As alluded to above, theists and others have posited a number of causes of atheism and this matter will be further addressed in this article.

Attempts to broaden the definition of atheism

In 1876, Charles Bradlaugh proposed that atheism does not assert "there is no God," and by doing so he endeavored to dilute the traditional definition of atheism.[6][11] As noted above, in the latter portion of the 20th century, the proposition that the definition of atheism be defined as a mere lack of belief in God or gods began to be commonly advanced by agnostics/atheists.[6][12] It is now common for atheists/agnostics and theists to debate the meaning of the word atheism.[6][13]

Critics of a broader definition of atheism as a mere lack of belief often point out that such a definition is contrary to the traditional/historical meaning of the word and that such a definition makes atheism indistinguishable from agnosticism.[5][6][14]

For more information, please see:

Some common types of atheism

Joseph Stalin's atheistic regime killed tens of millions of people.

See: Atheism and mass murder

Below are a few common ways that atheism manifests itself:

1. Militant atheism, which continues to suppress and oppress religious believers today.

Topics related to militant atheism:

2. Philosophical atheism - Atheist philosophers assert that God does not exist. (See also: Naturalism and Materialism)

Secular humanism is a philosophy that holds that human beings are the most important figures, and that social problems are best solved without the involvement of religious doctrine.

The philosophy of postmodernism is atheistic (see: Atheism and postmodernism).

3. Atheistic Buddhism (some schools of Buddhism are theistic)

4. Practical atheism: atheism of the life - that is, living as though God does not exist.[15]

5. Other schools of atheist thought: Schools of atheist thought

Atheist factions

See also: Atheist factions and Western atheism, schisms and political polarization and Atheist organizations

On July 24, 2020, the atheist PZ Myers wrote about atheism: "Deep rifts, ongoing fragmentation, and crumbling reputations seems to be the order of the day in atheism."[16] See also: Atheist factions and Atheist organizations and scandals and Atheist scandals

Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins was a central figure in the Elevatorgate controversy.

Jacques Rousseau wrote in the Daily Maverick: "Elevatorgate..has resulted in three weeks of infighting in the secular community. Some might observe that we indulge in these squabbles fairly frequently."[17] An ex-atheist wrote: "As an Atheist for 40 years, I noticed that there is not just a wide variety of Atheist positions, but there exists an actual battle between certain Atheist factions."[18]

Atheist infighting

See also: Atheist movement and Atheism and anger and Atheists and conflict resolution

Blair Scott served on the American Atheists board of directors.[19] Mr. Scott formerly served as a State Director for the American Atheists organization in the state of Alabama. On December 1, 2012, he quit his post as a director of outreach for the American Atheists due to infighting within the American atheist movement.[20]

Mr. Blair wrote: "I have spent the last week mulling over what I want to do at this point in the movement. I’m tired of the in-fighting: at every level. I am especially tired of allowing myself to get sucked into it and engaging in the very behavior that is irritating...me."[20]

The atheist Neil Carter wrote: "Friends of mine have noted lately how biting and critical the atheist community can be, not only toward outsiders, but even toward its own members. Has there ever been a subculture more prone to eating its own than this one? I really don’t know."[21]

The atheist David Smalley said about the atheist movement: "We're eating our own... We’re disintegrating."[22]

See also: Antitheism and antisocial behavior

Atheist infighting causing fundraising difficulties

The atheist Hemant Mehta said about raising money from fellow nonbelievers: "Meanwhile, I’ve had one hell of a time convincing people to give to the Foundation Beyond Belief — and I help lead that organization." [23]

See also: Atheist organizations and fundraising and Atheism and charity

See also: Atheist organizations and fundraising and Atheist fundraising vs. religious fundraising and Atheism and charity

In 2017, the atheist activist Lee Moore declared about American atheist organizations:

“ If you look at the major atheist groups right now, like the national groups, the ones that are doing the real activist work... They are not bringing in the kind of donations they used to. Most of them are starved for cash. They're downsizing left and right. Because people aren't just giving like they used to. And I talked to a lot of the major donors out there and they said, "Well, we're kind of tired of seeing the atheist community just fight amongst itself and not really get anything done. We'd rather not give money if we don't think it's going to go somewhere."[24] ”

Eddie Tabash on atheist argumentativeness

See also: Atheism and social intelligence and Atheism and emotional intelligence

The American atheist activist Eddie Tabash said in a speech to the Michigan Atheists State Convention, "Since we are a bit of a cantankerous, opinionated lot...".[25]

Angry and bitter demeanor of militant atheists

See also: Atheism and anger and Atheism and unforgiveness

On January 1, 2011, CNN reported:

“ People unaffiliated with organized religion, atheists and agnostics also report anger toward God either in the past, or anger focused on a hypothetical image - that is, what they imagined God might be like - said lead study author Julie Exline, Case Western Reserve University psychologist.

In studies on college students, atheists and agnostics reported more anger at God during their lifetimes than believers.[26]

”
An angry atheist speaking to a woman with a Bible in her hand.

The Christian philosopher James S. Spiegel says that the path from Christianity to atheism among several of his friends involved moral slippages such as resentment or unforgiveness.[27] See: Atheism and unforgiveness

According to Anthony DeStefano:

“ But are (atheists) really dangerous, too?

You bet they are. The truth is, the atheist position is incapable of supporting any coherent system of morality other than ruthless social Darwinism. That’s why it has caused more deaths, murders and bloodshed than any other belief system in the history of the world.

Atheists, of course, are always claiming hysterically that Christianity has been responsible for most of the world’s wars, but that’s just another example of atheistic ignorance. The main reasons for war have always been economic gain, territorial gain, civil and revolutionary conflicts. According to Philip Axelrod’s monumental "Encyclopedia of Wars," only 6.98 percent or all wars from 8000 BC to the present were religious in nature. If you subtract Islamic wars from the equation, only 3.2 percent of wars were due to specifically Christian causes. That means that over 96 percent of all the wars on this planet were due to worldly reasons.[28]

”

Various studies found that traumatic events in people's lives have a positive correlation with "emotional atheism".[29]

The atheist and lesbian Greta Christina told the journalist Chris Mooney on the Point of Inquiry podcast, "there isn't one emotion" that affects atheists "but anger is one of the emotions that many of us have ...[it] drives others to participate in the movement."[30]

Social science research indicates that antitheists score the highest among atheists when it comes to personality traits such as narcissism, dogmatism, and anger.[31] Furthermore, they scored lowest when it comes to agreeableness and positive relations with others.[32]

For additional information, please see: Atheism and social intelligence and Atheism and emotional intelligence and Atheism and unforgiveness and Atheism and bitterness

Atheism and its retention rate in individuals

See also: Atheism and its retention rate in individuals and Conversion from atheism to Christianity and Atheism and children and Desecularization and Atheism and apathy

In 2012, a Georgetown University study was published indicating that about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household in the United States remain atheists as adults.[33] See: Atheism and its retention rate in individuals

In 2012, a Georgetown University study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.[33] See also: Atheism and children

A 2012 study by the General Social Survey of the social science research organization NORC at the University of Chicago found that belief in God rises with age, even in atheistic nations.[34] The Pew Forum reports about American atheists: "Among self-identified atheists and agnostics, the median age is 34, and roughly four-in-ten adults in these categories are between the ages of 18 and 29."[35] See also: Atheism and immaturity.

In addition, in atheistic Communist China, Christianity is experiencing rapid growth (see: Growth of Christianity in China). Also, there was a collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union (see: Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union).

See also:

Difficulty in participating in atheist community

See also: Atheism and loneliness and Atheism and apathy and Atheism and motivation and Internet atheism

According to an international study done by William Bainbridge, atheism is frequent among people whose interpersonal social obligations are weak and is also linked to lower fertility rates in advanced industrial nations (See also: Atheism and fertility rates).[36] See also: Atheism and loneliness and Atheism and social skills

In comparison to many religious groups, which have many meetings/conferences in numerous places in a given day or week that are convenient to attend, atheist meetings and atheist conferences are sparse. One of the causes of this situation is the apathy of many atheists (see: Atheism and apathy and Atheism and motivation).

Most atheist organizations are relatively small in terms of active participants as most atheists are apathetic about organized atheism (see: Atheism and apathy). An exception is the Communist Party of China, which requires its members be atheists (see: Atheism and China and Atheism and communism). At the same time, due to the explosive growth of Christianity in China, there are now more Christians in China than Chinese who belong to the Communist Party of China (see also: East Asia and global desecularization).[37]

In recent times, the number of people attending atheist conferences has grown smaller.[38] Atheist David Smalley wrote: "And we wonder why we’re losing elections, losing funding, and our conferences are getting smaller."[22] In 2017, the atheist activist Lee Moore said about atheist conferences, "Most conferences are gone now. They're either gone or in some kind of life support form."[39]

Jerry Coyne speaking at a 2013 atheist meeting entitled The Amazing Meeting (TAM). TAM is an annual meeting.

Atheist Francois Tremblay wrote about the difficulty of motivating atheists to engage in activities related to atheism: "One last problem that undermines any propagation of atheism is inspiration. Let's be honest here, "there is no god!" is not a very motivating call for most people." (see also: Atheism and inspiration).[40] The atheist Jerry Coyne said about atheist meetings/conferences, "But to me the speakers and talks have often seemed repetitive: the same crew of jet-set skeptics giving the same talks."[41]

In an essay entitled How the Atheist Movement Failed Me, an atheist woman noted that participation in the atheist community is often expensive due to the cost of attending atheist conferences and even local atheist meetings in restaurants and bars challenged her modest budget.[42] As a result of the challenges that atheists commonly have in terms of socializing in person, many atheists turn to the internet in terms of communicating with other atheists.[43] Often internet communication between atheists turns contentious (see: Atheist factions).

Christian organizations have been significantly more successful than atheist organizations as far as evangelizing via the internet (see: Internet evangelism: Christians vs. atheists and Internet atheism). Beginning sometime between 2008 to 2012, there has been a big decline in internet atheism in terms of web traffic (See: Internet atheism web traffic volume).[44]

For more information, please see: Atheism and loneliness

Abandonment of atheism and communist regimes

Decline of the atheist movement

See also: Decline of the atheist movement and Morale of the atheist movement and Desecularization and Atheist movement

In 2011, atheist Jacques Berlinerblau declared: "The Golden Age of Secularism has passed."[45]

Numerous atheists have declared that the "atheist movement is dead" or that it is dying.[46] See: Decline of the atheist movement

Before the atheist movement died/declined, various atheists attempted to change the public's perception concerning atheism and atheists, but they were largely unsuccessful (see: Attempts to positively rebrand atheism).

At the 2018 American Atheists convention, the ex-president of the American Atheists organization David Silverman declared regarding the atheist movement being in a demoralized state:

“ It is a hard time to be an atheist activist. This has affected us. And it has affected our community...

...it has really affected us. We are suffering a level of defeatism that I have never seen before...

We feel the loss. And we feel like we have lost. We feel like we lost the election... We see this cascade of attack coming down at us over and over from all different directions and we feel like it's over. I have heard so many times it makes me sick. It makes me sad. It feels like we lost.

The apathy that follows. It doesn't matter. We can't win anyways. It's useless to fight. This apathy is infecting us. It's hurting us.

And people are reacting to each other now. And so that is causing a division. Lots and lots of division in our movement. Hard, bad division... And that has resulted in a splintering and factioning of the movement that I have never seen before and none of us have.

In other words, we're in a bad situation and it's getting worse.[47]

”

In 2017, atheist David Smalley has indicated that leftist/progressive atheists were "killing the atheist movement" through being contentious and divisive (see also: Atheist factions).[22] Former new atheist PZ Myers, who subscribes to progressive politics, says he is no longer a member of the atheist movement.[48]

The atheist movement saw a number of setbacks during the latter portion of the 20th century and beyond in terms of historical events/trends (See: Causes of desecularization). As a result, it has lost a considerable amount of confidence (see also: Decline of the atheist movement and Atheists and the endurance of religion).

Globally, the atheist population is declining in terms of the percentage of the world's population that are atheists (see: Global atheism statistics).

Atheism and Communism

see also: Atheism and communism and Militant atheism and Atheism and economics and Atheism and mass murder and Atheist cults and Atheism and Karl Marx

Vladimir Lenin

Atheists Karl Marx, Vladmir Lenin and Chou En-lai

Karl Marx said "[Religion] is the opium of the people." Marx also stated: "Communism begins from the outset (Owen) with atheism; but atheism is at first far from being communism; indeed, that atheism is still mostly an abstraction."[49]

Vladimir Lenin similarly wrote regarding atheism and Communism: "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."[50]

In 1955, the Chinese Communist leader Chou En-lai declared, "We Communists are atheists".[51]

In 2014, the Communist Party of China reaffirmed that members of their party must be atheists.[52]

In 2016, the International Business Times reported:

“ A senior Chinese advisor on religious affairs has said the country should promote atheism throughout society, in remarks that appear to reflect a deepening campaign to reinforce traditional Marxist values in China — and could add to concern about official attitudes among believers in the country’s five officially recognized religions.[53] ”

Russian Revolution caused the most notable spread of atheism

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 Marxist-Leninists to power."[54]

Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg, a Soviet physicist, wrote that the "Bolshevik communists were not merely atheists but, according to Lenin's terminology, militant atheists."[55] However, prior to this, the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution established a state which was anti-Roman Catholicism/Christian in nature [56] (anti-clerical deism and anti-religious atheism and played a significant role in the French Revolution[57]), with the official ideology being the Cult of Reason; during this time thousands of believers were suppressed and executed by the guillotine.[58]

Atheistic Communism and mass murder

See also: Atheism and mass murder and Atheist atrocities

The militant atheistic regime of Joseph Stalin killed tens of millions of people.

