Atheism

For people who do not believe in the existence of God, see atheist.

Atheism is:

• the absence of belief in God or gods (deities).
• the belief and rejection of belief that there is a God or gods (deities)

Past and present

In intolerant societies, atheists have been persecuted throughout history, and at times, there were very few atheists. Today there is still extreme intolerance or persecution in some places; examples are the Bible Belt in the United States and fundamentalist islamic countries.

In advanced countries with modern education, atheism is becoming more popular fast, and people who’ve learned the scientific method see that there is no reason to believe in a religion.

1. Some European countries, such as Sweden, may have a majority population of atheists or agnostics.
2. In the United Kingdom, it appears that around 1 in 5 people are atheist or agnostic.
3. In the United States, 0.5% of people are strong atheists according to some surveys, while 30 million Americans are atheists according to American Atheists.

Surveys are unreliable, as answers depend upon how questions are phrased. This article needs more citations.

Why is atheism increasing?

1. Most Christians have religious doubts. Some Christians struggle with doubt, and more sensible people see that doubt is reasonable, and become former Christians.
2. Doubt comes from the Devil! Young children, and adults of very low intelligence, generally have a "simple childlike faith" that Christians think is good. The problems and irrational features that are found within Christianity are so extreme that typically between the ages of 10 and 15, Christians see that there is something wrong. After that, remaining a Christian involves a continual struggle to suppress doubt.
3. Education standards are rising and the scientific method is being taught more effectively. As a result, believers feel less pressure to suppress their doubt, and more incentive to investigate the reasons for their doubt, and to follow where the evidence leads. The evidence leads away from belief in any type of mythology.

Atheist affirmation

You don't need to do anything special to become an atheist or to be an atheist; if you don't believe in a god or gods, you're already an atheist. But still you may feel like doing something to mark your atheist identity. You can always say to yourself or to friends who respect your atheism something like the following.

I no longer believe in a god / I've never believed in a god (whichever is appropriate), and I resolve to base my beliefs upon what the scientific method demonstrates to be true.

Not all atheists are humanists, but if you personally accept humanism then you can make the following affirmation.

I don't believe in a god, and I resolve to follow the scientific method together with humanist morality.

All of this is of course optional; you can be an atheist and a moral humanist without any formal statement.

Telling your family that you're an atheist

If you're from a Christian family, and haven't told them yet, then please read:

• Minors from Christian families who become atheists
• How stereotyping atheists as immoral can do harm, my experience

See also

• American Atheism is rising and Christians don't like it.
• Atheism and social justice
• Atheism and the Internet
• New atheism
• Atheism Wiki, about
• Infidel

External links

• Happiness and Purpose Without God
• How Non-Atheists view Atheists
• Less Wrong on Atheism

Videos

• Why do atheists care about religion?
• How to Convert an Atheist Part 1
• How to Convert an Atheist Part 2
• Godless and free by Pat Condell

Video songs

This song will help you to live life as an atheist, it's entertaining as well. There are two and more versions of this really cool song.

• Godless and free This link has cool pictures of Richard Dawkins.
• Godless and free, the song... "Atheist Anthem?"

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Here’s a science fiction story about an alien called Xenu, I didn’t write it, someone called L. Ron Hubbard wrote it. Why is it important? All too often advertisements paid for by Scientology turn up on the Internet and some are obviously Scientology but others talk about Dianetics or just promise you ethical happiness etc without making the source clear. Well Scientology doesn’t look very ethical and many reasonable people say they’re more likely to empty your bank balance and make you less happy and less healthy than before. So if you find advertisements pretending saying they’ll improve your life and it all looks too good to be true keep away.