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.

## Contents

* 1 Types of atheism
* 1.1 Atheism and why do atheists state they disbelieve?
* 1.2 Attempts to broaden the definition of atheism
* 1.3 Some common types of atheism
* 1.4 Atheist factions
* 1.4.1 Atheist infighting
* 1.4.2 Atheist infighting causing fundraising difficulties
* 1.4.3 Eddie Tabash on atheist argumentativeness
* 1.4.4 Angry and bitter demeanor of militant atheists
* 2 Atheism and its retention rate in individuals
* 2.1 Difficulty in participating in atheist community
* 2.2 Abandonment of atheism and communist regimes
* 3 Decline of the atheist movement
* 4 Atheism and Communism
* 4.1 Atheists Karl Marx, Vladmir Lenin and Chou En-lai
* 4.2 Russian revolution caused the most notable spread of atheism
* 4.3 Atheistic Communism and mass murder
* 4.4 Communism and religious oppression
* 4.4.1 Religious persecution in the Soviet Union
* 4.4.2 Religious persecution in Communist China
* 4.4.3 Religious persecution in North Korea
* 4.5 Atheistic Communism and torture
* 4.6 Atheistic Communist regimes and forced labor
* 5 Atheism and politics
* 6 Atheism and history
* 6.1 Atheists and historical illiteracy
* 6.2 Atheists and historical revisionism
* 6.3 Religion/irreligion and war
* 7 Atheism and economics
* 8 Analysis of atheism and common objections to atheism
* 8.1 Commonly Cited Arguments Against Atheism and For Theism
* 8.2 Biblical statements concerning atheism
* 9 Atheism and debate
* 10 Atheism and morality/ethics
* 10.1 Objective morality incompatible with atheism
* 10.2 Atheism and moral relativism
* 10.3 Atheism and various types of immorality
* 10.4 Atheism and sociopathy
* 10.5 Atheist mass shooters and serial killers
* 10.6 Study: U.S. public perception of atheist morality
* 10.7 Barna Group studies: Atheism and morality
* 10.8 Atheism and uncharitableness
* 10.8.1 Church-state issues emphasis. Charity low priority
* 10.8.2 Atheist nonprofit scandals
* 10.9 Irreligion and domestic violence
* 10.9.1 Secular Europe and domestic violence
* 10.10 Atheism and racism
* 10.11 Atheism and empathy
* 10.12 Atheism and pornography
* 10.12.1 RationalWiki and web visitor interest in pornography
* 10.12.2 Atheism and child pornography
* 10.13 Atheism, pedophilia and NAMBLA
* 10.14 Atheism and slavery/forced labor
* 10.15 Dietary practices of atheists. Eating of dogs, cats, horses and babies/children
* 10.15.1 Atheists and the eating of babies/children
* 10.15.1.1 Major news organizations reporting on China baby flesh powder scandal
* 10.16 Immorality of prominent atheists
* 10.17 Atheism and rape
* 10.18 Atheism and abortion
* 10.19 Atheism and profanity
* 10.20 Irreligion and crime/prison population
* 10.21 Atheism and psychopathy
* 10.22 Atheism and theft crimes
* 10.23 Atheism and infanticide
* 10.24 Atheism and bestiality
* 10.25 Atheism and cannibalism
* 10.26 Atheism and animal abuse
* 10.27 Atheism and veganism
* 10.28 Atheism and hypocrisy
* 10.29 Atheism and social justice
* 10.30 Atheism and care of the environment
* 10.31 Atheism and other moral issues
* 10.32 Earlier definitions of atheism
* 11 Atheism and philosophy topics
* 11.1 Atheism and naturalism
* 11.2 Atheism and issues relating to knowledge acquisition
* 11.3 Why atheism is irrational
* 11.4 Atheism and reason
* 11.5 Atheism and personhood
* 11.6 Atheism and the problem of consciousness
* 11.7 Atheism and free will
* 11.8 Atheism and human worth
* 11.9 Atheism and evidence
* 11.10 Logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit
* 11.11 Atheism and meaninglessness
* 11.12 Atheists/agnostics and ultimate purpose
* 11.13 Atheism and evil/suffering
* 11.14 Arrogance of atheism/atheists
* 11.14.1 Why atheism is an arrogant ideology
* 11.14.2 Atheists and lack of open-mindedness
* 12 Atheism and religion
* 12.1 Atheism is a religion
* 12.2 Atheist cults
* 12.3 Atheism and spirituality
* 12.4 Irreligion and superstition
* 12.5 Atheism and the occult
* 12.6 Atheism vs. Abrahamic religions and religion
* 12.7 Atheism vs. Islam
* 12.8 Atheism and miracles
* 12.8.1 Atheists who believe in life after death
* 13 Atheism and death
* 13.1 Atheists and belief in life after death
* 13.2 Atheism and Hell
* 14 Atheism and science
* 14.1 Atheism and the suppression of science
* 14.2 Atheism and the social sciences
* 14.3 Atheism and the foundation of modern science
* 14.4 Atheism and environmental science
* 14.5 Atheism and questions of origins
* 14.6 Atheism and scientific community
* 14.7 Atheism and scientific fraud and speculation
* 14.8 Atheism and food science
* 14.9 Atheism and culinary science
* 15 Atheism and mental and physical health
* 15.1 Mayo Clinic and other studies
* 15.2 Atheists and negative emotions/thoughts
* 15.3 Atheism and suicide
* 15.4 Atheism and mental illness
* 15.5 Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts
* 15.6 Irreligion and recovery from illnesses
* 15.7 Atheism and alcoholism
* 15.8 Atheism and illegal drug use and drug addition
* 15.9 Atheism and loneliness
* 15.10 Atheism and obesity
* 15.11 Atheism and cancer
* 15.12 Atheist and higher levels of harmful genetic mutations
* 15.13 Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism
* 15.14 Atheism and mental toughness
* 15.15 Atheists, aging populations and cancer/Alzheimer's disease
* 15.16 Atheism and veganism
* 15.17 Atheism in medicine
* 16 Atheism and intelligence
* 16.1 Atheism, intelligence and open-mindedness
* 16.2 Study on emotional intelligence and religiosity
* 16.3 Brain studies of atheists
* 16.3.1 Atheists and dopamine levels in the brain
* 16.4 Atheism and the problem of consciousness
* 17 Atheism and women
* 17.1 Recent studies
* 17.2 Atheist Alliance International analysis
* 17.2.1 Surveys by country
* 17.2.2 United States surveys
* 17.3 Atheism and sexism
* 17.4 Atheism and women's rights
* 17.5 Atheist feminism
* 17.6 Atheism and Asian/white males
* 17.7 Atheist websites appear to receive significantly less traffic from women
* 18 Atheism and marriage/relationships
* 18.1 Atheism and rates of marriage in the United States
* 18.2 Atheist marriages
* 18.3 Atheism and polyamory
* 18.4 Atheism and divorce
* 18.5 Atheism and interfaith marriages
* 18.6 Atheism and its inability to explain love
* 18.7 Atheism and sexuality
* 18.8 Atheists and physical attractiveness
* 19 Atheism and race
* 19.1 Asian atheism
* 19.2 Western atheism and race
* 19.2.1 Atheism and race: United States and Europe
* 19.3 RationalWiki/RationalMedia Foundation board of trustees and the lack of Black representation
* 20 Atheism and education
* 21 Atheism and culture: Art, architecture, music, language, poetry, dance and humor
* 22 Global atheism
* 22.1 Global decline of atheism
* 22.2 Demoographics of atheism
* 22.2.1 Atheism and specific countries/areas
* 22.2.2 Religious people moving to irreligious regions
* 22.3 Atheism statistics
* 22.4 Atheist movement and leadership
* 22.5 Poor international cooperation among atheists
* 23 Views on atheists
* 23.1 Other topics related to views on atheists
* 24 Desecularization and its causes
* 24.1 Atheism and sub-replacement levels of fertility
* 24.2 Secularism is exhausted and unconfident
* 24.3 Causes of desecularization
* 24.4 Zero secularization rates in France and Protestant Europe
* 24.5 Growth of evangelical Christianity in secular regions
* 24.6 Future of desecularization via the continued global resurgence of religion
* 24.6.1 Growth of desecularization in the 21st century
* 25 Notable atheists who became ex-atheists
* 26 Claims about the conditionality and existence of atheism
* 26.1 There are no atheists in foxholes
* 26.2 Denials that atheists exist
* 27 Causes of atheism
* 28 Christian websites and other resources with a large focus on the topic of atheism
* 28.1 Freedom from Atheism Foundation (FFAF)
* 28.2 Online videos related to atheism
* 29 Atheism and the media
* 29.1 Celebrity atheists
* 30 Atheism and homosexuality
* 31 Other well-known proponents of atheism
* 31.1 Well-known proponents of skepticism/atheism/agnosticism
* 32 Atheist organizations
* 32.1 Atheist organizations and fundraising
* 33 Atheism quotes
* 34 Atheism news
* 35 Recommended reading
* 36 Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian
* 37 See also
* 38 External links
* 39 References

## Types of atheism[edit]

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 to as early as the 5th century B.C. Diagoras of Melos was a 5th-century B.C. Greek atheist, poet and Sophist. Since this time, there have been many schools of atheist thought that have developed.