Joseph Stalin is the figure on the right and Vladimir Lenin is the figure on the left,

See: Atheism and mass murder

It has been estimated that in less than the past 100 years, governments under the banner of Communism have caused the death of somewhere between 40,472,000 and 259,432,000 human lives.[59] Dr. R. J. Rummel, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii, is the scholar who first coined the term democide (death by government). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate regarding the loss of life due to communism is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987.[60] Richard Dawkins has attempted to engage in historical revisionism concerning atheist atrocities and Dawkins was shown to be in gross error. See also: Atheism and historical revisionism

Christian apologist Gregory Koukl wrote relative to atheism and mass murder that "the assertion is that religion has caused most of the killing and bloodshed in the world. There are people who make accusations and assertions that are empirically false. This is one of them."[61] Koukl details the number of people killed in various events involving theism and compares them to the much higher tens of millions of people killed under regimes that advocated atheism.[61] As noted earlier, Richard Dawkins has attempted to engage in historical revisionism concerning atheist atrocities and Dawkins was shown to be in gross error.

Koukl summarized by stating:

“ It is true that it's possible that religion can produce evil, and generally when we look closer at the detail it produces evil because the individual people are actually living in a rejection of the tenets of Christianity and a rejection of the God that they are supposed to be following. So it can produce it, but the historical fact is that outright rejection of God and institutionalizing of atheism actually does produce evil on incredible levels. We're talking about tens of millions of people as a result of the rejection of God.[61] ”

Theodore Beale notes concerning atheism and mass murder:

“ Apparently it was just an amazing coincidence that every Communist of historical note publicly declared his atheism … .there have been twenty-eight countries in world history that can be confirmed to have been ruled by regimes with avowed atheists at the helm … These twenty-eight historical regimes have been ruled by eighty-nine atheists, of whom more than half have engaged in democidal acts of the sort committed by Stalin and Mao …

The total body count for the ninety years between 1917 and 2007 is approximately 148 million dead at the bloody hands of fifty-two atheists, three times more than all the human beings killed by war, civil war, and individual crime in the entire twentieth century combined.

The historical record of collective atheism is thus 182,716 times worse on an annual basis than Christianity’s worst and most infamous misdeed, the Spanish Inquisition. It is not only Stalin and Mao who were so murderously inclined, they were merely the worst of the whole Hell-bound lot. For every Pol Pot whose infamous name is still spoken with horror today, there was a Mengistu, a Bierut, and a Choibalsan, godless men whose names are now forgotten everywhere but in the lands they once ruled with a red hand.

Is a 58 percent chance that an atheist leader will murder a noticeable percentage of the population over which he rules sufficient evidence that atheism does, in fact, provide a systematic influence to do bad things? If that is not deemed to be conclusive, how about the fact that the average atheist crime against humanity is 18.3 million percent worse than the very worst depredation committed by Christians, even though atheists have had less than one-twentieth the number of opportunities with which to commit them. If one considers the statistically significant size of the historical atheist set and contrasts it with the fact that not one in a thousand religious leaders have committed similarly large-scale atrocities, it is impossible to conclude otherwise, even if we do not yet understand exactly why this should be the case. Once might be an accident, even twice could be coincidence, but fifty-two incidents in ninety years reeks of causation![62]

”
Xi Jinping is the current General Secretary of the Communist Party of China which requires that all their members be atheists.[63]

See: China and atheism and Atheism and communism

See also:

Communism and religious oppression

See also: Communism and religious persecution and Atheistic communism and torture and Atheism and forced labor and China and involuntary organ harvesting

The atheism in 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.[64]

Religious persecution in the Soviet Union

See also: Soviet atheism

The persecution of Christians in the Soviet Union was the result of the violently atheist Soviet government. In the first five years after the October Revolution, 28 bishops and 1,200 priests were murdered, many on the orders of Leon Trotsky. When Joseph Stalin came to power in 1927, he ordered his secret police, under Genrikh Yagoda to intensify persecution of Christians. In the next few years, 50,000 clergy were murdered, many were tortured, including crucifixion. "Russia turned red with the blood of martyrs", said Father Gleb Yakunin of the Russian Orthodox Church.[65] According to Orthodox Church sources, as many as fifty million Orthodox believers may have died in the twentieth century, mainly from persecution by Communists.[66]

With its large population, China has the largest population of atheists.[67]

The religious landscape of China is quickly changing, however, due to the rapid growth of Christianity. See also: China and atheism and Global atheism

In addition, in the atheistic and Communist Soviet Union, 44 anti-religious museums were opened and the largest was the 'The Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism' in Leningrad’s Kazan Cathedral.[68] Despite intense effort by the atheistic leaders of the Soviet Union, their efforts were not effective in converting the masses to atheism.[69]

Religious persecution in Communist China

See also: China and atheism

China has the world's largest atheist population (see: China and atheism).[70] China is a Communist country. 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." In 2003, owners of Bibles in China were sent to prison camps and 125 Chinese churches were closed.[71] China continues to practice religious oppression today.[72]

The efforts of China's atheist leaders in promoting atheism, however, are increasingly losing their effectiveness and the number of Christians in China is rapidly growing (see: Growth of Christianity in China). China's state-sponsored atheism and atheistic indoctrination have been a failure and a 2007 religious survey in China indicated that only 15% of Chinese identified themselves as atheists.[73]

The above photograph shows the Russian Nikolai Khmara, a new Baptist convert in the Soviet Union, after his arrest by the KGB. He was tortured to death and his tongue was cut out.[74][75]

Researchers estimate that tens of thousands of Falun Gong prisoners in Communist China have been killed to supply a financially lucrative trade in human organs and cadavers, and that these human rights abuses may be an ongoing concern.[76]

Religious persecution in North Korea

North Korea is a repressive Communist state and is officially atheistic.[77] The North Korean government practices brutal repression and atrocities against North Korean Christians.[78] Open Doors, an organization based in the United States, has put North Korea at the very top of its list of countries where Christians face significant persecution - for 12 years in a row.[79]

Atheistic Communism and torture

See: Atheistic communism and torture

Atheistic Communist regimes and forced labor

See also: Atheism and forced labor and Atheism and slavery

In atheistic Communist regimes forced labor has often played a significant role in their economies and this practice continues to this day (see: Atheism and forced labor).[80]

Atheism and the internet

See also: Internet atheism

As noted above, sometime between 2008 and 2012, there has been a big drop in internet atheism in terms of web traffic (See: Internet atheism web traffic volume).[81][82]

In addition, in terms of reach and its ability to influence, internet atheism is ineffectual (See: Internet atheism has a small audience and an insignificant influence on the world).[83]

Google Trends: From 2004 to June 2025, the number of worldwide Google searches for the term atheist is significantly down

See also: Google trends - Global searches for atheism and agnosticism terms

According to Google Trends, as of June 2025, worldwide Google searches for the term atheist is significantly below its levels in January 2024.

Atheism and politics

See also: Atheism and politics and Atheism and political science

Historically, atheists have favored the left side of the political aisle (see: Atheism and politics).

According to the Pew Forum, in the United States: "About two-thirds of atheists (69%) identify as Democrats (or lean in that direction), and a majority (56%) call themselves political liberals (compared with just one-in-ten who say they are conservatives)."[84]

In some regions where the secular left has considerable influence, they are losing an increasing amount of their power. For example, in secular Europe right-wing, nationalist parties are growing and in China conservative Protestantism is growing rapidly (see: Growth of Christianity in China).[85]

For more information please see:

Atheism and history

Voroshilov, Molotov, Stalin, with Nikolai Yezhov.jpg
Nikolai Yezhov walking with Joseph Stalin in the top photo taken in the mid 1930s. Subsequent to his execution in 1940, Yezhov was edited out of the photo by Soviet Union censors.[86]

See also: History of atheism and Atheists and historical illiteracy and Atheism and historical revisionism and Atheist indoctrination

The history of atheism: History of atheism

Atheists and historical illiteracy

A common complaint concerning many atheists is their lack of depth when it comes to knowledge of history and historiography - particularly in areas such as historicity of Jesus Christ and atheist mass murders in history.[87]

For more information, please see:

Atheists and historical revisionism

Atheists commonly engage in historical revisionism in order to illegitimately distort the historical record (see: Atheism and historical revisionism).

Religion/irreligion and war

See also: Irreligion/religion and war and Atheism and world peace

Louise Ridley (assistant news editor at the Huffington Post UK), Theodore Beale and others point out that academic studies and other research consistently challenge the link between religion and war.[88]

Atheism and economics

Analysis of atheism and common objections to atheism

Commonly Cited Arguments Against Atheism and For Theism

See: Arguments for theism and against atheism

Anselm of Canterbury's version of the ontological argument appeared in his work Proslogium.

The majority of philosophers of religion, or those who have extensively studied the issue of the existence of God, are theists (72 percent).[89]

In relation to the debate between theism and atheism, theists often criticize atheism as being contrary to persuasive argument and have a number of arguments against atheism (See: Arguments for theism and against atheism).

Within Christendom, the discipline of Christian apologetics has been developed. Christian apologetics is the defense of the Christian faith through logic/evidence based arguments. The word apologetics comes from the Greek word apologia (from Greek ἀπολογία), which means "speaking in defense".

Arguments for the existence of God include:

  • Evidential apologetics is an approach in Christian apologetics which emphasizes the use of evidence to demonstrate that God exists and that there is compelling evidence to support Christianity and the Bible. In addition, there are various arguments that atheists or other unbelievers weigh evidence improperly (see: Atheism and evidence).
  • Cosmological argument: Every event in our universe necessarily has a cause. However, it is impossible that there should be an unending chain of causes going back. Therefore, there necessarily must be a cause distinct from the universe as we know it which is capable of causing all things and is itself uncaused. Atheism denies that that first cause is God. Christians point out that the question "Who created God" is an illogical question.[91] See also: Atheism and the origin of the universe
The argument from beauty is a commonly used argument for the existence of God.
  • Historical arguments for the existence of God (subset of evidential apologetics). For example, arguments stemming from historical accounts such as Christian historical apologetics, Christian legal apologetics and archaeological evidence such as Bible archaeology

See also:

Biblical statements concerning atheism

See also: Bible verses relating to atheism

The writers of the Bible considered the existence of God to be self-evident and Moses simply wrote: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1).[92]

Accordingly, the psalmist David declared:

"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." — Psalms 14:1 (KJV)

Atheism and debate

See also: Atheism debates and Atheism vs. theism

Dr. Greg Bahnsen became known as "the man atheists fear most" due to Michael Martin's cancellation of their scheduled debate.[93][94]

As far as atheism debates, the majority of the public debates are Atheism vs. Christianity debates (although there have been a few Atheism vs. Islam debates).

Beginning in the latter part of the 20th century, there were a number of notable instances of prominent atheists being reluctant to debate (see: Notable cases of prominent atheists being reluctant to debate).

On May 14, 2011, the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph published a news story entitled Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God.[95] In The Daily Telegraph article Dr. Daniel Came, a member of the Faculty of Philosophy at Oxford University was quoted as writing to fellow atheist Richard Dawkins concerning his refusal to debate Dr. William Lane Craig, "The absence of a debate with the foremost apologist for Christian theism is a glaring omission on your CV and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."[95]

Greg Bahnsen became known as the "man atheists fear most".[96][97] This is because Harvard-educated Michael Martin was scheduled to debate Bahnsen but pulled out of the debate at the "eleventh hour". A press release at the time said that Dr. Martin offered ruses on why he pulled out and didn't want the scheduled debate recorded but the real reason was that "...Michael Martin is afraid that he will be publicly humiliated just as his friend and fellow atheist, Dr. Gordon Stein, was...".

In 1990, Michael Martin indicated there was a general 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 theistic arguments.[98] See also: Atheology and Atheist apologetics

A majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the naturalistic evolutionary position since World War II have been atheists.[99] After doing poorly in a series of debates in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, evolutionists are generally reluctant to debate (see: Creation vs. evolution debates).

Atheism and morality/ethics

The atheist PZ Myers declared: "I am so, so tired of hearing about atheist scandals and scumbaggery."[100]

See also: Atheism and morality

See also: Atheism and morality and Atheist population and immorality and Atheist hypocrisy and Religion and morality

Objective morality incompatible with atheism

Under an atheist worldview, there is no logical basis for objective morality or ultimate meaning and purpose.[101] See also: Atheism and morality and Atheism and moral relativism and Atheism and meaninglessness

Atheism and moral relativism

See also: Atheism and moral relativism and Atheism and morality

Dr. Phil Fernandes states the following regarding atheism and moral relativism:

“ Nietzsche preached that a group of "supermen" must arise with the courage to create their own values through their "will to power." Nietzsche rejected the "soft" values of Christianity (brotherly love, turning the other cheek, charity, compassion, etc.); he felt they hindered man's creativity and potential....

Many other atheists agree with Nietzsche concerning moral relativism. British philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) once wrote, "Outside human desires there is no moral standard." A. J. Ayer believed that moral commands did not result from any objective standard above man. Instead, Ayer stated that moral commands merely express one's subjective feelings. When one says that murder is wrong, one is merely saying that he or she feels that murder is wrong. Jean-Paul Sartre, a French existentialist, believed that there is no objective meaning to life. Therefore, according to Sartre, man must create his own values.

There are many different ways that moral relativists attempt to determine what action should be taken. Hedonism is probably the most extreme. It declares that whatever brings the most pleasure is right. In other words, if it feels good, do it. If this position is true, then there is no basis from which to judge the actions of Adolph Hitler as being evil.[102]

”

Atheism and various types of immorality

The perverse and cruel atheist Marquis de Sade in prison, 18th century line engraving. See: Atheism and sadism

Atheism and sociopathy

See: Atheism and sociopathy

Atheist mass shooters and serial killers

Study: U.S. public perception of atheist morality

In 2014, a University of Kentucky study was published by Will M. Gervais, which was entitled "Everything is permitted? People intuitively judge immorality as representative of atheists", and the study indicated that "even atheist participants viewed immorality as significantly more representative of atheists than of other people."[103]

Barna Group studies: Atheism and morality

Barna Group study on the behavior of atheists vs. evangelical Christians:

Richard Deem wrote:

“ A random sample of 1003 adults were surveyed in May, 2008 by The Barna Group for their participation in a number of negative behaviors within the previous week. The results showed that there were vast differences in the behaviors of evangelicals compared to agnostics/atheists.

