Definition of Atheism-
Since Atheism is a complex term, the most obvious definition would have to be is the absence or rejection of a belief in a God, or gods.
Atheists are typically concerned with defending (at least) the following theses:
It is almost certain that there is no God.
Religious belief has a naturalistic evolutionary explanation.
Belief in God and evolution are not compatible.
Religion tends to subvert science.
Life is not meaningless without belief in God.
History-
At some time around 1650 an anonymous manuscript appeared (probably in France) entitled Theophrastus redivivus which appears to be the oldest extant atheistic document.
In the middle of the seventeenth century it was still assumed that it was impossible not to believe in God. The evidence for God from design and from the ubiquity of belief seemed so clear it was thought atheists were necessarily atheist against the evidence. At this stage atheism - if it were even admitted to exist - was still seen as an illness or a result of a perverse will, since it was not apparent how such a view could be held rationally. Such early modern apologists had nothing to do with atheism in the strict sense.
Between 1700 and 1750 thousands of atheistic manuscripts were made however only a small audience read them.
The nineteenth century was the century in which atheism established itself in the minds of the European educated public. In the twentieth century, however, atheistic belief would become a mass phenomenon.
Atheists may be said to defend their position in two broad ways. First, by bringing forward good reasons for disbelieving religious claims; second, by offering naturalistic explanations of religion.
Eh thats enough.
Religious Tolerance and Information Guild
A troll less and harassment free theist and atheist environment.
 |
Reply
|
|
||||
|
||||||
|
|
|
|