### Atheism and why do atheists state they disbelieve?[edit]

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[edit]

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][9] 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][10] It is now common for atheists/agnostics and theists to debate the meaning of the word atheism.[6][11]

Critics of a broader definition of atheism to be 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][12]

For more information, please see:

* Definition of atheism

* Definitions of atheist and agnostic

### Some common types of atheism[edit]

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:

* Atheism and communism

* Atheism and intolerance

* New Atheism

* New Atheism, dogmatism and Jonathon Haidt's study

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

Secular humanism is a philosophy which 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.[13]

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

### Atheist factions[edit]

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

Richard Dawkins was a central figure in the Elevatorgate controversy.

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."[14] See also: Atheist factions and Atheist organizations and scandals and Atheist scandals

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."[15] 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."[16]

#### Atheist infighting[edit]

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

Blair Scott served on the American Atheists board of directors.[17] 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.[18]

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."[18]

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."[19]

The atheist David Smalley said about the atheist movement: "We're eating our own... We’re disintegrating."[20]

See also: Antitheism and antisocial behavior

#### Atheist infighting causing fundraising difficulties[edit]

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."[21] |  ”

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#### Eddie Tabash on atheist argumentativeness[edit]

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...".[22]

#### Angry and bitter demeanor of militant atheists[edit]

See also: Atheism and anger and Atheism and unforgiveness

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 slippage such as resentment or unforgiveness.[23] See: 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.[24]

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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 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.[25]

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Various studies found that traumatic events in people's lives has a positive correlation with "emotional atheism".[26]

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."[27]

Social science research indicates that antitheists score the highest among atheists when it comes to personality traits such as narcissism, dogmatism, and anger.[28] Furthermore, they scored lowest when it comes to agreeableness and positive relations with others.[29]

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[edit]

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.[30] 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.[30] 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.[31] 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."[32] 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:

* Desecularization
* Decline of the atheist movement
* Atheism and inspiration
* Atheist indoctrination

### Difficulty in participating in atheist community[edit]

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).[33] 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 which 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).[34]

In recent times, the number of people attending atheist conferences has grown smaller.[35] Atheist David Smalley wrote: "And we wonder why we’re losing elections, losing funding, and our conferences are getting smaller."[20] 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."[36]

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).[37] 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."[38]

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.[39] 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.[40] Often internet communication between atheists turns 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).

For more information, please see: Atheism and loneliness

### Abandonment of atheism and communist regimes[edit]

* Growth of Christianity in China
* Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union
* Growth of Protestantism/Evangelicalism in Russia

## Decline of the atheist movement[edit]

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."[41]

Numerous atheists have declared that the "atheist movement is dead" or that it is dying.[42] 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.[43]

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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).[20] Former new atheist PZ Myers, who subscribes to progressive politics, says he is no longer a member of the atheist movement.[44]

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 percentage of the world's population that are atheists (see: Global atheism statistics).

## Atheism and Communism[edit]

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[edit]

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."[45]

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."[46]

In 1955, the Chinese Communist leader Chou En-lai declared, "We Communists are atheists".[47]

In 2014, the Communist Party of China reaffirmed that members of their party must be atheists.[48]

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.[49] |  ”

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### Russian revolution caused the most notable spread of atheism[edit]

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."[50]

Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg, a Soviet physicist, wrote that the "Bolshevik communists were not merely atheists but, according to Lenin's terminology, militant atheists."[51] However, prior to this, the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution established a state which was anti-Roman Catholicism/Christian in nature [52] (anti-clerical deism and anti-religious atheism and played a significant role in the French Revolution[53]), with the official ideology being the Cult of Reason; during this time thousands of believers were suppressed and executed by the guillotine.[54]

### Atheistic Communism and mass murder[edit]

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.[55] 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.[56] 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."[57] 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.[57] 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.[57] |  ”

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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![58]

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See also:

* Militant atheism
* Atheism and communism
* Soviet Union and morality
* Secular left
* Atheism and politics

### Communism and religious oppression[edit]

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.[59]

#### Religious persecution in the Soviet Union[edit]

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.[60] According to Orthodox Church sources, as many as fifty million Orthodox believers may have died in the twentieth century, mainly from persecution by Communists.[61]

With its large population, China has the largest population of atheists.[62]

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.[63] Despite intense effort by the atheistic leaders of the Soviet Union, their efforts were not effective in converting the masses to atheism.[64]

#### Religious persecution in Communist China[edit]

See also: China and atheism

China has the world's largest atheist population (see: China and atheism).[65] 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.[66] China continues to practice religious oppression today.[67]

The efforts of China's atheist leaders in promoting atheism, however, is increasingly losing its 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 has been a failure and a 2007 religious survey in China indicated that only 15% of Chinese identified themselves as atheists.[68]

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 cut out.[69][70]

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 ongoing concern.[71]

#### Religious persecution in North Korea[edit]

North Korea is a repressive Communist state and is officially atheistic.[72] The North Korean government practices brutal repression and atrocities against North Korean Christians.[73] 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.[74]

### Atheistic Communism and torture[edit]

See: Atheistic communism and torture

### Atheistic Communist regimes and forced labor[edit]

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).[75]

## Atheism and politics[edit]

See also: Atheism and politics and Atheism and political science

Xi Jinping is the President of the People's Republic of China, current General Secretary of the Communist Party of China which requires that all their members be atheists.[76] See also: Atheism and Asian males

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)."[77]

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).[78]

For more information please see:

* 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

## Atheism and history[edit]

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.[79] See: Atheism and historical revisionism

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

The history of atheism: History of atheism

### Atheists and historical illiteracy[edit]

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.[80]

For more information, please see:

* Atheists and historical illiteracy
* Historicity of Jesus Christ

### Atheists and historical revisionism[edit]

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

### Religion/irreligion and war[edit]

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.[81]

## Atheism and economics[edit]

* Atheism and economics
* Atheism and economic productivity
* Atheism and economic prosperity
* Atheists and income

## Analysis of atheism and common objections to atheism[edit]

### Commonly Cited Arguments Against Atheism and For Theism[edit]

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).[82]

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:

* Teleological argument: The universe exhibits overwhelming evidence of deliberate, intelligent, purposeful design, which implies an intelligent designer. See also: Arguments against evolution and Origin of life

* 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).

* Moral argument. Objective morality exists. Atheism lacks objective moral standards. Not possessing a coherent basis for morality, atheists are fundamentally 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) .[83] Atheism leads to moral and cultural decline (see: Atheism and culture).

* 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.[84] 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

* Argument from beauty

* Argument from religious experience

* Bible prophecy

* Atheism and presuppositional apologetics

See also:

* Rebuttals to atheist arguments
* Pascal's wager
* Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian

### Biblical statements concerning atheism[edit]

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).[85]

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[edit]

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.[86][87]

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.[88] 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."[88]

Greg Bahnsen became known as the "man atheists fear most".[89][90] 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.[91] 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.[92] 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[edit]

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

### Objective morality incompatible with atheism[edit]

Dr. Paul Copan wrote: "...the existence of a personal God is crucial for a coherent understanding of objective morality."[93]

Under an atheist worldview, there is no logical basis for objective morality or ultimate meaning and purpose.[94] See also: Atheism and morality and Atheism and moral relativism and Atheism and meaninglessness

### Atheism and moral relativism[edit]

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.[95]

|  ”

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### Atheism and various types of immorality[edit]

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

* 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
* Atheism and various types of immorality

### Atheism and sociopathy[edit]

See: Atheism and sociopathy

### Atheist mass shooters and serial killers[edit]

* Atheist mass shooters

* List of atheist shooters and serial killers

### Study: U.S. public perception of atheist morality[edit]

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."[96]

### Barna Group studies: Atheism and morality[edit]

Barna Group study on 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![97]

|  ”

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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.[98]

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[edit]

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.[99]

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.[100] |  ”

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A comprehensive study by Harvard University professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.[99]

See also: Atheism, social justice and hypocrisy

#### Church-state issues emphasis. Charity low priority[edit]

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.[101] Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations do focus on helping poor African Americans.[101]

#### Atheist nonprofit scandals[edit]

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."[102]

Two atheist nonprofit scandals which recently received some publicity were the organizations Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science and the We Are Atheism organization.[103]

In addition, David Gorski at Scienceblogs indicated that many atheist/skeptic organizations are poorly run from a financial standpoint.[104]

For more information, please see: Atheist organizations and scandals

### Irreligion and domestic violence[edit]

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.[105]

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.[105] |  ”

|
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##### Secular Europe and domestic violence[edit]

See also: Secular Europe and domestic violence

### Atheism and racism[edit]

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[edit]

See: Atheism and empathy

### Atheism and pornography[edit]

The pornographer Larry Flynt is an atheist.[106] 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).[107]

In 2003, Arena magazine magazine listed Flynt as #1 on the "50 Powerful People in Porn" list.[108] Flynt is paralyzed from the waist down due to injuries sustained from a 1978 assassination attempt by the serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin.[109]

#### RationalWiki and web visitor interest in pornography[edit]

See: RationalWiki and web visitor interest in pornography

#### Atheism and child pornography[edit]

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.[110]

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.[111] |  ”

|
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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."[112]

### Atheism, pedophilia and NAMBLA[edit]

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

see also: Atheism, pederasty 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).[113]

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.[114] Harry Hay was an atheist.[115] He was a vociferous advocate of man/boy love.[116] In 1986, Hay marched in a gay parade wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words "NAMBLA walks with me."[117]

3\. The writer Samuel R. Delany is an atheist and a homosexual.[118] Delaney said he was a supporter of NAMBLA.[119]

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

### Atheism and slavery/forced labor[edit]

* Atheism and slavery
* Atheism and forced labor

### Dietary practices of atheists. Eating of dogs, cats, horses and babies/children[edit]

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

#### Atheists and the eating of babies/children[edit]

* Communist China and baby eating
* Atheists and the eating of babies/children (China, Soviet Union, North Korea and other issues)

##### Major news organizations reporting on China baby flesh powder scandal[edit]

* Chinese-Made Infant Flesh Capsules Seized in S. Korea, ABC News

* Chinese cannibalism of infant flesh outrages the world, Washington Times

* Thousands of pills filled with powdered human baby flesh discovered by customs officials in South Korea, The Daily Mail

* Horrifyingly, Ground Baby Pills Are a Real Thing by Alexander Abad-Santos, The Atlantic

### Immorality of prominent atheists[edit]

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.[120]

|  ”

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See also:

* Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships
* Richard Carrier, adultery, divorce and polyamory
* Atheist conferences and inappropriate sexual activity

### Atheism and rape[edit]

* Atheism and rape
* Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army

### Atheism and abortion[edit]

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.[121] |  ”

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Population control is based on pseudoscience and ill founded economic assumptions.[122] 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."[123]

### Atheism and profanity[edit]

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.[124] Use of profanity by individuals is negatively correlated with conscientiousness and agreeableness.[125]

For more information, please see: Atheism and profanity

### Irreligion and crime/prison population[edit]

* Religion and crime reduction
* Irreligious prison population

### Atheism and psychopathy[edit]

See also: Atheism and psychopathy

The serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer engaged in cannibalism. He was an atheist while he committed these acts.[126] 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.[127]

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.[128]

|  ”

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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.[129]

### Atheism and theft crimes[edit]

* Atheism and theft crimes
* Irreligion and car theft
* Secular Europe and pickpocketing
* Atheist organizations and scandals

### Atheism and infanticide[edit]

Infanticide is the practice of killing very young children. An infant is a child too young to speak.[130]

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.[131] For more information, please see: Atheists and dog meat eating

According to ABC News, gruesome techniques are used in Chinese dog slaughterhouses.[132] Brutal beatings of dogs are occurring in the Chinese dog meat trade during the slaughtering process.[133] See: Atheism and animal abuse

China has the world's largest atheist population.[134] 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 infanticide

### Atheism and bestiality[edit]

See also: Atheism and bestiality

### Atheism and cannibalism[edit]

See: Atheism and cannibalism

### Atheism and animal abuse[edit]

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

### Atheism and veganism[edit]

See: Atheism and veganism

### Atheism and hypocrisy[edit]

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[edit]

See: Atheism and social justice

### Atheism and care of the environment[edit]

See: Atheism and care of the environment

### Atheism and other moral issues[edit]

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

### Earlier definitions of atheism[edit]

Dictionaries point out that previous/archaic meanings of the word atheism are: ungodliness. wickedness, immorality[135][136]

## Atheism and philosophy topics[edit]

### Atheism and naturalism[edit]

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.[137] See also: Atheism and incoherency

### Atheism and issues relating to knowledge acquisition[edit]

* Atheism and knowledge

* Atheism and epistemology

* Atheism and reason

* Atheism and evidence

* Atheism and logic

* Atheism and logical fallacies

* Atheism and critical thinking

* Atheism and meaninglessness

### Why atheism is irrational[edit]

See also: Atheism and irrationality and Irreligion and superstition

A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that atheism is irrational.[138] In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.[139] For example, the atheistic worldview cannot account for the laws of logic.[140] 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.[141]

A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that atheism is irrational.[138] In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.[139]

For more information, please see:

* Atheism and irrationality
* Atheism and logic
* Atheism and incoherency
* Irreligion and superstition
* Atheism and groupthink
* Atheism and epistemology
* Atheism and postmodernism

### Atheism and reason[edit]

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. [142] Therefore, believing in naturalism is self-defeating.

In short, atheism/naturalism and reason are incompatible.[142]

### Atheism and personhood[edit]

See: Atheism and personhood

### Atheism and the problem of consciousness[edit]

See: Atheism and consciousness

### Atheism and free will[edit]

See: Atheism and free will

### Atheism and human worth[edit]

See: Atheism and human worth

### Atheism and evidence[edit]

See: Atheism and evidence

### Logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit[edit]

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

### Atheism and meaninglessness[edit]

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.[143] Through Jesus Christ, Christianity offers objective meaning and purpose to life.[144]

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

### Atheists/agnostics and ultimate purpose[edit]

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).[145]

See also:

* Atheists doubting the validity of atheism

### Atheism and evil/suffering[edit]

* Atheism and the problem of evil

* Atheism and suffering

### Arrogance of atheism/atheists[edit]

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.[146]

#### Why atheism is an arrogant ideology[edit]

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!".[147]

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.[148]

Contrary to the mistaken notion of individuals who are inexperienced in logic/philosophy, there are plenty of cases where universal negatives can be proven.[149] However, atheists' universal negative claim that God does not exist is not a reasonable universal negative claim.[148]

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[edit]

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

See:

* Atheism and open-mindedness

* Atheism and dogmatism

* New Atheism, dogmatism and Jonathon Haidt's study

## Atheism and religion[edit]

### Atheism is a religion[edit]

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.[150]

See: Atheism is a religion

Atheism is a religion.[151] 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.[152]

Roderick Ninian Smart, a Scottish writer and professor, defined a seven-part scheme of understanding both religious and secular worldviews[153] 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.[154] However, it can be argued that all seven are present in the case of atheism.[151] [155]

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.[156]

See also:

* Atheism is a religion
* Atheist indoctrination
* Atheist cults

### Atheist cults[edit]

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."[157]

### Atheism and spirituality[edit]

* Atheism and spirituality

### Irreligion and superstition[edit]

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...."[158]

|  ”

|
|

According to Pew Forum, evangelical Protestant churches in America grew by 2 million from 2007 to 2014.[159] See: Atheism vs. Christianity

### Atheism and the occult[edit]

See: Atheism and the occult

### Atheism vs. Abrahamic religions and religion[edit]

* Atheism vs. Christianity
* Atheism vs. religion
* Atheism vs. Judaism
* Atheism vs. theism

### Atheism vs. Islam[edit]

See main article: Atheism vs. Islam

### Atheism and miracles[edit]

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.[160] 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.[161] 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.[162]

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."[163]

#### Atheists who believe in life after death[edit]

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.[164][165]

## Atheism and death[edit]

According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.[166] 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.[167] In a Psychology Today article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.[168] Under stress, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.[169]

A United States study and a Taiwanese study indicated that the irreligious fear death more than the very religious.[170]

#### Atheists and belief in life after death[edit]

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).[171]

For additional information, please see:

* Atheism and cryonics
* Atheism and transhumanism

#### Atheism and Hell[edit]

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.[172] This started a train of thought within Peter Hitchens that eventually led him to become a Christian.[172]

## Atheism and science[edit]

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[edit]

See: Atheism and the suppression of science

### Atheism and the social sciences[edit]

See: Atheism and the social sciences

### Atheism and the foundation of modern science[edit]

See also: Christianity and science

The birth of modern science occurred in Christianized Europe.[173]

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,[174] 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.[174]

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."[175]