These results show that atheists/agnostics participate in morally questionable behaviors to a much greater degree than evangelical Christians - an average of nearly five times the frequency![104]

”

Barna Group study related to atheist beliefs about behaviors:

The Barna Group found that atheists and agnostics in America were more likely, than theists in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: illegal drug use; excessive drinking; sexual relationships outside of marriage; abortion; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; obscene language; gambling; pornography and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in homosexuality/bisexuality.[105]

Given the many diseases associated with homosexuality, the biblical prohibition against homosexuality is quite arguably one of the many example where the Bible exhibited knowledge that was ahead of its time. See also: Atheism and sexual immorality

Atheism and uncharitableness

See also: Atheism and charity and Atheist organizations and scandals and Atheism, uncharitableness and depression
Most atheists likely live in East Asia (see: Asian atheism).

A beggar in Cambodia. In Cambodia, the vast majority of the population adheres to a nontheistic form of Buddhism called the Theravada school of Buddhism.

A comprehensive study by Harvard University professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.[106]

Concerning the issue of atheism and uncharitableness, the evidence indicates that per capita charitable giving by atheists and agnostics in America is significantly less than by theists, according to a study by the Barna Group:

“ The typical no-faith American donated just $200 in 2006, which is more than seven times less than the amount contributed by the prototypical active-faith adult ($1500). Even when church-based giving is subtracted from the equation, active-faith adults donated twice as many dollars last year as did atheists and agnostics. In fact, while just 7% of active-faith adults failed to contribute any personal funds in 2006, that compares with 22% among the no-faith adults.[107] ”

A comprehensive study by Harvard University professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.[106]

See also: Atheism, social justice and hypocrisy

Church-state issues emphasis. Charity low priority

See also: Atheism and uncharitableness and Western atheism and race and Atheism and love

In June 2014, the African-American atheist woman Sikivu Hutchinson wrote in the Washington Post that atheist organizations generally focus on church-state separation and creationism issues and not the concerns the less affluent African American population faces.[108] Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations do focus on helping poor African Americans.[108]

Atheist nonprofit scandals

See also: Atheist organizations and scandals and Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science - Embezzlement allegation

In a 2018 YouTube video entitled David Silverman Ousted as President of American Atheists, the atheist YouTube channel Utah Outcasts said in a video about David Silverman and atheist organizations: "Many other people were also like maybe he was embezzling funds because we know people in atheist activist communities where that kind of sh*t happens. Yes, it was kind of common."[109]

Two atheist nonprofit scandals that recently received some publicity were the organizations Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science and the We Are Atheism organization.[110]

In addition, David Gorski at Scienceblogs indicated that many atheist/skeptic organizations are poorly run from a financial standpoint.[111]

For more information, please see: Atheist organizations and scandals

Irreligion and domestic violence

See also: Irreligion and domestic violence and Atheism and women and Atheism and rape

Research suggests that irreligiousity is a causal factor for domestic violence.[112]

The abstract for the 2007 article in the journal Violence Against Women entitled Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence indicated:

“ The authors explored the relationship between religious involvement and intimate partner violence by analyzing data from the first wave of the National Survey of Families and Households. They found that: (a) religious involvement is correlated with reduced levels of domestic violence; (b) levels of domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; (c) the effects of religious involvement on domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; and (d) religious involvement, specifically church attendance, protects against domestic violence, and this protective effect is stronger for African American men and women and for Hispanic men, groups that, for a variety of reasons, experience elevated risk for this type of violence.[112] ”
Secular Europe and domestic violence

See also: Secular Europe and domestic violence

Atheism and racism

See also: Atheism and racism and East Asia, China, atheism and racism and Western atheism and race

The atheist population has a significant amount of racism within its midst (see: Atheism and racism).

Atheism and empathy

See: Atheism and empathy

Atheism and pornography

The pornographer Larry Flynt is an atheist.[113] See: Atheism and pornography

See also: Atheism and pornography

One of the causes of atheism is a hedonistic lifestyle. See: Atheism and hedonism.

The infamous pornographers Hugh Hefner and Larry Flynt was and is (taken separately in the order indicated) both atheists (taken together).[114]

In 2003, Arena magazine magazine listed Flynt as #1 on the "50 Powerful People in Porn" list.[115] Flynt is paralyzed from the waist down due to injuries sustained from a 1978 assassination attempt by the serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin.[116]

RationalWiki and web visitor interest in pornography

See: RationalWiki and web visitor interest in pornography

Atheism and child pornography

See also: Atheism and child pornography

In 2005 Denmark was ranked the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 43 - 80% of Danes are agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.[117]

The 2003 book entitled Overcoming Violence Against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem written by authors Rahel Nardos; Mary K. Radpour; William S. Hatcher and Michael L. Penn, declared:

“ The largest source of commercial child pornography is Denmark. Denmark became the world's leading producer of child pornography when, in 1969, it removed all restrictions on the production and sale of any type of pornographic material. "The result," notes Tim Tate, "was a short-lived explosion in adult pornography, and the birth of commercial child pornography. ....by 1979 when Denmark finally banned the production and sale of child pornography it had already become such a financial success on the international market that it has proven to be nearly impossible to bring its spread under control.[118] ”

Suzanne Ost, in her 2009 book Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses published by Cambridge University Press, wrote about the child pornography created by Denmark/Holland during this period: "Taylor and Quayle note that the material produced during this period still constitutes the largest part of child pornography that is currently available, having been transferred into digital format and uploaded onto the internet."[119]

Atheism, pedophilia and NAMBLA

Many consider atheist Harry Hay to be the founder of the American homosexual movement.

see also: Atheism, pedophilia and NAMBLA and Teenage homosexuality

The North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) was founded in December 1978 and is an activist homosexuality and pedophilia/pederasty coalition group.

Some of the well known atheist advocates of the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) are:

1. The atheist and homosexual David Thorstad was a founding member of the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA).[120]

2. Harry Hay (1912 - 2002) was an liberal advocate of statutory rape and the widely acknowledged founder and progenitor of the activist homosexual agenda in the United States. Hay joined the Communist Party of the United States (CPUSA) in 1934.[121] Harry Hay was an atheist.[122] He was a vociferous advocate of man/boy love.[123] In 1986, Hay marched in a gay parade wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words "NAMBLA walks with me."[124]

3. The writer Samuel R. Delany is an atheist and a homosexual.[125] Delaney said he was a supporter of NAMBLA.[126]

See also: Richard Dawkins on child molestation and so called "gentle pedophiles" and John Maynard Keynes and pederasty

Atheism and slavery/forced labor

Dietary practices of atheists. Eating of dogs, cats, horses and babies/children

See: Dietary practices of atheists (Dietary habits of various irreligious regions)

Atheists and the eating of babies/children

Major news organizations reporting on China baby flesh powder scandal

Immorality of prominent atheists

See also: Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships

James Randi

James Randi is a leader within the atheist community. Brian Thompson, former James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Outreach Coordinator, wrote:

“ But I no longer identify with this community of benevolent know-it-alls, because not all of them are the best folks in the world. In fact, a good percentage of the top ten worst humans I’ve ever met are prominent members of the skeptics’ club. They’re dishonest, mean-spirited, narcissistic, misogynistic. Pick a personality flaw, and I can probably point you to someone who epitomizes it. And that person has probably had a speaking slot at a major skeptical conference.

I grew particularly disgusted with the boys’ club attitude I saw among skeptical leaders and luminaries. The kind of attitude that’s dismissive of women, sexually predatory, and downright gross. When I first started going to skeptical conferences as a fresh-faced know-it-all, I started hearing things about people I once admired. Then I started seeing things myself. Then I got a job with the JREF, and the pattern continued.[127]

”

See also:

Atheism and rape

Atheism and abortion

The Journal of Medical Ethics wrote this about the atheist and sadist Marquis de Sade:

“ In 1795 the Marquis de Sade published his La Philosophie dans le boudoir, in which he proposed the use of induced abortion for social reasons and as a means of population control. It is from this time that medical and social acceptance of abortion can be dated, although previously the subject had not been discussed in public in modern times. It is suggested that it was largely due to de Sade's writing that induced abortion received the impetus which resulted in its subsequent spread in western society.[128] ”

Population control is based on pseudoscience and ill founded economic assumptions.[129] CBS News reported: "According to a mail-in survey of nearly 4,000 British doctors, those who were atheist or agnostic were almost twice as willing to take actions designed to hasten the end of life."[130]

Atheism and profanity

See also: Atheism and profanity and Atheism and culture

Studies indicate that atheists engage in more profanity than Christians/theists and are more likely to believe that obscene language is acceptable to engage in.[131] Use of profanity by individuals is negatively correlated with conscientiousness and agreeableness.[132]

For more information, please see: Atheism and profanity

Irreligion and crime/prison population

Atheism and psychopathy

See also: Atheism and psychopathy

The serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer engaged in cannibalism. He was an atheist while he committed these acts.[133] See: Atheism and cannibalism

A psychopath is someone with an anti-social personality disorder characterized by violent, perverted or immoral behavior often leading to criminality. Psychopaths have little or no concern for other people. Some psychopaths equate love with sexual arousal.[134]

A 2016 study relating to atheism and psychopathy published in Plus One indicates:

“ Similarly, a survey of 312 college students examining the relationship between Religious/Spiritual Well-Being (RSWB) and ‘dark triad’ personality traits found that “RSWB was confirmed to be negatively correlated with these negative aspects of personality, in particular with subclinical psychopathy.”

...moral concern is associated with a spiritual worldview.[135]

”

According to the 2014 journal article Correlates of psychopathic personality traits in everyday life: results from a large community survey published in the journal Frontiers of Psychology lack of belief in God is positively associated with psychopathy.[136]

Atheism and theft crimes

Atheism and infanticide

Infanticide is the practice of killing very young children. An infant is a child too young to speak.[137]

Each year thousands of dogs are stolen in atheist, communist controlled mainland China and as many as 20 million dogs are killed in China to satisfy the dog meat industry.[138] For more information, please see: Atheists and dog meat eating

According to ABC News, gruesome techniques are used in Chinese dog slaughterhouses.[139] Brutal beatings of dogs are occurring in the Chinese dog meat trade during the slaughtering process.[140] See: Atheism and animal abuse

China has the world's largest atheist population.[141] It also has state atheism (See: China and atheism).

Most atheists in the world are East Asian (see: Asian atheism).

Below is an article on atheism and infanticide:

Atheism and bestiality

See also: Atheism and bestiality

Atheism and cannibalism

See: Atheism and cannibalism

Atheism and animal abuse

See: Atheism and animal abuse (Brutal dog/cat meat trades, etc.)

Atheism and veganism

See: Atheism and veganism

Atheism and hypocrisy

See also: Atheist hypocrisy

In order to attempt to justify their atheism, atheists often engage in hypocritical argumentation. In addition, atheists often engage in hypocritical behavior. Please see: Atheist hypocrisy

Atheism and social justice

See: Atheism and social justice

Atheism and care of the environment

See: Atheism and care of the environment

Atheism and other moral issues

For more information please see: Atheism and morality and Atheism and hedonism

Earlier definitions of atheism

Dictionaries point out that previous/archaic meanings of the word atheism are: ungodliness. wickedness, immorality[142][143]

Atheism and philosophy topics

If philosophical naturalism were true, then we ought not to trust our capacity for reason for the human brain would be a byproduct of blind/unintelligent natural forces. [144]

See: Atheism and reason and Atheism and the brain

Atheism and naturalism

See also: Atheism and naturalism

Scientific naturalism proposes that only explanations which can be scientifically tested are valid, yet this proposition cannot be scientifically tested. Therefore, scientific naturalism is self-refuting.[145] See also: Atheism and incoherency

Atheism and issues relating to knowledge acquisition

Why atheism is irrational

See also: Atheism and irrationality and Irreligion and superstition

A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that atheism is irrational.[146] In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.[147] For example, the atheistic worldview cannot account for the laws of logic.[148] See also: Atheism and critical thinking

The atheist worldview cannot explain the existence of consciousness either and the theistic worldview can offer a reasonable explanation.[149]

A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that atheism is irrational.[146] In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.[147]

For more information, please see:

Atheism and reason

See also: Atheism and reason and Atheists and unreasonableness

If naturalism is true, then we ought not to trust our capacity for reason for the human brain would be a byproduct of blind/unintelligent natural forces. [150] Therefore, believing in naturalism is self-defeating.

In short, atheism/naturalism and reason are incompatible.[150]

Atheism and personhood

See: Atheism and personhood

Atheism and the problem of consciousness

See: Atheism and consciousness

Atheism and free will

See: Atheism and free will

Atheism and human worth

See: Atheism and human worth

Atheism and evidence

See: Atheism and evidence

Logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit

List of logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit: Atheism and logical fallacies

Atheism and meaninglessness

See also: Atheism and meaninglessness and Atheism and the meaning of life and Nihilism and Absurdism and Existentialism

Under an atheistic worldview, there is no objective meaning or purpose in life.[151] Through Jesus Christ, Christianity offers objective meaning and purpose to life.[152]

For more information, please see: Atheism and meaninglessness and Atheism and the meaning of life

Atheists/agnostics and ultimate purpose

See also: Atheism and purpose and Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism and Atheism and beliefs

One of the most popular arguments for God's existence is the teleological argument. Derived from the Greek word telos, which refers to purpose or end, this argument hinges on the idea that the world gives evidence of being designed, and concludes that a divine designer must be posited to account for the orderly world we encounter.

