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Feb 16, 2016 · Despite being written out of large parts of history, atheists thrived in the polytheistic societies of the ancient world – raising considerable doubts about whether humans really are 'wired' for religion – a study suggests.
- I. Definition
- II. Types of Atheism
- III. Famous Quotes About Atheism
- IV. The History of Atheism
- V. Controversies
- VI. Atheism Versus Agnosticism
- Example 1: The Song “Dear God” by XTC
- Example 2: Comedian, George Carlin
Atheism means “lack of a belief in gods” or “a belief that there is no god.” But, atheists are not necessarily anti-spiritual, anti-religion, or immoral; many atheists believe that atheism can provide a better foundation for morality and a meaningful life than theism (belief in a god or gods) Originally, in ancient Greek, atheism meant “without god...
Practical Atheism, also known as apatheism, means simply living as if there are no gods, and explaining the world in terms of nature, but without actively denying the existence of gods. It can be a...Theoretical Atheismis what most people think of as atheism—a principled denial of the existence of gods. It includes many sub-types such as:Quote #1:
— Francis Bacon This quotation of Francis Bacon probably speaks for a great many rationalists and scientists. Bacon was one of the first and most influential rationalist philosophers of the 16th and 17thcentury; one of the founders of modern science. In this quote, he perhaps agrees with Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein who felt that science (which was still a branch of philosophy in his day) eventually leads towards a belief in God rather than away from it. Bacon’s quote is also probably ref...
Quote #2:
— George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw, a playwright, literary critic, and famously opinionated writer, here echoes a belief shared by many atheists—that people believe in God because it makes them happier, and that this isn’t a rational justification for belief in God, but rather an admission that belief in God is irrational and merely based on a need for psychological comfort—like drugs and alcohol.
In a sense, atheism is older than humanity, since according to some definitions, atheism includes people who have never heard about gods, such as our distant ancestors. And several ancient major religions—varieties of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism—did not believe in gods, although they did not oppose the belief in gods; they just thought of spirit...
Atheism versus Amorality
At least since the 18thcentury, theists have feared that spreading atheism would promote immorality — and some religious leaders today blame atheism and science for the spread of immorality and crime in the world. And it is true that certain things considered “immoral” by some religious people has been promoted by the rejection of traditional religions in other words things which are discouraged by certain religions. Atheists argue that atheism does not promote immorality, but in fact, the op...
Have you ever heard people say something like “nothing can stop someone who believes in something”? Well, a joke criticizing agnosticism is “nothing can stop an agnostic who really doesn’t know whether they believe in anything or not.” Agnosticism means “not knowing”; weak agnosticism means simply recognizing that you don’t know whether any gods ex...
This song, by a major British New Wave band, sparked controversy when it came out in the 1980’s—not least because it featured a child-singer. Although presented as a letter to God, the song passionately rejects Christianity and belief in God, based on the common argumentthat no God worth believing in would allow the amount of meaningless suffering ...
This routine by the popular and often controversial comedian George Carlin rather speaks for itself. Carlin gives many reasons to reject (at least Christian) beliefs in God, including the violence which has been committed in the name of God. And Carlin goes further, pointing out many inconsistencies, irrationalities, and hypocrisies of Christian be...
Nov 19, 2023 · In this article, we will explore the key moments in the history of atheism, from its earliest roots in ancient Greece to its modern-day resurgence.
Oct 22, 2009 · Ancient atheists. Last updated 2009-10-22. This page provides a brief overview of the thoughts of ancient philospohers Epicurus and Lucretius on the nature of God.
Dec 21, 2022 · Atheism means being without ( a-) god (- theos ). It is a response to the claims of people who believe in a god, a rejection of theism, the position that a god exists. Beyond this basic definition, however, there is little agreement about what it means to be an atheist.
Aug 2, 2024 · Atheism, the critique and denial of metaphysical beliefs in God or spiritual beings. As such, it is usually distinguished from theism, which affirms the reality of the divine and often seeks to demonstrate its existence. Learn more about atheism in this article.
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Feb 29, 2016 · In this post she writes about ‘atheism’ as a philosophical keyword in recent British cultural history. ‘Atheism’ – the disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or god. This clip of Christopher Hitchens, is taken from a debate with his brother Peter Hitchens, on the 3 rd April 2008.