### Atheism and environmental science[edit]

See: Atheism and environmental science

### Atheism and questions of origins[edit]

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.[176] 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.[177] Creation scientists assert that the theory of evolution is an inadequate explanation for the variety of life forms on earth.[178] 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.[179]

### Atheism and scientific community[edit]

* Atheism and science
* Scientists and belief in the existence of God
* Atheist scientists and the origin of the universe
* Atheists and the National Academy of Sciences

### Atheism and scientific fraud and speculation[edit]

* Atheism and scientific fraud and speculation

### Atheism and food science[edit]

* Atheism and food science

### Atheism and culinary science[edit]

* Atheism and culinary science

## Atheism and mental and physical health[edit]

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 [180] For more information please see: Atheism and health and Atheism and life expectancy

### Mayo Clinic and other studies[edit]

The prestigious Mayo Clinic found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better physical health and mental health outcomes.[181] 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.[181]

|  ”

|
|

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%.[182] |  ”

|
|

### Atheists and negative emotions/thoughts[edit]

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."[183] Research indicates that religiosity is positively associated with ability in emotional intelligence.[184][185][186] See also: Atheism and emotional problems and Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence and Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts

### Atheism and suicide[edit]

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.[187] 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.[188] |  ”

|
|

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."[189]

|  ”

|
|

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.[190]

For more information please see:

* Atheism and suicide
* Atheism and loneliness
* Hopelessness of atheism

### Atheism and mental illness[edit]

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."[191]

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.[192]

|  ”

|
|

### Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts[edit]

* Atheism and emotional problems

* Atheism and negative emotions/thoughts

* Atheism and anger

* Atheism and anxiety

* Atheism and death anxiety

### Irreligion and recovery from illnesses[edit]

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.[193]

### Atheism and alcoholism[edit]

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.”[194]

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.[193]

### Atheism and illegal drug use and drug addition[edit]

See also: Atheism and drug addiction

Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.[195][196][197]

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.[198]

### Atheism and loneliness[edit]

Secular societies commonly have significant levels of loneliness. See: Atheism and loneliness

See also: Atheism and loneliness

Loneliness has been linked to many physical and mental health problems.[199]

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 loneliness

### Atheism and obesity[edit]

See: Atheism and obesity

### Atheism and cancer[edit]

See: Atheism and cancer

### Atheist and higher levels of harmful genetic mutations[edit]

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).[200] [201]

### Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism[edit]

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.[202]

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.[203] 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.[203] |  ”

|
|

See also: Atheism and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence

### Atheism and mental toughness[edit]

See: Atheism and mental toughness

### Atheists, aging populations and cancer/Alzheimer's disease[edit]

* Atheism and cancer

* Atheism and Alzheimer's disease

### Atheism and veganism[edit]

See: Atheism and veganism

### Atheism in medicine[edit]

See: Atheism in medicine

## Atheism and intelligence[edit]

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.[204] Part of the problem is that social scientists use variant definitions of atheism.[205] 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:

* Intelligence trends in religious countries and secular countries
* Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences

### Atheism, intelligence and open-mindedness[edit]

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.[206]

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

### Study on emotional intelligence and religiosity[edit]

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.[207] 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.[208]

### Brain studies of atheists[edit]

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[edit]

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."[209] See: Atheism and motivation

### Atheism and the problem of consciousness[edit]

See: Atheism and consciousness

## Atheism and women[edit]

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[edit]

### Atheist Alliance International analysis[edit]

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."[210]

#### Surveys by country[edit]

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.[211]

#### United States surveys[edit]

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.[212]

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.[213] In 2007, the Pew Research Center found that American women were more religious than American men.[213]

### Atheism and sexism[edit]

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 sexism
* Atheism and rape
* Sexual harassment at atheist conferences
* Elevatorgate
* Richard Dawkins and women
* Atheist leaders and immoral relationships

### Atheism and women's rights[edit]

See: Atheism and women's rights

### Atheist feminism[edit]

See: Atheist feminism

### Atheism and Asian/white males[edit]

* Atheism and Asian males

* Atheism and white males

### Atheist websites appear to receive significantly less traffic from women[edit]

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

## Atheism and marriage/relationships[edit]

See also: Atheism and marriage and Atheism and illegitimate births

### Atheism and rates of marriage in the United States[edit]

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."[58]

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."[58]

For more information please see: Atheism and marriageability

### Atheist marriages[edit]

See: Atheist marriages

### Atheism and polyamory[edit]

* Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships

### Atheism and divorce[edit]

See: Atheism and divorce

### Atheism and interfaith marriages[edit]

* Atheism and interfaith marriages
* Prominent atheists whose wives believe in the existence of God

### Atheism and its inability to explain love[edit]

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.[214][215]] From a moral, metaphysical and spiritual perspective, atheists have an inability to satisfactorily explain the existence of love.[214][215]

### Atheism and sexuality[edit]

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.[216][217][218]

A social science study also reports that Hispanic men are more sexually satisfied than other ethnic groups in the United States.[219] 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[edit]

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.[220]

## Atheism and race[edit]

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

### Asian atheism[edit]

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."[221]

As noted above, the current atheist population mostly resides in East Asia (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia among whites.[222] 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[edit]

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.[223] Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations significantly help poor African-Americans.[223] 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[edit]

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.[212]

|  ”

|
|

In the United States, blacks have the highest rate of religiosity.[224] Among Hispanics, religion has traditionally played a significant role in daily activity.[225]

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.[226]

|  ”

|
|

### RationalWiki/RationalMedia Foundation board of trustees and the lack of Black representation[edit]

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

## Atheism and education[edit]

* Religion and education
* Atheistic indoctrination and education
* Atheism and academia
* Atheism and academic performance

## Atheism and culture: Art, architecture, music, language, poetry, dance and humor[edit]

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."[227]

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:

* Atheist art
* Atheism and architecture
* Atheist music
* Atheism and linguistic/oratory skills
* Atheist poetry
* Atheism and dance
* Atheism and humor

## Global atheism[edit]

### Global decline of atheism[edit]

See also: Atheism and diversity and Atheism and culture

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.[228]

Atheists as a percentage of the world's population have declined since 1970 and global atheism is expected to face long term decline.[229] See: Desecularization and Global atheism statistics

The number of atheists in the world is expected to drop before mid-2022 according to the scholars at the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.[230]

On July 24, 2013, CNS News reported: "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."[228]

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%.[231] See: Global atheism statistics

### Demoographics of atheism[edit]

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

* Demographics of atheism

#### Atheism and specific countries/areas[edit]

* China and atheism
* French atheism
* British atheism
* Secular Europe
* American atheism

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 smaller by the end of the century (see: Atheism and fertility rates).[232]

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.[233]

* European desecularization in the 21st century
* Irreligion in Australia
* Irreligion in New Zealand
* Atheism in the Anglosphere

#### Religious people moving to irreligious regions[edit]

* Religion and migration
* Growth of evangelical Christianity in irreligious regions

### Atheism statistics[edit]

* Atheism statistics
* Christianity vs. atheism statistics
* Atheist women statistics
* Research on atheism

### Atheist movement and leadership[edit]

* Atheist movement
* Atheism and leadership

### Poor international cooperation among atheists[edit]

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[edit]

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.[234][235][236][237]

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."[236] The study found that many atheists do not trust other atheists as well.[236]

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[edit]

* Persecution of atheists
* Atheophobia is a fear and/or hatred of atheism/atheists.

## Desecularization and its causes[edit]

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.[238]

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.[239][240] 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."[241] Today, even the highly secularized public and political sphere of France is showing a new and more open attitude towards religion.[242]

### Atheism and sub-replacement levels of fertility[edit]

See also: Atheism and fertility rates

In 2011, atheist Jacques Berlinerblau declared: "The Golden Age of Secularism has passed."[41]

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."[243] 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."[243] 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. [244]

|  ”

|
|

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.[245]

|  ”

|
|

### Secularism is exhausted and unconfident[edit]

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.[246] |  ”

|
|

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...[247] |  ”

|
|

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[edit]

* Causes of desecularization
* Decline of the secular left

### Zero secularization rates in France and Protestant Europe[edit]

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."[248]

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.[249] |  ”

|
|

### Growth of evangelical Christianity in secular regions[edit]

* Growth of evangelical Christianity in China
* East Asia and global desecularization
* 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

### Future of desecularization via the continued global resurgence of religion[edit]

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.[250]

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.[251][252] In addition, Kaufmann argues that religious conservatism has a long term trend of rising and that their influence in the world will significantly increase.[253] Kaufmann is author of the book Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?.[254][255] 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."[255]

Kaufmann told a secular audience in Australia: "The trends that are happening worldwide inevitably in an age of globalization are going to affect us."[256] 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.[257]

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[edit]

* Growth of global desecularization

* Acceleration of 21st century desecularization

* Future of atheism in China

## Notable atheists who became ex-atheists[edit]

See: Ex-atheists

## Claims about the conditionality and existence of atheism[edit]

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'."[258]

### There are no atheists in foxholes[edit]

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.[259]]

Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring "There are no atheists in foxholes."[260] 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."[261] On the other hand, the news organization NBC featured a story in which atheist veterans claimed that there are atheists in foxholes.[262]

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."[168] Please see: Atheism and death

### Denials that atheists exist[edit]

* Denials that atheists exist

## Causes of atheism[edit]

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[edit]

True Freethinker is a Christian apologetics website 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)[edit]

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.[263] 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.[264]

### Online videos related to atheism[edit]

* Atheism videos
* Creation vs. Evolution Videos

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

## Atheism and the media[edit]

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.[265] 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.[265] The study is not surprising given the liberal bias that commonly exists in the major media outlets.