Academic research and historical data indicate that a significant portion of atheists/agnostics often see their lives and the world as being the product of purposeful design (see: Atheism and purpose).[153]

See also:

Atheism and evil/suffering

Arrogance of atheism/atheists

See also: Atheism and arrogance and Atheism and narcissism and Atheism and deception

One of the common and well-founded charges against atheists is their arrogance and presumptuousness.[154]

Why atheism is an arrogant ideology

See also: Arguments against atheism and Atheism and arrogance

Friedrich Nietzsche wrote: "But now God is dead. You superior men, this God was your greatest danger. Only since he is in the grave, have you risen again. Only now comes the great noontide; only now the superior man will be – Lord!".[155]

The picture of Nietzsche above was taken in 1899. Nietzsche died in 1900. See: Atheism and arrogance

Atheists lack proof and evidence that God does not exist and ignore the clear and abundant proof and evidence that He does exist. The philosopher Mortimer Adler pointed out that atheism asserts an unreasonable universal negative that is self-defeating.[156]

Contrary to the mistaken notion of individuals who are inexperienced in logic/philosophy, there are plenty of cases where universal negatives can be proven.[157] However, atheists' universal negative claim that God does not exist is not a reasonable universal negative claim.[156]

Atheists have also given themselves pretentious monikers such as freethinker, rationalist and "bright". See also: Brights Movement and Atheism and intelligence

In addition, historically militant atheists have commonly endeavored to limit the religious freedom of others while imposing their errant, atheistic ideology on others. See also: Atheism and intolerance

Atheists and lack of open-mindedness

Research indicates that atheists are less open-minded (see: Atheism and open-mindedness).

See:

Atheism and religion

Atheism is a religion

See also: Atheism is a religion and Atheist cults and Atheist hypocrisy

The British atheist Sanderson Jones is a founder of the Sunday Assembly "atheist church" movement.[158]

See: Atheism is a religion

Atheism is a religion.[159] And many of the leaders of the atheist movement, such as the evolutionist and new atheist/agnostic Richard Dawkins, argue for agnosticism/atheism with a religious fervor.

In addition, although many atheists deny that atheism is a worldview, atheists commonly share a number of beliefs such as naturalism, belief in evolution and abiogenesis.[160]

Roderick Ninian Smart, a Scottish writer and professor, defined a seven-part scheme of understanding both religious and secular worldviews[161] These can be understood as narrative, experiential, social, ethical, doctrinal, ritual and material.

English Pastor Daniel Smartt defines atheism as a religion, using Ninian Smart's seven dimensions of worldview as a list of criteria. It is not necessary in Smartt's model for every one of these to be present in order for something to be a religion.[162] However, it can be argued that all seven are present in the case of atheism.[159] [163]

In 2013, a trend of atheist services began and atheist services were reported in the New York Times, The Blaze and other major news outlets.[164]

See also:

Atheist cults

See: Atheist cults

The Wall Street Journal reported: "A comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows ...that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to superstition, tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in pseudoscience than evangelical Christians."[165]

Atheism and spirituality

Irreligion and superstition

See also: Irreligion and superstition

In September 2008, the Wall Street Journal reported:

“ The reality is that the New Atheist campaign, by discouraging religion, won't create a new group of intelligent, skeptical, enlightened beings. Far from it: It might actually encourage new levels of mass superstition. And that's not a conclusion to take on faith—it's what the empirical data tell us.

"What Americans Really Believe," a comprehensive new study released by Baylor University yesterday, shows that traditional Christian religion greatly decreases belief in everything from the efficacy of palm readers to the usefulness of astrology. It also shows that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, far from being resistant to superstition, tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in pseudoscience than evangelical Christians...."[166]

”
According to Pew Forum, evangelical Protestant churches in America grew by 2 million from 2007 to 2014.[167] See: Atheism vs. Christianity

Atheism and the occult

See: Atheism and the occult

Atheism vs. Abrahamic religions and religion

Atheism vs. Islam

See main article: Atheism vs. Islam

Atheism and miracles

See main article: Atheism and Miracles

In relation to atheism and miracles, modern scholars are divided on the issue of whether or not David Hume was an atheist.[168] 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.[169] 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.[170]

The Christian Post reporter Stoyan Zaimov wrote: "Double-blind prayer experiments: where people pray for others with terminal illness. Habermas admitted that most such experiments have not worked, but the three that he knows of that have indeed worked were cases of orthodox-Christians praying for the sick."[171]

Atheists who believe in life after death

See also: Atheism and the supernatural

A survey involving 15,738 individuals found that 32 percent of Americans who identified themselves as agnostics and atheists believe in an afterlife of some kind.[172][173]

Atheism and death

According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.[174] See: Atheism and death

See also: Atheism and death and Atheist funerals and Atheism and Hell

Science Daily reported that Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God.[175] In a Psychology Today article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.[176] Under stress, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.[177]

A United States study and a Taiwanese study indicated that the irreligious fear death more than the very religious.[178]

Atheists and belief in life after death

See also: Atheism and life after death and Atheists and supernatural beliefs

A significant percentage of atheists believe in life after death (see: Atheism and life after death).[179]

For additional information, please see:

Atheism and Hell

See also: Atheism and Hell

The journalist and ex-atheist Peter Hitchens, who is the brother of the late atheist Christopher Hitchens, said upon seeing an art exhibit of Michelangelo's painting The Last Judgment he came to the realization that he might be judged which startled him.[180] This started a train of thought within Peter Hitchens that eventually led him to become a Christian.[180]

Atheism and science

atheism quotes
Isaac Newton wrote: "I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily. Opposition to godliness is atheism in profession and idolatry in practice. Atheism is so senseless and odious to mankind that it never had many professors." See also: Atheism quotes

See also: Atheism and science

Atheism and the suppression of science

See: Atheism and the suppression of science

Atheism and the social sciences

See: Atheism and the social sciences

Atheism and the foundation of modern science

See also: Christianity and science

The birth of modern science occurred in Christianized Europe.[181]

Sociologist Rodney Stark investigated the individuals who made the most significant scientific contributions between 1543 and 1680 A.D., the time of the Scientific Revolution. In Stark's list of 52 top scientific contributors,[182] only one (Edmund Halley) was a skeptic and another (Paracelsus) was a pantheist. The other 50 were Christians, 30 of whom could be characterized as being devout Christians.[182]

Sir Francis Bacon, sometimes referred to as "the Father of Modern Science", wrote in his essay entitled Of Atheism: "I had rather believe all the fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a mind."[183]

Atheism and environmental science

See: Atheism and environmental science

Atheism and questions of origins

See articles: Atheism and Evolution and Evolution as a secular origins myth

Creationist scientists state that the first law of thermodynamics and the second law of thermodynamics argue against an eternal universe or a universe created by natural processes and argue for a universe created by God.[184] See also: Atheism and the origin of the universe

A majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the evolutionary position which employs methodological naturalism since World War II have had the worldview of atheism/agnosticism.[185] Creation scientists assert that the theory of evolution is an inadequate explanation for the variety of life forms on earth.[186] The theory of evolution has had a number of negative social effects.

In addition, the current naturalistic explanations for the origin of life are inadequate.[187]

Atheism and scientific community

Atheism and scientific fraud and speculation

Atheism and food science

Atheism and culinary science

RationalWiki's flouting of nutritional science

Atheism and mental and physical health

See also: Atheism and health and Atheism and life expectancy and Atheism and alcoholism and Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts

The is considerable amount of scientific evidence that suggest that theism is more conducive to mental and physical health than atheism and some of the more significant findings are given below [188] For more information please see: Atheism and health and Atheism and life expectancy

Mayo Clinic and other studies

The prestigious Mayo Clinic found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better physical health and mental health outcomes.[189] See: Atheism and health

The prestigious Mayo Clinic reported the following on December 11, 2001:

“ In an article also published in this issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Mayo Clinic researchers reviewed published studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews and subject reviews that examined the association between religious involvement and spirituality and physical health, mental health, health-related quality of life and other health outcomes.

The authors report a majority of the nearly 350 studies of physical health and 850 studies of mental health that have used religious and spiritual variables have found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes.[189]

”

The Iona Institute reported:

“ A meta-analysis of all studies, both published and unpublished, relating to religious involvement and longevity was carried out in 2000. Forty-two studies were included, involving some 126,000 subjects. Active religious involvement increased the chance of living longer by some 29%, and participation in public religious practices, such as church attendance, increased the chance of living longer by 43%.[190] ”

Atheists and negative emotions/thoughts

See also: Atheism and emotional problems and Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence and Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts

Emotional intelligence "refers to the ability to perceive, control and evaluate emotions."[191] Research indicates that religiosity is positively associated with ability in emotional intelligence.[192][193][194] See also: Atheism and emotional problems and Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence and Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts

Atheism and suicide

See also: Atheism and suicide and Atheism and depression and Hopelessness of atheism and Atheism, agnosticism and pessimism

Although there are recent studies relating to atheism being a causal factor for suicide for some individuals, an early proponent of atheism being a causal factor for suicide was the Reverend Dr. Robert Stuart MacArthur.[195] In 1894, the New York Times stated the following in relation to atheism and suicide:

“ Dr. Martin urged that a great cause of suicide was atheism. It was, he said, a remarkable fact that where atheism prevailed most, there suicides were most numerous. In Paris, a recent census showed one suicide to every 2,700 of the population. After the publication of Paine's "Age of Reason" suicides increased.[196] ”
Atheists have higher suicide rates. See: Atheism and suicide

The website Adherents.com reported the following in respect to atheism and suicide:

“ Pitzer College sociologist Phil Zuckerman compiled country-by-country survey, polling and census numbers relating to atheism, agnosticism, disbelief in God and people who state they are non-religious or have no religious preference...In examining various indicators of societal health, Zuckerman concludes about suicide:

"...According to the 2003 World Health Organization's report on international male suicides rates (which compared 100 countries), of the top ten nations with the highest male suicide rates, all but one (Sri Lanka) are strongly irreligious nations with high levels of atheism."[197]

”

Concerning atheism and depression, a University of Michigan study involving 19,775 individuals found that religious people are less likely than atheists to suffer depression when they are lonely.[198]

For more information please see:

Atheism and mental illness

An angry atheist speaking to a woman with a Bible in her hand.

The Christian philosopher James S. Spiegel says the path from Christianity to atheism among several of his friends involved moral slippage such as resentment or unforgiveness.[199]

See: Atheism and anger and Atheism and unforgiveness

See also: Atheism and mental illness

The abstract for the journal article Health and Well-Being Among the Non-religious: Atheists, Agnostics, and No Preference Compared with Religious Group Members published in the Journal of Religion and Health indicates: "On dimensions related to psychological well-being, atheists and agnostics tended to have worse outcomes than either those with religious affiliation or those with no religious preference."[200]

Global News reported:

“ Children who are raised with religious or spiritual beliefs tend to have better mental health into their adulthood, a new study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found.

According to the study’s findings, people who attended weekly religious services or prayed or meditated daily in their childhood reported greater life satisfaction in their 20s. People who grew up in a religious household also reported fewer symptoms of depression and lower rates of post-traumatic stress disorder.[201]

”

Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts

Irreligion and recovery from illnesses

See: Irreligion and recovery from illnesses

According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in Europe, "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.[202]

Atheism and alcoholism

See also: Atheism and alcoholism

At least 100 studies suggests religion has a positive effect on preventing alcohol-related problems, researchers Christopher Ellison, Jennifer Barrett and Benjamin Moulton noted in an article in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion on “Gender, Marital Status, and Alcohol Behavior: The Neglected Role of Religion.”[203]

Atheists and atheistic cultures often have significant problems with excess alcohol usage (For more information please see: Atheism and alcoholism).

For example, as far as secular Europe, according to the World Health Organization's (WHO) regional office in Europe, "The WHO European Region has the highest proportion in the world of total ill health and premature death due to alcohol.[202]

Atheism and illegal drug use and drug addition

See also: Atheism and drug addiction

Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.[204][205][206]

According to Science Daily: "Young Swiss men who say that they believe in God are less likely to smoke cigarettes or pot or take ecstasy pills than Swiss men of the same age group who describe themselves as atheists. Belief is a protective factor against addictive behaviour. This is the conclusion reached by a study funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.[207]

Atheism and loneliness

See also: Atheism and loneliness

Secular societies commonly have significant levels of loneliness.

See: Atheism and loneliness

Loneliness has been linked to many physical and mental health problems.[208]

Compared to deeply religious cultures where an extended family and a sense of community often exists, secular countries are often lonelier societies. In addition, numerous studies and other data indicate that atheists often have lower emotional intelligence and lower social skills (see: Atheism and emotional intelligence and Atheism and social skills).

For more information, please see:

Atheism and obesity

See: Atheism and obesity

Atheism and cancer

See: Atheism and cancer

Atheist and higher levels of harmful genetic mutations

See also: Atheists and genetic mutations

There is research which suggests that the atheist population has higher levels of harmful genetic mutations (see: Atheists and genetic mutations).[209] [210]

Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism

See also: Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism and Irreligion and unsportsmanlike conduct and Atheism and obesity

Numerous studies report that athletes to be more religious than non-athletes.[211]

The Sports Journal is a monthly refereed journal published by the United States Sports Academy. A journal article appeared in the Sports Journal entitled Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions. The article was submitted by Nathan T. Bell, Scott R. Johnson, and Jeffrey C. Petersen from Ball State University.[212] An excerpt from the abstract of the journal article Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions declares:

“ Numerous studies report athletes to be more religious than nonathletes (Fischer, 1997; Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, & Storch, 2001; Storch et al., 2004). According to Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, and Storch (2001), four reasons may explain why religion interacts with athletic performance.[212] ”
See also: Atheism and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence

Atheism and mental toughness

See: Atheism and mental toughness

Atheists, aging populations and cancer/Alzheimer's disease

Atheism and veganism

See: Atheism and veganism

Atheism in medicine

See: Atheism in medicine

Atheism and intelligence

Brain researchers have conducted a number of studies focusing on the differences between atheists and the religious. See: Atheism and the brain

See also: Atheism and intelligence and Atheism and Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences and Causes of atheism

Within various countries, standardized intelligence test (IQ) scores related to the issue of atheists/agnostics vs. theists intelligence scores yield conflicting results.[213] Part of the problem is that social scientists use variant definitions of atheism.[214] See also: Atheism, intelligence and the General Social Survey

However, within individuals, families and societies irreligion/religion can have an effect on intelligence - especially over time (See: Atheism and intelligence).

For more information, please see:

Atheism, intelligence and open-mindedness

See also: Atheism and open-mindedness and Atheism and dogmatism and Atheism and intolerance and Atheism and groupthink

Highly intelligent people tend to be open-minded and have intellectual curiosity.[215]

Research indicates that atheists are less open-minded (see: Atheism and open-mindedness).

Study on emotional intelligence and religiosity

See also: Atheism and emotional intelligence and Atheism and social intelligence

A 2004 study by Ellen Paek examined the extent to which religious orientation/behavior and found significant positive correlations were found between level of religious commitment and an individual's perceived emotional intelligence.[216] See also: Atheism and emotional intelligence

According to the prominent brain researcher Antonio Damasio and other brain researchers, emotions play a critical role in high-level cognition and allow individuals to make better decisions.[217]

Brain studies of atheists

See also: Atheism and the brain and Religiosity and larger frontal lobes

Brain researchers have conducted a number of studies focusing on the differences between atheists and the religious (see: Atheism and the brain and Religiosity and larger frontal lobes).

Atheists and dopamine levels in the brain

See also: Atheism and motivation

According to Scientific American: "Research also suggests that a religious brain exhibits higher levels of dopamine, a hormone associated with increased attention and motivation."[218] See: Atheism and motivation

Atheism and the problem of consciousness

See: Atheism and consciousness

Atheism and women

see also: Atheism and women and Atheism and rape and Elevatorgate and Prominent atheists whose wives believe in the existence of God

Studies indicate that women tend to be more religious than men (See: Atheism and women).

Recent studies

Atheist Alliance International analysis

In 2016, Atheist Alliance International (AAI) conducted an annually recurring atheist census project and found: "At the time of writing, the Atheist Census Project recorded that on average worldwide 73.2% of respondents were male. The result is consistent with other research... As such, the focus of many scholarly papers has been on seeking to explain this persistent observation."[219]

Surveys by country

In November 2010, Discover magazine published survey results published by the World Values Survey which showed significant differences between the percentage of men and women who are atheists for various countries with men outnumbering women within the atheist population.[220]

United States surveys

In 2015, BloombergView reported concerning the United States: "According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, ...women are 52 percent of the U.S. population but only 36 percent of atheists and agnostics.[221]

A 2009 article in LiveScience.com entitled Women More Religious Than Men reported: "A new analysis of survey data finds women pray more often then men, are more likely to believe in God, and are more religious than men in a variety of other ways...The latest findings, released Friday, are no surprise, only confirming what other studies have found for decades.[222] In 2007, the Pew Research Center found that American women were more religious than American men.[222]

Atheism and sexism

See also: Atheism and sexism

Most atheists are politically on the left (see: Atheism and politics and Secular left). Part of leftist ideology is feminism. However, there is a significant amount of misogyny among atheists (see: Atheism and women).

For more information please see:

Atheism and women's rights

See: Atheism and women's rights

Atheist feminism

See: Atheist feminism

Atheism and Asian/white males

Atheist websites appear to receive significantly less traffic from women

See: Atheist websites appear to receive significantly less traffic from women

Atheism and marriage/relationships

See also: Atheism and marriage and Atheism and illegitimate births

Atheism and rates of marriage in the United States

See also: Atheism and marriageability and Atheism and women

The Christian apologist Michael Caputo wrote: "Recently the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has published its mammoth study on Religion in America based on 35,000 interviews... According to the Pew Forum a whopping 37% of atheists never marry as opposed to 19% of the American population, 17% of Protestants and 17% of Catholics."[62]

Theodore Beale declared that according to the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) "more than half of all atheists and agnostics don’t get married."[62]

For more information please see: Atheism and marriageability

Atheist marriages

See: Atheist marriages

Atheism and polyamory

Atheism and divorce

See: Atheism and divorce

Atheism and interfaith marriages

Atheism and its inability to explain love

See also: Atheism and love and Atheism and forgiveness

From a metaphysical, moral and spiritual perspective, atheists have an inability to satisfactorily explain the existence of love.[223][224]] From a moral, metaphysical and spiritual perspective, atheists have an inability to satisfactorily explain the existence of love.[223][224]

Atheism and sexuality

See also: Atheism and sexuality and Atheism and romance and Atheism and fertility rates

Research shows that religious women (especially evangelical/low-church Protestant women) are more sexually satisfied than irreligious women.[225][226][227]

A social science study also reports that Hispanic men are more sexually satisfied than other ethnic groups in the United States.[228] Hispanics are known for their religiosity (See also: Western atheism and race).

In addition, the atheist and agnostic populations have sub-replacement levels of fertility (see: Atheism and sexuality and Atheism and romance).

Atheists and physical attractiveness

See also: Atheists and physical attractiveness

The English anthropologist Edward Dutton indicates that using right-wing politics as a proxy for religiosity, there is evidence that atheists are less attractive and he pointed out that right-wing politicians are more likely to have symmetrical faces according to a study.[229]

Atheism and race

See also: Atheism, race and gender and Atheism and racism

Asian atheism

See also: Asian atheism and East Asia, China, atheism and racism

East Asia, in particular what are often termed “Confucian societies.” It is likely therefore that the majority of the world’s atheists are actually East Asian."[230]

As noted above, the current atheist population mostly resides in East Asia (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia among whites.[231] See: China and atheism

As noted above, China is experiencing an explosive growth of Christianity (see: Growth of Christianity in China and East Asia and global desecularization).

Western atheism and race

Atheist Sikivu Hutchinson says that white atheists organizations generally focus on church/state separation and creationism issues and not on the concerns the less affluent African-American population faces.[232] Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations significantly help poor African-Americans.[232] See also: Atheism and uncharitableness

See also: Western atheism and race and Black atheism and Atheism and diversity

Atheism and race: United States and Europe

In 2015, BloombergView reported:

“ According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, only 3 percent of U.S. atheists and agnostics are black, 6 percent are Hispanic, and 4 percent are Asian. Some 82 percent are white. (The relevant figures for the population at large at the time of the survey were 66 percent white, 11 percent black, 15 percent Hispanic, 5 percent Asian.)

...Craig Keener, in his huge review of claims of miracles in a wide variety of cultures, concludes that routine rejection of the possibility of the supernatural represents an impulse that is deeply Eurocentric.[221]

”

In the United States, blacks have the highest rate of religiosity.[233] Among Hispanics, religion has traditionally played a significant role in daily activity.[234]

In 2011, Beliefnetnews reported concerning the race and gender of American atheists:

“ From the smallest local meetings to the largest conferences, the vast majority of speakers and attendees are almost always white men. Leading figures of the atheist movement — Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett — are all white men.

But making atheism more diverse is proving to be no easy task.

Surveys suggest most atheists are white men. A recent survey of 4,000 members of the Freedom from Religion Foundation found that 95 percent were white, and men comprised a majority.[235]

”

RationalWiki/RationalMedia Foundation board of trustees and the lack of Black representation

See: RationalMedia Foundation board of trustees and the lack of Black representation

Atheism and education

Atheism and culture: Art, architecture, music, language, poetry, dance and humor

A People's Republic of China propaganda poster stating "Destroy the Old World & Forge the New World," with a worker smashing a crucifix, a Buddha murti, and a classical Chinese sacred text; 1967.

See also: Atheism and culture

Culture consists of the "language, habits, ideas, beliefs, customs, social organization, inherited artifacts, technical processes, and values."[236]

Atheism has not produced any outstanding cultural achievements and it has had a negative effect on cultures (see: Atheism and culture and Atheism and its anti-civilizational effects and Atheism statistics).

For example, relative to Christianity, which has a large collection of art, music and poetry associated it, atheism has a very small collection of art, music and poetry associated with it (see: Atheist art and Atheist music and Atheist poetry).

It is often said that atheism is boring, stale and difficult to believe (see: Atheism and inspiration). As noted above, research indicates that atheists are less open-minded (see: Atheism and open-mindedness).

For additional information, please see:

Global atheism

Global decline of atheism

See also: Atheism and diversity and Atheism and culture

Atheism is in decline worldwide in terms of number of atheists and the percentage of atheists in world.[237]

See: Global atheism statistics

Atheists as a percentage of the world's population have declined since 1970 and global atheism is expected to face long-term decline.[238] See: Desecularization and Global atheism statistics

In 2024, Frontier Partners International reported concerning global atheism: "Simultaneously, atheism, which once saw a peak around 1970 with 165 million adherents, is on the decline. The current growth trend for atheism is -0.12 percent, with their number falling from 147 million in 2020 to 146 million in 2024."[239] See also: Desecularization and Global atheism statistics

According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, 2% of the world's population self-identifies as atheist and the average annual global change for atheism from 2000 to 2010 was −0.17%.[240]

Decline of the number of atheists in the world

See also: Decline of the number of atheists in the world

According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, the number of atheists in the world is now shrinking and will continue to do so.[241][242] See also: Decline of the number of atheists in the world and Future of atheism in China and European desecularization in the 21st century and Decline of Europe

Demographics of atheism

Demography is the study of human populations, and is a major specialty in the disciplines of sociology, economics, history, geography, statistics and epidemiology.

Atheism and specific countries/areas

Europe, which is less religious than the United States has a subreplacement level of births, is projected to have a population that is 30% less small by the end of the century (see: Atheism and fertility rates).[243]

In 2014, the Pew Research Forum indicated that Europe will go from 11% of the world's population to 7% of the world's population by 2050.[244]

Religious people moving to irreligious regions

Atheism statistics

Atheist movement and leadership

Poor international cooperation among atheists

See also: Atheism and international cooperation among atheists

In recent years, international cooperation among atheists has been low (see: Atheism and international cooperation among atheists).

Views on atheists

See also: Views on atheists and Distrust of atheists and Atheism and social outcasts and Atheism and public relations and Atheophobia

Sam Harris

Sociological research indicates that atheists are widely distrusted in both religious cultures and nonreligious cultures.[245][246][247][248]

According to a study published in the International Journal for The Psychology of Religion: "anti-atheist prejudice is not confined either to dominantly religious countries or to religious individuals, but rather appears to be a robust judgment about atheists."[247] The study found that many atheists do not trust other atheists as well.[247]

Various atheists have attempted to change the public's perception of atheism and atheists, but their efforts were largely unsuccessful (see: Attempts to positively rebrand atheism).

Other topics related to views on atheists

Desecularization and its causes

See also: Desecularization and Causes of desecularization

Desecularization is the process by which religion reasserts its societal influence though religious values, institutions, sectors of society and symbols in reaction to previous and/or co-occurring secularization processes.[249]

As noted above, from 2024 to 2025, the number of atheists in the world dropped by 831,000 atheists according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.[250][251]

The theologian and Harvard University academic Harvey Cox asserted that grassroots movements such as fundamentalism and the Charismatic movement/pentecostalism are significant religious forces that are resistant to secularization forces.[252][253] In her book The Battle for God, Karen Armstrong wrote: "One of the most startling developments of the late 20th century has been the emergence within every major religious tradition of a militant piety known as 'fundamentalism'… this religious resurgence has taken many observers by surprise."[254] Today, even the highly secularized public and political sphere of France is showing a new and more open attitude towards religion.[255]

Atheism and sub-replacement levels of fertility

See also: Atheism and fertility rates

In 2011, atheist Jacques Berlinerblau declared: "The Golden Age of Secularism has passed."[45]

Michael Blume, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany, wrote about the sub-replacement level of fertility among atheistic populations: "Most societies or communities that have espoused atheistic beliefs have not survived more than a century."[256] Blume also indicated concerning concerning his research on this matter: "What I found was the complete lack of a single case of a secular population, community or movement that would just manage to retain replacement level."[256] See also: Atheism and sexuality

On December 23, 2012, Professor Eric Kaufmann who teaches at Birbeck College, University of London wrote:

“ I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious.

On the other hand, the secular West and East Asia has very low fertility and a rapidly aging population... In the coming decades, the developed world's demand for workers to pay its pensions and work in its service sector will soar alongside the booming supply of young people in the third world. Ergo, we can expect significant immigration to the secular West which will import religious revival on the back of ethnic change. In addition, those with religious beliefs tend to have higher birth rates than the secular population, with fundamentalists having far larger families. The epicentre of these trends will be in immigration gateway cities like New York (a third white), Amsterdam (half Dutch), Los Angeles (28% white), and London, 45% white British. [257]

”

At a conference, Kaufmann said of religious demographic projections concerning the 21st century:

“ Part of the reason I think demography is very important, at least if we are going to speak about the future, is that it is the most predictable of the social sciences.

...if you look at a population and its age structure now. You can tell a lot about the future. ...So by looking at the relative age structure of different populations you can already say a lot about the future...

...Religious fundamentalism is going to be on the increase in the future and not just out there in the developing world..., but in the developed world as well.[258]

”

Secularism is exhausted and unconfident

See also: Decline of the atheist movement

Eric Kaufmann, an agnostic professor whose academic research specialty is how demographic changes affect religion/irreligion and politics, wrote in 2010:

“ Worldwide, the march of religion can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears exhausted and lacking in confidence... Secularism's greatest triumphs owe less to science than to popular social movements like nationalism, socialism and 1960s anarchist-liberalism. Ironically, secularism's demographic deficit means that it will probably only succeed in the twenty-first century if it can create a secular form of 'religious' enthusiasm.[259] ”
Eddie Tabash

The American atheist activist Eddie Tabash said at the 2010 Michigan Atheists State Convention:

“ In every generation there has been a promising beginning of a true vanguard movement that will finally achieve widespread public acceptance for nonbelief. Yet, in each generation there has been an ultimately disappointing failure to actually register the naturalistic alternative to supernatural claims in the public consciousness...[260] ”

In recent years, a number of notable atheists have expressed pessimism about the future of the atheist movement (see: Decline of the atheist movement).

Causes of desecularization

Zero secularization rates in France and Protestant Europe

See also: British atheism

In April 2010, Eric Kaufmann declared "the rate of secularisation has flattened to zero in most of Protestant Europe and France."[261]

The Guardian published an article in 2017 entitled Nearly 50% are of no religion – but has UK hit ‘peak secular’? which declared:

“ But, Bullivant told the Observer that the “growth of no religion may have stalled”. After consistent decline, in the past few years the proportion of nones appears to have stabilised. “Younger people tend to be more non-religious, so you’d expect it to keep going – but it hasn’t. The steady growth of non-Christian religions is a contributing factor, but I wonder if everyone who is going to give up their Anglican affiliation has done so by now? We’ve seen a vast shedding of nominal Christianity, and perhaps it’s now down to its hardcore.[262] ”

Growth of evangelical Christianity in secular regions

Future of desecularization via the continued global resurgence of religion

See also: Growth of global desecularization and Atheism vs. Christianity

Eric Kaufmann using a wealth of demographic studies, argues that there will be a significant decline of global atheism in the 21st century which will impact the Western World.[263]

Eric Kaufmann using a wealth of demographic studies, argues that there will be a significant decline of global atheism in the 21st century which will impact the Western World.[264][265] In addition, Kaufmann argues that religious conservatism has a long term trend of rising and that their influence in the world will significantly increase.[266] Kaufmann is author of the book Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?.[267][268] In the Western World due to immigration and the higher birth rates of religious people, Kaufman writes: "Committed religious populations are growing in the West, and will reverse the march of secularism before 2050."[268]

Kaufmann told a secular audience in Australia: "The trends that are happening worldwide inevitably in an age of globalization are going to affect us."[269] Furthermore, Kaufmann also argues that secularization may reverse itself significantly earlier than 2050 in the West due to religious immigration and a religious population which is increasingly resistant to secularization in Europe.[270]

In addition, in the latter portion of the 20th century and continuing into the 21st century, the atheist movement has had lower confidence/morale due to various historical events/trends (see: Atheists and the endurance of religion).

Growth of desecularization in the 21st century

Notable atheists who became ex-atheists

See: Ex-atheists

Claims about the conditionality and existence of atheism

See also: Atheists doubting the validity of atheism and There are no atheists in foxholes

Hannah More wrote: "[T]he mind, which knows not where to fly, flies to God. In agony, nature is no Atheist. The soul is drawn to God by a sort of natural impulse; not always, perhaps by an emotion of piety; but from a feeling conviction, that every other refuge is 'a refuge of lies'."[271]

There are no atheists in foxholes

See also: There are no atheists in foxholes and Atheists doubting the validity of atheism and There are no atheists on a sinking ship and There are no atheists on turbulent airplanes

Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring There are no atheists in foxholes.[272]]

Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring "There are no atheists in foxholes."[273] 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."[274] On the other hand, the news organization NBC featured a story in which atheist veterans claimed that there are atheists in foxholes.[275]

Research indicates that heavy combat has a positive correlation to the strength of the religious faith in soldiers during the battles and subsequent to the war if they indicated their experience was a negative experience (for more information please see: There are no atheists in foxholes).

Also, due to research showing that death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God, Dr. Nathan Heflick declared in a Psychology Today article, "But, at a less conscious (or pre-conscious) level, this research suggests that there might be less atheism in foxholes than atheists in foxholes report."[176] Please see: Atheism and death

Denials that atheists exist

Causes of atheism

See main article: Causes of atheism and Atheism and hedonism and Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian

There are a number of psychological, societal, familial, economic and spiritual factors which cause atheism which have been proposed over the centuries. Please see: Causes of atheism and Atheism and hedonism.

Christian websites and other resources with a large focus on the topic of atheism

True Freethinker is a Christian apologetics Facebook page run by Ken Ammi which offers many refutations of atheism.

See also: Atheism vs. Christianity and Internet atheism

Five of the more notable Christian apologetics websites/blogs which have a large focus on the topic of atheism are: the Atheism is dead website; the Shadow To Light blog; the True Freethinker website; the Creation Ministries International resources on atheism and the Fixed Point Foundation website.

Freedom from Atheism Foundation (FFAF)

In 2012, the Freedom From Atheism Foundation (FFAF) was formed as an online interfaith civil rights group to provide support for victims of militant atheism, protect the rights of religious believers, and address the increasing amount of atheist intolerance around the world. The groups' many admins are all anonymous due to the large amount of hate mail, threats, and stalking the site receives from militant atheists.

As of October 2017 the group has over 750,000 followers and makes an average of 80 posts a week. Along with tens of thousands of religious supporters, the group also found support from atheist author and biologist PZ Myers.[276] A May 2014 article in the Christian Post titled "Freedom From Religion? How About Freedom From Atheism?" profiled the Freedom From Atheism Foundation in greater detail.[277]

Online videos related to atheism

The Militant atheism YouTube channel has a collection of videos on militant atheism.

Atheism and the media

See also: Atheism and the media and Atheism and public relations and Atheism news

The Media Research Center released a study in 2008 reporting pro-atheism bias by major press outlets in the United States.[278] The study found that 80% of mainstream media coverage of atheism was positive and that 71% of Christian-themed stories had an atheist counterpoint or were written from an atheist perspective.[278] The study is not surprising given the liberal bias that commonly exists in the major media outlets.

See also:

Celebrity atheists

See: Celebrity atheists

Atheism and homosexuality

See:

Other well-known proponents of atheism

See: Famous atheists and Famous agnostics

Friedrich Nietzsche

Well-known proponents of skepticism/atheism/agnosticism

Atheist organizations

See: Atheist organizations

Atheist organizations and fundraising

Atheism quotes

See articles: Atheism Quotes

Atheism news

See: Atheism news

Recommended reading

Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian

See also

Humor:

Conservapedia statistics about its atheism articles:

External links

see also: Atheism website resources

General articles on atheism:

Prominent atheists:

Other articles on atheism:

References

  1. ↑ “Atheism” (on or bef. 2019). The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary (unk. place: Merriam-Webster).
  2. ↑ Oxford University Press (OUP) (2019). "Atheism". Lexico.com (Oxford, UK: OUP).
  3. ↑ Multiple references:
    • Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). "Atheism and agnosticism". The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
    • "atheism" (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. "Definition of atheism 1 a: a lack of belief or a strong disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods b: a philosophical or religious position characterized by disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods [example sentences omitted] Origin and Etymology of atheism Middle French athéisme, from athée atheist, from Greek atheos godless, from a- + theos god"; "god" (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. "Definition of god 1 capitalized: the supreme or ultimate reality: such as a: the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe" [definitions 2 and 3 omitted.] Retrieved on April 22, 2018.
    • "Atheism:...a + theos, denying God." Onions, C. T. et al., ed. (1966). "Atheism". Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press).
    • Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D. (23 June 2007). "Atheism is more rational?" Creation.com/feedback archive (Brisbane, Queensland, AU: Creation Ministries International). See Creation Ministries International, Jonathan Sarfati.
    • Day, Donn R. (2007). "Atheism - etymology". The Divine Conspiracy website/atheism articles (unk. publisher). Archived at Internet Archive on September 6, 2014.
    • Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). "Putting the atheist on the defensive" Christian Research Institute Journal, p. 7.
  4. ↑ Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). "Putting the atheist on the defensive" Christian Research Institute Journal, p. 7.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). "Putting the atheist on the defensive" Christian Research Institute Journal, p. 7.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Day, Donn R. (2007). "Atheism - etymology". The Divine Conspiracy website/atheism articles (unk. publisher). Archived at Internet Archive on September 6, 2014.
  7. ↑ Craig, William Lane (July 16, 2012). "The proper definition of atheism". Reasonable Faith website/Media/Reasonable faith podcast (Dallas TX: Reasonable Faith). See William Lane Craig.
  8. ↑ Britain is a less religious country than the United States, and the Oxford-dictionaries-based Lexico.com offers both the narrow/broad definitions of atheism (as noted in a previous footnote, the Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, which is a traditional American dictionary, offers a more narrow definition of atheism similar to the definition that major encyclopedias of philosophy use). Lexico.com and other Oxford dictionaries: "Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods". (Oxford University Press [OUP] [2019]. "Atheism". Lexico.com [Oxford, UK: OUP].)
  9. ↑
  10. ↑ Global Christianity surges beyond projections in 2024, LiCAS.news • Mar 15, 2024, Frontiers Partners International, 2024
  11. ↑
    • Discussion on Atheism: Report of a Public Discussion Between the Rev. Brewin Grant, B.A., and C. Bradlaugh, Esq., Held in South Place Chapel, Finsbury, London, on Tuesday Evenings, Commencing June 22, and Ending July 27, 1875, on the Question, "Is Atheism Or is Christianity the True Secular Gospel, as Tending to the Improvement and Happiness of Mankind in this Life by Human Efforts and Material Means.". Brewin Grant Charles Bradlaugh, January 1, 1890, Anti-liberation Society, page 10-12 [1]
  12. ↑
  13. ↑
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ Dr. Martin Luther King in his sermon Rediscovering Lost Values spoke of "practical atheism". King, Dr. Martin Luther (1954). "Rediscovering lost values"
  16. ↑ I don’t even know what’s going on in atheism anymore by PZ Myers
  17. ↑ Rousseau, Jacques (July 13, 2011). "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can rip my soul". Daily Maverick [South Africa].
  18. ↑ "The atheist community and internet atheism is still a hostile wasteland" (April 7, 2013). Question Evolution Campaign [blog].
  19. ↑ "Board of directors" (July 1, 2014). American Atheists
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Former 2012 web page at Atheist.org website entitled "An Open Letter from Blair Scott"
  21. ↑ It’s Past Time for Atheism to Grow Up by Neil Carter
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Reasonably Controversial: How the Regressive Left Is Killing the Atheist Movement by David Smalley
  23. ↑ A Few Thoughts About Fundraising
  24. ↑ Lee Moore and Steve Shives Talk About the Future of the Atheist Movement - video quote comes 21 minutes and 13 seconds into the video
  25. ↑ Atheists Speak Up - Eddie Tabash - Part 2 of 4
  26. ↑ Landau, Elizabeth (January 1, 2011). "Anger at God common, even among atheists". CNN/The Chart website.
  27. ↑ Christian Philosopher Explores Causes of Atheism
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Today's atheists are bullies -- and they are doing their best to intimidate the rest of us into silence at Fox News
  29. ↑ Carter, Joe (January 12, 2011). "When atheists are angry at God". First Things [The Institute on Religion and Public Life] website.
  30. ↑ Mooney, Chris (May 14, 2012). "Greta Christina—Why are you atheists so angry?" [interview of Greta Christina] Point of Inquiry website.
  31. ↑ Multiple references:
  32. ↑ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded" (July 18, 2013). Shadow to Light [blog].
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Nazworth, Nap (July 11, 2012). "Study: atheists have lowest 'retention rate' compared to religious groups". christianpost.com.
  34. ↑ Harms, William (April 18, 2012). "Belief in God rises with age, even in atheist nations". UChicagoNews.
  35. ↑ Chapter 3: Demographic Profiles of Religious Groups, Pew Forum
  36. ↑ Bainbridge, William (2005). "Atheism" (PDF). Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion. 1 (Article 2): 1–26.
  37. ↑ In Xi we trust - Is China cracking down on Christianity?, DW News
  38. ↑ Whoever I Don’t Like Is Ruining the Atheist Movement by Jeremiah Traeger
  39. ↑ Lee Moore and Steve Shives Talk About the Future of the Atheist Movement, video, quote comes at the 11 minute and 44 seconds point of the video
  40. ↑ Herding Cats: Why Atheism Will Lose by Francois Tremblay
  41. ↑ Are there too many atheist meetings? by Jerry Coyne
  42. ↑ Amanda (August 10, 2012). "How the atheist movement failed me–part 1: cost". Friendly Atheist blog.
  43. ↑ Norris, Chuck (May 21, 2007). "How to outlaw Christianity (steps 2 & 3)". WorldNetDaily. See: Chuck Norris.
  44. ↑ Internet atheism: The thrill is gone!
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 Berlinerblau, Jacques (February 4, 2011). "Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast". The Chronicle of Higher Education/Brainstorm blog. Retrieved on May 29, 2015.
  46. ↑
  47. ↑ David Silverman - How the Mighty Get Back Up
  48. ↑ Get Out! A message for the atheist movement by PZ Myers
  49. ↑ Mulligan, Martin (1959). "Private property and communism" translation of Marx, Karl (1932), Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 (Moscow: Progress Publishers).
  50. ↑ Rothstein, Andrew and Issacs, Bernard (1973). "The attitude of the worker's party to religion" translation of Lenin, Vladimir (1909), Proletary, No. 45, May 13 (26), Collected Works, (Moscow: Progress Publishers) vol. 15, pp. 402-13.
  51. ↑ Noebel, David, The Battle for Truth, Harvest House, 2001.
  52. ↑
  53. ↑ Senior Chinese Religious Advisor Calls For Promotion Of Atheism In Society, International Business Times
  54. ↑ Investigating atheism: Marxism. University of Cambridge (2008). Retrieved on July 17, 2014. “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.”
  55. ↑ Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg (2009). On Superconductivity and Superfluidity: A Scientific Autobiography. Springer Science+Business Media, 161. Retrieved on July 17, 2014. “The Bolshevik communists were not merely atheists but, according to Lenin's terminology, militant atheists.” 
  56. ↑ Multiple references:
  57. ↑ Multiple references:
    • Hunt, Lynn and Censer, Jack (2001). "War, Terror and Resistence", ch. 7, p. 3. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution website. George Mason University website/Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media website.
    • O'Leary, Margaret R. (June 1, 2012). Forging Freedom: The Life of Cerf Berr of M Delsheim (iUniverse), pp. 1-2.
  58. ↑ Multiple notes:
    • Adair, James (2007). Christianity: The eBook 461. JBE Online Books. Retrieved on July 18, 2014. “Although the Civil Constitution called for religious liberty, which was extended to Jews as well as Christians, many revolutionaries pushed for the establishment of a new state religion, either the Cult of Reason (atheists) or the Cult of the Supreme Being (Deists). Changes to the calendar eliminated references to Christian holidays, and even the ancient seven-day week, and a list of officially recognized saints included such famous thinkers such as Socrates, Jesus, Marcus Aurelius, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. A period of political persecution, often with religious overtones, broke out, known as the Reign of Terror. Thousands of people were executed by the guillotine, including many of the original leaders of the French Revolution.”
    • Belsham, William (1801). Memoirs of the Reign of George III. to the Session of Parliament ending A.D. 1793, Volume 5 105–6. G.G. & J. Robinson. Retrieved on July 18, 2014. “In allusion to the monstrous transactions of this portentous period, it has been eloquently and energetically observed, 'that the reign of atheism in France was avowed the reign of terror. In the full madness of their career, in the highest climax of their horrors, they shut up the temples of God, abolished His worship, and proclaimed death to be an eternal sleep:—in the very centre of Christendom, Revelation underwent a total eclipse, while atheism, performing on a darkened theatre its strange and fearful tragedy, confounded the first elements of society, blended every age, rank, and sex, in indiscriminate proscription and massacre, and convulsed all Europe to its centre, that the imperishable memorial of these events might teach the last generations of mankind to consider religion as the pillar of society, the parent of social order, and the safe-guard of nations.'
    "It is wonderful that, amid the horrors of this dismal period, while 'the death dance of democratic revolution' was still in rapid movement, among the tears of affliction, and the cries of despair, 'the masque, the song, the theatric scene, the buffoon laughter, went on as regularly as in the gay hour of festive peace.'”
    • Kilpatrick, William (2012).Christianity, Islam, and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press, p. 57. Retrieved on July 18, 2014  “Actually, it's helpful to think in terms of two Enlightenments: the Enlightenment that was nourished by Christianity and the Enlightenment that cut itself off from God. The former led to the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the abolition of slavery, and the civil rights movement. The latter led to the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror, the suppression of church by state, and the godless philosophies of Marx and Nietzsche and their offspring—National Socialism and communism. More recently the abandonment of God has led to the regime of cultural relativism that regards rights as arbitrary constructs.
    "It's this second Enlightenment tradition that Cardinal Ratzinger referred to when he wrote, 'The radical detachment of the Enlightenment philosophy from its roots ultimately leads it to dispense with man.' Actually this transition happened not 'ultimately' but almost immediately. The first instance occurred when Enlightenment worship of abstract 'reason' and 'liberty' degenerated quickly into the mass murders committed during the antireligious Reign of Terror in France. 'Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name', said Madame Roland as she faced the statue of Liberty in the Place de la Revolution moments before her death at the guillotine. She was one of the early victims of a succession of secular systems based on rootless notions of 'liberty', 'equality', and 'reason'.
    "As many historians have pointed out, the atheist regimes of modern times are guilty of far more crimes than any committed in the name of religion. Communist governments alone were guilty of more than one hundred million murders, most of them committed against their own people.”
  59. ↑ Multiple references:
  60. ↑ Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). "How many did communist regimes murder?" University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). "The real murderers: atheism or Christianity?" Stand to Reason.
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 62.2 Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009). "Atheism". Creation Ministries International.
  63. ↑ China’s Communist Party Reaffirms Marxism, Maoism, Atheism, New American, 2014
  64. ↑ Multiple references:
  65. ↑ Ostling, Richard N. (December 4, 1989). "Cross meets Kremlin: Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II". Time. Time magazine website.
  66. ↑ Moore, Rev. Fr. Raphael (October 1999). "In memory of the 50 million victims of the Orthodox Christian Holocaust", Spiritual Nourishment for the Soul, Serfes, Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios, compiler.
  67. ↑ "Top 20 Countries With Largest Numbers of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)" (November 28, 2007). The Largest Atheist/Agnostic Populations. Chris & Terri Chapman website (March 19, 2013 or bef.), first publication date at website from archive at Internet Archive.
  68. ↑ Humphrey (December 16, 2008). "Merry Anti-Christmas!" Quodlibeta.
  69. ↑ Multiple references:
  70. ↑ Double reference:
  71. ↑ "China sends Bible owners to labor camp" (November 26, 2003). WorldNetDaily.
  72. ↑ Chinese Police Proudly Record Their Torture of Christians, By Voice of the Martyrs|June 12, 2003
  73. ↑ Briggs, David (January 23, 2011). "Huffington Post: China’s state-sponsored atheism a failure" [excerpt]. National Post website.
  74. ↑ Martyred in the USSR
  75. ↑ The Russians' Secret by Peter Hoover with Serguei V. Petrov, Speaking Without a Tongue, Chapter 1 (Pages 1-3)
  76. ↑ Review of: Ethan Gutmann, “The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting and China’s Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem”, (Prometheus Books, 2014).
  77. ↑ Lee, Sunny (May 12, 2007). "God forbid, religion in North Korea?" Asia Times Online. Archived at Internet Archive on May 21, 2013.
  78. ↑ Multiple references:
  79. ↑ Repressive, atheist North Korea has a surprising relationship with Christian missionaries
  80. ↑ Multiple references:
  81. ↑ Internet atheism: The thrill is gone!
  82. ↑ General atheism/agnostic terms - World
  83. ↑ Who is Not Afraid of Richard Dawkins? Using Google Trends to Assess the Reach of Influential Atheists across Canadian Secular Groups by Maryam Dilmaghani, Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses, First Published December 13, 2019 Research Article https://doi.org/10.1177/0008429819854353
  84. ↑ 7 facts about atheists, Pew Forum
  85. ↑ EU Failures Fuel Rise of Right-Wing Populist Parties in Europe. Sputnik News, 2016
  86. ↑ From the book The Commissar Vanishes: The Falsification of Photographs and Art in Stalin's Russia by David King
  87. ↑ Multiple references:
  88. ↑ Multiple references:
  89. ↑ Does it matter that many scientists are atheists?
  90. ↑ Multiple references:
  91. ↑ Who created God by Don Batten
  92. ↑ Harr, Ken and Lisle, Dr. Jason (August 9, 2007). "Chapter 1: Is there really a God?" The New Answers Book. Answers in Genesis.
  93. ↑ Pushing the Antithesis on Greg Bahnsen
  94. ↑ Bahsen at the Stein debate by John Frame
  95. ↑ 95.0 95.1 Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011). "Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God". The Daily Telegraph website. Retrieved July 25, 2014. See Daily Telegraph
  96. ↑ Pushing the Antithesis on Greg Bahnsen
  97. ↑ "A brief biography of Greg Bahnsen" (2003). Applied Presuppositionalism website. Retrieved from January 2, 2008 archive at Internet Archive on May 14, 2015.
  98. ↑ Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith by Luís F. Rodrigues, page 201
  99. ↑ Multiple references:
  100. ↑ "I am so, so tired of hearing about atheist scandals and scumbaggery." - Twitter post
  101. ↑
  102. ↑ Dr. Phil Fernandez, Web article: Refuting Moral relativism, Institute for Bible Defense (Web article is no longer online. Pages 120-121 of the book God, Government, and the Road to Tyranny: A Christian View of Government and Morality By Phil Fernandes, Eric Purcell and Rorri Wiesinger relates the same thoughts of his former web article.[2])
  103. ↑ Gervais, Will M. (April 9, 2014). "Everything is permitted? People intuitively judge immorality as representative of atheists". PLOS ONE, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0092302.
  104. ↑ Atheism Doesn't Lead to Immoral Behavior - Or Does It? by Richard Deem
  105. ↑ Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard, Barna Group
  106. ↑ 106.0 106.1 Multiple references:
  107. ↑ "Atheists and agnostics take aim at Christians" (June 11, 2007). Barna Update.
  108. ↑ 108.0 108.1 Hutchinson, Sikivu (June 16, 2014). "Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about". Washington Post website.
  109. ↑ David Silverman Ousted as President of American Atheists, Utah Atheists, Go to the 3 minute mark in the video
  110. ↑ Richard Dawkins Drops His Lawsuit Against Former Employee
  111. ↑ Richard Dawkins sues Josh Timonen, Posted by David Gorski on October 24, 2010
  112. ↑ 112.0 112.1 Ellison, C. G., Trinitapoli, J. A., et al. (November 2007). "Race/ethnicity, religious involvement, and domestic violence" [abstract with link to full article]. Violence Against Women, doi: 10.1177/1077801207308259, vol. 13, no. 11, pp. 1094-1112. Abstract from PubMed.gov
  113. ↑ Multiple references:
    • Flynt writes, "I have left my religious conversion behind and settled into a comfortable state of atheism": see the epilogue of Flynt, Larry and Ross, Kenneth (June 1, 2008). An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit, and Social Outcast.
    • "I am not saying he don't believe in God. I am just saying I don't believe in God. That puts me at odds with him." "Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell" [transcript] (January 10, 1996). Larry King Live. Transcript from CNN.com on October 3, 2014.
  114. ↑ Multiple references:
    • Gottesdiener, Laura (February 23, 2010). "10 celebs you didn't know were atheists". Salon.
    • Flynt writes, "I have left my religious conversion behind and settled into a comfortable state of atheism": see the epilogue of Flynt, Larry and Ross, Kenneth (June 1, 2008). An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit, and Social Outcast.
    • "I am not saying he don't believe in God. I am just saying I don't believe in God. That puts me at odds with him." "Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell" [transcript] (January 10, 1996). Larry King Live. Transcript from CNN.com
  115. ↑ "Larry Flynt". One News Page.
  116. ↑ Multiple references:
    • Flynt, Larry and Ross, Kenneth (June 1, 2008). An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit, and Social Outcast, pp. 170–171.
    • "Larry Flynt". One News Page.
  117. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  118. ↑ Nardos, Rahel, et. al. (2003). Overcoming Violence Against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem, p. 59.
  119. ↑ Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses by Suzanne Ost, Cambridge University Press, page 29, 2009
  120. ↑ Abbott, Matt C. (August 22, 2010). "The mind of a pederast". RenewAmerica.
  121. ↑ Bronski, Michael (October 31, 2002). "The real Harry Hay". The Phoenix.com.
  122. ↑ Kincaid, Cliff, Accuracy in Media (January 7, 2010). "Twisted: administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association". WorldTribune.com.
  123. ↑ Multiple references:
  124. ↑ Baldwin, Hon. Steve (2002). "Child molestation and the homosexual movement". Regent University Law Review, vol. 14, pp. 267-282. The Architecture of Modern Political Power
  125. ↑ Multiple references:
    • Delany, Samuel R. (2006). About Writing: Seven Essays, Four Letters, and Five Interviews (Middletown: Wesleyan), p. 36.
    • "Introduction" (2001). Contemporary Literary Criticism, ed. Hunter, Jeffrey W., vol. 141 (Gale Cengage). eNotes.com
  126. ↑ Freedman, Carl (2009). Conversations with Samuel R. Delany (Jackson: Univ. Press of Mississippi), p. 143.
  127. ↑ Myers, P. Z. (March 31, 2014). "When will this situation improve?" Pharyngula.
  128. ↑ Farr, A. D. (1980). "The Marquis de Sade and induced abortion". Journal of Medical Ethics, 6, pp. 7-10. Journal of Medical Ethics website
  129. ↑ Egnor, Michael (November 30, 2010). "P. Z. Myers on abortion". Evolution News and Views.
  130. ↑ Katz, Neil (August 26, 2010). "Study: atheist doctors twice as likely to pull plug". CBSNews.com.
  131. ↑ Multiple references:
  132. ↑ Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). "The Science of Swearing". Observer, vol. 25, no. 5. The Association for Psychological Science website
  133. ↑ Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer blames Atheism and Evolution belief for Murders
  134. ↑ Robert D. Hare (2011). Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us. Guilford Press, 52. ISBN 978-16062-35782. 
  135. ↑ Why Do You Believe in God? Relationships between Religious Belief, Analytic Thinking, Mentalizing and Moral Concern by Anthony Ian Jack , Jared Parker Friedman, Richard Eleftherios Boyatzis, Scott Nolan Taylor, Plus One, March 23, 2016
  136. ↑ Correlates of psychopathic personality traits in everyday life: results from a large community survey by Scott O. Lilienfeld, Robert D. Latzman, Ashley L. Watts, Sarah F. Smith, and Kevin Dutton, Frontiers of Psychology, 2014
  137. ↑ MedicineNet.com http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=3966.
  138. ↑ The Chinese Government Must Stop Pet Dogs Being Stolen For Meat by JERRY GADIANO, Unilad website
  139. ↑ Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality, ABC News, YouTube
  140. ↑ Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality, ABC News, YouTube
  141. ↑ Double references:
  142. ↑ Dictionary Says 'Atheism' Means 'Immorality'!?
  143. ↑ Definition of atheism - Merriam-Webster dictionary
  144. ↑
  145. ↑ William Lane Craig on Scientific Naturalism by Dr. William Lane Craig
  146. ↑ 146.0 146.1 Multiple references:
  147. ↑ 147.0 147.1 Multiple references:
  148. ↑ Multiple references:
  149. ↑ Multiple references:
  150. ↑ 150.0 150.1 *C.S. Lewis' argument from reason
  151. ↑ Multiple references:
  152. ↑ Multiple references:
  153. ↑ Multiple references:
    • Banerjee, Konika and Bloom, Paul (October 17, 2014). "Does everything happen for a reason?" The New York Times website
    • Catchpoole, David (July 16, 2009 [GMT+10]). "Children see the world as designed". Creation.com. See Creation Ministries International.
    • Atheist Jean-Paul Sartre made the candid confession: "As for me, I don’t see myself as so much dust that has appeared in the world but as a being that was expected, prefigured, called forth. In short, as a being that could, it seems, come only from a creator; and this idea of a creating hand that created me refers me back to God. Naturally this is not a clear, exact idea that I set in motion every time I think of myself. It contradicts many of my other ideas; but it is there, floating vaguely. And when I think of myself I often think rather in this way, for want of being able to think otherwise." Source: Turner, Dean (1991). Escape from God: The Use of Religion and Philosophy to Evade Responsibility (Pasadena, California: Hope Publishing House), p. 109. GoogleBooks archive.
    • The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy declares about the agnostic/weak atheist Charles Darwin: "In 1885, the Duke of Argyll recounted a conversation he had had with Charles Darwin the year before Darwin's death: 'In the course of that conversation I said to Mr. Darwin, with reference to some of his own remarkable works on the Fertilization of Orchids, and upon The Earthworms, and various other observations he made of the wonderful contrivances for certain purposes in nature — I said it was impossible to look at these without seeing that they were the effect and the expression of Mind. I shall never forget Mr. Darwin's answer. He looked at me very hard and said, "Well, that often comes over me with overwhelming force; but at other times," and he shook his head vaguely, adding, "it seems to go away."' (Argyll 1885, 244)"
  154. ↑ Multiple references:
  155. ↑ Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, In Michael Curtis (Ed.) The Great Political Theories, Vol. 2 (New York: Avon Books, 1962, PP. 261-262). Cited in, Christopher, J.R., G.G, Wittet, Modern Western Civilization. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1991, Pages 232, 233
  156. ↑ 156.0 156.1 Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). "Putting the atheist on the defensive". Christian Research Institute Journal, p. 7. Internet Christian Library
  157. ↑ Must the Atheist Be Omniscient? by Dr. William Lane Craig
  158. ↑ Atheist Church Split: Sunday Assembly And Godless Revival's 'Denominational Chasm', Huffington Post, 2014
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  160. ↑ Multiple references:
  161. ↑ Smart, Ninian (1996). Dimensions of the Sacred [preview] (Oakland, CA: University of California Press). Preview: GoogleBooks
  162. ↑ Smartt, Daniel (November 6, 2008). "Atheism religion naturalism morally relative". Archive of SpiritualLiving360°.
  163. ↑ *Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009). "Atheism". Creation Ministries International.
  164. ↑ Multiple references:
  165. ↑ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html
  166. ↑ Hemingway, Molly Ziegler (September 19, 2008). "Look who's irrational now". The Wall Street Journal website.
  167. ↑ Why conservative churches are still growing
  168. ↑ Russell, Paul (February 11, 2013). "Hume on religion". The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
  169. ↑ Multiple references:
  170. ↑ Multiple references:
  171. ↑ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism by Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post, October 14, 2013
  172. ↑ Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife, Skepticsguide.com
  173. ↑ Do people still believe in life after death?, Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture Study
  174. ↑ Multiple references:
  175. ↑ University of Otago [New Zealand] (April 2, 2012). "Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God". ScienceDaily.
  176. ↑ 176.0 176.1 Heflick, Nathan A. (May 25, 2012). "Atheists, death and belief in God: The effects of death reminders on atheists' supernatural beliefs". Psychology Today website.
  177. ↑ Multiple references:
  178. ↑ Multiple references:
  179. ↑ Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife
  180. ↑ 180.0 180.1 "Peter Hitchens author interview—The rage against God" [interview of Peter Hitchens] (March 22, 2010). Vimeo video, 8:38, posted by Gorilla Poet Productions.
  181. ↑ Bumbulis, Michael, Ph. D. (November 24, 1996). "Christianity and the birth of science; The evidence; Clue #1. The founders/fathers of modern science were shaped by a culture that was predominantly Christian." Lambert Dolphin's Library. Archived at Internet Archive on July 20, 2014.
  182. ↑ 182.0 182.1 Williams, Alex (August 2004). "The biblical origins of science; a review of For The Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-hunts and the End of Slavery by Rodney Stark", Journal of Creation, vol. 18:2, pp. 49–52.
  183. ↑ Bacon, Francis (1601). The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, of Francis Ld. Verulam Viscount St. Albans; "Of atheism". Authorama.
  184. ↑ Multiple references:
  185. ↑
  186. ↑ Morris, Henry M., PhD. (January 2001). "The scientific case against evolution". Institute for Creation Research.
  187. ↑ Origin of life by Dr. Don Batten
  188. ↑ Multiple references:
  189. ↑ 189.0 189.1 Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice". Mayo Clinic Proceedings vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235. Mayo Clinic Proceedings website
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  191. ↑ Emotional intelligence
  192. ↑ Divine Emotions: On the Link Between Emotional Intelligence and Religious Belief, Journal of Religion and Health, December 2017, Volume 56, Issue 6, pp 1998–2009
  193. ↑ THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE WITH RELIGIOUS COPING AND GENERAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS by Masoumeh Bagheri Nesami, Amir Hossein Goudarzian, Houman Zarei, Pedram Esameili, Milad Dehghan Pour, and Hesam Mirani, Materia Sociomedica. 2015 Dec; 27(6): 412–416. doi: 10.5455/msm.2015.27.412-416
  194. ↑ Religiosity and perceived emotional intelligence among Christians, Personality and Individual Differences 41(3):479-490 · August 2006, DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2006.01.016
  195. ↑ Multiple references:
  196. ↑ "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction" (September 17, 1894). New York Times, p. 2.
  197. ↑ http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html
  198. ↑ Lonely religious people are less depressed than atheists because they see God as a friend replacement, study finds, Daily Mail, 2018
  199. ↑ Christian Philosopher Explores Causes of Atheism
  200. ↑ Health and Well-Being Among the Non-religious: Atheists, Agnostics, and No Preference Compared with Religious Group Members by Hayward RD, Krause N, Ironson G, Hill PC, Emmons R., Journal of Religion and Health, 2016 Jun;55(3):1024-1037. doi: 10.1007/s10943-015-0179-2.
  201. ↑ Religion can help improve children’s mental health, new study finds, Global News, 2018
  202. ↑ 202.0 202.1 "Data and statistics" (September 2014 or bef.). Health topics/Disease prevention/Alcohol use. World Health Organization (WHO)/Regional office for Europe
  203. ↑ The Doubled-Edged Sword of Religion and Alcoholism
  204. ↑ Believers Consume Fewer Drugs Than Atheists, Christian Post, By Jim Denison, Christian Post Columnist, October 9, 2013|9:47 am
  205. ↑ Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists, Science Daily, Date:October 3, 2013, Source: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung]
  206. ↑ Multiple references:
  207. ↑ Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung [Swiss National Science Foundation] (October 3, 2013). "Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists". Science Daily website/Science News.
  208. ↑ Multiple references:
    • Gammon, Katherine (March 2, 2012). "Why loneliness can be deadly". Live Science website.
    • Booth, Robert (October 12, 2014). "Number of severely lonely men over 50 set to rise to 1m in 15 years", The Guardian.
  209. ↑ RELIGIOUS PEOPLE LIVE HEALTHIER, LONGER LIVES—WHILE ATHEISTS COLLECT MUTANT GENES, Newsweek, 2017
  210. ↑ [Atheists are more likely to be left handed, study finds], The Telegraph, 2017
  211. ↑ Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions
  212. ↑ 212.0 212.1 Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions
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  214. ↑ Multiple references:
  215. ↑ Eleven common traits of highly intelligent people by Shana Lebowicz, The Independent, Friday 16 December 2016 18:24
  216. ↑ Journal of Organizational Behavior, Paek, Ellen (2006). "Religiosity and perceived emotional intelligence among Christians". Personality and Individual Differences (International Society for the Study of Individual Differences) 41 (3): 479–490
  217. ↑
  218. ↑ Ask the Brains, Scientific American, Dec 23, 2011
  219. ↑ AAI Position Statement - Gender Balance
  220. ↑ Khan, Razib (November 18, 2010). "Gene expression; "Sex differences in global atheism, part N". Discover magazine website.
  221. ↑ 221.0 221.1 Carter, Stephen L. (March 27, 2015). "The atheism gap". BloombergView website.
  222. ↑ 222.0 222.1 Britt, Robert Roy (February 28, 2009). "Women more religious than men". Livescience.
  223. ↑ 223.0 223.1 How do atheists define love? by Dr. Taylor Marshall
  224. ↑ 224.0 224.1 What is love? how materialist atheism fails to have a satisfactory answer, July 9, 2014
  225. ↑ The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 115
  226. ↑ Why Are Christians Having Better Sex Than the Rest of Us? by Tucker Carlson, The Daily Beast, November 11, 25, 2008
  227. ↑ Christian Women Have More Sexual Fun, Relationship Center in Springfield Missouri
  228. ↑ The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 114
  229. ↑ Defending Atheist Mutational Load Theory — Part 2 by Scott A. McGreal MSc., Psychology Today, June 22, 2018
  230. ↑ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales, Discover magazine
  231. ↑ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live, By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, Washington Post, May 23, 2013
  232. ↑ 232.0 232.1 Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about by Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson, Washington Post June 16, 2014
  233. ↑ Gallup: Blacks Most Religious Group in U.S.
  234. ↑ Understanding Hispanic culture
  235. ↑ http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/01/atheists-diversity-woes-have-n.php
  236. ↑ Christianity and culture
  237. ↑
  238. ↑
  239. ↑ Global Christianity surges beyond projections in 2024, LiCAS.news • Mar 15, 2024, Frontiers Patners Intertnational, 2024
  240. ↑ Religion: Year in Review 2010: Worldwide Adherents of All Religions. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.. Retrieved on 2013-11-21.
  241. ↑ Status of Global Atheism/Christianity, 2024, in the Context of 1900–2050
  242. ↑ Status of Global Atheism/Christianity/other religions, 2023, in the Context of 1900–2050
  243. ↑ Population trends 1950 – 2100: globally and within Europe
  244. ↑ 10 projections for the global population in 2050 By Rakesh Kochhar, Pew Research Forum, February 3, 2014
  245. ↑ Study: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists
  246. ↑ Atheists Widely Distrusted, Even Among Themselves, UK Study Finds, Christian Post, 2015
  247. ↑ 247.0 247.1 247.2 Anti-atheist distrust ‘deeply and culturally ingrained’, study finds, The Independent, 2015
  248. ↑ Edgell, Gerteis & Hartmann 2006
  249. ↑ Religion and the State in Russia and China: Suppression, Survival and Revival by Christopher Marsh, 2011, page 11 (Christopher Marsh cites the definitions of desecularization given by Peter L. Berger and Vyacheslav Karpov)
  250. ↑ Status of Global Atheism/Christianity, 2025, in the Context of 1900–2050
  251. ↑ Status of Global Atheism/Christianity, 2024, in the Context of 1900–2050
  252. ↑ Publisher's Weekly Review of The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics by Peter L. Berger
  253. ↑ Kirkus Reviews- FIRE FROM HEAVEN: Pentecostalism, Spirituality, and the Reshaping of Religion in the Twenty-First Century by Harvey Cox
  254. ↑ Karen Armstrong, The Battle for God, p. 9
  255. ↑ How religious is the public sphere? – A critical stance on the debate about public religion and post-secularity, Draft Version, Jens Koehrsen (Köhrsen). Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology, Germany. École des hautes études en sciences socials, France. Published in: Acta Sociologica 55 (3), S. 273-288.
  256. ↑ 256.0 256.1 Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful
  257. ↑ 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious, Tuesday, April 30, 2013
  258. ↑ Eric Kaufmann - Religion, Demography and Politics in the 21st Century
  259. ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth? - Eric Kaufmann
  260. ↑ Atheists Speak Up - Eddie Tabash
  261. ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the earth by Eric Kaufmann
  262. ↑ Nearly 50% are of no religion – but has UK hit ‘peak secular’?, The Guardian, 2017
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  264. ↑
  265. ↑ Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  266. ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
  267. ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth by David Kaufmann
  268. ↑ 268.0 268.1 Early paper - Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
  269. ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth
  270. ↑ *European immigration will pour Christian creationists into Europe
  271. ↑ More, Hannah (1815). An Essay on the Character and Practical Writings of St. Paul, 5th ed., vol. 2 (London: T. Cadell and W. Davies), p. 234.
  272. ↑ Multiple references:
  273. ↑ "Milestones [excerpt]" (October 15, 1945). Time. magazine website
  274. ↑ "Tells of religion in army. Chaplain Lawson says there are no atheists in front line" (November 25, 1918). New York Times, p. 13.
  275. ↑ Breen, Tom (April 2, 2011)."Army group 'coming out of the atheist closet'" from NBCNews.com
  276. ↑ http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/05/09/i-support-the-freedom-from-atheism-foundation/
  277. ↑ http://www.christianpost.com/news/freedom-from-religion-how-about-freedom-from-atheism-119389/
  278. ↑ 278.0 278.1 "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias" (July 17, 2008). YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks!
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