Changes

In the the latter half of the 1600s, there was [[French atheism#Clandestine French atheism in the 1600s and 1700s|an increase]] in the degree of ideological conflict between [[atheism]] and [[Christianity|Christianity]] in the [[Western World]]. At first the conflict was of a secretive nature via the use of clandestine tracts.<ref>[http://fivebooks.com/interview/jonathan-israel-on-the-enlightenment/ Jonathan Israel on The Enlightenment]</ref><ref>The material was formerly at the University of Cambridge's Investigation Atheism website. A website which closed down. The material has been transferred to [http://www.mmfase.com/18th-century.html 18th Century History], Investigating Atheism</ref>  

In the the latter half of the 1600s, there was [[French atheism#Clandestine French atheism in the 1600s and 1700s|an increase]] in the degree of ideological conflict between [[atheism]] and [[Christianity|Christianity]] in the [[Western World]]. At first the conflict was of a secretive nature via the use of clandestine tracts.<ref>[http://fivebooks.com/interview/jonathan-israel-on-the-enlightenment/ Jonathan Israel on The Enlightenment]</ref><ref>The material was formerly at the University of Cambridge's Investigation Atheism website. A website which closed down. The material has been transferred to [http://www.mmfase.com/18th-century.html 18th Century History], Investigating Atheism</ref>  

[[Paul-Henri Thiry|Baron d'Holbach]] (1723–1789) in his 1770 work, ''The System of Nature'' denied the [[Arguments for the existence of God|existence of God]] and he was an early proponent of atheism in Europe (The book was published under a pseudonym). Atheism gained further European prominence as a result of [[French Revolution|revolutionary France]] in the 1790s.<ref>The material was formerly at the University of Cambridge's Investigation Atheism website. A website which closed down. The material has been transferred to [http://www.mmfase.com/18th-century.html 18th Century History], Investigating Atheism</ref>

[[Paul-Henri Thiry|Baron d'Holbach]] (1723–1789) in his 1770 work, ''The System of Nature'' denied the [[Arguments for the existence of God|existence of God]] and he was an early proponent of atheism in Europe (The book was published under a pseudonym). Atheism gained further European prominence as a result of [[French Revolution|revolutionary France]] in the 1790s.<ref>The material was formerly at the University of Cambridge's Investigation Atheism website. A website which closed down. The material has been transferred to [http://www.mmfase.com/18th-century.html 18th Century History], Investigating Atheism</ref> [[Communism]] spread atheism in the 20th century, but Christianity is spreading quickly in many communist or formerly communist countries (see: [[Atheism and communism]]).

== Atheism vs. Christianity and the available evidence ==

== Atheism vs. Christianity and the available evidence ==