See also:

* Drop in news stories about atheism
* Negative news stories about atheism.
* Attempts to positively rebrand atheism

### Celebrity atheists[edit]

See: Celebrity atheists

## Atheism and homosexuality[edit]

See:

* Atheist actions against homosexuals
* Atheism and homosexuality

## Other well-known proponents of atheism[edit]

See: Famous atheists and Famous agnostics

Friedrich Nietzsche

* Diagoras of Melos
* Friedrich Nietzsche
* A. J. Ayer
* Ludwig Feuerbach
* Friedrich Engels
* Sigmund Freud
* Adolf Hitler[25]
* Albert Camus
* Ayn Rand
* Madalyn Murray O'Hair
* Paul Kurtz
* John Gray

### Well-known proponents of skepticism/atheism/agnosticism[edit]

* David Hume
* Bertrand Russell

## Atheist organizations[edit]

See: Atheist organizations

### Atheist organizations and fundraising[edit]

* Atheist organizations and fundraising

## Atheism quotes[edit]

See articles: Atheism Quotes

## Atheism news[edit]

See: Atheism news

## Recommended reading[edit]

* Christian apologetics books on atheism

## Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian[edit]

* Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian
* Some good news
* Atheism Is Dead

## See also[edit]

* Atheism articles
* Atheism symbols
* Essay: Atheism and evolution essays
* Atheism and satanic deception
* Second generation atheist

Humor:

* Comedies and satires of atheism and evolution

Conservapedia statistics about its atheism articles:

* Conservapedia:Atheism articles statistics

* Conservapedia Atheism Project

## External links[edit]

see also: Atheism website resources

General articles on atheism:

* Atheism by Creation Ministries International
* Horrific Human Toll of 'Militant Atheism' Exposed: USSR's genocide against Christians largely ignored - World Net Daily
* Atheism, agnosticism and humanism: godless religions by Creation Ministries International
* Atheism articles - Bethinking.org
* True Free Thinker - atheism section
* Atheism by Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
* Former Ateist's 'Case For Christ Hits Big Screen, 2017

Prominent atheists:

* Atheism and leadership
* 50 most prominent atheists in the world today

Other articles on atheism:

* Atheism articles on various topical areas - External websites
* Conservapedia atheism articles

v • d • e

Atheism

Atheism • Rebuttal • Morals • Academics • Quotes • Christianity • Debate • Evolution • Atheism and the suppression of science • Mass Murder • Communism • Atheist Shooters and Serial Killers • Mental and Physical Health • Miracles • Morality • Uncharitableness • Agnosticism • Deception • The Bible • The Problem of Evil • Agenda • Psychology • Population • Prison Statistics • Racism • Atheism and women • Brights Movement • Causes • Death Toll • Definitions • Evangelical atheist • Ex-atheists • Faith Freedom International • Godless: The Church of Liberalism‎ • Godless liberal • His Dark Materials • History • Liberalism • Militancy • New Atheism • Videos • Skeptics Annotated Bible • Strong atheism • The God Delusion • There Are No Atheists In Foxholes • Weak atheism

## References[edit]

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. ↑
* 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]
10. ↑
* Definition of atheism by William Lane Craig
11. ↑
* The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”
* 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 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: "Atheism - etymology")
12. ↑
* The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”
* Definition of atheism by William Lane Craig
* Atheism by Matt Slick
13. ↑ Dr. Martin Luther King in his sermon Rediscovering Lost Values spoke of "practical atheism". King, Dr. Martin Luther (1954). "Rediscovering lost values"
14. ↑ I don’t even know what’s going on in atheism anymore by PZ Myers
15. ↑ Rousseau, Jacques (July 13, 2011). "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can rip my soul". Daily Maverick [South Africa].
16. ↑ "The atheist community and internet atheism is still a hostile wasteland" (April 7, 2013). Question Evolution Campaign [blog].
17. ↑ "Board of directors" (July 1, 2014). American Atheists
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Former 2012 web page at Atheist.org website entitled "An Open Letter from Blair Scott"
19. ↑ It’s Past Time for Atheism to Grow Up by Neil Carter
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Reasonably Controversial: How the Regressive Left Is Killing the Atheist Movement by David Smalley
21. ↑ Lee Moore and Steve Shives Talk About the Future of the Atheist Movement, \- video quote comes 21 minutes and 13 seconds into the video
22. ↑ Atheists Speak Up - Eddie Tabash - Part 2 of 4
23. ↑ Christian Philosopher Explores Causes of Atheism
24. ↑ Landau, Elizabeth (January 1, 2011). "Anger at God common, even among atheists". CNN/The Chart website.
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Today's atheists are bullies -- and they are doing their best to intimidate the rest of us into silence at Fox News
26. ↑ Carter, Joe (January 12, 2011). "When atheists are angry at God". First Things [The Institute on Religion and Public Life] website.
27. ↑ Mooney, Chris (May 14, 2012). "Greta Christina—Why are you atheists so angry?" [interview of Greta Christina] Point of Inquiry website.
28. ↑ Multiple references:
* "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded" (July 18, 2013). Shadow to Light [blog].
* Haidt, Jonathan (March 5, 2014). "Why Sam Harris is unlikely to change his mind"
29. ↑ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded" (July 18, 2013). Shadow to Light [blog].
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Nazworth, Nap (July 11, 2012). "Study: atheists have lowest 'retention rate' compared to religious groups". christianpost.com.
31. ↑ Harms, William (April 18, 2012). "Belief in God rises with age, even in atheist nations". UChicagoNews.
32. ↑ Chapter 3: Demographic Profiles of Religious Groups, Pew Forum
33. ↑ Bainbridge, William (2005). "Atheism" (PDF). Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion. 1 (Article 2): 1–26.
34. ↑ In Xi we trust - Is China cracking down on Christianity?, DW News
35. ↑ Whoever I Don’t Like Is Ruining the Atheist Movement by Jeremiah Traeger
* Reasonably Controversial: How the Regressive Left Is Killing the Atheist Movement by David Smalley
* #ReasonRally Crash n burn. Thanks SJWs! by Thunderf00t
36. ↑ 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
37. ↑ Herding Cats: Why Atheism Will Lose by Francois Tremblay
38. ↑ Are there too many atheist meetings? by Jerry Coyne
39. ↑ Amanda (August 10, 2012). "How the atheist movement failed me–part 1: cost". Friendly Atheist blog.
40. ↑ Norris, Chuck (May 21, 2007). "How to outlaw Christianity (steps 2 & 3)". WorldNetDaily. See: Chuck Norris.
41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Berlinerblau, Jacques (February 4, 2011). "Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast". The Chronicle of Higher Education/Brainstorm blog. Retrieved on May 29, 2015.
42. ↑
* The “Atheism Movement:” Dead or Alive?, Freethought Blogs
* Atheist activist Seth Andrews keeps seeing reports on social media and the media that the atheist movement is dying, Examining Atheism
* Atheist Aron Ra indicates the atheist movement is dead. Now that that Aron Ra has surrendered...., Examining Atheism
* The Day the Atheist Movement Died by Jack Vance at Atheist Revolution
* Jennifer McCreight on Twitter about the Elevatorgate scandal destroying the atheist movement, Jen McCreight, Twitter
* The ghost of atheist past, Freethought Blogs, 2015
43. ↑ David Silverman - How the Mighty Get Back Up
44. ↑ Get Out! A message for the atheist movement by PZ Myers
45. ↑ Mulligan, Martin (1959). "Private property and communism" translation of Marx, Karl (1932), Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 (Moscow: Progress Publishers).
46. ↑ 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.
47. ↑ Noebel, David, The Battle for Truth, Harvest House, 2001.
48. ↑
* China’s Communist Party Reaffirms Marxism, Maoism, Atheism, New American, 2014
* China's Communist Party Bans Believers, Doubles Down On Atheism
49. ↑ Senior Chinese Religious Advisor Calls For Promotion Of Atheism In Society, International Business Times
50. ↑ 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.”
51. ↑ 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.”
52. ↑ Multiple references:
* Tallet, Frank and Atkin, Nicholas (1991). Religion, Society and Politics in France Since 1789 (London: A & C Black), pp. 1-17. GoogleBooks archive.
* Spielvogel, Jackson J. (2006). 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
53. ↑ 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.
54. ↑ 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.”
55. ↑ Multiple references:
* "The Black Book of Communism". Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences website: Cold War Studies.
* Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). "How many did communist regimes murder?" University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War
* White, Matthew (February 2011). "Source list and detailed death tolls for the primary megadeaths of the twentieth century". Necrometrics
* Radosh, Ronald (February 2000). "The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression". First Things [journal] website.
56. ↑ Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). "How many did communist regimes murder?" University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.
57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). "The real murderers: atheism or Christianity?" Stand to Reason.
58. ↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009). "Atheism". Creation Ministries International.
59. ↑ Multiple references:
* Kent, Jo Ling (April 28, 2011). "Underground Christians fear China crackdown". CNN.com
* Yakovlev, Alexander N. (2002). A Century of Violence in Soviet Russia translated by Austin, Anthony (New Haven: Yale University Press), p. 165.
* Braga, Fr. Roman (1996). "On compromise in the hierarchy during the Communist yoke". Orthodox Christian Information Center.
* Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). "Korean reds targeting Christians". The New York Sun
* Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen". NewsMax. NorthKoreanChristians.com
* "China sends Bible owners to labor camp" (November 26, 2003). WorldNetDaily.
* Chinese Police Proudly Record Their Torture of Christians, By Voice of the Marytrs|June 12, 2003
60. ↑ Ostling, Richard N. (December 4, 1989). "Cross meets Kremlin: Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II". Time. Time magazine website.
61. ↑ 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.
62. ↑ "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.
63. ↑ Humphrey (December 16, 2008). "Merry Anti-Christmas!" Quodlibeta.
64. ↑ Multiple references:
* Humphrey (December 16, 2008). "Merry Anti-Christmas!" Quodlibeta.
* Froese, Paul (March 2004). "Forced secularization in Soviet Russia: why an atheistic monopoly failed" [abstract]. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, vol. 43, 1, pp. 35-50. Abstract: Ingentaconnect
65. ↑ Double reference:
* "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.
* A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live, Washington Post By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013
66. ↑ "China sends Bible owners to labor camp" (November 26, 2003). WorldNetDaily.
67. ↑ Chinese Police Proudly Record Their Torture of Christians, By Voice of the Martyrs|June 12, 2003
68. ↑ Briggs, David (January 23, 2011). "Huffington Post: China’s state-sponsored atheism a failure" [excerpt]. National Post website.
69. ↑ Martyred in the USSR
70. ↑ The Russians' Secret by Peter Hoover with Serguei V. Petrov, Speaking Without a Tongue, Chapter 1 (Pages 1-3)
71. ↑ Review of: Ethan Gutmann, “The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting and China’s Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem”, (Prometheus Books, 2014).
72. ↑ Lee, Sunny (May 12, 2007). "God forbid, religion in North Korea?" Asia Times Online. Archived at Internet Archive on May 21, 2013.
73. ↑ Multiple references:
* Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). "Korean reds targeting Christians". The New York Sun.
* Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen". NewsMax. NorthKoreanChristians.com
74. ↑ Repressive, atheist North Korea has a surprising relationship with Christian missionaries
75. ↑ Multiple references:
* Caplan, Bryan (2010). "Museum of Communism FAQ version 1.3". George Mason University website/Department of Economics/Bryan Caplan/Museum of Communism.
* "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). "Qatar’s ambitious future driven on by North Korean ‘forced labour’". The Guardian website/World/Global Development.
* "Labor camps reinforce China's totalitarian rule" (1999). Cnn.com
* "China to reform re-education through labor system" (January 8, 2013). Xinhua.
76. ↑ China’s Communist Party Reaffirms Marxism, Maoism, Atheism, New American, 2014
77. ↑ 7 facts about atheists, Pew Forum
78. ↑ EU Failures Fuel Rise of Right-Wing Populist Parties in Europe. Sputnik News, 2016
79. ↑ From the book The Commissar Vanishes: The Falsification of Photographs and Art in Stalin's Russia by David King
80. ↑ Multiple references:
* "The ignorance of Cosmos", March 10, 2014.
* Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). "The real murderers: atheism or Christianity?" Stand to Reason.
81. ↑ Multiple references:
* Ridley, Louise [assistant news editor, Huffington Post, UK] (November 18, 2014). "Does religion really cause war—and do atheists have something to answer for?" The Huffington Post, United Kingdom.
* Day, Vox (August 13, 2012). "Atheists abandon 'religion causes war' argument". Vox Populi blog.
* Schumacher, Robin (April 2012). "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). "'Religion causes wars'". Bethinking.
82. ↑ Does it matter that many scientists are atheists?
83. ↑ Multiple references:
* Copan, Paul (2008). "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). "Can moral objectivism do without God?". Bethinking.org
* Meister, Chad (2010). "Atheists and the quest for objective morality". Christian Research Journal, vol. 33, no. 2. Christian Research Institute website
* Slick, Matt (2009). "The failure of atheism to account for morality". Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website.
84. ↑ Who created God by Don Batten
85. ↑ Harr, Ken and Lisle, Dr. Jason (August 9, 2007). "Chapter 1: Is there really a God?" The New Answers Book. Answers in Genesis.
86. ↑ Pushing the Antithesis on Greg Bahnsen
87. ↑ Bahsen at the Stein debate by John Frame
88. ↑ 88.0 88.1 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
89. ↑ Pushing the Antithesis on Greg Bahnsen
90. ↑ "A brief biography of Greg Bahnsen" (2003). Applied Presuppositionalism website. Retrieved from January 2, 2008 archive at Internet Archive on May 14, 2015.
91. ↑ Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith by Luís F. Rodrigues, page 201
92. ↑ Multiple references:
* Batten, Don (December 1997). "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). "Chapter 1: Facts and bias". Refuting Evolution. Retrieved from Creation.com [Creation Ministries International] on May 15, 2015. See Jonathan Sarfati
93. ↑ Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God? by Peter S. Williams, Bethinking.org
94. ↑
* Atheism—no objective morality?, Creation Ministries International
* Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God? by Peter S. Williams at Bethinking.org
* Atheists and the Quest for Objective Morality by Chad Meister at Christian Research Institute
* Atheism and absolutes
95. ↑ 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])
96. ↑ 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.
97. ↑ Atheism Doesn't Lead to Immoral Behavior - Or Does It? by Richard Deem
98. ↑ Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard, Barna Group
99. ↑ 99.0 99.1 Multiple references:
* Burke, Daniel, Religion News Service (May 13, 2009). "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). "Religious people are 'better neighbors'". USA Today website. Retrieved on July 19, 2014.
100. ↑ "Atheists and agnostics take aim at Christians" (June 11, 2007). Barna Update.
101. ↑ 101.0 101.1 Hutchinson, Sikivu (June 16, 2014). "Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about". Washington Post website.
102. ↑ David Silverman Ousted as President of American Atheists, Utah Atheists, Go to the 3 minute mark in the video
103. ↑ Richard Dawkins Drops His Lawsuit Against Former Employee
* An ungodly row: Dawkins sues his disciple
* Richard Dawkins Drops His Lawsuit Against Former Employee
* An Update on We Are Atheism by Hemant Mehta, September 15, 2015]
104. ↑ Richard Dawkins sues Josh Timonen, Posted by David Gorski on October 24, 2010
105. ↑ 105.0 105.1 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
106. ↑ 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.
107. ↑ 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
108. ↑ "Larry Flynt". One News Page.
109. ↑ 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.
110. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
111. ↑ Nardos, Rahel, et. al. (2003). Overcoming Violence Against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem, p. 59.
112. ↑ Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses by Suzanne Ost, Cambridge University Press, page 29, 2009
113. ↑ Abbott, Matt C. (August 22, 2010). "The mind of a pederast". RenewAmerica.
114. ↑ Bronski, Michael (October 31, 2002). "The real Harry Hay". The Phoenix.com.
115. ↑ Kincaid, Cliff, Accuracy in Media (January 7, 2010). "Twisted: administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association". WorldTribune.com.
116. ↑ Multiple references:
* Lord, Jeffrey (October 5, 2006). "Special report: when Nancy met Harry". The American Spectator website.
* Kincaid, Cliff, Accuracy in Media (January 7, 2010). "Twisted: administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association". WorldTribune.com.
117. ↑ 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
118. ↑ 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
119. ↑ Freedman, Carl (2009). Conversations with Samuel R. Delany (Jackson: Univ. Press of Mississippi), p. 143.
120. ↑ Myers, P. Z. (March 31, 2014). "When will this situation improve?" Pharyngula.
121. ↑ Farr, A. D. (1980). "The Marquis de Sade and induced abortion". Journal of Medical Ethics, 6, pp. 7-10. Journal of Medical Ethics website
122. ↑ Egnor, Michael (November 30, 2010). "P. Z. Myers on abortion". Evolution News and Views.
123. ↑ Katz, Neil (August 26, 2010). "Study: atheist doctors twice as likely to pull plug". CBSNews.com.
124. ↑ Multiple references:
* "Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard" (September 10, 2001). Barna Update.
* Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). "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). "Happy tweets: Christians are happier, more socially connected, and less analytical than atheists on Twitter" [abstract]. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 1948550613492345. Abstract: Sage Journals Subscription required for full article.
125. ↑ Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). "The Science of Swearing". Observer, vol. 25, no. 5. The Association for Psychological Science website
126. ↑ Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer blames Atheism and Evolution belief for Murders
127. ↑ Robert D. Hare (2011). Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us. Guilford Press, 52\. ISBN 978-16062-35782.
128. ↑ 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
129. ↑ 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
130. ↑ MedicineNet.com http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=3966.
131. ↑ The Chinese Government Must Stop Pet Dogs Being Stolen For Meat by JERRY GADIANO, Unilad website
132. ↑ Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality, ABC News, YouTube
133. ↑ Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality Chinese Dog Meat Festival | Undercover Cameras Reveal Brutality, ABC News, YouTube
134. ↑ Double references:
* "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.
* A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live, Washington Post By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013
135. ↑ Dictionary Says 'Atheism' Means 'Immorality'!?
136. ↑ Definition of atheism - Merriam-Webster dictionary
137. ↑ William Lane Craig on Scientific Naturalism by Dr. William Lane Craig
138. ↑ 138.0 138.1 Multiple references:
* Slick, Matt (2010). "Atheism". Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry.
* Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). "Putting the atheist on the defensive". Christian Research Institute Journal, p. 7. Internet Christian Library
* Gilson, Tom (March 21, 2012). "Atheists don’t own reason". FaithStreet/On Faith.
* McInerny, Professor Ralph (1985). "Why the burden of proof is on the atheist". Truth Journal, vol. 1. LeadershipU
* Platinga, Alvin (1991). "Theism, atheism, and rationality". Truth Journal, vol. 3. LeadershipU. See Alvin Plantinga.
* Day, Vox (2008). The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens(Dallas TX: Benbella Books). ISBN 1933771364; ISBN 978-1933771366.
139. ↑ 139.0 139.1 Multiple references:
* "William Lane Craig on scientific naturalism" (January 12, 2008). YouTube video, 9:55, posted by Drcraigvideos
* "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 1" (August 5, 2014). Vimeo video, 8:10, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
* "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism with J.P. Moreland, part 2" (August 12, 2014). Vimeo video, 7:43, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
* "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 3" (August 19, 2014). Vimeo video, 7:21, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
* "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 4" (September 2, 2014). Vimeo video, 6:40, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
* "The incoherence of atheism - Ravi Zacharias" (February 5, 2013). YouTube video, 51:59, posted by Christianity Reason and Science.
* Cooper, Jordan (August 31, 2012). "The incoherence of atheism". Just and Sinner blog.
* Randy (November 12, 2012). "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
140. ↑ Multiple references:
* Lisle, Dr. Jason (October 10, 2007). "Atheism: An irrational worldview". AnswersinGenesis.
* Slick, Matt (2010). "The Christian worldview, the atheist worldview, and logic". Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry.
* Petersen, Jason (2013). "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
* "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). "Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein mp3". The Domain for Truth.
141. ↑ Multiple references:
* Piippo, John (March 20, 2012). "The argument from consciousness for the existence of God". John Piippo.
* Piippo, John (April 14, 2014). "Consciousness: One of atheism's irresolvable problems". John Piippo.
142. ↑ 142.0 142.1 *C.S. Lewis' argument from reason
* C.S. Lewis and the Argument from Reason by Jay W. Richards, November 25, 2013
* C.S. Lewis and Materialism by John G. West
* C.S. Lewis On The Validity of Reasoning
* Naturalism's Hot Water
143. ↑ Multiple references:
* Anderson, James (July 16, 2013). "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). "Reclaiming reason from atheism". Bethinking. ["Why atheism?"]
* Sirrahc (April 19, 2012). "Heat death and atheist inconsistency (or, isn’t it ironic?)". A View from the Right
* Shramek, Dustin (2009). "Atheism and death: Why the atheist must face death with despair". Contend for the Faith [archive]. Archive
* Brake, Aaron (2013). "Apathy, atheism, and the absurdity of life without God". Pleaseconvinceme.
* Prayson, Daniel (December 16, 2010). "The meaningless life of atheism". With All I Am.
144. ↑ Multiple references:
* Slick, Matt (2012). "What does the Bible say about the meaning/purpose of life?". Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website
* [Under a Christian worldview] "What is the purpose and meaning of life?" (2009). Christian Bible Reference Site.
145. ↑ 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)"
* "Notes to 'Teleological arguments for God's existence'" [article revised removing reference in January 2015].
* The Duke of Argyll (1885). "What is science?" Good Words [United Kingdom], vol. 26, p. 244. GoogleBooks archive
146. ↑ Multiple references:
* Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). "Putting the atheist on the defensive". Christian Research Institute Journal, p. 7. Internet Christian Library
* Copan, Paul (April 6, 2009). "The presumptuousness of atheism". Christian Research Institute.
* Cupp, S. E. (December 29, 2010). "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). "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). "How anger fuels atheistic arrogance". Christian Post website.
* "Militant atheist arrogance and pride" (2007). Militant Atheism Exposed.
147. ↑ 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
148. ↑ 148.0 148.1 Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). "Putting the atheist on the defensive". Christian Research Institute Journal, p. 7. Internet Christian Library
149. ↑ Must the Atheist Be Omniscient? by Dr. William Lane Craig
150. ↑ Atheist Church Split: Sunday Assembly And Godless Revival's 'Denominational Chasm', Huffington Post, 2014
151. ↑ 151.0 151.1 Multiple references:
* Is Atheism a religion? by Daniel Smartt, Published: 4 May 2010(GMT+10)
* Hodge, Bodie; Patterson, Roger (2016). World Religions and Cults Vol. 3. Master Books. 29–44. ISBN: 978-0-89051-970-7.
* Hodge, Bodie; Ham, Ken (Febraury 20, 2017). Atheism Is Religion. Answers in Genesis. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
152. ↑ Multiple references:
* Slick, Matt (October 2011). "Is atheism a worldview?" Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website. See CARM
* Hearn, Brian F. (December 31, 2009). "Atheism a worldview?" Apologetics.net.
* Hearn, Brian F. (May 2, 2012). "Atheism is a worldview II". Apologetics.net.
* Bannister, Andy (October 14, 2013). "The Scandanavian sceptic (or why atheism is a belief system)". Ravi Zacharias International Ministries website. See Ravi Zacharias
153. ↑ Smart, Ninian (1996). Dimensions of the Sacred [preview] (Oakland, CA: University of California Press). Preview: GoogleBooks
154. ↑ Smartt, Daniel (November 6, 2008). "Atheism religion naturalism morally relative". Archive of SpiritualLiving360°.
155. ↑ *Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009). "Atheism". Creation Ministries International.
156. ↑ Multiple references:
* Thier, Dave (June 23, 2013). "In the Bible belt offering atheists a spiritual home". Nytimes.com
* Hallowell, Billy (April 17, 2013). "Bizarre trend: atheist Sunday morning ‘worship’ services are on the rise (minus God, of course)" TheBlaze.
* Ortberg, Mallory (January 5, 2013). "London's first atheist church opens tomorrow". Gawker.
157. ↑ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html
158. ↑ Hemingway, Molly Ziegler (September 19, 2008). "Look who's irrational now". The Wall Street Journal website.
159. ↑ Why conservative churches are still growing
160. ↑ Russell, Paul (February 11, 2013). "Hume on religion". The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
161. ↑ Multiple references:
* Lennox, John (2009). "The question of miracles: the contemporary influence of Hume". BeThinking.
* Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986). "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
162. ↑ Multiple references:
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* Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986). "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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* Geisler, Professor Norman (1985). "Miracles and modern scientific thought". Truth Journal, vol. 1. LeadershipU
* Lewis, C. S. (1960). Miracles (New York: HarperCollins). Abstract: Google Books
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163. ↑ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism by Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post, October 14, 2013
164. ↑ Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife, Skepticsguide.com
165. ↑ Do people still believe in life after death?, Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture Study
166. ↑ Multiple references:
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167. ↑ University of Otago [New Zealand] (April 2, 2012). "Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God". ScienceDaily.
168. ↑ 168.0 168.1 Heflick, Nathan A. (May 25, 2012). "Atheists, death and belief in God: The effects of death reminders on atheists' supernatural beliefs". Psychology Today website.
169. ↑ Multiple references:
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* "Fear of death: Worst if you’re a little religious?" (July 13, 2005). World Science.
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* Wen, Ya-hui. (December 2010). "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.
171. ↑ Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife
172. ↑ 172.0 172.1 "Peter Hitchens author interview—The rage against God" [interview of Peter Hitchens] (March 22, 2010). Vimeo video, 8:38, posted by Gorilla Poet Productions.
173. ↑ 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.
174. ↑ 174.0 174.1 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.
175. ↑ Bacon, Francis (1601). The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, of Francis Ld. Verulam Viscount St. Albans; "Of atheism". Authorama.
176. ↑ Multiple references:
* Hergenrather, John (2004). "Evidences for God from space: can laws of science explain the origin of the universe?" Creation Encounter.
* Thompson, Bert (2003). "So long, eternal universe; 'Hello beginning, hello end!'" Apologetics Press.
* Brown, Dr. Walt (2008). "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.
177. ↑
* Dr. Don Batten, A Who’s Who of evolutionists Creation 20(1):32, December 1997.
* Jonathan Sarfati, Ph.D.,F.M., Refuting Evolution, Chapter 1, Facts and Bias
178. ↑ Morris, Henry M., PhD. (January 2001). "The scientific case against evolution". Institute for Creation Research.
179. ↑ Origin of life by Dr. Don Batten
180. ↑ Multiple references:
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182. ↑ Multiple references:
* Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009). "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary]. Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website.
* McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000). "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
183. ↑ Emotional intelligence
184. ↑ 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
185. ↑ 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
186. ↑ 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
187. ↑ Multiple references:
* Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [summary]. 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.
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* "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction" (September 17, 1894). New York Times, p. 2.
188. ↑ "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction" (September 17, 1894). New York Times, p. 2.
189. ↑ http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html
190. ↑ Lonely religious people are less depressed than atheists because they see God as a friend replacement, study finds, Daily Mail, 2018
191. ↑ 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.
192. ↑ Religion can help improve children’s mental health, new study finds, Global News, 2018
193. ↑ 193.0 193.1 "Data and statistics" (September 2014 or bef.). Health topics/Disease prevention/Alcohol use. World Health Organization (WHO)/Regional office for Europe
194. ↑ The Doubled-Edged Sword of Religion and Alcoholism
195. ↑ Believers Consume Fewer Drugs Than Atheists, Christian Post, By Jim Denison, Christian Post Columnist, October 9, 2013|9:47 am
196. ↑ Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists, Science Daily, Date:October 3, 2013, Source: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung]
197. ↑ Multiple references:
* McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (January 2009). "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: "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications" [abstract]. Retrieved from PubMed.gov on September 10, 2014.
198. ↑ 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.
199. ↑ 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.
200. ↑ RELIGIOUS PEOPLE LIVE HEALTHIER, LONGER LIVES—WHILE ATHEISTS COLLECT MUTANT GENES, Newsweek, 2017
201. ↑ [Atheists are more likely to be left handed, study finds], The Telegraph, 2017
202. ↑ Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions
203. ↑ 203.0 203.1 Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions
204. ↑
* "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.
* The myth of the smarter Atheist by Randy Olson, Posted on August 24, 2014
205. ↑ Multiple references:
* Briggs, Dr. William M. (2013). "Do atheists really have higher IQs than believers?" Strange Notions. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.
* Wright, Bradley (January 26, 2012). "How many Americans are atheists? Fewer than you might think". Black, White and Gray. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.
206. ↑ Eleven common traits of highly intelligent people by Shana Lebowicz, The Independent, Friday 16 December 2016 18:24
207. ↑ 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
208. ↑
* How emotion affects decision making, The Intentional Workplace
* 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
* When Emotions Make Better Decisions - Antonio Damasio \- short video
* News item about Professor Antonio Damasio, University of Southern California
209. ↑ Ask the Brains, Scientific American, Dec 23, 2011
210. ↑ AAI Position Statement - Gender Balance
211. ↑ Khan, Razib (November 18, 2010). "Gene expression; "Sex differences in global atheism, part N". Discover magazine website.
212. ↑ 212.0 212.1 Carter, Stephen L. (March 27, 2015). "The atheism gap". BloombergView website.
213. ↑ 213.0 213.1 Britt, Robert Roy (February 28, 2009). "Women more religious than men". Livescience.
214. ↑ 214.0 214.1 How do atheists define love? by Dr. Taylor Marshall
215. ↑ 215.0 215.1 What is love? how materialist atheism fails to have a satisfactory answer, July 9, 2014
216. ↑ 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
217. ↑ Why Are Christians Having Better Sex Than the Rest of Us? by Tucker Carlson, The Daily Beast, November 11, 25, 2008
218. ↑ Christian Women Have More Sexual Fun, Relationship Center in Springfield Missouri
219. ↑ 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
220. ↑ Defending Atheist Mutational Load Theory — Part 2 by Scott A. McGreal MSc., Psychology Today, June 22, 2018
221. ↑ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales, Discover magazine
222. ↑ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live, By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, Washington Post, May 23, 2013
223. ↑ 223.0 223.1 Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about by Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson, Washington Post June 16, 2014
224. ↑ Gallup: Blacks Most Religious Group in U.S.
225. ↑ Understanding Hispanic culture
226. ↑ http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/01/atheists-diversity-woes-have-n.php
227. ↑ Christianity and culture
228. ↑ 228.0 228.1 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020
229. ↑
* Study: World is becoming more religious
* Globally the worldviews of atheism and non-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity is exploding in adherents
* 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
* Gordon-Conwell Seminary - Status of Global Mission, 2014, in the Context of AD 1800–2025
230. ↑ Status of Global Christianity, 2022, in the Context of 1900–2050
231. ↑ Religion: Year in Review 2010: Worldwide Adherents of All Religions. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.. Retrieved on 2013-11-21.
232. ↑ Population trends 1950 – 2100: globally and within Europe
233. ↑ 10 projections for the global population in 2050 By Rakesh Kochhar, Pew Research Forum, February 3, 2014
234. ↑ Study: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists
235. ↑ Atheists Widely Distrusted, Even Among Themselves, UK Study Finds, Christian Post, 2015
236. ↑ 236.0 236.1 236.2 Anti-atheist distrust ‘deeply and culturally ingrained’, study finds, The Independent, 2015
237. ↑ Edgell, Gerteis & Hartmann 2006
238. ↑ 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)
239. ↑ Publisher's Weekly Review of The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics by Peter L. Berger
240. ↑ Kirkus Reviews- FIRE FROM HEAVEN: Pentecostalism, Spirituality, and the Reshaping of Religion in the Twenty-First Century by Harvey Cox
241. ↑ Karen Armstrong, The Battle for God, p. 9
242. ↑ 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.
243. ↑ 243.0 243.1 Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful
244. ↑ 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious, Tuesday, April 30, 2013
245. ↑ Eric Kaufmann - Religion, Demography and Politics in the 21st Century
246. ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth? - Eric Kaufmann
247. ↑ Atheists Speak Up - Eddie Tabash
248. ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the earth by Eric Kaufmann
249. ↑ Nearly 50% are of no religion – but has UK hit ‘peak secular’?, The Guardian, 2017
250. ↑
* 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
* Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?
* Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series
* Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
251. ↑
* 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
* Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?
* Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series
252. ↑ Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
253. ↑ 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
254. ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth by David Kaufmann
255. ↑ 255.0 255.1 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
256. ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth
257. ↑ *European immigration will pour Christian creationists into Europe
* The future of European Darwinism and atheism is bleak
258. ↑ 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.
259. ↑ Multiple references:
* Taylor-Blake, Bonnie (September 24, 2006). "'There are no atheists in [the] 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). "There are no atheists in foxholes...". Newsvine website/Neal Osborn.
260. ↑ "Milestones [excerpt]" (October 15, 1945). Time. magazine website
261. ↑ "Tells of religion in army. Chaplain Lawson says there are no atheists in front line" (November 25, 1918). New York Times, p. 13.
262. ↑ Breen, Tom (April 2, 2011)."Army group 'coming out of the atheist closet'" from NBCNews.com
263. ↑ http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/05/09/i-support-the-freedom-from-atheism-foundation/
264. ↑ http://www.christianpost.com/news/freedom-from-religion-how-about-freedom-from-atheism-119389/
265. ↑ 265.0 265.1 "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias" (July 17, 2008). YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks!