Changes

[[Image:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The brutal proponent of atheism [[Joseph Stalin]] of the Soviet Union.  Professor R. J. Rummel is the scholar who first coined the term democide (death by government). Rummel's mid estimate is that communism under Stalin, Mao and other dictators caused the death of approximately 110 million people between 1917 and 1987.<ref>http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM</ref> ]]  

[[Image:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The brutal proponent of atheism [[Joseph Stalin]] of the Soviet Union.  Professor R. J. Rummel is the scholar who first coined the term democide (death by government). Rummel's mid estimate is that communism under Stalin, Mao and other dictators caused the death of approximately 110 million people between 1917 and 1987.<ref>http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM</ref> ]]  

The '''history of atheism''' can be dated to as early as the 5th century B.C. [[Diagoras of Melos]] was a 5th century BC. [[Greek]] atheist, poet and [[sophism|sophist]].  

The '''history of atheism''' can be dated to as early as the 5th century B.C. [[Diagoras of Melos]] was a 5th century BC. [[Greek]] atheist, poet and [[sophism|sophist]].  

== French Revolution and atheism ==

== French Revolution and atheism ==

[[File:Prise de la Bastille.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|On July 14, 1789, the [[Bastille]] was stormed by a mob and its prisoners freed, which is regarded as the start of the [[French Revolution]]. ]]

[[File:Prise de la Bastille.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|On July 14, 1789, the [[Bastille]] was stormed by a mob and its prisoners freed, which is regarded as the start of the [[French Revolution]]. ]]

The University of [[Cambridge]] reports the following historical relationship between atheism and the [[French Revolution]]:

The University of [[Cambridge]] reports the following historical relationship between atheism and the [[French Revolution]]:

=== Global decline of atheism in the 20th and 21st centuries ===

=== Global decline of atheism in the 20th and 21st centuries ===

[[File:Blue Marble.jpg|thumbnail|right|225px|Atheism is [[Decline of atheism|in decline worldwide]] in terms of its global percentage of adherents.]]

[[File:Blue Marble.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|Atheism is [[Decline of atheism|in decline worldwide]] in terms of its global percentage of adherents.]]

''See also:'' [[Global atheism]] and [[Desecularization]]

''See also:'' [[Global atheism]] and [[Desecularization]]