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Atheism

2018-12-14T16:07:39Z

Mhutch: Use more objective wording

[[File:Atheism.jpg|thumb|alt=atheism|right|205px|[[Portrait]] of [[Paul-Henri Thiry]], Baron d'Holbach (1723 - 1789) was an early advocate of atheism in [[Europe]]. ]]
'''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]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism "Atheism and agnosticism"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
*[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism "{{sc|atheism}}"] (n.d.). ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'' [online]. "Definition of {{sc|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 {{sc|atheism}} Middle French ''athéisme'', from ''athée'' atheist, from Greek ''atheos'' godless, from ''a-'' + ''theos'' god"; [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/god "{{sc|god}}"] (n.d.). ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'' [online]. "Definition of {{sc|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, (Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology-1966).
*Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D. (23 June 2007). [http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational "Atheism is more rational?"]. See [[Creation Ministries International]], [[Jonathan Sarfati]].
*Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].
*[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html Putting the Atheist on the Defensive] by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal, Fall 1991, and Winter 1992, page 7.
</ref> [[Paul Edwards (philosopher)|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."<ref name="CRI">[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html Putting the Atheist on the Defensive] by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal, Fall 1991, and Winter 1992, page 7.</ref> Atheism serves the agenda of [[Satan]], whose purpose is to create doubt. According to Charles Baudelaire, "the finest trick of the devil is to persuade you that he does not exist".<ref>{{cite web|title="WikiQuote"|url=https://en.m.wikiquote.org/wiki/Charles_Baudelaire|date=December 14, 2018}}</ref>

Beginning in the latter portion of the 20th century and continuing beyond, many [[agnosticism|agnostics]] and atheists have argued that the [[definition of atheism]] should be a lack of belief in God or gods.<ref name="CRI"/><ref name="Divine">Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].</ref><ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref><ref>Britain is a less religious country than the United States and the online Oxford Dictionaries offers both the narrow/broad definitions of atheism (As noted in a previous footnote the Merriam-Webster dictionary, which is a traditional American dictionary, offers a more narrow definition of atheism similar to the definition that major encyclopedias of philosophy use). Oxford Dictionaries: Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/atheism]</ref>

Atheism has been examined by many disciplines in terms [[Atheism statistics|of its effects]] on individuals and [[Atheism and culture|on societies]] and these effects will be covered below.

As far as individuals adopting an [[Atheist worldview|atheistic worldview]], atheism has a number [[causes of atheism|of causal factors]] and these will be elaborated on below as well.

==Types of atheism==
''See also:'' [[Schools of atheist thought]] and [[Atheist factions]]
[[File:Diagoras of melos.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|[[Diagoras of Melos]] was an [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] atheist, poet and [[Sophism|Sophist]] of the 5th century BC.

See: [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]] ]]
The [[History of Atheism|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 [[Sophism|Sophist]]. Since this time, there have been many [[schools of atheist thought]] that have developed.

===Atheism and why do atheists state they disbelieve?===
''See also:'' [[Weak Atheism|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 [[theism|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|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 ===
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.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*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 [https://books.google.com/books?id=Dwk3yV5MOaAC&pg=PA10&lpg=PA10&dq=Charles+Bradlaugh+definition+of+atheism&source=bl&ots=JtjIlK7qaJ&sig=E0HjYgfEyKXdEA4zlLAd9m41cQU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEgQ6AEwB2oVChMIrcijucWLyAIVCXA-Ch00NACw#v=onepage&q=Charles%20Bradlaugh%20definition%20of%20atheism&f=false]
</ref> 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.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref> It is now common for atheists/agnostics and theists to debate the meaning of the word atheism.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*[http://www.apatheticagnostic.com/articles/meds2/med40/med796.html The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”]
*[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/atheism 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|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: [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"])</ref>

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.<ref name="CRI"/><ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*[http://www.apatheticagnostic.com/articles/meds2/med40/med796.html The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”]
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]
*[http://carm.org/cut-atheism Atheism] by Matt Slick
</ref>

For more information, please see:

*[[Definition of atheism]]

*[[Definitions of Atheist and Agnostic|Definitions of atheist and agnostic]]

=== Some common types of atheism ===
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]]

'''2.''' Philosophical atheism - Atheist philosophers assert that God does not exist. (See also: [[Naturalism (philosophy)|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.<ref>Dr. [[Martin Luther King]] in his sermon ''Rediscovering Lost Values'' spoke of "practical atheism". King, Dr. Martin Luther (1954). [http://www.globatron.org/truth/rediscovering-lost-values-martin-luther-king-early-sermon "Rediscovering lost values"]</ref>

'''5.''' Other schools of atheist thought: [[Schools of atheist thought]]

=== Atheist factions ===
''See also:'' [[Atheist factions]] and [[Western atheism, schisms and political polarization]] and [[Atheist organizations]]
[[File:Richard Dawkins Stockholm.JPG|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|250px|right|[[Richard Dawkins]] was a central figure in the [[Elevatorgate]] controversy.]]
In 2015, Dr. J. Gordon Melton said about the [[atheist movement]] (organized atheism) that atheism is not a movement which tends to create community, but in the last few years there has been some growth of organized atheism.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0i4kuN9XSc Baylor ISR- J. Gordon Melton - End of Religion? (May 5, 2015)]</ref> See also: [[Atheist factions]] and [[Atheist organizations]]

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."<ref>Rousseau, Jacques (July 13, 2011). [http://dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2011-07-13-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-can-rip-my-soul "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can rip my soul"]. Daily Maverick [South Africa].</ref> An ex-atheist wrote: "As an Atheist for 40 years, I noticed that there is not just a wide variety of [[Schools of atheist thought|Atheist positions]], but there exists an actual battle between certain [[Atheist factions]]."<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/internet-atheism-is-still-hostile.html "The atheist community and internet atheism is still a hostile wasteland"] (April 7, 2013). Question Evolution Campaign [blog].</ref>

==== Atheist infighting ====
''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheism and anger]]

Blair Scott served on the [[American Atheists]] board of directors.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20140701062412/http://atheists.org/about-us/board-of-directors "Board of directors"] (July 1, 2014). American Atheists</ref> 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]].<ref name="Blair Scott">Scott, Blair (December 1, 2012). [http://news.atheists.org/2012/12/01/an-open-letter-from-blair-scott/ "An open letter from Blair Scott"]. American Atheists.</ref>

Mr. Blair wrote:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="Blair Scott"/>}}

The atheist Neil Carter wrote:
{{Cquote|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.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2016/06/12/its-past-time-for-atheism-to-grow-up/ It’s Past Time for Atheism to Grow Up] by Neil Carter</ref>}}

The atheist [[David Smalley]] said about the atheist movement: "We're eating our own... We’re disintegrating."<ref name="patheos.com">[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/dogmadebate/2017/06/reasonably-controversial-regressive-left-killing-atheist-movement/ Reasonably Controversial: How the Regressive Left Is Killing the Atheist Movement] by David Smalley</ref>

{{See also|Antitheism and antisocial behavior}}

==== Atheist infighting causing fundraising difficulties ====
''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 atheism|American atheist]] organizations:
{{Cquote|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."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvG6LKUbOdk Lee Moore and Steve Shives Talk About the Future of the Atheist Movement],
- video quote comes 21 minutes and 13 seconds into the video</ref>}}

==== Eddie Tabash on atheist argumentativeness ====
''See also:'' [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]]

The [[American atheism|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...".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ld9Rfw5HUs Atheists Speak Up - Eddie Tabash - Part 2 of 4]</ref>

==== Angry and bitter demeanor of militant atheists ====
''See also:'' [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]]
[[File:Angry atheist.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|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.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-philosopher-explores-causes-of-atheism-44353/ Christian Philosopher Explores Causes of Atheism]</ref> See: [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]]]]
On January 1, 2011, [[CNN]] reported:
{{cquote|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.<ref>Landau, Elizabeth (January 1, 2011). [http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/01/anger-at-god-common-even-among-atheists/ "Anger at God common, even among atheists"]. CNN/The Chart website.</ref>}}

According to Anthony DeStefano:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="Today's atheists">[http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/03/20/todays-atheists-are-bullies-and-are-doing-their-best-to-intimidate-rest-us-into-silence.html Today's atheists are bullies -- and they are doing their best to intimidate the rest of us into silence] at Fox News</ref>}}

Various studies found that traumatic events in people's lives has a positive correlation with "emotional atheism".<ref>Carter, Joe (January 12, 2011). [http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2011/01/when-atheists-are-angry-at-god "When atheists are angry at God"]. First Things [The Institute on Religion and Public Life] website.</ref>

The atheist and [[lesbianism|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."<ref>Mooney, Chris (May 14, 2012). [http://www.pointofinquiry.org/greta_christina_why_are_you_atheists_so_angry/ "Greta Christina—Why are you atheists so angry?"] [interview of Greta Christina] Point of Inquiry website.</ref>

Social science research indicates that [[Antitheism|antitheists]] score the highest among atheists when it comes to personality traits such as [[narcissism]], dogmatism, and anger.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/science-shows-new-atheists-to-be-mean-and-closed-minded/ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded"] (July 18, 2013). Shadow to Light [blog].
*Haidt, Jonathan (March 5, 2014). [https://evolution-institute.org/article/why-sam-harris-is-unlikely-to-change-his-mind10/ "Why Sam Harris is unlikely to change his mind"]</ref> Furthermore, they scored lowest when it comes to agreeableness and positive relations with others.<ref>[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/science-shows-new-atheists-to-be-mean-and-closed-minded/ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded"] (July 18, 2013). Shadow to Light [blog].</ref>

For additional information, please see: [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]]

== Atheism and its retention rate in individuals ==
''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]]
[[File:Georgetown 2.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|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.<ref name="retention rate">Nazworth, Nap (July 11, 2012). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ "Study: atheists have lowest 'retention rate' compared to religious groups"]. christianpost.com.</ref>

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.<ref name="retention rate"/> 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.<ref>Harms, William (April 18, 2012). [http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/04/18/belief-god-rises-age-even-atheist-nations "Belief in God rises with age, even in atheist nations".] UChicagoNews.</ref> The Pew Forum reports about [[American atheism|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."<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/chapter-3-demographic-profiles-of-religious-groups/ Chapter 3: Demographic Profiles of Religious Groups], Pew Forum</ref> 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 ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and loneliness]] and [[Atheism and apathy]] and [[Internet atheism]] and [[Atheists and church attendance]]

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]]).<ref>Bainbridge, William (2005). "[http://www.religjournal.com/pdf/ijrr01002.pdf Atheism]" (PDF). Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion. 1 (Article 2): 1–26.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and loneliness]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|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]]).

In recent times, the number of people attending atheist conferences has grown smaller.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tippling/2017/07/13/10923/ Whoever I Don’t Like Is Ruining the Atheist Movement] by Jeremiah Traeger
*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/dogmadebate/2017/06/reasonably-controversial-regressive-left-killing-atheist-movement/ Reasonably Controversial: How the Regressive Left Is Killing the Atheist Movement] by David Smalley
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luT2vQ3ctKU #ReasonRally Crash n burn. Thanks SJWs!] by [[Thunderf00t]]</ref> Atheist [[David Smalley]] wrote: "And we wonder why we’re [[Atheism and politics|losing elections]], [[Atheist fundraising vs. religious fundraising#Atheist organizations and fundraising|losing funding]], and our conferences are getting smaller."<ref name="patheos.com"/> 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."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvG6LKUbOdk 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</ref>

[[File:Jerry Coyne at The Amazing Meeting - 2013.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|[[Jerry Coyne]] speaking at a 2013 [[Atheist conferences|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]]).<ref>[http://www.liberator.net/articles/TremblayFrancois/herdingcats.html Herding Cats: Why Atheism Will Lose] by Francois Tremblay</ref> 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."<ref>[https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2011/06/10/are-there-too-many-atheist-meetings/ Are there too many atheist meetings?] by Jerry Coyne</ref>

In an essay entitled ''How the [[Atheist movement|Atheist Movement]] Failed Me'', an [[atheism and women|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.<ref>Amanda (August 10, 2012). [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/08/10/how-the-atheist-movement-failed-me-part-1-cost/ "How the atheist movement failed me–part 1: cost"]. Friendly Atheist blog.</ref> As a result of the challenges that atheists commonly have in terms of socializing in person, many atheists [[Internet atheism|turn to the internet]] in terms of communicating with other atheists.<ref>Norris, Chuck (May 21, 2007). [http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55789 "How to outlaw Christianity (steps 2 & 3)"]. WorldNetDaily. See: [[Chuck Norris]].</ref> Often internet communication between atheists turns turns contentious (see: [[Atheist factions]]).

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and loneliness]]

=== Abandonment of atheism and communist regimes ===
*[[Growth of Christianity in China]]
*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]
*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union#Growth of Protestantism in Russia|Growth of Protestantism/Evangelicalism in Russia]]

== Decline of the atheist movement ==
''See also:'' [[Decline of the atheist movement]] and [[Morale of the atheist movement]] and [[Desecularization]] and [[Atheist movement]]

[[File:Jacques Berlinerblau.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|In 2011, atheist [[Jacques Berlinerblau]] declared: "The Golden Age of [[Secularism]] has passed."<ref name="chronicle.com">Berlinerblau, Jacques (February 4, 2011). [http://chronicle.com/blogs/brainstorm/obama-at-the-national-prayer-breakfast-raging-christ-fest-secular-wake/31816 "Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast"]. The Chronicle of Higher Education/Brainstorm blog. Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>]]
Numerous atheists have declared that the "[[atheist movement]] is dead" or that it is dying.<ref>
*[https://freethoughtblogs.com/reasoner/2017/10/21/the-atheism-movement-dead-or-alive/ The “Atheism Movement:” Dead or Alive?], [[Freethought Blogs]]
*[http://examiningatheism.blogspot.com/2017/11/seth-andrews-keeps-hearing-reports-of.html Atheist activist Seth Andrews keeps seeing reports on social media and the media that the atheist movement is dying], ''Examining Atheism''
*[http://examiningatheism.blogspot.com/2017/10/now-that-that-poseur-atheist-aron-ra.html Atheist Aron Ra indicates the atheist movement is dead. Now that that Aron Ra has surrendered....], ''[[Examining Atheism]]''
*[http://www.atheistrev.com/2013/12/the-day-atheist-movement-died.html The Day the Atheist Movement Died] by Jack Vance at Atheist Revolution
*[https://twitter.com/jennifurret/status/405391218273554433 Jennifer McCreight on Twitter about the Elevatorgate scandal destroying the atheist movement], [[Jen McCreight]], Twitter</ref>

At the 2018 [[American Atheists]] convention, the ex-president of the [[American Atheists]] organization [[David Silverman]] declared regarding the [[Morale of the atheist movement|atheist movement being in a demoralized state]]:
{{Cquote|It is a hard time to be [[Atheist activist|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 [[Donald Trump and American atheists|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 [[Atheism and apathy|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 [[Atheist factions|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.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8VYLMYvImc David Silverman - How the Mighty Get Back Up]</ref>}}

In 2017, atheist [[David Smalley]] has indicated that [[leftism|leftist]]/[[progressivism|progressive]] atheists were "killing the atheist movement" through being contentious and divisive (see also: [[Atheist factions]]).<ref name="patheos.com"/> Former [[New Atheism|new atheist]] [[PZ Myers]], who subscribes to progressive politics, says he is no longer a member of the atheist movement.<ref>[https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2017/08/26/get-out-a-message-for-the-atheist-movement/ Get Out! A message for the atheist movement] by PZ Myers</ref>

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 ==
''see also:'' [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Militant atheism]] and [[Atheism and economics]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheism and Karl Marx]]

[[Image:Khvhkgfiy.jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|[[Vladimir Lenin]]]]

=== Atheists Karl Marx, Vladmir Lenin and Chou En-lai ===
[[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."<ref>Mulligan, Martin (1959). [http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm "Private property and communism"] translation of Marx, Karl (1932), ''Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844'' (Moscow: Progress Publishers).</ref>

[[Vladimir Lenin]] similarly wrote regarding atheism and Communism: "A Marxist must be a [[materialism|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."<ref>Rothstein, Andrew and Issacs, Bernard (1973). [http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm "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.</ref>

In 1955, the [[China|Chinese]] Communist leader Chou En-lai declared, "We Communists are atheists".<ref>Noebel, David, The Battle for Truth, Harvest House, 2001.</ref>

In 2014, the Communist Party of China reaffirmed that members of their party must be atheists.<ref>
*[https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/19567-china-s-communist-party-reaffirms-marxism-maoism-atheism China’s Communist Party Reaffirms Marxism, Maoism, Atheism], ''New American'', 2014
*[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/02/china-communist-party-atheism-zhejiang-ban-religious-members-christianity_n_6599722.html China's Communist Party Bans Believers, Doubles Down On Atheism]</ref>

In 2016, the ''International Business Times'' reported:
{{cquote|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.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/senior-chinese-religious-advisor-calls-promotion-atheism-society-2363850 Senior Chinese Religious Advisor Calls For Promotion Of Atheism In Society], ''International Business Times''</ref>}}

=== Russian revolution caused the most notable spread of atheism ===
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 [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninism">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130728215151/http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title=Investigating atheism: Marxism|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=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.|year=2008|accessdate=July 17, 2014}}</ref>

Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg, a Soviet physicist, wrote that the "[[Bolshevik]] communists were not merely atheists but, according to [[Lenin]]'s terminology, militant atheists."<ref name="Lenin & militant atheism">{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ufC9Ar8iuDcC&pg=PA161&dq=The+Bolshevik+communists+were+not+merely+atheists+but,+according+to+Lenin%27s+terminology,+militant+atheists.&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1oFUUdj6PIiK0QGvq4CAAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=The%20Bolshevik%20communists%20were%20not%20merely%20atheists%20but%2C%20according%20to%20Lenin's%20terminology%2C%20militant%20atheists.&f=false|title =''On Superconductivity and Superfluidity: A Scientific Autobiography'' |author=Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg|publisher = Springer Science+Business Media|pages=161|year=2009|quote=The Bolshevik communists were not merely atheists but, according to Lenin's terminology, militant atheists.|accessdate = July 17, 2014}}</ref> However, prior to this, the [[Reign of Terror]] of the [[French Revolution]] established a state which was anti-[[Roman Catholicism]]/Christian in nature <ref>Multiple references:
*Tallet, Frank and Atkin, Nicholas (1991). [https://books.google.com/books?id=aL4lsWdd-rAC&dq=&hl=en ''Religion, Society and Politics in France Since 1789''] (London: A & C Black), pp. 1-17. GoogleBooks archive.
*Spielvogel, Jackson J. (2006). [https://books.google.com/books?id=ni4PSpOxb6MC&dq ''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</ref> (anti-clerical [[deism]] and anti-religious atheism and played a significant role in the French Revolution<ref>Multiple references:
*Hunt, Lynn and Censer, Jack (2001). [http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap7c.html "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.</ref>), with the official ideology being the [[Cult of Reason]]; during this time thousands of believers were suppressed and executed by the [[guillotine]].<ref>Multiple references:
*{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bf3m7IVAa9gC&pg=PA461&dq=France+atheism+guillotine++Christians+executed&hl=en&sa=X&ei=l4lUUaTRBufG0QGe0IHACA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=France%20atheism%20guillotine%20%20Christians%20executed&f=false|title =''Christianity: The eBook''|author=James Adair|publisher = JBE Online Books|year=2007|quote=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.|pages=461|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}
*{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9WkBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA105&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =''Memoirs of the Reign of George III. to the Session of Parliament ending A.D. 1793'', Volume 5|page=105|author=William Belsham|publisher = G.G. & J. Robinson|year=1801|quote=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, 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.'|pages=105–6|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}
*{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Tt5rqiCP1p8C&pg=PA57&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =''Christianity, Islam, and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West''|author=William Kilpatrick|publisher = Ignatius Press|year=2012|quote=Actually, it's helpful to think in terms of two Enlightenments: 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 constructions. "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 Madam Rolande as she faced the statue of Liberty in the Place de la Revolution movements 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.|pages=57|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}</ref>

=== Atheistic Communism and mass murder ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] and [[Atheist atrocities]]
[[File:Stalin-Lenin.jpg|right|202px|thumb|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|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.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hpcws/lelivrenoir.htm "''The Black Book of Communism''"]. Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences website: Cold War Studies.
*Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"] University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War
*White, Matthew (February 2011). [http://necrometrics.com/20c5m.htm "Source list and detailed death tolls for the primary megadeaths of the twentieth century"]. Necrometrics
*Radosh, Ronald (February 2000). [http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=2526 "''The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression''"]. First Things [journal] website.</ref> 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.<ref>Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"] University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.</ref> [[Richard Dawkins]] has attempted to [[Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism|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|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."<ref name="Koukl">Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). [http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527 "The real murderers: atheism or Christianity?"] Stand to Reason.</ref>
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.<ref name="Koukl" /> As noted earlier, Richard Dawkins has attempted to [[Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism|engage in historical revisionism concerning atheist atrocities]] and Dawkins was shown to be in gross error.

Koukl summarized by stating:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="Koukl" />}}

[[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]] notes concerning atheism and mass murder:
{{cquote|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 Zedong|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 [[Atheism and Hell|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!<ref name="marry">Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009). [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"]. Creation Ministries International.</ref>}}

See also:

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

=== Communism and religious oppression ===
''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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Kent, Jo Ling (April 28, 2011). [https://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/28/china.church.crackdown/index.html?hpt=T2 "Underground Christians fear China crackdown"]. CNN.com
*Yakovlev, Alexander N. (2002). [https://books.google.com/books?visbn=0300103220&id=ChRk43tVxTwC&pg=PA165&lpg=PA165&ots=ICIxg28Jud&dq=a+century+of+violence+in+soviet+russia+the+Russian+Orthodox+clergy&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=C9k9Hr7Vn222WCHf_1iSJOHVsgo#v=onepage&q=&f=false ''A Century of Violence in Soviet Russia''] translated by Austin, Anthony (New Haven: Yale University Press), p. 165.
*Braga, Fr. Roman (1996). [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/frroman1.aspx "On compromise in the hierarchy during the Communist yoke"]. Orthodox Christian Information Center.
*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun
*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"]. NewsMax. NorthKoreanChristians.com
*[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818 "China sends Bible owners to labor camp"] (November 26, 2003). WorldNetDaily.
*[http://www.epm.org/resources/2003/Jun/12/chinese-police-proudly-record-their-torture-christ/ Chinese Police Proudly Record Their Torture of Christians], By Voice of the Marytrs|June 12, 2003</ref>

==== Religious persecution in the Soviet Union ====
''See also:'' [[Soviet atheism]]

The [[persecution of Christians in the USSR|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 [[torture]]d, including [[crucifixion]]. "Russia turned red with the blood of martyrs", said Father Gleb Yakunin of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]].<ref>Ostling, Richard N. (December 4, 1989). [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,150718,00.html "Cross meets Kremlin: Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II"]. ''Time''. Time magazine website.</ref> According to Orthodox Church sources, as many as fifty million Orthodox believers may have died in the twentieth century, mainly from persecution by [[Communists]].<ref>Moore, Rev. Fr. Raphael (October 1999). [http://www.serfes.org/printerVersion2.asp?URL=/orthodox/memoryof.htm "In memory of the 50 million victims of the Orthodox Christian Holocaust"], Spiritual Nourishment for the Soul, Serfes, Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios, compiler.</ref>
[[File:China location.png|thumbnail|left|205px|With its large population, China has the largest population of atheists.<ref>[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf "The largest atheist/agnostic populations"]. Chris & Terri Chapman. Countries with the largest atheist populations.</ref>
 
 
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.<ref>Humphrey (December 16, 2008). [http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-anti-christmas.html "Merry Anti-Christmas!"] Quodlibeta.</ref> Despite intense effort by the atheistic leaders of the Soviet Union, their efforts were not effective in converting the masses to atheism.<ref>Multiple references:
*Humphrey (December 16, 2008). [http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-anti-christmas.html "Merry Anti-Christmas!"] Quodlibeta.
*Froese, Paul (March 2004). [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpl/jssr/2004/00000043/00000001/art00003?crawler=true "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</ref>

==== Religious persecution in Communist China ====
''See also:'' [[China and atheism]]

[[China]] has the world's largest atheist population (see: [[China and atheism]]).<ref>[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], ''Washington Post'' By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013</ref> 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 [[Bible]]s in China were sent to prison camps and 125 Chinese churches were closed.<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818 "China sends Bible owners to labor camp"] (November 26, 2003). ''WorldNetDaily''.</ref> China continues to practice religious oppression today.<ref>[http://www.epm.org/resources/2003/Jun/12/chinese-police-proudly-record-their-torture-christ/ Chinese Police Proudly Record Their Torture of Christians], By Voice of the Martyrs|June 12, 2003</ref>

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.<ref>Briggs, David (January 23, 2011). [http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/01/23/huffington-post-chinas-state-sponsored-atheism-a-failure/ "Huffington Post: China’s state-sponsored atheism a failure" [excerpt]]. National Post website.</ref>

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.<ref>[http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/slaughter-mass-killings-organ-harvesting Review of: Ethan Gutmann, “''The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting and China’s Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem''”, (Prometheus Books, 2014).]</ref>

==== Religious persecution in North Korea ====
[[File:Martyred in the USSR Poster.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|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.<ref>[http://martyredintheussr.com/ Martyred in the USSR]</ref><ref>[http://www.anabaptists.org/books/russians/trs-1.html The Russians' Secret by Peter Hoover with Serguei V. Petrov, Speaking Without a Tongue, Chapter 1 (Pages 1-3)]</ref> ]]
[[North Korea]] is a repressive Communist state and is officially atheistic.<ref>Lee, Sunny (May 12, 2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20130521065544/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/IE12Dg01.html "God forbid, religion in North Korea?"] Asia Times Online. Archived at Internet Archive on May 21, 2013.</ref> The North Korean government practices brutal repression and atrocities against North Korean Christians.<ref>Multiple references:
*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun.
*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"]. NewsMax. NorthKoreanChristians.com</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-10-22/repressive-atheist-north-korea-has-surprising-relationship-christian-missionaries Repressive, atheist North Korea has a surprising relationship with Christian missionaries]</ref>

=== Atheistic Communism and torture ===
See: [[Atheistic communism and torture]]

=== Atheistic Communist regimes and forced labor ===
''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]]).<ref>Multiple references:
*Caplan, Bryan (2010). [http://econfaculty.gmu.edu/bcaplan/museum/comfaq.htm "Museum of Communism FAQ version 1.3"]. George Mason University website/Department of Economics/Bryan Caplan/Museum of Communism.
*[http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/06/13/north-korea-economic-system-built-forced-labor "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). [https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/nov/07/qatar-north-korean-forced-labour "Qatar’s ambitious future driven on by North Korean ‘forced labour’"]. ''The Guardian'' website/World/Global Development.
*[https://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/red.giant/prisons/wu.essay "Labor camps reinforce China's totalitarian rule"] (1999). Cnn.com
*[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-01/07/c_132086402.htm "China to reform re-education through labor system"] (January 8, 2013). Xinhua.</ref>

== Atheism and politics ==

[[File:Xi Jinping March 2017.jpg|thumbnail|right|180px|[[Xi Jinping]] is the President of the [[People's Republic of China]], current General Secretary of the [[Communist Party of China]], and Chairman of the Central Military Commission.
 
 
The Communist Party of China requires that all their members be atheists and this is strictly enforced.<ref>[https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/19567-china-s-communist-party-reaffirms-marxism-maoism-atheism China’s Communist Party Reaffirms Marxism, Maoism, Atheism], New American, 2014</ref>]]
Historically, atheists have favored the [[leftism|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 [[liberal]]s (compared with just one-in-ten who say they are [[conservative]]s)."<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/05/7-facts-about-atheists/ 7 facts about atheists], Pew Forum</ref>

In some regions where the [[secular left]] has considerable influence, they [[Decline of the secular left|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]]).<ref>[http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160114/1033149776/europe-rise-of-right-wing-parties-eu-failure.html EU Failures Fuel Rise of Right-Wing Populist Parties in Europe]. Sputnik News, 2016</ref>

For more information please see:

*[[Atheism and politics]]
*[[Secular left]]
*[[Decline of the secular left]]
*[[Western atheism, schisms and political polarization]]
*[[Atheism and historical revisionism]]
*[[Atheism and liberal Christianity alliances]]
*[[Secular right]]
*[[Atheist organizations]]

== Atheism and history ==
[[File: Voroshilov, Molotov, Stalin, with Nikolai Yezhov.jpg|right|225px]]
[[File: The Commissar Vanishes 2.jpg|thumbnail|right|220px|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.<ref>From the book The Commissar Vanishes: The Falsification of Photographs and Art in Stalin's Russia by David King</ref>

See: [[Atheism and historical revisionism]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheists and historical illiteracy]] and [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]] and [[Atheist indoctrination]] and [[Atheism and historical revisionism]]

The history of atheism: [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]]

=== Atheists and historical illiteracy ===
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|historicity of Jesus Christ]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|atheist mass murders in history]].<ref>Multiple references:
*[[Vox Day|Day, Vox]] (March 10, 2014). [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-ignorance-of-cosmos.html "The ignorance of ''Cosmos''"]. Vox Populi blog.
*Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). [http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527 "The real murderers: atheism or Christianity?"] Stand to Reason.</ref>

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheists and historical illiteracy]]
*[[Historicity of Jesus|Historicity of Jesus Christ]]

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

=== Religion/irreligion and war ===

''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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Ridley, Louise [assistant news editor, ''Huffington Post'', UK] (November 18, 2014). [http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/14/religions-war-cause-responsible-evidence_n_6156878.html "Does religion really cause war—and do atheists have something to answer for?"] The Huffington Post, United Kingdom.
*Day, Vox (August 13, 2012). [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/08/atheists-abandon-religion-causes-war.html "Atheists abandon 'religion causes war' argument"]. Vox Populi blog.
*Schumacher, Robin (April 2012). [http://carm.org/religion-cause-war "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). [http://www.bethinking.org/is-religion-harmful/religion-causes-wars "'Religion causes wars'"]. Bethinking.</ref>

=== Darwinism and war ===
There is historical evidence indicating that [[Darwinism]] was a causal factor for [[WWI]] and [[WWII]] (see: [[Irreligion/religion and war]] and [[World War I and Darwinism]]).

== Atheism and economics ==
*[[Atheism and economics]]
*[[Atheism and sloth|Atheism and economic productivity]]
*[[Atheism and economic prosperity]]

== Analysis of atheism and common objections to atheism ==
=== Commonly Cited Arguments Against Atheism and For Theism ===
See: [[Arguments for theism and against atheism]]
[[Image:Anselm.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|[[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 [[theism|theists]] (72 percent).<ref>[http://www.strangenotions.com/atheist-scientists/ Does it matter that many scientists are atheists?]</ref>

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 [[Christianity|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 design]]er. See also: [[Evolution|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|Moral argument]]. [[Objective morality]] exists. Atheism lacks objective moral standards. Not possessing a coherent basis for [[morality]], atheists are fundamentally [[Moral relativism|incapable]] of having a coherent system of morality (See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheist population and immorality]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]) .<ref>Multiple references:
*Copan, Paul (2008). [http://www.paulcopan.com/articles/pdf/God-naturalism-morality.pdf "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). [http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god "Can moral objectivism do without God?"]. Bethinking.org
*Meister, Chad (2010). [http://www.equip.org/articles/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality/ "Atheists and the quest for objective morality"]. ''Christian Research Journal'', vol. 33, no. 2. Christian Research Institute website
*Slick, Matt (2009). [http://carm.org/failure-of-atheism-to-account-for-morality "The failure of atheism to account for morality"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website.</ref> 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|first cause]] is God. Christians point out that the question "Who created God" is an illogical question.<ref>[http://creation.com/who-created-god Who created God] by Don Batten</ref> See also: [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]
[[File:Autumn.jpg|200px|right|thumbnail|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|Christian legal apologetics]] and archaeological evidence such as [[Bible Archaeology|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 ===
''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).<ref>Harr, Ken and Lisle, Dr. Jason (August 9, 2007). [http://www.answersingenesis.org/is-god-real/is-there-really-god/ "Chapter 1: Is there really a God?"] ''The New Answers Book''. Answers in Genesis.</ref>

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 ([[King James Bible|KJV]])

==Atheism and debate==
''See also:'' [[Atheism debates]]
[[Image:Bahnsen.jpg‎|thumb|right|150px|Dr. [[Greg Bahnsen]] became known as "the man atheists fear most" due to [[Michael Martin]]'s cancellation of their scheduled debate.<ref name="Bahsen at the Stein debate">[http://www.frame-poythress.org/frame_articles/Bahnsen.htm Bahsen at the Stein debate] by John Frame</ref><ref>[http://simpleapologetics.com/thegreatdebate.html The Great Debate: Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein]</ref>]]
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: [[Atheism and debate#Notable cases of prominent atheists being reluctant to debate|Notable cases of prominent atheists being reluctant to debate]]).

On May 14, 2011, the [[Great Britain|British]] newspaper ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' published a news story entitled ''Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of [[God]]''.<ref name="cowardice">Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html "Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God"]. The Daily Telegraph website. Retrieved July 25, 2014. See ''[[Daily Telegraph]]''</ref> 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 [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."<ref name="cowardice"/>

[[Greg Bahnsen]] became known as the "man atheists fear most".<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080102084144/http://mywebpages.comcast.net/webpages54/ap/biobahn.html "A brief biography of Greg Bahnsen"] (2003). Applied Presuppositionalism website. Retrieved from January 2, 2008 archive at Internet Archive on May 14, 2015.</ref>
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 Regarding Michael Martin Pulling Out of Martin-Bahnsen Debate|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 [[Atheism and apathy|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 [[theism|theistic]] arguments.<ref>''Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith'' by Luís F. Rodrigues, page 201</ref> See also: [[Atheist apologetics]]

A majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the naturalistic [[evolution]]ary position since [[World War II]] have been atheists.<ref>Multiple references:
*Batten, Don (December 1997). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/737/ "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). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3830 "Chapter 1: Facts and bias"]. ''Refuting Evolution''. Retrieved from Creation.com [Creation Ministries International] on May 15, 2015. See [[Jonathan Sarfati]]</ref> 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 ==
See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheist population and immorality]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]] and [[Religion and morality]]

=== Objective morality incompatible with atheism ===
[[File:Copan at Tyndale.jpeg|thumbnail|right|180px|Dr. [[Paul Copan]] wrote: "...the existence of a personal God is crucial for a coherent understanding of [[objective morality]]."<ref>[http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God?] by Peter S. Williams, Bethinking.org</ref>]]
Under an atheist worldview, there is no logical basis for [[objective morality]] or ultimate meaning and purpose.<ref>
*[http://creation.com/atheism-no-objective-morality Atheism—no objective morality?], [[Creation Ministries International]]
*[http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God?] by Peter S. Williams at Bethinking.org
*[http://www.equip.org/article/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality-2/ Atheists and the Quest for Objective Morality] by Chad Meister at Christian Research Institute
*[http://www.faithdefenders.com/articles/atheism/atheism_absolutes_at.html Atheism and absolutes]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheism and moral relativism]] and [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]

=== Atheism and moral relativism ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and moral relativism]] and [[Atheism and morality]]

Dr. Phil Fernandes states the following regarding atheism and [[moral relativism]]:
{{cquote|[[Friedrich Nietzsche|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 [[Subjectivism|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 [[existentialism|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.<ref>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.[https://books.google.com/books?id=u6XBuAQAiYUC&pg=PA120&lpg=PA120&dq=Nietzsche+preached+that+a+group+of+%22supermen%22+must+arise+with+the+courage+to+create+their+own+values+through+their+%22will+to+power.%22+Nietzsche+rejected+the+%22soft%22+values+of+Christianity+(brotherly+love,+turning+the+other+cheek,+charity,+compassion,+etc.);+he+felt+they+hindered+man%27s+creativity+and+potential.&source=bl&ots=kwDnaTOHqd&sig=0ywArBSb87JFleWRXZRv6DG3ZVo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjty8qqyIzWAhXHg1QKHe8UAVYQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Nietzsche%20preached%20that%20a%20group%20of%20%22supermen%22%20must%20arise%20with%20the%20courage%20to%20create%20their%20own%20values%20through%20their%20%22will%20to%20power.%22%20Nietzsche%20rejected%20the%20%22soft%22%20values%20of%20Christianity%20(brotherly%20love%2C%20turning%20the%20other%20cheek%2C%20charity%2C%20compassion%2C%20etc.)%3B%20he%20felt%20they%20hindered%20man's%20creativity%20and%20potential.&f=false])</ref>}}

=== Atheism and various types of immorality ===
[[Image:115523-004-FA619CA3.jpg|thumb|right|221px| The perverse and cruel atheist [[Marquis de Sade]] in prison, 18th century line engraving. See: [[Atheism and sadism]] ]]
*[[Atheism and sexual immorality articles]]
*[[Atheism and violence articles]]
*[[Atheism and deception articles]]
*[[Atheism and unforgiveness articles]]
*[[Atheist population and immorality|Atheism and various types of immorality]]
*[[List of atheist shooters and serial killers]]

=== Atheism and psychopathy ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and psychopathy]]

A [[psychopath]] is someone with an anti-social [[personality disorder]] characterized by [[violent]], [[perverted]] or immoral behavior often leading to [[criminal]]ity. Psychopaths have little or no concern for other people. Some psychopaths equate [[love]] with sexual arousal.<ref>{{cite book |title=Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us |author=Robert D. Hare |publisher=Guilford Press |place=New York and London |year=2011 |pages=52 |isbn=978-16062-35782 |url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1606235788}}</ref>

A 2016 study relating to atheism and psychopathy published in ''Plus One'' indicates:
{{Cquote|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.<ref>[http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0149989 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</ref>}}

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 [[psychopath]]y.<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4106400/ 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</ref>

=== Barna Group studies: Atheism and morality ===
'''Barna Group study on behavior of atheists vs. evangelical Christians:'''

[[Richard Deem]] wrote:
{{Cquote|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 [[evangelicalism|evangelical Christians]] - an average of nearly five times the frequency!<ref>[http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/atheists_more_immoral.html Atheism Doesn't Lead to Immoral Behavior - Or Does It?] by Richard Deem</ref>}}

'''Barna Group study related to atheist beliefs about behaviors:'''

The [[Barna Group]] found that atheists and [[agnostics]] in America were more likely, than [[theist]]s 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.<ref>[https://www.barna.org/component/content/article/5-barna-update/45-barna-update-sp-657/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard#.VumtJuYvK1s Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard], Barna Group</ref>

Given the [[Homosexuality and health|many diseases]] associated with homosexuality, the [[Bible|biblical]] prohibition against homosexuality is quite arguably one of the many example where the Bible exhibited knowledge [http://creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge that was ahead of its time]. See also: [[Atheism and sexual immorality]]

=== Study: U.S. public perception of atheist morality ===
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."<ref>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}}.</ref>

=== Atheism and uncharitableness ===
:''See also: [[Atheism and charity]]'' and [[Atheist nonprofit scandals]] and [[Atheism, uncharitableness and depression]]
[[File:Beggar.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A child in [[Thailand]] where the nontheistic form of [[Buddhism]] called the Theravada school of Buddhism is prevalent. In 2010, the Pew Research Forum indicated that 93.2% of the people of Thailand were Buddhists.<ref name="pew2010">[http://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf Pew Research Center - Global Religious Landscape 2010 - religious composition by country].</ref>
 

A comprehensive study by [[Harvard University]] professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.<ref name="Burke Campbell">Multiple references:
*Burke, Daniel, Religion News Service (May 13, 2009). [http://web.archive.org/web/20130310113024/http://www.pewforum.org/Religion-News/Religious-people-make-better-citizens-study-says.aspx "Religious people make better citizens, study says"]. Pew Research Forum. Archived on March 10, 2013 by Internet Archive.
*Campbell, David and Putnam, Robert (November 14, 2010). [https://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-11-15-column15_ST_N.htm "Religious people are 'better neighbors'"]. USA Today website.</ref> See: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] ]]

Concerning the issue of [[Atheism and charity|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]]:
{{cquote|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.<ref>[https://www.barna.org/barna-update/faith-spirituality/102-atheists-and-agnostics-take-aim-at-christians#.VwcO5jEn_7Y "Atheists and agnostics take aim at Christians"] (June 11, 2007). Barna Update.</ref>}}

A comprehensive study by [[Harvard University]] professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.<ref name ="Burke Campbell"/>

See also: [[Atheism, social justice and hypocrisy]]

==== Church-state issues emphasis. Charity low priority ====
See also: [[Atheism and charity|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.<ref name="Hutchinson">Hutchinson, Sikivu (June 16, 2014). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/06/16/blacks-are-even-discriminated-against-by-atheists/ "Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about"]. Washington Post website.</ref> Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations do focus on helping poor African Americans.<ref name="Hutchinson"/>

==== Atheist nonprofit scandals ====
''See also:'' [[Atheist nonprofit scandals]] and ''[[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science#Embezzlement allegation|Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science - Embezzlement allegation]]''

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.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/07/24/richard-dawkins-drops-his-lawsuit-against-former-employee/ Richard Dawkins Drops His Lawsuit Against Former Employee]
*[http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/10/24/richard-dawkins-sues-josh-timonen/ Richard Dawkins sues Josh Timonen], Posted by David Gorski on October 24, 2010
*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/07/24/richard-dawkins-drops-his-lawsuit-against-former-employee/ Richard Dawkins Drops His Lawsuit Against Former Employee]
*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/09/15/an-update-on-we-are-atheism/ An Update on We Are Atheism] by Hemant Mehta, September 15, 2015]</ref>

In addition, David Gorski at Scienceblogs indicated that many atheist/skeptic organizations are poorly run from a financial standpoint.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/10/24/richard-dawkins-sues-josh-timonen/ Richard Dawkins sues Josh Timonen], Posted by David Gorski on October 24, 2010</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Atheist nonprofit scandals]]

=== Irreligion and domestic violence ===
''See also:'' [[Irreligion and domestic violence]] and [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]]
[[Image:Cycle.gif|thumbnail|205px|right|Research suggests that irreligiousity is a causal factor for domestic violence.<ref name="vaw">Ellison, C. G., Trinitapoli, J. A., et al. (November 2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17951587 "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</ref>]]
The abstract for the 2007 article in the journal ''Violence Against Women'' entitled ''Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence'' indicated:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="vaw"/>}}

===== Secular Europe and domestic violence =====
See also: [[Secular Europe and domestic violence]]

=== Atheism and pornography ===
[[File:Larry Flynt Wheelchair.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|The [[pornography|pornographer]] [[Larry Flynt]] is an atheist.<ref>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." [https://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9701/11/falwell.v.flynt/lkl.00.html "Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell" [transcript]] (January 10, 1996). Larry King Live. Transcript from CNN.com on October 3, 2014.</ref> See: [[Atheism and pornography]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and pornography]]

One of the causes of atheism is a [[hedonism|hedonistic]] lifestyle. See: [[Atheism and hedonism]].

The infamous [[pornography|pornographers]] [[Hugh Hefner]] and [[Larry Flynt]] are both atheists.<ref>Multiple references:
*Gottesdiener, Laura (February 23, 2010). [http://www.salon.com/2013/02/23/10_celebs_you_didnt_know_were_atheists_partner/ "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." [https://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9701/11/falwell.v.flynt/lkl.00.html "Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell" [transcript]] (January 10, 1996). Larry King Live. Transcript from CNN.com</ref>

In 2003, ''Arena magazine'' magazine listed Flynt as #1 on the "50 Powerful People in Porn" list.<ref>[http://www.onenewspage.us/people/ms9j0/Larry-Flynt.htm "Larry Flynt"]. One News Page.</ref> Flynt is paralyzed from the waist down due to injuries sustained from a 1978 assassination attempt by the serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin.<ref>Multiple references:
*Flynt, Larry and Ross, Kenneth (June 1, 2008). ''An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit, and Social Outcast'', pp. 170–171.
*[http://www.onenewspage.us/people/ms9j0/Larry-Flynt.htm "Larry Flynt"]. One News Page.</ref>

==== Atheism and child pornography ====
''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.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref>

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:
{{cquote|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.<ref>Nardos, Rahel, et. al. (2003). ''Overcoming Violence Against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem'', p. 59.</ref>}}

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."<ref>''Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses'' by Suzanne Ost, Cambridge University Press, page 29, 2009</ref>

=== Atheism, pedophilia and NAMBLA ===
[[Image:Harry Hay.jpg|thumb|150px|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).<ref>Abbott, Matt C. (August 22, 2010). [http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/100822 "The mind of a pederast"]. RenewAmerica.</ref>

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.<ref>Bronski, Michael (October 31, 2002). [http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/documents/02511115.htm "The real Harry Hay"]. The Phoenix.com.</ref> Harry Hay was an atheist.<ref>Kincaid, Cliff, Accuracy in Media (January 7, 2010). [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/ss_politics0010_01_07.asp "Twisted: administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association"]. WorldTribune.com.</ref> He was a vociferous advocate of man/boy love.<ref>Multiple references:
*Lord, Jeffrey (October 5, 2006). [http://spectator.org/articles/46366/when-nancy-met-harry "Special report: when Nancy met Harry"]. The American Spectator website.
*Kincaid, Cliff, Accuracy in Media (January 7, 2010). [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/ss_politics0010_01_07.asp "Twisted: administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association"]. WorldTribune.com.</ref> In 1986, Hay marched in a [[homosexual|gay]] parade wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words "[[NAMBLA]] walks with me."<ref>Baldwin, Hon. Steve (2002). [http://www.mega.nu/ampp/baldwin_pedophilia_homosexuality.pdf "Child molestation and the homosexual movement"]. ''Regent University Law Review'', vol. 14, pp. 267-282. The Architecture of Modern Political Power</ref>

3. The writer [[Samuel R. Delany]] is an atheist and a homosexual.<ref>Multiple references:
*Delany, Samuel R. (2006). ''About Writing: Seven Essays, Four Letters, and Five Interviews'' (Middletown: Wesleyan), p. 36.
*[http://www.enotes.com/topics/samuel-r-delany/critical-essays/delany-samuel-r-vol-141#critical-essays-delany-samuel-r-vol-141-introduction "Introduction"] (2001). ''Contemporary Literary Criticism'', ed. Hunter, Jeffrey W., vol. 141 (Gale Cengage). eNotes.com</ref> Delaney said he was a supporter of NAMBLA.<ref>Freedman, Carl (2009). ''Conversations with Samuel R. Delany'' (Jackson: Univ. Press of Mississippi), p. 143.</ref>

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

=== Atheism and slavery/forced labor ===
*[[Atheism and slavery]]
*[[Atheism and forced labor]]

=== Immorality of prominent atheists ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]
[[File:JAMES RANDI.jpg|thumbnail|170px|left|[[James Randi]] ]]
[[James Randi]] is a leader within the atheist community. Brian Thompson, former James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Outreach Coordinator, wrote:
{{cquote|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, [[misogyny|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.<ref>Myers, P. Z. (March 31, 2014). [http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/03/31/when-will-this-situation-improve/ "When will this situation improve?"] Pharyngula.</ref>}}

See also:

*[[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]
*[[Richard Carrier, adultery, divorce and polyamory]]
*[[Atheist conferences#Atheist events and inappropriate sexually related activities|Atheist conferences and inappropriate sexual activity]]

=== Atheism and rape ===
*[[Atheism and rape]]
*[[Mass rape during the occupation of Germany|Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army]]

=== Atheism and abortion ===
The ''Journal of Medical Ethics'' wrote this about the atheist and [[sadism|sadist]] [[Marquis de Sade]]:
{{cquote|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.<ref>Farr, A. D. (1980). [http://jme.bmj.com/content/6/1/7.abstract "The Marquis de Sade and induced abortion"]. ''Journal of Medical Ethics'', 6, pp. 7-10. Journal of Medical Ethics website</ref>}}

[[Population control]] is based on [[pseudoscience]] and ill founded [[economics|economic]] assumptions.<ref>Egnor, Michael (November 30, 2010). [http://www.evolutionnews.org/2010/11/pz_myers_on_abortion040971.html "P. Z. Myers on abortion"]. Evolution News and Views.</ref> ''[[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."<ref>Katz, Neil (August 26, 2010). [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-atheist-doctors-twice-as-likely-to-pull-plug/ "Study: atheist doctors twice as likely to pull plug"]. CBSNews.com.</ref>

=== Atheism and profanity ===
''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.<ref>Multiple references:
*[https://www.barna.org/component/content/article/5-barna-update/45-barna-update-sp-657/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard#.VwcQ8jEn_7Y "Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard"] (September 10, 2001). Barna Update.
*Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "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). [http://spp.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/06/18/1948550613492345.full.pdf+html "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.</ref>
Use of profanity by individuals is negatively correlated with conscientiousness and agreeableness.<ref>Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "The Science of Swearing"]. ''Observer'', vol. 25, no. 5. The Association for Psychological Science website</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and profanity]]

=== Irreligion and crime/prison population ===
*[[Religion and crime reduction]]
*[[Irreligious prison population]]

=== Atheism and infanticide ===
[[Infanticide]] is the practice of killing very young children. An infant has been medically defined as a child too young to speak.<ref>MedicineNet.com http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=3966.</ref>

Below is an article on atheism and infanticide:

*[[Atheism and infanticide]]

=== Atheism and bestiality ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and bestiality]]

=== Atheism and other moral issues ===
For more information please see: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]]

=== Atheism and hypocrisy ===
''See also:'' [[Atheist hypocrisy]]

In order to attempt to justify their atheism, atheists often engage in [[Hypocrisy|hypocritical]] argumentation. In addition, atheists often engage in hypocritical behavior. Please see: [[Atheist hypocrisy]]

=== Atheism and social justice ===
See: [[Atheism and social justice]]

=== Earlier definitions of atheism ===
Dictionaries point out that previous/archaic meanings of the word atheism are: ungodliness. wickedness, immorality<ref>[http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9779.htm Dictionary Says 'Atheism' Means 'Immorality'!?]</ref><ref>[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism Definition of atheism - Merriam-Webster dictionary]</ref>

== Atheism and philosophy topics ==
=== Atheism and meaning ===

=== Why atheism is irrational ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and irrationality]] and [[Irreligion and superstition]]

A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that [[Atheism and irrationality|atheism is irrational]].<ref name="athdef"/> In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.<ref name="inconsist"/> For example, the atheistic worldview cannot account for the laws of [[logic]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Lisle, Dr. Jason (October 10, 2007). [http://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/atheism/atheism-an-irrational-worldview/ "Atheism: An irrational worldview"]. AnswersinGenesis.
*Slick, Matt (2010). [http://carm.org/christian-worldview-atheist-worldview-and-logic "The Christian worldview, the atheist worldview, and logic"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry.
*Petersen, Jason (2013). [http://answersforhope.org/portfolio_item/can-atheism-coherently-explain-the-laws-of-logic/ "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]]
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1hSx2evTGM "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). [http://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2006/12/05/greg-bahnsen-vs-gordon-stein-the-great-debate/ "Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein mp3"]. The Domain for Truth.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and critical thinking]]

The atheist worldview cannot explain the existence of [[consciousness]] either and the [[theism|theistic]] worldview can offer a reasonable explanation.<ref>Multiple references:
*Piippo, John (March 20, 2012). [http://www.johnpiippo.com/2012/03/argument-from-consciousness-for.html "The argument from consciousness for the existence of God"]. John Piippo.
*Piippo, John (April 14, 2014). [http://www.johnpiippo.com/2014/04/one-of-atheisms-irresolvable-problems.html "Consciousness: One of atheism's irresolvable problems"]. John Piippo.</ref>
[[File:113320508 2b86fdb94a.jpg|thumb|201px|right|A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that [[Atheism and irrationality|atheism is irrational]].<ref name="athdef">Multiple references:
*Slick, Matt (2010). [http://carm.org/cut-atheism "Atheism"]. Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry.
*Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"]. ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Internet Christian Library
*Gilson, Tom (March 21, 2012). [http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2012/03/21/atheists-dont-own-reason/10924 "Atheists don’t own reason"]. FaithStreet/On Faith.
*McInerny, Professor Ralph (1985). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html "Why the burden of proof is on the atheist"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 1. LeadershipU
*Platinga, Alvin (1991). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/3truth02.html "Theism, atheism, and rationality"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 3. LeadershipU. See [[Alvin Plantinga]].
*Day, Vox (2008). [http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf ''The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens''](Dallas TX: Benbella Books). ISBN 1933771364; ISBN 978-1933771366.</ref> In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.<ref name="inconsist">Multiple references:
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4K_WZpIkM4 "William Lane Craig on scientific naturalism"] (January 12, 2008). YouTube video, 9:55, posted by Drcraigvideos
*[http://vimeo.com/102663614 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 1"] (August 5, 2014). Vimeo video, 8:10, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
*[http://vimeo.com/103277405 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism with J.P. Moreland, part 2"] (August 12, 2014). Vimeo video, 7:43, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
*[http://vimeo.com/103865278 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 3"] (August 19, 2014). Vimeo video, 7:21, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
*[http://vimeo.com/105068126 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 4"] (September 2, 2014). Vimeo video, 6:40, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6cTlDn4PiU "The incoherence of atheism - Ravi Zacharias"] (February 5, 2013). YouTube video, 51:59, posted by Christianity Reason and Science.
*Cooper, Jordan (August 31, 2012). [http://justandsinner.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-incoherence-of-atheism.html "The incoherence of atheism"]. Just and Sinner blog.
*Randy (November 12, 2012). [http://ephesians4-15.blogspot.com/2012/11/more-on-inconsistent-atheists.html "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]]</ref>]]

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheism and irrationality]]
*[[Atheism and logic]]
*[[Irreligion and superstition]]
*[[Atheism and groupthink]]
*[[Atheism and epistemology]]
*[[Atheism and postmodernism]]

=== Atheism and reason ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and reason]]

If [[Naturalism (philosophy)|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.
<ref name="C.S. Lewis' argument from reason">*[http://creationevolutiondesign.blogspot.com/2006/09/cs-lewis-argument-from-reason.html C.S. Lewis' argument from reason]
*[http://www.evolutionnews.org/2013/11/cs_lewis_and_th079541.html C.S. Lewis and the Argument from Reason] by Jay W. Richards, November 25, 2013
*[http://www.acton.org/pub/religion-liberty/volume-6-number-6/cs-lewis-and-materialism C.S. Lewis and Materialism] by John G. West
*[http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=8669 C.S. Lewis On The Validity of Reasoning]
*[http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2012/04/cs-lewis-on-rationality-and-materialism.html C.S. Lewis on Rationality and Materialism ]
*[http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2008/08/naturalisms-hot.html Naturalism's Hot Water]</ref> Therefore, believing in naturalism is self-defeating.

In short, atheism/naturalism and reason are incompatible.<ref name="C.S. Lewis' argument from reason"/>

=== Logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit ===
List of logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit: [[Atheism and logical fallacies]]

=== Atheism and meaninglessness ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and meaninglessness]] and [[Nihilism]] and [[Absurdism]] and [[Existentialism]]

Under an atheistic worldview, there is no objective meaning or purpose in life.<ref>Multiple references:
*Anderson, James (July 16, 2013). [http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/can-life-have-meaning-without-god "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). [http://www.bethinking.org/atheism/reclaiming-reason-from-atheism "Reclaiming reason from atheism".] Bethinking. ["Why atheism?"]
*Sirrahc (April 19, 2012). [http://aviewfromtheright.com/2012/04/19/heat-death-and-atheist-inconsistency-or-isnt-it-ironic/ "Heat death and atheist inconsistency (or, isn’t it ironic?)"]. A View from the Right
*Shramek, Dustin (2009). [http://www.oocities.org/athens/delphi/8449/atheism.html "Atheism and death: Why the atheist must face death with despair"]. Contend for the Faith [archive]. Archive
*Brake, Aaron (2013). [http://pleaseconvinceme.com/2013/apathy-atheism-and-the-absurdity-of-life-without-god/ "Apathy, atheism, and the absurdity of life without God"]. Pleaseconvinceme.
*Prayson, Daniel (December 16, 2010). [http://withalliamgod.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/the-meaningless-life-of-atheism/ "The meaningless life of atheism"]. With All I Am.</ref> Through [[Jesus Christ]], Christianity offers objective meaning and purpose to life.<ref>Multiple references:
*Slick, Matt (2012). [http://carm.org/meaning-of-life "What does the Bible say about the meaning/purpose of life?"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website
*[Under a Christian worldview] [http://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_MeaningLife.htm "What is the purpose and meaning of life?"] (2009). Christian Bible Reference Site.</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]

=== Arrogance of atheism/atheists ===
''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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"]. ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Internet Christian Library
*Copan, Paul (April 6, 2009). [http://www.equip.org/articles/the-presumptuousness-of-atheism/ "The presumptuousness of atheism"]. Christian Research Institute.
*Cupp, S. E. (December 29, 2010). [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/arrogance-atheists-batter-believers-religion-smug-certainty-article-1.469613 "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). [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100230985/how-atheists-became-the-most-colossally-smug-and-annoying-people-on-the-planet/ "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). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/how-anger-fuels-atheistic-arrogance-58281/ "How anger fuels atheistic arrogance"]. Christian Post website.
*[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/atheist_arrogance.htm "Militant atheist arrogance and pride"] (2007). Militant Atheism Exposed.</ref>

==== Why atheism is an arrogant ideology ====
''See also:'' [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Arguments against atheism]] and [[Atheism and arrogance]]
[[File:Old Nietzsche, 1899.JPG|thumbnail|220px|right|[[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!".<ref>[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/atheist_arrogance.htm 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]</ref>
 

The picture of Nietzsche above was taken in 1899. Nietzsche died in 1900. See: [[Atheism and arrogance]] ]]
Atheists [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism|lack proof and evidence]] that God does not exist and ignore the [[Christian apologetics websites|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.<ref name="defensive">Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"]. ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Internet Christian Library</ref>

Contrary to the mistaken notion of individuals who are inexperienced in [[logic]]/philosophy, there are plenty of cases where universal negatives [[Universal negative|can be proven]].<ref>Ferguson, Shawn (August 14, 2014). [http://blog.faithbeyondbelief.ca/2014/08/the-universal-negative-can-it-be-proven.html "The universal negative: Can it be proven?"] Faith Beyond Belief.</ref> However, atheists' universal negative claim that God does not exist is not a reasonable universal negative claim.<ref name="defensive"/>

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]]

==== Study: Arrogance of New Atheists ====
See: [[Atheism and arrogance#Study relating the arrogance of New Atheists and the discovery of errors by the New Atheists|Study relating the arrogance of New Atheists]]

=== Atheists/agnostics and ultimate purpose ===
''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]]).<ref>Multiple references:
*Banerjee, Konika and Bloom, Paul (October 17, 2014). [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html "Does everything happen for a reason?"] The New York Times website
*Catchpoole, David (July 16, 2009 [GMT+10]). [http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed "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). [https://books.google.com/books?id=BGU7LZ2bQ4cC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=As+for+me,+I+don%E2%80%99t+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.&source=bl&ots=die9xMUdsB&sig=3dAJOK34aBalYieFKcJLdGpwFjY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NXhqVMSmHMexyASUyYKIBw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=As%20for%20me%2C%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20see%20myself%20as%20so%20much%20dust%20that%20has%20appeared%20in%20the%20world%20but%20as%20a%20being%20that%20was%20expected%2C%20prefigured%2C%20called%20forth.%20In%20short%2C%20as%20a%20being%20that%20could%2C%20it%20seems%2C%20come%20only%20from%20a%20creator%3B%20and%20this%20idea%20of%20a%20creating%20hand%20that%20created%20me%20refers%20me%20back%20to%20God.&f=false ''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 atheism|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 [[Orchid]]s, and upon The [[Earthworm]]s, 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)"
**[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html "Notes to 'Teleological arguments for God's existence'"] [article revised removing reference in January 2015].
**The Duke of Argyll (1885). [https://books.google.com/books?id=CskhAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22good+words%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fs24VKGOMpDnsATg_4HYDQ&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22it%20seems%20to%20go%20away%22&f=false "What is science?"] ''Good Words'' [United Kingdom], vol. 26, p. 244. GoogleBooks archive
</ref>

See also:

*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]

== Atheism and religion ==
=== Atheism is a religion ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism is a religion]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
[[File:Sanderson Jones.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The [[British atheism|British atheist]] Sanderson Jones is a founder of the Sunday Assembly atheist church movement.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/atheist-church-split_n_4550456.html Atheist Church Split: Sunday Assembly And Godless Revival's 'Denominational Chasm'], Huffington Post, 2014</ref>]]

See: [[Atheism is a religion]]

[[Atheism is a religion]].<ref name="Atheismisareligion">Multiple references:
*[http://creation.com/atheism-a-religion Is Atheism a religion?] by Daniel Smartt, Published: 4 May 2010(GMT+10)
*Hodge, Bodie; Patterson, Roger (2016). ''[https://assets.answersingenesis.org/doc/prod/etc/sample/10-2-476_sample.pdf ''World Religions and Cults Vol. 3'']. Master Books. 29–44. ISBN: 978-0-89051-970-7.
*Hodge, Bodie; Ham, Ken (Febraury 20, 2017). [https://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/atheism/atheism-is-religion/ Atheism Is Religion]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved March 27, 2018.</ref> And many of the leaders of the atheist movement, such as the evolutionist and [[New Atheism|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 [[Atheism and beliefs|number of beliefs]] such as [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]], belief in evolution and [[Origin of life|abiogenesis]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Slick, Matt (October 2011). [http://carm.org/atheism-worldview "Is atheism a worldview?"] Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website. See [[CARM]]
*Hearn, Brian F. (December 31, 2009). [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-a-worldview.aspx "Atheism a worldview?"] Apologetics.net.
*Hearn, Brian F. (May 2, 2012). [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-is-a-worldview-%28II%29.aspx "Atheism is a worldview II"]. Apologetics.net.
*Bannister, Andy (October 14, 2013). [http://www.rzim.eu/the-scandanavian-sceptic-or-why-atheism-is-a-belief-system "The Scandanavian sceptic (or why atheism is a belief system)"]. Ravi Zacharias International Ministries website. See [[Ravi Zacharias]]</ref>

Roderick Ninian Smart, a Scottish writer and professor, defined a seven-part scheme of understanding both religious and secular worldviews<ref>Smart, Ninian (1996). [https://books.google.com/books?id=14j2UrLCi64C&pg=PA130&lpg=PA130&dq=ninian+smart+narrative&source=bl&ots=Hq3WwG_mVT&sig=j-8FpwSdqohURYodSdcl46erSJY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FgybT6zxIc-_gAe864X6Dg&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=ninian%20smart%20narrative&f=false ''Dimensions of the Sacred'' [preview]] (Oakland, CA: University of California Press). Preview: GoogleBooks</ref> 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.<ref>Smartt, Daniel (November 6, 2008). [https://archive.is/L3cY5 "Atheism religion naturalism morally relative"]. Archive of SpiritualLiving360°.</ref> However, it can be argued that all seven are present in the case of atheism.<ref name="Atheismisareligion"/>
<ref>*Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009). [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"]. Creation Ministries International.</ref>

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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Thier, Dave (June 23, 2013). [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/us/in-the-bible-belt-offering-atheists-a-spiritual-home.html?_r=0 "In the Bible belt offering atheists a spiritual home"]. Nytimes.com
*Hallowell, Billy (April 17, 2013). [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/17/atheist-sunday-morning-worship-services-are-on-the-rise/ "Bizarre trend: atheist Sunday morning ‘worship’ services are on the rise (minus God, of course)"] TheBlaze.
*Ortberg, Mallory (January 5, 2013). [http://gawker.com/5973377/londons-first-atheist-church-opens-tomorrow "London's first atheist church opens tomorrow".] Gawker.</ref>

See also:

*[[Atheism is a religion]]
*[[Atheist indoctrination]]
*[[Atheist cults]]

=== Atheist cults ===
See: [[Atheist cults]]

[[File:2384975035 230a0eac30.jpg|thumb|right|170px|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."<ref name="online.wsj.com">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>]]

=== Atheism and spirituality ===
*[[Atheism and spirituality]]

=== Atheism and evidence ===
See: [[Atheism and evidence]]

=== Irreligion and superstition ===
''See also:'' [[Irreligion and superstition]]

In September 2008, the [[Wall Street Journal]] reported:
{{cquote|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 [[Conservative Christianity|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...."<ref name="paranormal">Hemingway, Molly Ziegler (September 19, 2008). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html "Look who's irrational now"]. The Wall Street Journal website.</ref>}}
[[File:Loc of United States.png|thumbnail|175px|right|According to Pew Forum, [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Protestant]] churches in America grew by 2 million from 2007 to 2014.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2015/05/why-conservative-churches-are-still-growing/ Why conservative churches are still growing]</ref> See: [[Atheism vs. Christianity]] ]]

=== Atheism vs. Abrahamic religions and religion ===
*[[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
*[[Atheism vs. religion]]
*[[Atheism vs. Judaism]]

=== Atheism vs. Islam ===
:''See main article: [[Atheism vs. Islam]]''

=== Atheism and miracles ===
:''See main article: [[Atheism and Miracles]]''

In relation to [[Atheism and Miracles|atheism and miracles]], modern scholars are divided on the issue of whether or not [[David Hume]] was an atheist.<ref>Russell, Paul (February 11, 2013). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-religion/#10 "Hume on religion"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
</ref> 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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Lennox, John (2009). [http://www.bethinking.org/are-miracles-possible/the-question-of-miracles-the-contemporary-influence-of-hume "The question of miracles: the contemporary influence of Hume"]. BeThinking.
*Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986). [http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html "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</ref> 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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Lennox, John (2009). [http://www.bethinking.org/are-miracles-possible/the-question-of-miracles-the-contemporary-influence-of-hume "The question of miracles: the contemporary influence of Hume"]. BeThinking.
*Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986). [http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html "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
*Hoffman, Paul K. (Spring 1999). [http://www.galaxie.com/article/caj02-1-03?highlight=hoffmanA "A jurisprudential analysis of Hume’s ‘in principal’ argument against miracles" [excerpt]]. ''Christian Apologetics Journal'', 2:1, p. 2. Galaxie Software. Subscription required for full article.
*Geisler, Professor Norman (1985). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth19.html "Miracles and modern scientific thought"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 1. LeadershipU
*Lewis, C. S. (1960). [https://books.google.com/books/about/Miracles.html?id=tH8di3qQDhEC ''Miracles''] (New York: HarperCollins). Abstract: Google Books
*Holding, J. P. [http://www.tektonics.org/gk/hume01.html "David Hume: a critique"]. Tekton Apologetics.
*Esposito, Lenny (2002). [http://www.comereason.org/phil_qstn/phi060.asp "Are miracles logically impossible?"] Come Reason Ministries.</ref>

The ''Christian Post'' reporter Stoyan Zaimov wrote: "Double-blind prayer experiments: where people pray for others with terminal illness. [[Gary Habermas|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."<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-apologist-10-reasons-for-the-fall-of-atheism-106531/ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism] by Stoyan Zaimov,'' Christian Post'', October 14, 2013</ref>

==== Atheists who believe in life after death ====
''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.<ref>[http://www.theskepticsguide.org/one-third-of-atheists-agnostics-believe-in-an-afterlife Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife], Skepticsguide.com</ref><ref>[http://relationshipsinamerica.com/religion/do-people-still-believe-in-life-after-death Do people still believe in life after death?], Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture Study</ref>

== Atheism and death ==
[[File:Atheism and death.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm "Fear of death: Worst if you’re a little religious?"] (July 13, 2005). World Science.
*Wink, P. L. and Scott, J. A. (July 2005). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 "Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study" [abstract]]. ''The Journals of Gerontology, series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences'', vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 207-14. PubMed.gov</ref> 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''.<ref name="Otago">University of Otago [New Zealand] (April 2, 2012). [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm "Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God"]. ScienceDaily.</ref> In a ''Psychology Today'' article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.<ref name="Heflick">Heflick, Nathan A. (May 25, 2012). [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201205/atheists-death-and-belief-in-god "Atheists, death and belief in God: The effects of death reminders on atheists' supernatural beliefs"]. Psychology Today website.</ref> Under stress, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.<ref>Multiple references:
*Ruhr University Bochum (August 9, 2012). [http://aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/pm2012/pm00263.html.en "Learn to forecast the weather after stress"]. aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de.
*Gregoire, Carolyn (July 31, 2013). [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/learn-under-stress-brain_n_3678222.html "How the brain learns successfully, even under stress"]. The Huffington Post.</ref>

A United States study and a [[Taiwan]]ese study indicated that the irreligious fear death more than the very religious.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm "Fear of death: Worst if you’re a little religious?"] (July 13, 2005). World Science.
*Wink, Paul. and Scott, Julia. (July 2005). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 "Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study"]. ''The Journals of Gerontology. Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences'', vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 207-14. PubMed.gov.
*Wen, Ya-hui. (December 2010). [http://www.hraljournal.com/Page/4%20Ya-Hui%20Wen.pdf "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.</ref>

==== Atheists and belief in life after death ====
''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]]).<ref>[http://www.theskepticsguide.org/one-third-of-atheists-agnostics-believe-in-an-afterlife Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife]</ref>

For additional information, please see:

* [[Atheism and cryonics]]
*[[Atheism and transhumanism]]

==== Atheism and Hell ====
''See also:'' [[Atheism and Hell]]

The journalist and [[ex-atheists|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.<ref name="PH">[http://vimeo.com/10354237 "Peter Hitchens author interview—The rage against God"] [interview of Peter Hitchens] (March 22, 2010). Vimeo video, 8:38, posted by Gorilla Poet Productions.</ref> This started a train of thought within Peter Hitchens that eventually led him to become a [[Christian]].<ref name="PH"/>

== Atheism and science ==
[[Image:Newton.jpg|alt=atheism quotes|right|thumbnail|200px|[[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|Atheism quotes]] ]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and science]]

=== Atheism and the suppression of science ===
See: [[Atheism and the suppression of science]]

=== Atheism and the social sciences ===
See: [[Atheism and the social sciences]]

=== Atheism and the foundation of modern science ===
''See also:'' [[Christianity and science]]

The birth of modern [[science]] occurred in Christianized Europe.<ref>Bumbulis, Michael, Ph. D. (November 24, 1996). [http://www.ldolphin.org/bumbulis/#anchor5343749 "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.</ref>

[[Sociology|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,<ref name="Origins">Williams, Alex (August 2004). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1581/ "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.</ref> only one ([[Edmund Halley]]) was a skeptic and another ([[Paracelsus]]) was a [[pantheism|pantheist]].
The other 50 were Christians, 30 of whom could be characterized as being devout Christians.<ref name="Origins" />

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 [[Koran|Alcoran]], than that this universal frame is without a mind."<ref name="bacon">Bacon, Francis (1601). [http://www.authorama.com/essays-of-francis-bacon-17.html ''The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, of Francis Ld. Verulam Viscount St. Albans''; "Of atheism"]. Authorama.</ref>

===Atheism and questions of origins===
:''See articles: [[Atheism and Evolution]]'' and [[Evolution as a secular origins myth]]
[[Creationism|Creationist]] scientists state that the [[First Law of Thermodynamics|first law of thermodynamics]] and the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics|second law of thermodynamics]] argue against an eternal universe or a universe created by natural processes and argue for a universe created by [[God]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Hergenrather, John (2004). [http://www.creationencounter.com/space/lawsofscience.php "Evidences for God from space: can laws of science explain the origin of the universe?"] Creation Encounter.
*Thompson, Bert (2003). [http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=12&article=310 "So long, eternal universe; 'Hello beginning, hello end!'"] Apologetics Press.
*Brown, Dr. Walt (2008). [http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/AstroPhysicalSciences14.html "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.</ref> 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.<ref>
* Dr. Don Batten, [http://creation.com/a-whos-who-of-evolutionists A ''Who’s Who'' of evolutionists] ''Creation'' 20(1):32, December 1997.
* [[Jonathan Sarfati]], Ph.D.,F.M., [http://www.creation.com/content/view/3830 ''Refuting Evolution'', Chapter 1, Facts and Bias]
</ref> [[Creation science|Creation scientists]] assert that the theory of evolution is an inadequate explanation for the variety of life forms on earth.<ref>Morris, Henry M., PhD. (January 2001). [http://www.icr.org/home/resources/resources_tracts_scientificcaseagainstevolution/ "The scientific case against evolution"]. Institute for Creation Research.</ref> The theory of evolution [[Social effects of 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.<ref>[http://creation.com/origin-of-life Origin of life] by Dr. Don Batten</ref>

=== Atheism and scientific community ===
*[[Atheism and science]]
*[[Scientists and belief in the existence of God]]
*[[Atheism and the origin of the universe|Atheist scientists and the origin of the universe]]
*[[Atheists and the National Academy of Sciences]]

=== Atheism and scientific fraud and speculation ===
*[[Atheism and deception|Atheism and scientific fraud and speculation]]

==Atheism and mental and physical health==
:''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 [[science|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 <ref>Multiple references:
*[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3671693/ Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications] by Harold G. Koenig, ISRN Psychiatry. 2012; 2012: 278730.
*Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). [http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2811%2962799-7/fulltext "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice"]. ''Mayo Clinic Proceedings'' vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235. Mayo Clinic Proceedings website
*[http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/index.php/research/research-library "Research library"]. Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health.
*McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf "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
*Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009). [http://www.ionainstitute.ie/the-benefits-of-religious-practise/ "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary]]. Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website.
*McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (2009). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications"]. ''Psychological Bulletin'', vol. 135: 1, pp. 69–93. University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website
*University of Colorado at Boulder (May 17, 1999). [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/05/990517064323.htm "Research shows religion plays a major role in health, longevity"]. ScienceDaily.
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract]]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8. Abstract: National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med
*University of Warwick (December 2003). [http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/A/20037338.html "Psychology researcher [Dr. Stephen Joseph] says spiritual meaning of Christmas brings more happiness than materialism"]. Scienceblog.
</ref> For more information please see: [[Atheism and health]] and [[Atheism and life expectancy]]

=== Mayo Clinic and other studies ===
[[Image:Mayo-clinic-gondaoverview.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The prestigious [[Mayo Clinic]] found that
religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better physical health and mental health outcomes.<ref name="Mueller">Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). [http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2811%2962799-7/fulltext "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice"]. ''Mayo Clinic Proceedings'' vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235. Mayo Clinic Proceedings website</ref> See: [[Atheism and health]] ]]
The prestigious [[Mayo Clinic]] reported the following on December 11, 2001:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="Mueller"/>}}

The [[Iona Institute]] reported:
{{cquote|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%.<ref>Multiple references:
*Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009). [http://www.ionainstitute.ie/the-benefits-of-religious-practise/ "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary]]. Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website.
*McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf "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</ref>}}

===Atheism and suicide===
:''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 and suicide|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]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html "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.
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract]]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8. Abstract: National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med
*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction"] (September 17, 1894). ''New York Times'', p. 2.</ref> In 1894, the [[NY Times|''New York Times'']] stated the following in relation to atheism and suicide:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="nytimes">[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction"] (September 17, 1894). ''New York Times'', p. 2.</ref>}}
[[Image:Desperation_man.jpg‎ |thumb|left|200px|Atheists have higher suicide rates. See: [[Atheism and suicide]] ]]

The website Adherents.com reported the following in respect to atheism and suicide:
{{cquote|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."<ref>http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html</ref>}}

For more information please see:

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

[[File:Europe pol 2004.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|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.<ref name=whoalc>[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/alcohol-use/data-and-statistics "Data and statistics"] (September 2014 or bef.). Health topics/Disease prevention/Alcohol use. World Health Organization (WHO)/Regional office for Europe</ref>]]

=== Atheism and mental illness ===

See: [[Atheism and mental illness]]

=== Irreligion and recovery from illnesses ===

See: [[Irreligion and recovery from illnesses]]

=== Atheism and alcoholism ===
''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.”<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-briggs/charlie-sheen-circus-and-_b_836934.html The Doubled-Edged Sword of Religion and Alcoholism]</ref>

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.<ref name=whoalc/>

=== Atheism and illegal drug use and drug addition ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and drug addiction]]

Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/believers-consume-fewer-drugs-than-atheists-106266/ Believers Consume Fewer Drugs Than Atheists], ''Christian Post'', By Jim Denison, Christian Post Columnist, October 9, 2013|9:47 am</ref><ref>[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists], Science Daily, Date:October 3, 2013, Source: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung]</ref><ref>Multiple references:
*McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (January 2009). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "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: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054 "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications" [abstract]]. Retrieved from PubMed.gov on September 10, 2014.</ref>

According to ''Science Daily'': "Young [[Switzerland|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.<ref>Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung [Swiss National Science Foundation] (October 3, 2013). [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm "Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists"]. Science Daily website/Science News.</ref>

=== Atheism and loneliness ===
[[File:Depressed man.jpg|thumb|right|200px|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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Gammon, Katherine (March 2, 2012). [http://www.livescience.com/18800-loneliness-health-problems.html "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''.</ref>

Compared to deeply religious cultures where an extended family and a sense of community often exists, secular countries [[Secular countries and loneliness|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/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social skills]]).

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheism and loneliness]]

=== Atheism and cancer ===
See also: [[Atheism and cancer]]

Irreligious countries such as European countries and China, have significant problems with cancer (see: [[Atheism and cancer]]).

The [[World Health Organization]] declares concerning [[secular Europe]]: "Europe comprises only one eighth of the total world population but has around one quarter of the global total of [[cancer]] cases with some 3.7 million new patients per year."<ref>[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/cancer/data-and-statistics World Health Organization - Cancer statistics for Europe]</ref> See also: [[Europe and cancer]]

[[Denmark]], [[France]] and [[Australia]] have significantly higher rates of individuals holding to an [[Atheist worldview|atheistic worldview]] (see also: [[Irreligion in Denmark]] and [[French atheism]] and [[Irreligion in Australia]]). According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, Denmark, France and Australia have the three highest [[per capita]] cancer rates in the world.<ref>[http://www.wcrf.org/int/cancer-facts-figures/data-cancer-frequency-country Data for cancer frequency by country], World Cancer Research Fund International</ref>

=== Atheist and higher levels of harmful genetic mutations ===
''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]]).<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/religion-healthy-atheism-mutant-genes-756984 RELIGIOUS PEOPLE LIVE HEALTHIER, LONGER LIVES—WHILE ATHEISTS COLLECT MUTANT GENES], Newsweek, 2017</ref> <ref>[Atheists are more likely to be left handed, study finds], ''The Telegraph'', 2017</ref>

=== Atheism and obesity ===
See: [[Atheism and obesity]]

=== Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism ===

''See also:'' [[Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism]] and [[Irreligion and unsportsmanlike conduct]] and [[Atheism and obesity]]
[[File:Basketball.jpg|left|225px|thumbnail|Numerous studies report that athletes to be more religious than non-athletes.<ref>[http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/strength-religious-faith-athletes-and-nonathletes-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>]]
''The [[Sport]]s 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.<ref name="thesportjournal.org">[http://thesportjournal.org/article/strength-of-religious-faith-of-athletes-and-nonathletes-at-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions/ ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>
An excerpt from the abstract of the journal article ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'' declares:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="thesportjournal.org">[http://thesportjournal.org/article/strength-of-religious-faith-of-athletes-and-nonathletes-at-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions/ ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>}}

{{See also|Atheism and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence}}

== Atheism and intelligence ==
[[File:Cerebellum.jpg|right|thumb|200px|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 the theory of multiple intelligences|Atheism and Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences]] and [[Causes of atheism]]

Within various countries, standardized [[intelligence testing|intelligence test]] (IQ) scores related to the issue of atheists/agnostics vs. theists intelligence scores yield conflicting results.<ref>
*[http://www.doxa.ws/other/smarter.html "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.
*[http://www.randalolson.com/2014/08/24/the-myth-of-the-smarter-atheist/ The myth of the smarter Atheist] by Randy Olson, Posted on August 24, 2014</ref> Part of the problem is that social scientists use variant definitions of atheism.<ref>Multiple references:
*Briggs, Dr. William M. (2013). [http://www.strangenotions.com/atheists-higher-iqs/ "Do atheists really have higher IQs than believers?"] Strange Notions. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.
*Wright, Bradley (January 26, 2012). [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/blackwhiteandgray/2012/01/how-many-americans-are-atheists-fewer-than-you-might-think/ "How many Americans are atheists? Fewer than you might think"]. Black, White and Gray. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.</ref> 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]]

=== Study on emotional intelligence and religiosity ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|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]].<ref>''Journal of Organizational Behavior'', Paek, Ellen (2006). "[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886906000961 Religiosity and perceived emotional intelligence among Christians". Personality and Individual Differences] (International Society for the Study of Individual Differences) 41 (3): 479–490</ref> See also: [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|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.<ref>
*[http://intentionalworkplace.com/2012/03/15/how-emotion-shapes-decision-making/ How emotion affects decision making], The Intentional Workplace
*[http://people.hss.caltech.edu/~steve/bechara.pdf 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
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wup_K2WN0I When Emotions Make Better Decisions - Antonio Damasio] - short video
*[https://news.usc.edu/29569/Antonio-and-Hanna-Damasio-Receive-Honorary-Degrees/ News item about Professor Antonio Damasio], University of Southern California
</ref>

=== Brain studies of atheists ===
''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]]).

== Atheism and women ==
''see also:'' [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]] and [[Elevatorgate]] and [[Prominent atheists whose wives believe in the existence of God]]

[[File:women.jpg|thumbnail|right|205px|Studies indicate that women tend to be more religious than men (See: [[Atheism and women]]). ]]

=== Recent studies ===

=== Atheist Alliance International analysis ===

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."<ref>[https://www.atheistalliance.org/about-aai/position-statements/1206-aai-position-statement-gender-balance.html AAI Position Statement - Gender Balance]</ref>

==== Surveys by country ====
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|atheist population]].<ref>Khan, Razib (November 18, 2010). [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/sex-differences-in-global-atheism-part-n/ "Gene expression; "Sex differences in global atheism, part N"]. Discover magazine website.</ref>

==== United States surveys ====
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.<ref name=agap>Carter, Stephen L. (March 27, 2015). [http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-27/the-atheism-gap "The atheism gap"]. BloombergView website.</ref>

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.<ref name=Britt>Britt, Robert Roy (February 28, 2009). [http://www.livescience.com/7689-women-religious-men.html "Women more religious than men"]. Livescience.</ref> In 2007, the Pew Research Center found that American women were more religious than American men.<ref name=Britt/>

=== Atheism and sexism ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and sexism]]

Most atheists are politically on the [[leftist|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]]
*[[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships|Atheist leaders and immoral relationships]]

=== Atheist feminism ===
See: [[Atheist feminism]]

== Atheism and marriage/relationships ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism and marriage]] and [[Atheism and illegitimate births]]

=== Atheism and rates of marriage in the United States ===
''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."<ref name="marry"/>

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."<ref name="marry"/>

For more information please see: [[Atheism and marriageability]]

=== Atheist marriages ===
See: [[Atheist marriages]]

=== Atheism and polyamory ===
*[[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]

=== Atheism and divorce ===
See: [[Atheism and divorce]]

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

=== Atheism and its inability to explain love ===
See also: [[Atheism and love]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness]]

From a [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]], moral and spiritual perspective, atheists have an inability to satisfactorily explain the existence of [[love]].<ref name="How do atheists define love">[http://www.strangenotions.com/atheists-love/ How do atheists define love?] by Dr. Taylor Marshall</ref><ref name="atheistforum.wordpress.com">[https://atheistforum.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/what-is-love-how-materialist-atheism-fails-to-have-a-satisfactory-answer/ What is love? how materialist atheism fails to have a satisfactory answer], July 9, 2014</ref>]
From a moral, [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] and spiritual perspective, atheists have an inability to satisfactorily explain the existence of [[love]].<ref name="How do atheists define love"/><ref name="atheistforum.wordpress.com"/>

=== Atheism and sexuality ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and sexuality]] and [[Atheism and romance]] and [[Atheism and fertility rates]]

Research shows that religious women (especially [[evangelicalism|evangelical]]/low-church [[Protestantism|Protestant]] women) are more sexually satisfied than irreligious women.<ref>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</ref><ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2008/11/25/the-christian-sexual-awakening.html Why Are Christians Having Better Sex Than the Rest of Us?] by Tucker Carlson, The Daily Beast, November 11, 25, 2008</ref><ref>[http://blog.getrelationshiphelp.com/2009/07/christian-women-have-more-sexual-fun.html Christian Women Have More Sexual Fun], Relationship Center in Springfield Missouri</ref>

A social science study also reports that Hispanic men are more sexually satisfied than other ethnic groups in the United States.<ref>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</ref>
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 ===
''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.<ref>[https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unique-everybody-else/201806/defending-atheist-mutational-load-theory-part-2 Defending Atheist Mutational Load Theory — Part 2] by
Scott A. McGreal MSc., Psychology Today, June 22, 2018</ref>

== Atheism and race ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism, race and gender]]

=== Asian atheism ===
''See also:'' [[Asian atheism]]

[[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."<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/most-atheists-are-not-white/ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales], Discover magazine</ref>

The current [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] mostly resides in East [[Asia]] (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia among whites.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> See: [[Atheism and China]]

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 ===
[[File:Sikivu Hutchinson.JPG|thumbnail|200px|right|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.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/06/16/blacks-are-even-discriminated-against-by-atheists/ Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about] by Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson, Washington Post June 16, 2014</ref>

Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations significantly help poor African-Americans.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/> See also: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Western atheism and race]] and [[Black atheism]] and [[Atheism and diversity]]

==== Atheism and race: United States and Europe ====
In 2015, ''BloombergView'' reported:
{{cquote|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 [[Secular Europe|deeply Eurocentric]].<ref name=agap/>}}

In the United States, blacks have the highest rate of religiosity.<ref>[https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/gallup-blacks-most-religious-group-us Gallup: Blacks Most Religious Group in U.S.]</ref> Among Hispanics, religion has traditionally played a significant role in daily activity.<ref>[http://www.diocesephoenix.org/old_site/fc/CatecheticalLeadership/ChurchDocs/UnderstandingtheHispanicCulture.pdf Understanding Hispanic culture]</ref>

In 2011, Beliefnetnews reported concerning the race and gender of American atheists:
{{cquote|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|Freedom from Religion Foundation]] found that 95 percent were white, and men comprised a majority.<ref>http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/01/atheists-diversity-woes-have-n.php</ref>}}

== Atheism and education ==
*[[Religion and education]]
*[[Atheist indoctrination|Atheistic indoctrination and education]]
*[[Atheism and academia]]
*[[Atheism and academic performance]]

== Global atheism in the 21st century ==
=== Global decline of atheism ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and diversity]] and [[Atheism and culture]]
[[File: Blue Marble.jpg|200px|thumbnail|right|Atheism is in [[Global atheism|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.<ref name="cnsnews.com">[https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]</ref>]]
Atheists as a percentage of the world's population have declined since 1970 and global atheism is expected to face long term decline.<ref>
*[http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-world-is-turning-more-religious-atheism-declining-100518/ Study: World is becoming more religious]
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/globally-worldviews-of-atheism-and-non.html Globally the worldviews of atheism and non-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity is exploding in adherents]
*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf 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]
*[http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/documents/StatusOfGlobalMission.pdf Gordon-Conwell Seminary - Status of Global Mission, 2014, in the Context of AD 1800–2025]</ref>

On July 24, 2013, ''CNS News'' reported:
{{cquote|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."<ref name="cnsnews.com">[https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]</ref>}}

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%.<ref name="eb-2010">{{cite web|title=Religion: Year in Review 2010: Worldwide Adherents of All Religions|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1731588/Religion-Year-In-Review-2010/298437/Worldwide-Adherents-of-All-Religions|work=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.|accessdate=2013-11-21}}</ref> See: [[Global atheism statistics]]

=== Demoographics of atheism ===
[[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 ====
*[[China and atheism]]
*[[French atheism]]
*[[British atheism]]
*[[American atheism]]
*[[Irreligion in Australia]]
*[[Irreligion in New Zealand]]
*[[Atheism in the Anglosphere]]

=== Atheism statistics ===

*[[Atheism statistics]]
*[[Christianity vs. atheism statistics]]
*[[Research on atheism]]

=== Atheist movement and leadership ===
* [[Atheist movement]]
* [[Atheism and leadership]]

== Views on atheists ==
''See also:'' [[Views on atheists]] and [[Distrust of atheists]] and [[Atheism and social outcasts]] and [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Atheophobia]]
[[File:Sam Harris-2010.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|[[Sam Harris]] ]]

Sociological research indicates that atheists are widely distrusted in both religious cultures and nonreligious cultures.<ref name="USATodayviewsonatheists">[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-12-10/religion-atheism/51777612/1 Study: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists]</ref><ref name="CPviewsonatheists">[http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheists-widely-distrusted-even-among-themselves-culturally-ingrained-uk-study-finds-160480/ Atheists Widely Distrusted, Even Among Themselves, UK Study Finds], Christian Post, 2015</ref><ref name="Independentviewsonatheists">[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/anti-atheist-distrust-deeply-and-culturally-ingrained-study-finds-a6952276.html Anti-atheist distrust ‘deeply and culturally ingrained’, study finds], ''The Independent'', 2015</ref><ref>Edgell, Gerteis & Hartmann 2006</ref>

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."<ref name="Independentviewsonatheists"/> The study found that many atheists do not trust other atheists as well.<ref name="Independentviewsonatheists"/>

=== Other topics related to views on atheists ===
*[[Persecution of atheists]]
*[[Atheophobia]] is a fear and/or hatred of atheism/atheists.

== Desecularization and its causes ==
''See also:'' [[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.<ref>''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)</ref>

=== Atheism and sub-replacement levels of fertility ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and fertility rates]]
[[File:Jacques Berlinerblau.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|In 2011, atheist [[Jacques Berlinerblau]] declared: "The Golden Age of [[Secularism]] has passed."<ref name="chronicle.com"/>]]
Michael Blume, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany, wrote about the sub-replacement level of fertility among [[Atheist Population|atheistic populations]]: "Most societies or communities that have espoused atheistic beliefs have not survived more than a century."<ref name="scilogs.eu">[http://www.scilogs.eu/en/blog/biology-of-religion/2011-01-06/atheists-a-dying-breed-as-nature-favours-faithful-sunday-times-jan-02-2011-jonathan-leake-full-draft-version Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful]</ref> 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."<ref name="scilogs.eu"/> See also: [[Atheism and sexuality]]

On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] who teaches at Birbeck College, University of London wrote:
{{cquote|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.
<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/97-of-worlds-population-growth-is.html 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious], Tuesday, April 30, 2013</ref>}}

At a conference Kaufmann said of religious demographic projections concerning the 21st century:
{{cquote|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.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7vCDeKPRSo Eric Kaufmann - Religion, Demography and Politics in the 21st Century]</ref>}}

=== Secularism is exhausted and unconfident ===
''See also:'' [[Decline of the atheist movement]]

[[Eric Kaufmann]], an [[agnosticism|agnostic]] professor whose academic research specialty is how demographic changes affect religion/irreligion and politics, wrote in 2010:
{{cquote|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.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/uploadsepk/JQR%20Demography.pdf Shall the religious inherit the earth? - Eric Kaufmann]</ref>}}

[[File:Edward Tabash 2013.jpg|thumbnail|right|190px|[[Eddie Tabash]] ]]
The American atheist activist [[Eddie Tabash]] said at the 2010 Michigan Atheists State Convention:
{{Cquote|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 [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic alternative]] to supernatural claims in the public consciousness...<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iix6OjLH6aM Atheists Speak Up - Eddie Tabash]</ref>}}

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 ===
*[[Causes of desecularization]]
*[[Decline of the secular left]]

=== Zero secularization rates in France and Protestant Europe ===
''See also:'' [[British atheism]]

In April 2010, Eric Kaufmann declared "the rate of secularisation has flattened to zero in most of [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Europe]] and [[France]]."<ref>[https://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/shall_the_religious_inherit_the_earth/ Shall the Religious Inherit the earth] by Eric Kaufmann</ref>

''The Guardian'' published an article in 2017 entitled ''Nearly 50% are of [[Nones|no religion]] – but has [[UK]] hit ‘peak secular’?'' which declared:
{{Cquote|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.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/13/uk-losing-faith-religion-young-reject-parents-beliefs ''Nearly 50% are of no religion – but has UK hit ‘peak secular’?''], ''The Guardian'', 2017</ref>}}

=== Growth of evangelical Christianity in secular regions ===
*[[Growth of Christianity in China|Growth of evangelical Christianity in China]]
*[[East Asia and global desecularization]]
*[[Growth of evangelical Christianity#Evangelical Christianity and the developed world|Growth of evangelical Christianity in the developed world]]
*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]
*[[Growth of Protestantism in Russia]]

=== Future of desecularization via the continued global resurgence of religion ===
''See also:'' [[Growth of global desecularization]] and [[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
[[File:Birkbeck College, University of London.jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|[[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]].<ref>
*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf 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]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]
*[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref>]]
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]].<ref>
*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf 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]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]</ref><ref>[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref> In addition, Kaufmann argues that religious conservatism has a long term trend of rising and that their influence in the world will significantly increase.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf 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]</ref> Kaufmann is author of the book ''Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books/about/Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth.html?id=nXVylycU2gQC Shall the religious inherit the earth by David Kaufmann]</ref><ref name="sneps.net">[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf 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]</ref> 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."<ref name="sneps.net"/>

Kaufmann told a secular audience in Australia: "The trends that are happening worldwide inevitably in an age of globalization are going to affect us."<ref>[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth Shall the religious inherit the earth]</ref> 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.<ref>*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/08/european-christian-immigration-will.html European immigration will pour Christian creationists into Europe]
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-future-of-european-darwinism-and_16.html The future of European Darwinism and atheism is bleak]</ref>

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 ====
See: [[Growth of global desecularization]]

== Notable atheists who became ex-atheists ==
''See:'' [[Ex-atheists]]

== Claims about the conditionality and existence of atheism ==
''See also:'' [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]] and [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|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'."<ref>More, Hannah (1815). [https://archive.org/details/anessayoncharac00moregoog ''An Essay on the Character and Practical Writings of St. Paul''], 5th ed., vol. 2 (London: T. Cadell and W. Davies), p. 234.</ref>

=== There are no atheists in foxholes ===
''See also:'' [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]] and [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
[[File:Foxhole.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring ''[[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]''.<ref>Multiple references:
* Taylor-Blake, Bonnie (September 24, 2006). [http://web.archive.org/web/20080617035633/http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696 "'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). [http://nealebooks.newsvine.com/_news/2012/12/15/15931810-there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes "There are no atheists in foxholes..."]. Newsvine website/Neal Osborn.</ref>]
Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring "[[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]."<ref>[http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,792459,00.html "Milestones [excerpt]"] (October 15, 1945). ''Time''. magazine website</ref> 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."<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9905EFD91239E13ABC4D51DFB7678383609EDE "Tells of religion in army. Chaplain Lawson says there are no atheists in front line"] (November 25, 1918). ''New York Times'', p. 13.</ref> On the other hand, the news organization NBC featured a story in which atheist veterans claimed that there are atheists in foxholes.<ref>Breen, Tom (April 2, 2011).[http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42391558/ns/us_news-military/t/army-group-coming-out-atheist-closet/#.UbgMndihjSg "Army group 'coming out of the atheist closet'"] from NBCNews.com</ref>

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|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."<ref name="Heflick"/> Please see: [[Atheism and death]]

=== Denials that atheists exist ===
* [[Denials that atheists exist]]

== Causes of atheism ==
:''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 ==
[[File:TFT.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[True Freethinker]] is a Christian apologetics website run by Ken Ammi which offers many [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|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 [[Shadow To Light blog]], the [[True Freethinker]] website, the [[Creation Ministries International and atheism|Creation Ministries International resources on atheism]] and the [[Fixed Point Foundation]] website.

=== Freedom from Atheism Foundation (FFAF) ===
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 [https://www.facebook.com/FFAF.International 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.<ref>http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/05/09/i-support-the-freedom-from-atheism-foundation/</ref> 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.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/freedom-from-religion-how-about-freedom-from-atheism-119389/</ref>

=== Online videos related to atheism ===
*[[Atheism videos]]
*[[Creation vs. Evolution Videos]]

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

== Atheism and the media ==
''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]].<ref name=mrc>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTxORumTarg "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias"] (July 17, 2008). YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks!</ref> 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.<ref name=mrc/> The study is not surprising given the liberal bias [[Liberal bias|that commonly exists in the major media outlets]].

See also:

*[[Atheism and the media#Post 2010 drop in volume of atheism news stories|Drop in news stories about atheism]]
*[[Atheism and the media#Post 2010 the percentage of negative news stories about atheism has increased|Negative news stories about atheism]]).

== Atheism and culture: Art, architecture, music, poetry, dance and humor ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism and culture]]

Atheism has not produced any outstanding cultural achievements and it has had a negative effect on cultures (see: [[Atheism and culture]]).

For additional information, please see:

*[[Atheist art]]
*[[Atheism and architecture]]
*[[Atheist music]]
*[[Atheist poetry]]
*[[Atheism and dance]]
*[[Atheism and humor]]

== Atheism and homosexuality ==
See:

*[[Atheist actions against homosexuals]]
*[[Atheism and homosexuality]]

== Other well-known proponents of atheism ==
''See:'' [[Famous atheists]] and [[Famous agnostics]]
[[Image:nietzsche2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Friedrich Nietzsche]] ]]
*[[Diagoras of Melos]]
*[[Friedrich Nietzsche]]
*[[A. J. Ayer]]
*[[Ludwig Feuerbach]]
*[[Friedrich Engels]]
*[[Sigmund Freud]]
*[[Adolf Hitler]]<ref name="Today's atheists"/>
*[[Albert Camus]]
*[[Ayn Rand]]
*[[Madalyn Murray O'Hair]]
*[[Paul Kurtz]]
*[[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]]

=== Well-known proponents of skepticism/atheism/agnosticism ===
*[[David Hume]]
*[[Bertrand Russell]]

== Atheist organizations ==
See: [[Atheist organizations]]

=== Atheist organizations and fundraising ===
*[[Atheist organizations and fundraising]]

==Atheism quotes==
''See articles: [[Atheism Quotes]]''

== Atheism news ==
See: [[Atheism news]]

== Recommended reading ==
*[[Christian apologetics books on atheism]]

== Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian ==
*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
*[http://creation.com/good-news Some good news]
*[https://rightsmarts.com/atheism-is-dead Atheism Is Dead]

==See also==
*[[Atheism articles]]
*[[Atheism symbols]]
*[[Essay: Atheism and evolution essays]]
*[[Atheism and satanic deception]]
*[[Second generation atheist]]
*[[Conservapedia:Atheism Project|Conservapedia Atheism Project]]

==External links==
''see also:'' [[Atheism website resources]]

'''General articles on atheism:'''

*[http://creation.com/atheism Atheism] by [[Creation Ministries International]]
*[http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/horrific-human-toll-of-militant-atheism-exposed/ Horrific Human Toll of 'Militant Atheism' Exposed: USSR's genocide against Christians largely ignored - World Net Daily]
*[http://creation.com/atheism-agnosticism-and-humanism-godless-religions-questions-and-answers Atheism, agnosticism and humanism: godless religions] by [[Creation Ministries International]]
*[https://www.bethinking.org/tag/atheism/page/all Atheism articles - Bethinking.org]
*[http://www.truefreethinker.com/atheism True Free Thinker - atheism section]
*[http://www.carm.org/atheism.htm Atheism] by [[Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry]]
*[http://www.wnd.com/2017/04/former-atheists-case-for-christ-hits-big-screen/ Former Ateist's 'Case For Christ Hits Big Screen], 2017

'''Prominent atheists:'''

*[[Atheism and leadership]]
*[http://www.thebestschools.org/blog/2011/12/01/50-top-atheists-in-the-world-today/ 50 most prominent atheists in the world today]

'''Other articles on atheism:'''

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

{{Nb Atheism}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

[[Category:Atheism]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]

Atheism

2018-12-14T16:05:16Z

Mhutch: Added information about the Satanic nature of atheists with supporting quote.

[[File:Atheism.jpg|thumb|alt=atheism|right|205px|[[Portrait]] of [[Paul-Henri Thiry]], Baron d'Holbach (1723 - 1789) was an early advocate of atheism in [[Europe]]. ]]
'''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]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Smart, J. J. C. (August 8, 2011). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/atheism-agnosticism "Atheism and agnosticism"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
*[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism "{{sc|atheism}}"] (n.d.). ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'' [online]. "Definition of {{sc|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 {{sc|atheism}} Middle French ''athéisme'', from ''athée'' atheist, from Greek ''atheos'' godless, from ''a-'' + ''theos'' god"; [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/god "{{sc|god}}"] (n.d.). ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary'' [online]. "Definition of {{sc|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, (Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology-1966).
*Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D. (23 June 2007). [http://creation.com/atheism-is-more-rational "Atheism is more rational?"]. See [[Creation Ministries International]], [[Jonathan Sarfati]].
*Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].
*[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html Putting the Atheist on the Defensive] by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal, Fall 1991, and Winter 1992, page 7.
</ref> [[Paul Edwards (philosopher)|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."<ref name="CRI">[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html Putting the Atheist on the Defensive] by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal, Fall 1991, and Winter 1992, page 7.</ref> In fact, this perverse ideology serves the agenda of [[Satan]], whose purpose is to instill doubt in the hearts of believers. According to Charles Baudelaire, "the finest trick of the devil is to persuade you that he does not exist".<ref>{{cite web|title="WikiQuote"|url=https://en.m.wikiquote.org/wiki/Charles_Baudelaire|date=December 14, 2018}}</ref>

Beginning in the latter portion of the 20th century and continuing beyond, many [[agnosticism|agnostics]] and atheists have argued that the [[definition of atheism]] should be a lack of belief in God or gods.<ref name="CRI"/><ref name="Divine">Day, Donn R. (2007). [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"].</ref><ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref><ref>Britain is a less religious country than the United States and the online Oxford Dictionaries offers both the narrow/broad definitions of atheism (As noted in a previous footnote the Merriam-Webster dictionary, which is a traditional American dictionary, offers a more narrow definition of atheism similar to the definition that major encyclopedias of philosophy use). Oxford Dictionaries: Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God or gods.[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/atheism]</ref>

Atheism has been examined by many disciplines in terms [[Atheism statistics|of its effects]] on individuals and [[Atheism and culture|on societies]] and these effects will be covered below.

As far as individuals adopting an [[Atheist worldview|atheistic worldview]], atheism has a number [[causes of atheism|of causal factors]] and these will be elaborated on below as well.

==Types of atheism==
''See also:'' [[Schools of atheist thought]] and [[Atheist factions]]
[[File:Diagoras of melos.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|[[Diagoras of Melos]] was an [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greek]] atheist, poet and [[Sophism|Sophist]] of the 5th century BC.

See: [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]] ]]
The [[History of Atheism|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 [[Sophism|Sophist]]. Since this time, there have been many [[schools of atheist thought]] that have developed.

===Atheism and why do atheists state they disbelieve?===
''See also:'' [[Weak Atheism|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 [[theism|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|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 ===
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.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*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 [https://books.google.com/books?id=Dwk3yV5MOaAC&pg=PA10&lpg=PA10&dq=Charles+Bradlaugh+definition+of+atheism&source=bl&ots=JtjIlK7qaJ&sig=E0HjYgfEyKXdEA4zlLAd9m41cQU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEgQ6AEwB2oVChMIrcijucWLyAIVCXA-Ch00NACw#v=onepage&q=Charles%20Bradlaugh%20definition%20of%20atheism&f=false]
</ref> 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.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]</ref> It is now common for atheists/agnostics and theists to debate the meaning of the word atheism.<ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*[http://www.apatheticagnostic.com/articles/meds2/med40/med796.html The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”]
*[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/atheism 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|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: [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/athart3.htm "Atheism - etymology"])</ref>

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.<ref name="CRI"/><ref name="Divine"/><ref>
*[http://www.apatheticagnostic.com/articles/meds2/med40/med796.html The Atheism Vs. Agnosticism “Debate”]
*[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/definition-of-atheism Definition of atheism] by [[William Lane Craig]]
*[http://carm.org/cut-atheism Atheism] by Matt Slick
</ref>

For more information, please see:

*[[Definition of atheism]]

*[[Definitions of Atheist and Agnostic|Definitions of atheist and agnostic]]

=== Some common types of atheism ===
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]]

'''2.''' Philosophical atheism - Atheist philosophers assert that God does not exist. (See also: [[Naturalism (philosophy)|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.<ref>Dr. [[Martin Luther King]] in his sermon ''Rediscovering Lost Values'' spoke of "practical atheism". King, Dr. Martin Luther (1954). [http://www.globatron.org/truth/rediscovering-lost-values-martin-luther-king-early-sermon "Rediscovering lost values"]</ref>

'''5.''' Other schools of atheist thought: [[Schools of atheist thought]]

=== Atheist factions ===
''See also:'' [[Atheist factions]] and [[Western atheism, schisms and political polarization]] and [[Atheist organizations]]
[[File:Richard Dawkins Stockholm.JPG|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|250px|right|[[Richard Dawkins]] was a central figure in the [[Elevatorgate]] controversy.]]
In 2015, Dr. J. Gordon Melton said about the [[atheist movement]] (organized atheism) that atheism is not a movement which tends to create community, but in the last few years there has been some growth of organized atheism.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0i4kuN9XSc Baylor ISR- J. Gordon Melton - End of Religion? (May 5, 2015)]</ref> See also: [[Atheist factions]] and [[Atheist organizations]]

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."<ref>Rousseau, Jacques (July 13, 2011). [http://dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2011-07-13-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-can-rip-my-soul "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can rip my soul"]. Daily Maverick [South Africa].</ref> An ex-atheist wrote: "As an Atheist for 40 years, I noticed that there is not just a wide variety of [[Schools of atheist thought|Atheist positions]], but there exists an actual battle between certain [[Atheist factions]]."<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/internet-atheism-is-still-hostile.html "The atheist community and internet atheism is still a hostile wasteland"] (April 7, 2013). Question Evolution Campaign [blog].</ref>

==== Atheist infighting ====
''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheism and anger]]

Blair Scott served on the [[American Atheists]] board of directors.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20140701062412/http://atheists.org/about-us/board-of-directors "Board of directors"] (July 1, 2014). American Atheists</ref> 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]].<ref name="Blair Scott">Scott, Blair (December 1, 2012). [http://news.atheists.org/2012/12/01/an-open-letter-from-blair-scott/ "An open letter from Blair Scott"]. American Atheists.</ref>

Mr. Blair wrote:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="Blair Scott"/>}}

The atheist Neil Carter wrote:
{{Cquote|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.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/godlessindixie/2016/06/12/its-past-time-for-atheism-to-grow-up/ It’s Past Time for Atheism to Grow Up] by Neil Carter</ref>}}

The atheist [[David Smalley]] said about the atheist movement: "We're eating our own... We’re disintegrating."<ref name="patheos.com">[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/dogmadebate/2017/06/reasonably-controversial-regressive-left-killing-atheist-movement/ Reasonably Controversial: How the Regressive Left Is Killing the Atheist Movement] by David Smalley</ref>

{{See also|Antitheism and antisocial behavior}}

==== Atheist infighting causing fundraising difficulties ====
''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 atheism|American atheist]] organizations:
{{Cquote|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."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvG6LKUbOdk Lee Moore and Steve Shives Talk About the Future of the Atheist Movement],
- video quote comes 21 minutes and 13 seconds into the video</ref>}}

==== Eddie Tabash on atheist argumentativeness ====
''See also:'' [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]]

The [[American atheism|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...".<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ld9Rfw5HUs Atheists Speak Up - Eddie Tabash - Part 2 of 4]</ref>

==== Angry and bitter demeanor of militant atheists ====
''See also:'' [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]]
[[File:Angry atheist.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|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.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-philosopher-explores-causes-of-atheism-44353/ Christian Philosopher Explores Causes of Atheism]</ref> See: [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]]]]
On January 1, 2011, [[CNN]] reported:
{{cquote|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.<ref>Landau, Elizabeth (January 1, 2011). [http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/01/01/anger-at-god-common-even-among-atheists/ "Anger at God common, even among atheists"]. CNN/The Chart website.</ref>}}

According to Anthony DeStefano:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="Today's atheists">[http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/03/20/todays-atheists-are-bullies-and-are-doing-their-best-to-intimidate-rest-us-into-silence.html Today's atheists are bullies -- and they are doing their best to intimidate the rest of us into silence] at Fox News</ref>}}

Various studies found that traumatic events in people's lives has a positive correlation with "emotional atheism".<ref>Carter, Joe (January 12, 2011). [http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2011/01/when-atheists-are-angry-at-god "When atheists are angry at God"]. First Things [The Institute on Religion and Public Life] website.</ref>

The atheist and [[lesbianism|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."<ref>Mooney, Chris (May 14, 2012). [http://www.pointofinquiry.org/greta_christina_why_are_you_atheists_so_angry/ "Greta Christina—Why are you atheists so angry?"] [interview of Greta Christina] Point of Inquiry website.</ref>

Social science research indicates that [[Antitheism|antitheists]] score the highest among atheists when it comes to personality traits such as [[narcissism]], dogmatism, and anger.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/science-shows-new-atheists-to-be-mean-and-closed-minded/ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded"] (July 18, 2013). Shadow to Light [blog].
*Haidt, Jonathan (March 5, 2014). [https://evolution-institute.org/article/why-sam-harris-is-unlikely-to-change-his-mind10/ "Why Sam Harris is unlikely to change his mind"]</ref> Furthermore, they scored lowest when it comes to agreeableness and positive relations with others.<ref>[http://shadowtolight.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/science-shows-new-atheists-to-be-mean-and-closed-minded/ "Science shows new atheists to be mean and closed-minded"] (July 18, 2013). Shadow to Light [blog].</ref>

For additional information, please see: [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness|Atheism and unforgiveness]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]]

== Atheism and its retention rate in individuals ==
''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]]
[[File:Georgetown 2.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|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.<ref name="retention rate">Nazworth, Nap (July 11, 2012). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ "Study: atheists have lowest 'retention rate' compared to religious groups"]. christianpost.com.</ref>

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.<ref name="retention rate"/> 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.<ref>Harms, William (April 18, 2012). [http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/04/18/belief-god-rises-age-even-atheist-nations "Belief in God rises with age, even in atheist nations".] UChicagoNews.</ref> The Pew Forum reports about [[American atheism|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."<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2015/05/12/chapter-3-demographic-profiles-of-religious-groups/ Chapter 3: Demographic Profiles of Religious Groups], Pew Forum</ref> 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 ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and loneliness]] and [[Atheism and apathy]] and [[Internet atheism]] and [[Atheists and church attendance]]

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]]).<ref>Bainbridge, William (2005). "[http://www.religjournal.com/pdf/ijrr01002.pdf Atheism]" (PDF). Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion. 1 (Article 2): 1–26.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and loneliness]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|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]]).

In recent times, the number of people attending atheist conferences has grown smaller.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tippling/2017/07/13/10923/ Whoever I Don’t Like Is Ruining the Atheist Movement] by Jeremiah Traeger
*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/dogmadebate/2017/06/reasonably-controversial-regressive-left-killing-atheist-movement/ Reasonably Controversial: How the Regressive Left Is Killing the Atheist Movement] by David Smalley
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luT2vQ3ctKU #ReasonRally Crash n burn. Thanks SJWs!] by [[Thunderf00t]]</ref> Atheist [[David Smalley]] wrote: "And we wonder why we’re [[Atheism and politics|losing elections]], [[Atheist fundraising vs. religious fundraising#Atheist organizations and fundraising|losing funding]], and our conferences are getting smaller."<ref name="patheos.com"/> 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."<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvG6LKUbOdk 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</ref>

[[File:Jerry Coyne at The Amazing Meeting - 2013.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|[[Jerry Coyne]] speaking at a 2013 [[Atheist conferences|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]]).<ref>[http://www.liberator.net/articles/TremblayFrancois/herdingcats.html Herding Cats: Why Atheism Will Lose] by Francois Tremblay</ref> 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."<ref>[https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2011/06/10/are-there-too-many-atheist-meetings/ Are there too many atheist meetings?] by Jerry Coyne</ref>

In an essay entitled ''How the [[Atheist movement|Atheist Movement]] Failed Me'', an [[atheism and women|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.<ref>Amanda (August 10, 2012). [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/08/10/how-the-atheist-movement-failed-me-part-1-cost/ "How the atheist movement failed me–part 1: cost"]. Friendly Atheist blog.</ref> As a result of the challenges that atheists commonly have in terms of socializing in person, many atheists [[Internet atheism|turn to the internet]] in terms of communicating with other atheists.<ref>Norris, Chuck (May 21, 2007). [http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55789 "How to outlaw Christianity (steps 2 & 3)"]. WorldNetDaily. See: [[Chuck Norris]].</ref> Often internet communication between atheists turns turns contentious (see: [[Atheist factions]]).

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and loneliness]]

=== Abandonment of atheism and communist regimes ===
*[[Growth of Christianity in China]]
*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]
*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union#Growth of Protestantism in Russia|Growth of Protestantism/Evangelicalism in Russia]]

== Decline of the atheist movement ==
''See also:'' [[Decline of the atheist movement]] and [[Morale of the atheist movement]] and [[Desecularization]] and [[Atheist movement]]

[[File:Jacques Berlinerblau.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|In 2011, atheist [[Jacques Berlinerblau]] declared: "The Golden Age of [[Secularism]] has passed."<ref name="chronicle.com">Berlinerblau, Jacques (February 4, 2011). [http://chronicle.com/blogs/brainstorm/obama-at-the-national-prayer-breakfast-raging-christ-fest-secular-wake/31816 "Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast"]. The Chronicle of Higher Education/Brainstorm blog. Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>]]
Numerous atheists have declared that the "[[atheist movement]] is dead" or that it is dying.<ref>
*[https://freethoughtblogs.com/reasoner/2017/10/21/the-atheism-movement-dead-or-alive/ The “Atheism Movement:” Dead or Alive?], [[Freethought Blogs]]
*[http://examiningatheism.blogspot.com/2017/11/seth-andrews-keeps-hearing-reports-of.html Atheist activist Seth Andrews keeps seeing reports on social media and the media that the atheist movement is dying], ''Examining Atheism''
*[http://examiningatheism.blogspot.com/2017/10/now-that-that-poseur-atheist-aron-ra.html Atheist Aron Ra indicates the atheist movement is dead. Now that that Aron Ra has surrendered....], ''[[Examining Atheism]]''
*[http://www.atheistrev.com/2013/12/the-day-atheist-movement-died.html The Day the Atheist Movement Died] by Jack Vance at Atheist Revolution
*[https://twitter.com/jennifurret/status/405391218273554433 Jennifer McCreight on Twitter about the Elevatorgate scandal destroying the atheist movement], [[Jen McCreight]], Twitter</ref>

At the 2018 [[American Atheists]] convention, the ex-president of the [[American Atheists]] organization [[David Silverman]] declared regarding the [[Morale of the atheist movement|atheist movement being in a demoralized state]]:
{{Cquote|It is a hard time to be [[Atheist activist|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 [[Donald Trump and American atheists|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 [[Atheism and apathy|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 [[Atheist factions|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.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8VYLMYvImc David Silverman - How the Mighty Get Back Up]</ref>}}

In 2017, atheist [[David Smalley]] has indicated that [[leftism|leftist]]/[[progressivism|progressive]] atheists were "killing the atheist movement" through being contentious and divisive (see also: [[Atheist factions]]).<ref name="patheos.com"/> Former [[New Atheism|new atheist]] [[PZ Myers]], who subscribes to progressive politics, says he is no longer a member of the atheist movement.<ref>[https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2017/08/26/get-out-a-message-for-the-atheist-movement/ Get Out! A message for the atheist movement] by PZ Myers</ref>

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 ==
''see also:'' [[Atheism and communism]] and [[Militant atheism]] and [[Atheism and economics]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheism and Karl Marx]]

[[Image:Khvhkgfiy.jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|[[Vladimir Lenin]]]]

=== Atheists Karl Marx, Vladmir Lenin and Chou En-lai ===
[[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."<ref>Mulligan, Martin (1959). [http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm "Private property and communism"] translation of Marx, Karl (1932), ''Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844'' (Moscow: Progress Publishers).</ref>

[[Vladimir Lenin]] similarly wrote regarding atheism and Communism: "A Marxist must be a [[materialism|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."<ref>Rothstein, Andrew and Issacs, Bernard (1973). [http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1909/may/13.htm "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.</ref>

In 1955, the [[China|Chinese]] Communist leader Chou En-lai declared, "We Communists are atheists".<ref>Noebel, David, The Battle for Truth, Harvest House, 2001.</ref>

In 2014, the Communist Party of China reaffirmed that members of their party must be atheists.<ref>
*[https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/19567-china-s-communist-party-reaffirms-marxism-maoism-atheism China’s Communist Party Reaffirms Marxism, Maoism, Atheism], ''New American'', 2014
*[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/02/china-communist-party-atheism-zhejiang-ban-religious-members-christianity_n_6599722.html China's Communist Party Bans Believers, Doubles Down On Atheism]</ref>

In 2016, the ''International Business Times'' reported:
{{cquote|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.<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/senior-chinese-religious-advisor-calls-promotion-atheism-society-2363850 Senior Chinese Religious Advisor Calls For Promotion Of Atheism In Society], ''International Business Times''</ref>}}

=== Russian revolution caused the most notable spread of atheism ===
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 [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninism">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130728215151/http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title=Investigating atheism: Marxism|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=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.|year=2008|accessdate=July 17, 2014}}</ref>

Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg, a Soviet physicist, wrote that the "[[Bolshevik]] communists were not merely atheists but, according to [[Lenin]]'s terminology, militant atheists."<ref name="Lenin & militant atheism">{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ufC9Ar8iuDcC&pg=PA161&dq=The+Bolshevik+communists+were+not+merely+atheists+but,+according+to+Lenin%27s+terminology,+militant+atheists.&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1oFUUdj6PIiK0QGvq4CAAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=The%20Bolshevik%20communists%20were%20not%20merely%20atheists%20but%2C%20according%20to%20Lenin's%20terminology%2C%20militant%20atheists.&f=false|title =''On Superconductivity and Superfluidity: A Scientific Autobiography'' |author=Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg|publisher = Springer Science+Business Media|pages=161|year=2009|quote=The Bolshevik communists were not merely atheists but, according to Lenin's terminology, militant atheists.|accessdate = July 17, 2014}}</ref> However, prior to this, the [[Reign of Terror]] of the [[French Revolution]] established a state which was anti-[[Roman Catholicism]]/Christian in nature <ref>Multiple references:
*Tallet, Frank and Atkin, Nicholas (1991). [https://books.google.com/books?id=aL4lsWdd-rAC&dq=&hl=en ''Religion, Society and Politics in France Since 1789''] (London: A & C Black), pp. 1-17. GoogleBooks archive.
*Spielvogel, Jackson J. (2006). [https://books.google.com/books?id=ni4PSpOxb6MC&dq ''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</ref> (anti-clerical [[deism]] and anti-religious atheism and played a significant role in the French Revolution<ref>Multiple references:
*Hunt, Lynn and Censer, Jack (2001). [http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap7c.html "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.</ref>), with the official ideology being the [[Cult of Reason]]; during this time thousands of believers were suppressed and executed by the [[guillotine]].<ref>Multiple references:
*{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bf3m7IVAa9gC&pg=PA461&dq=France+atheism+guillotine++Christians+executed&hl=en&sa=X&ei=l4lUUaTRBufG0QGe0IHACA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=France%20atheism%20guillotine%20%20Christians%20executed&f=false|title =''Christianity: The eBook''|author=James Adair|publisher = JBE Online Books|year=2007|quote=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.|pages=461|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}
*{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=9WkBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA105&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =''Memoirs of the Reign of George III. to the Session of Parliament ending A.D. 1793'', Volume 5|page=105|author=William Belsham|publisher = G.G. & J. Robinson|year=1801|quote=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, 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.'|pages=105–6|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}
*{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Tt5rqiCP1p8C&pg=PA57&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =''Christianity, Islam, and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West''|author=William Kilpatrick|publisher = Ignatius Press|year=2012|quote=Actually, it's helpful to think in terms of two Enlightenments: 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 constructions. "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 Madam Rolande as she faced the statue of Liberty in the Place de la Revolution movements 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.|pages=57|accessdate = July 18, 2014}}</ref>

=== Atheistic Communism and mass murder ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and Mass Murder|Atheism and mass murder]] and [[Atheist atrocities]]
[[File:Stalin-Lenin.jpg|right|202px|thumb|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|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.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~hpcws/lelivrenoir.htm "''The Black Book of Communism''"]. Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences website: Cold War Studies.
*Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"] University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War
*White, Matthew (February 2011). [http://necrometrics.com/20c5m.htm "Source list and detailed death tolls for the primary megadeaths of the twentieth century"]. Necrometrics
*Radosh, Ronald (February 2000). [http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=2526 "''The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression''"]. First Things [journal] website.</ref> 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.<ref>Rummel, R. J. (November 1993). [http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/COM.ART.HTM "How many did communist regimes murder?"] University of Hawaii website; Freedom, Democracy, Peace; Power, Democide, and War.</ref> [[Richard Dawkins]] has attempted to [[Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism|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|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."<ref name="Koukl">Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). [http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527 "The real murderers: atheism or Christianity?"] Stand to Reason.</ref>
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.<ref name="Koukl" /> As noted earlier, Richard Dawkins has attempted to [[Richard Dawkins, atheist atrocities, and historical revisionism|engage in historical revisionism concerning atheist atrocities]] and Dawkins was shown to be in gross error.

Koukl summarized by stating:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="Koukl" />}}

[[Vox Day|Theodore Beale]] notes concerning atheism and mass murder:
{{cquote|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 Zedong|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 [[Atheism and Hell|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!<ref name="marry">Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009). [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"]. Creation Ministries International.</ref>}}

See also:

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

=== Communism and religious oppression ===
''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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Kent, Jo Ling (April 28, 2011). [https://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/28/china.church.crackdown/index.html?hpt=T2 "Underground Christians fear China crackdown"]. CNN.com
*Yakovlev, Alexander N. (2002). [https://books.google.com/books?visbn=0300103220&id=ChRk43tVxTwC&pg=PA165&lpg=PA165&ots=ICIxg28Jud&dq=a+century+of+violence+in+soviet+russia+the+Russian+Orthodox+clergy&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=C9k9Hr7Vn222WCHf_1iSJOHVsgo#v=onepage&q=&f=false ''A Century of Violence in Soviet Russia''] translated by Austin, Anthony (New Haven: Yale University Press), p. 165.
*Braga, Fr. Roman (1996). [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/frroman1.aspx "On compromise in the hierarchy during the Communist yoke"]. Orthodox Christian Information Center.
*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun
*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"]. NewsMax. NorthKoreanChristians.com
*[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818 "China sends Bible owners to labor camp"] (November 26, 2003). WorldNetDaily.
*[http://www.epm.org/resources/2003/Jun/12/chinese-police-proudly-record-their-torture-christ/ Chinese Police Proudly Record Their Torture of Christians], By Voice of the Marytrs|June 12, 2003</ref>

==== Religious persecution in the Soviet Union ====
''See also:'' [[Soviet atheism]]

The [[persecution of Christians in the USSR|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 [[torture]]d, including [[crucifixion]]. "Russia turned red with the blood of martyrs", said Father Gleb Yakunin of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]].<ref>Ostling, Richard N. (December 4, 1989). [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,150718,00.html "Cross meets Kremlin: Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II"]. ''Time''. Time magazine website.</ref> According to Orthodox Church sources, as many as fifty million Orthodox believers may have died in the twentieth century, mainly from persecution by [[Communists]].<ref>Moore, Rev. Fr. Raphael (October 1999). [http://www.serfes.org/printerVersion2.asp?URL=/orthodox/memoryof.htm "In memory of the 50 million victims of the Orthodox Christian Holocaust"], Spiritual Nourishment for the Soul, Serfes, Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios, compiler.</ref>
[[File:China location.png|thumbnail|left|205px|With its large population, China has the largest population of atheists.<ref>[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf "The largest atheist/agnostic populations"]. Chris & Terri Chapman. Countries with the largest atheist populations.</ref>
 
 
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.<ref>Humphrey (December 16, 2008). [http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-anti-christmas.html "Merry Anti-Christmas!"] Quodlibeta.</ref> Despite intense effort by the atheistic leaders of the Soviet Union, their efforts were not effective in converting the masses to atheism.<ref>Multiple references:
*Humphrey (December 16, 2008). [http://bedejournal.blogspot.com/2008/12/merry-anti-christmas.html "Merry Anti-Christmas!"] Quodlibeta.
*Froese, Paul (March 2004). [http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bpl/jssr/2004/00000043/00000001/art00003?crawler=true "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</ref>

==== Religious persecution in Communist China ====
''See also:'' [[China and atheism]]

[[China]] has the world's largest atheist population (see: [[China and atheism]]).<ref>[http://www.thechapmans.nl/news/Atheist.pdf Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], ''Washington Post'' By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013</ref> 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 [[Bible]]s in China were sent to prison camps and 125 Chinese churches were closed.<ref>[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818 "China sends Bible owners to labor camp"] (November 26, 2003). ''WorldNetDaily''.</ref> China continues to practice religious oppression today.<ref>[http://www.epm.org/resources/2003/Jun/12/chinese-police-proudly-record-their-torture-christ/ Chinese Police Proudly Record Their Torture of Christians], By Voice of the Martyrs|June 12, 2003</ref>

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.<ref>Briggs, David (January 23, 2011). [http://life.nationalpost.com/2011/01/23/huffington-post-chinas-state-sponsored-atheism-a-failure/ "Huffington Post: China’s state-sponsored atheism a failure" [excerpt]]. National Post website.</ref>

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.<ref>[http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/slaughter-mass-killings-organ-harvesting Review of: Ethan Gutmann, “''The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting and China’s Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem''”, (Prometheus Books, 2014).]</ref>

==== Religious persecution in North Korea ====
[[File:Martyred in the USSR Poster.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|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.<ref>[http://martyredintheussr.com/ Martyred in the USSR]</ref><ref>[http://www.anabaptists.org/books/russians/trs-1.html The Russians' Secret by Peter Hoover with Serguei V. Petrov, Speaking Without a Tongue, Chapter 1 (Pages 1-3)]</ref> ]]
[[North Korea]] is a repressive Communist state and is officially atheistic.<ref>Lee, Sunny (May 12, 2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20130521065544/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/IE12Dg01.html "God forbid, religion in North Korea?"] Asia Times Online. Archived at Internet Archive on May 21, 2013.</ref> The North Korean government practices brutal repression and atrocities against North Korean Christians.<ref>Multiple references:
*Clyne, Meghan (November 16, 2005). [http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 "Korean reds targeting Christians"]. The New York Sun.
*Siemon-Netto, Uwe (May 7, 2003). [http://northkoreanchristians.com/chinese-atrocities.html "North Korean and Chinese atrocities against Christians worsen"]. NewsMax. NorthKoreanChristians.com</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-10-22/repressive-atheist-north-korea-has-surprising-relationship-christian-missionaries Repressive, atheist North Korea has a surprising relationship with Christian missionaries]</ref>

=== Atheistic Communism and torture ===
See: [[Atheistic communism and torture]]

=== Atheistic Communist regimes and forced labor ===
''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]]).<ref>Multiple references:
*Caplan, Bryan (2010). [http://econfaculty.gmu.edu/bcaplan/museum/comfaq.htm "Museum of Communism FAQ version 1.3"]. George Mason University website/Department of Economics/Bryan Caplan/Museum of Communism.
*[http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/06/13/north-korea-economic-system-built-forced-labor "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). [https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/nov/07/qatar-north-korean-forced-labour "Qatar’s ambitious future driven on by North Korean ‘forced labour’"]. ''The Guardian'' website/World/Global Development.
*[https://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/red.giant/prisons/wu.essay "Labor camps reinforce China's totalitarian rule"] (1999). Cnn.com
*[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-01/07/c_132086402.htm "China to reform re-education through labor system"] (January 8, 2013). Xinhua.</ref>

== Atheism and politics ==

[[File:Xi Jinping March 2017.jpg|thumbnail|right|180px|[[Xi Jinping]] is the President of the [[People's Republic of China]], current General Secretary of the [[Communist Party of China]], and Chairman of the Central Military Commission.
 
 
The Communist Party of China requires that all their members be atheists and this is strictly enforced.<ref>[https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/asia/item/19567-china-s-communist-party-reaffirms-marxism-maoism-atheism China’s Communist Party Reaffirms Marxism, Maoism, Atheism], New American, 2014</ref>]]
Historically, atheists have favored the [[leftism|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 [[liberal]]s (compared with just one-in-ten who say they are [[conservative]]s)."<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/05/7-facts-about-atheists/ 7 facts about atheists], Pew Forum</ref>

In some regions where the [[secular left]] has considerable influence, they [[Decline of the secular left|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]]).<ref>[http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160114/1033149776/europe-rise-of-right-wing-parties-eu-failure.html EU Failures Fuel Rise of Right-Wing Populist Parties in Europe]. Sputnik News, 2016</ref>

For more information please see:

*[[Atheism and politics]]
*[[Secular left]]
*[[Decline of the secular left]]
*[[Western atheism, schisms and political polarization]]
*[[Atheism and historical revisionism]]
*[[Atheism and liberal Christianity alliances]]
*[[Secular right]]
*[[Atheist organizations]]

== Atheism and history ==
[[File: Voroshilov, Molotov, Stalin, with Nikolai Yezhov.jpg|right|225px]]
[[File: The Commissar Vanishes 2.jpg|thumbnail|right|220px|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.<ref>From the book The Commissar Vanishes: The Falsification of Photographs and Art in Stalin's Russia by David King</ref>

See: [[Atheism and historical revisionism]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheists and historical illiteracy]] and [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]] and [[Atheist indoctrination]] and [[Atheism and historical revisionism]]

The history of atheism: [[History of Atheism|History of atheism]]

=== Atheists and historical illiteracy ===
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|historicity of Jesus Christ]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder|atheist mass murders in history]].<ref>Multiple references:
*[[Vox Day|Day, Vox]] (March 10, 2014). [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-ignorance-of-cosmos.html "The ignorance of ''Cosmos''"]. Vox Populi blog.
*Koukl, Gregory (February 20, 2013). [http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527 "The real murderers: atheism or Christianity?"] Stand to Reason.</ref>

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheists and historical illiteracy]]
*[[Historicity of Jesus|Historicity of Jesus Christ]]

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

=== Religion/irreligion and war ===

''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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Ridley, Louise [assistant news editor, ''Huffington Post'', UK] (November 18, 2014). [http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/14/religions-war-cause-responsible-evidence_n_6156878.html "Does religion really cause war—and do atheists have something to answer for?"] The Huffington Post, United Kingdom.
*Day, Vox (August 13, 2012). [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2012/08/atheists-abandon-religion-causes-war.html "Atheists abandon 'religion causes war' argument"]. Vox Populi blog.
*Schumacher, Robin (April 2012). [http://carm.org/religion-cause-war "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). [http://www.bethinking.org/is-religion-harmful/religion-causes-wars "'Religion causes wars'"]. Bethinking.</ref>

=== Darwinism and war ===
There is historical evidence indicating that [[Darwinism]] was a causal factor for [[WWI]] and [[WWII]] (see: [[Irreligion/religion and war]] and [[World War I and Darwinism]]).

== Atheism and economics ==
*[[Atheism and economics]]
*[[Atheism and sloth|Atheism and economic productivity]]
*[[Atheism and economic prosperity]]

== Analysis of atheism and common objections to atheism ==
=== Commonly Cited Arguments Against Atheism and For Theism ===
See: [[Arguments for theism and against atheism]]
[[Image:Anselm.jpg|thumbnail|right|150px|[[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 [[theism|theists]] (72 percent).<ref>[http://www.strangenotions.com/atheist-scientists/ Does it matter that many scientists are atheists?]</ref>

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 [[Christianity|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 design]]er. See also: [[Evolution|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|Moral argument]]. [[Objective morality]] exists. Atheism lacks objective moral standards. Not possessing a coherent basis for [[morality]], atheists are fundamentally [[Moral relativism|incapable]] of having a coherent system of morality (See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheist population and immorality]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]) .<ref>Multiple references:
*Copan, Paul (2008). [http://www.paulcopan.com/articles/pdf/God-naturalism-morality.pdf "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). [http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god "Can moral objectivism do without God?"]. Bethinking.org
*Meister, Chad (2010). [http://www.equip.org/articles/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality/ "Atheists and the quest for objective morality"]. ''Christian Research Journal'', vol. 33, no. 2. Christian Research Institute website
*Slick, Matt (2009). [http://carm.org/failure-of-atheism-to-account-for-morality "The failure of atheism to account for morality"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website.</ref> 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|first cause]] is God. Christians point out that the question "Who created God" is an illogical question.<ref>[http://creation.com/who-created-god Who created God] by Don Batten</ref> See also: [[Atheism and the origin of the universe]]
[[File:Autumn.jpg|200px|right|thumbnail|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|Christian legal apologetics]] and archaeological evidence such as [[Bible Archaeology|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 ===
''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).<ref>Harr, Ken and Lisle, Dr. Jason (August 9, 2007). [http://www.answersingenesis.org/is-god-real/is-there-really-god/ "Chapter 1: Is there really a God?"] ''The New Answers Book''. Answers in Genesis.</ref>

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 ([[King James Bible|KJV]])

==Atheism and debate==
''See also:'' [[Atheism debates]]
[[Image:Bahnsen.jpg‎|thumb|right|150px|Dr. [[Greg Bahnsen]] became known as "the man atheists fear most" due to [[Michael Martin]]'s cancellation of their scheduled debate.<ref name="Bahsen at the Stein debate">[http://www.frame-poythress.org/frame_articles/Bahnsen.htm Bahsen at the Stein debate] by John Frame</ref><ref>[http://simpleapologetics.com/thegreatdebate.html The Great Debate: Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein]</ref>]]
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: [[Atheism and debate#Notable cases of prominent atheists being reluctant to debate|Notable cases of prominent atheists being reluctant to debate]]).

On May 14, 2011, the [[Great Britain|British]] newspaper ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' published a news story entitled ''Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of [[God]]''.<ref name="cowardice">Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html "Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God"]. The Daily Telegraph website. Retrieved July 25, 2014. See ''[[Daily Telegraph]]''</ref> 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 [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."<ref name="cowardice"/>

[[Greg Bahnsen]] became known as the "man atheists fear most".<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20080102084144/http://mywebpages.comcast.net/webpages54/ap/biobahn.html "A brief biography of Greg Bahnsen"] (2003). Applied Presuppositionalism website. Retrieved from January 2, 2008 archive at Internet Archive on May 14, 2015.</ref>
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 Regarding Michael Martin Pulling Out of Martin-Bahnsen Debate|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 [[Atheism and apathy|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 [[theism|theistic]] arguments.<ref>''Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith'' by Luís F. Rodrigues, page 201</ref> See also: [[Atheist apologetics]]

A majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the naturalistic [[evolution]]ary position since [[World War II]] have been atheists.<ref>Multiple references:
*Batten, Don (December 1997). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/737/ "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). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3830 "Chapter 1: Facts and bias"]. ''Refuting Evolution''. Retrieved from Creation.com [Creation Ministries International] on May 15, 2015. See [[Jonathan Sarfati]]</ref> 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 ==
See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheist population and immorality]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]] and [[Religion and morality]]

=== Objective morality incompatible with atheism ===
[[File:Copan at Tyndale.jpeg|thumbnail|right|180px|Dr. [[Paul Copan]] wrote: "...the existence of a personal God is crucial for a coherent understanding of [[objective morality]]."<ref>[http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God?] by Peter S. Williams, Bethinking.org</ref>]]
Under an atheist worldview, there is no logical basis for [[objective morality]] or ultimate meaning and purpose.<ref>
*[http://creation.com/atheism-no-objective-morality Atheism—no objective morality?], [[Creation Ministries International]]
*[http://www.bethinking.org/morality/can-moral-objectivism-do-without-god Can Moral Objectivism Do Without God?] by Peter S. Williams at Bethinking.org
*[http://www.equip.org/article/atheists-and-the-quest-for-objective-morality-2/ Atheists and the Quest for Objective Morality] by Chad Meister at Christian Research Institute
*[http://www.faithdefenders.com/articles/atheism/atheism_absolutes_at.html Atheism and absolutes]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheism and moral relativism]] and [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]

=== Atheism and moral relativism ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and moral relativism]] and [[Atheism and morality]]

Dr. Phil Fernandes states the following regarding atheism and [[moral relativism]]:
{{cquote|[[Friedrich Nietzsche|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 [[Subjectivism|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 [[existentialism|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.<ref>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.[https://books.google.com/books?id=u6XBuAQAiYUC&pg=PA120&lpg=PA120&dq=Nietzsche+preached+that+a+group+of+%22supermen%22+must+arise+with+the+courage+to+create+their+own+values+through+their+%22will+to+power.%22+Nietzsche+rejected+the+%22soft%22+values+of+Christianity+(brotherly+love,+turning+the+other+cheek,+charity,+compassion,+etc.);+he+felt+they+hindered+man%27s+creativity+and+potential.&source=bl&ots=kwDnaTOHqd&sig=0ywArBSb87JFleWRXZRv6DG3ZVo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjty8qqyIzWAhXHg1QKHe8UAVYQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Nietzsche%20preached%20that%20a%20group%20of%20%22supermen%22%20must%20arise%20with%20the%20courage%20to%20create%20their%20own%20values%20through%20their%20%22will%20to%20power.%22%20Nietzsche%20rejected%20the%20%22soft%22%20values%20of%20Christianity%20(brotherly%20love%2C%20turning%20the%20other%20cheek%2C%20charity%2C%20compassion%2C%20etc.)%3B%20he%20felt%20they%20hindered%20man's%20creativity%20and%20potential.&f=false])</ref>}}

=== Atheism and various types of immorality ===
[[Image:115523-004-FA619CA3.jpg|thumb|right|221px| The perverse and cruel atheist [[Marquis de Sade]] in prison, 18th century line engraving. See: [[Atheism and sadism]] ]]
*[[Atheism and sexual immorality articles]]
*[[Atheism and violence articles]]
*[[Atheism and deception articles]]
*[[Atheism and unforgiveness articles]]
*[[Atheist population and immorality|Atheism and various types of immorality]]
*[[List of atheist shooters and serial killers]]

=== Atheism and psychopathy ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and psychopathy]]

A [[psychopath]] is someone with an anti-social [[personality disorder]] characterized by [[violent]], [[perverted]] or immoral behavior often leading to [[criminal]]ity. Psychopaths have little or no concern for other people. Some psychopaths equate [[love]] with sexual arousal.<ref>{{cite book |title=Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us |author=Robert D. Hare |publisher=Guilford Press |place=New York and London |year=2011 |pages=52 |isbn=978-16062-35782 |url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1606235788}}</ref>

A 2016 study relating to atheism and psychopathy published in ''Plus One'' indicates:
{{Cquote|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.<ref>[http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0149989 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</ref>}}

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 [[psychopath]]y.<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4106400/ 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</ref>

=== Barna Group studies: Atheism and morality ===
'''Barna Group study on behavior of atheists vs. evangelical Christians:'''

[[Richard Deem]] wrote:
{{Cquote|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 [[evangelicalism|evangelical Christians]] - an average of nearly five times the frequency!<ref>[http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/atheists_more_immoral.html Atheism Doesn't Lead to Immoral Behavior - Or Does It?] by Richard Deem</ref>}}

'''Barna Group study related to atheist beliefs about behaviors:'''

The [[Barna Group]] found that atheists and [[agnostics]] in America were more likely, than [[theist]]s 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.<ref>[https://www.barna.org/component/content/article/5-barna-update/45-barna-update-sp-657/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard#.VumtJuYvK1s Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard], Barna Group</ref>

Given the [[Homosexuality and health|many diseases]] associated with homosexuality, the [[Bible|biblical]] prohibition against homosexuality is quite arguably one of the many example where the Bible exhibited knowledge [http://creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge that was ahead of its time]. See also: [[Atheism and sexual immorality]]

=== Study: U.S. public perception of atheist morality ===
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."<ref>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}}.</ref>

=== Atheism and uncharitableness ===
:''See also: [[Atheism and charity]]'' and [[Atheist nonprofit scandals]] and [[Atheism, uncharitableness and depression]]
[[File:Beggar.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A child in [[Thailand]] where the nontheistic form of [[Buddhism]] called the Theravada school of Buddhism is prevalent. In 2010, the Pew Research Forum indicated that 93.2% of the people of Thailand were Buddhists.<ref name="pew2010">[http://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/12/globalReligion-tables.pdf Pew Research Center - Global Religious Landscape 2010 - religious composition by country].</ref>
 

A comprehensive study by [[Harvard University]] professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.<ref name="Burke Campbell">Multiple references:
*Burke, Daniel, Religion News Service (May 13, 2009). [http://web.archive.org/web/20130310113024/http://www.pewforum.org/Religion-News/Religious-people-make-better-citizens-study-says.aspx "Religious people make better citizens, study says"]. Pew Research Forum. Archived on March 10, 2013 by Internet Archive.
*Campbell, David and Putnam, Robert (November 14, 2010). [https://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-11-15-column15_ST_N.htm "Religious people are 'better neighbors'"]. USA Today website.</ref> See: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] ]]

Concerning the issue of [[Atheism and charity|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]]:
{{cquote|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.<ref>[https://www.barna.org/barna-update/faith-spirituality/102-atheists-and-agnostics-take-aim-at-christians#.VwcO5jEn_7Y "Atheists and agnostics take aim at Christians"] (June 11, 2007). Barna Update.</ref>}}

A comprehensive study by [[Harvard University]] professor Robert Putnam found that religious people are more charitable than their irreligious counterparts.<ref name ="Burke Campbell"/>

See also: [[Atheism, social justice and hypocrisy]]

==== Church-state issues emphasis. Charity low priority ====
See also: [[Atheism and charity|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.<ref name="Hutchinson">Hutchinson, Sikivu (June 16, 2014). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/06/16/blacks-are-even-discriminated-against-by-atheists/ "Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about"]. Washington Post website.</ref> Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations do focus on helping poor African Americans.<ref name="Hutchinson"/>

==== Atheist nonprofit scandals ====
''See also:'' [[Atheist nonprofit scandals]] and ''[[Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science#Embezzlement allegation|Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science - Embezzlement allegation]]''

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.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/07/24/richard-dawkins-drops-his-lawsuit-against-former-employee/ Richard Dawkins Drops His Lawsuit Against Former Employee]
*[http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/10/24/richard-dawkins-sues-josh-timonen/ Richard Dawkins sues Josh Timonen], Posted by David Gorski on October 24, 2010
*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/07/24/richard-dawkins-drops-his-lawsuit-against-former-employee/ Richard Dawkins Drops His Lawsuit Against Former Employee]
*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/09/15/an-update-on-we-are-atheism/ An Update on We Are Atheism] by Hemant Mehta, September 15, 2015]</ref>

In addition, David Gorski at Scienceblogs indicated that many atheist/skeptic organizations are poorly run from a financial standpoint.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2010/10/24/richard-dawkins-sues-josh-timonen/ Richard Dawkins sues Josh Timonen], Posted by David Gorski on October 24, 2010</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Atheist nonprofit scandals]]

=== Irreligion and domestic violence ===
''See also:'' [[Irreligion and domestic violence]] and [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]]
[[Image:Cycle.gif|thumbnail|205px|right|Research suggests that irreligiousity is a causal factor for domestic violence.<ref name="vaw">Ellison, C. G., Trinitapoli, J. A., et al. (November 2007). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17951587 "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</ref>]]
The abstract for the 2007 article in the journal ''Violence Against Women'' entitled ''Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence'' indicated:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="vaw"/>}}

===== Secular Europe and domestic violence =====
See also: [[Secular Europe and domestic violence]]

=== Atheism and pornography ===
[[File:Larry Flynt Wheelchair.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|The [[pornography|pornographer]] [[Larry Flynt]] is an atheist.<ref>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." [https://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9701/11/falwell.v.flynt/lkl.00.html "Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell" [transcript]] (January 10, 1996). Larry King Live. Transcript from CNN.com on October 3, 2014.</ref> See: [[Atheism and pornography]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and pornography]]

One of the causes of atheism is a [[hedonism|hedonistic]] lifestyle. See: [[Atheism and hedonism]].

The infamous [[pornography|pornographers]] [[Hugh Hefner]] and [[Larry Flynt]] are both atheists.<ref>Multiple references:
*Gottesdiener, Laura (February 23, 2010). [http://www.salon.com/2013/02/23/10_celebs_you_didnt_know_were_atheists_partner/ "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." [https://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9701/11/falwell.v.flynt/lkl.00.html "Larry Flynt and Jerry Falwell" [transcript]] (January 10, 1996). Larry King Live. Transcript from CNN.com</ref>

In 2003, ''Arena magazine'' magazine listed Flynt as #1 on the "50 Powerful People in Porn" list.<ref>[http://www.onenewspage.us/people/ms9j0/Larry-Flynt.htm "Larry Flynt"]. One News Page.</ref> Flynt is paralyzed from the waist down due to injuries sustained from a 1978 assassination attempt by the serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin.<ref>Multiple references:
*Flynt, Larry and Ross, Kenneth (June 1, 2008). ''An Unseemly Man: My Life as Pornographer, Pundit, and Social Outcast'', pp. 170–171.
*[http://www.onenewspage.us/people/ms9j0/Larry-Flynt.htm "Larry Flynt"]. One News Page.</ref>

==== Atheism and child pornography ====
''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.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref>

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:
{{cquote|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.<ref>Nardos, Rahel, et. al. (2003). ''Overcoming Violence Against Women and Girls: The International Campaign to Eradicate a Worldwide Problem'', p. 59.</ref>}}

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."<ref>''Child Pornography and Sexual Grooming: Legal and Societal Responses'' by Suzanne Ost, Cambridge University Press, page 29, 2009</ref>

=== Atheism, pedophilia and NAMBLA ===
[[Image:Harry Hay.jpg|thumb|150px|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).<ref>Abbott, Matt C. (August 22, 2010). [http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/100822 "The mind of a pederast"]. RenewAmerica.</ref>

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.<ref>Bronski, Michael (October 31, 2002). [http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/other_stories/documents/02511115.htm "The real Harry Hay"]. The Phoenix.com.</ref> Harry Hay was an atheist.<ref>Kincaid, Cliff, Accuracy in Media (January 7, 2010). [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/ss_politics0010_01_07.asp "Twisted: administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association"]. WorldTribune.com.</ref> He was a vociferous advocate of man/boy love.<ref>Multiple references:
*Lord, Jeffrey (October 5, 2006). [http://spectator.org/articles/46366/when-nancy-met-harry "Special report: when Nancy met Harry"]. The American Spectator website.
*Kincaid, Cliff, Accuracy in Media (January 7, 2010). [http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/ss_politics0010_01_07.asp "Twisted: administration's 'safe schools czar' and the North American Man-Boy Love Association"]. WorldTribune.com.</ref> In 1986, Hay marched in a [[homosexual|gay]] parade wearing a shirt emblazoned with the words "[[NAMBLA]] walks with me."<ref>Baldwin, Hon. Steve (2002). [http://www.mega.nu/ampp/baldwin_pedophilia_homosexuality.pdf "Child molestation and the homosexual movement"]. ''Regent University Law Review'', vol. 14, pp. 267-282. The Architecture of Modern Political Power</ref>

3. The writer [[Samuel R. Delany]] is an atheist and a homosexual.<ref>Multiple references:
*Delany, Samuel R. (2006). ''About Writing: Seven Essays, Four Letters, and Five Interviews'' (Middletown: Wesleyan), p. 36.
*[http://www.enotes.com/topics/samuel-r-delany/critical-essays/delany-samuel-r-vol-141#critical-essays-delany-samuel-r-vol-141-introduction "Introduction"] (2001). ''Contemporary Literary Criticism'', ed. Hunter, Jeffrey W., vol. 141 (Gale Cengage). eNotes.com</ref> Delaney said he was a supporter of NAMBLA.<ref>Freedman, Carl (2009). ''Conversations with Samuel R. Delany'' (Jackson: Univ. Press of Mississippi), p. 143.</ref>

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

=== Atheism and slavery/forced labor ===
*[[Atheism and slavery]]
*[[Atheism and forced labor]]

=== Immorality of prominent atheists ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]
[[File:JAMES RANDI.jpg|thumbnail|170px|left|[[James Randi]] ]]
[[James Randi]] is a leader within the atheist community. Brian Thompson, former James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Outreach Coordinator, wrote:
{{cquote|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, [[misogyny|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.<ref>Myers, P. Z. (March 31, 2014). [http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/03/31/when-will-this-situation-improve/ "When will this situation improve?"] Pharyngula.</ref>}}

See also:

*[[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]
*[[Richard Carrier, adultery, divorce and polyamory]]
*[[Atheist conferences#Atheist events and inappropriate sexually related activities|Atheist conferences and inappropriate sexual activity]]

=== Atheism and rape ===
*[[Atheism and rape]]
*[[Mass rape during the occupation of Germany|Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army]]

=== Atheism and abortion ===
The ''Journal of Medical Ethics'' wrote this about the atheist and [[sadism|sadist]] [[Marquis de Sade]]:
{{cquote|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.<ref>Farr, A. D. (1980). [http://jme.bmj.com/content/6/1/7.abstract "The Marquis de Sade and induced abortion"]. ''Journal of Medical Ethics'', 6, pp. 7-10. Journal of Medical Ethics website</ref>}}

[[Population control]] is based on [[pseudoscience]] and ill founded [[economics|economic]] assumptions.<ref>Egnor, Michael (November 30, 2010). [http://www.evolutionnews.org/2010/11/pz_myers_on_abortion040971.html "P. Z. Myers on abortion"]. Evolution News and Views.</ref> ''[[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."<ref>Katz, Neil (August 26, 2010). [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-atheist-doctors-twice-as-likely-to-pull-plug/ "Study: atheist doctors twice as likely to pull plug"]. CBSNews.com.</ref>

=== Atheism and profanity ===
''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.<ref>Multiple references:
*[https://www.barna.org/component/content/article/5-barna-update/45-barna-update-sp-657/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard#.VwcQ8jEn_7Y "Practical outcomes replace biblical principles as the moral standard"] (September 10, 2001). Barna Update.
*Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "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). [http://spp.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/06/18/1948550613492345.full.pdf+html "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.</ref>
Use of profanity by individuals is negatively correlated with conscientiousness and agreeableness.<ref>Jay, Timothy and Janschewitz, Kristin (May/June 2012). [http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/observer/2012/may-june-12/the-science-of-swearing.html "The Science of Swearing"]. ''Observer'', vol. 25, no. 5. The Association for Psychological Science website</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and profanity]]

=== Irreligion and crime/prison population ===
*[[Religion and crime reduction]]
*[[Irreligious prison population]]

=== Atheism and infanticide ===
[[Infanticide]] is the practice of killing very young children. An infant has been medically defined as a child too young to speak.<ref>MedicineNet.com http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=3966.</ref>

Below is an article on atheism and infanticide:

*[[Atheism and infanticide]]

=== Atheism and bestiality ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and bestiality]]

=== