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The '''history of atheism''', depending on how one defines the term, can be dated to as early as the 6th century BC, or as recently as the late 18th century AD. The word ''atheism'' itself  was not coined until the 16th century.<ref>http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism</ref>  

The '''history of atheism''', depending on how one defines the term, can be dated to as early as the 6th century BC, or as recently as the late 18th century AD. The word ''atheism'' itself  was not coined until the 16th century.<ref>http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism</ref>  

The earliest possible examples of atheism involve Eastern religions such as Jainism, Buddhism and Taoism, which do not include a deity. These date back to the 6th century BC, but there is some dispute over whether these religions can be classified as atheistic, in the sense of denying the existence of gods, as many other branches of these religions do incorporate deity worship. In some such religions, the question of the existence of gods is considered to be unimportant rather than a question which can be answered one way or the other. This stance can be better described by the neologism ''apatheism''.

The earliest possible examples of atheism involve Eastern religions such as [[Jainism]], [[Buddhism]] and [[Taoism]], which do not include a deity. These date back to the 6th century BC, but there is some dispute over whether these religions can be classified as atheistic, in the sense of denying the existence of gods, as many other branches of these religions do incorporate deity worship. In some such religions, the question of the existence of gods is considered to be unimportant rather than a question which can be answered one way or the other. This stance can be better described by the neologism ''apatheism''.

Atheism can also be traced to Ancient Greece in the 5th century BC. [[Diagoras of Melos]] is often referred to as "The First Atheist", and other men who claimed to be atheists include Theodorus of Cyrene and Euhemerus. [[Epicurus]] and Lucretius, who are often described as atheists, believed that the gods existed but that they were unconcerned with human affairs: a position better described as [[Deism]] than atheism. [[Protagoras]] espoused a position which we would describe today as [[agnosticism]], stating that "With regard to the gods I am unable to say either that they exist or do not exist."<ref>Cicero, De Natura Deorum</ref> At the time, however, atheism was a capital offense in Greece - it was the crime for which Socrates was executed, though he denied the charge. It is therefore possible that some individuals may have concealed their true beliefs.

Atheism can also be traced to Ancient Greece in the 5th century BC. [[Diagoras of Melos]] is often referred to as "The First Atheist", and other men who claimed to be atheists include Theodorus of Cyrene and Euhemerus. [[Epicurus]] and Lucretius, who are often described as atheists, believed that the gods existed but that they were unconcerned with human affairs: a position better described as [[Deism]] than atheism. [[Protagoras]] espoused a position which we would describe today as [[agnosticism]], stating that "With regard to the gods I am unable to say either that they exist or do not exist."<ref>Cicero, De Natura Deorum</ref> At the time, however, atheism was a capital offense in Greece - it was the crime for which Socrates was executed, though he denied the charge. It is therefore possible that some individuals may have concealed their true beliefs.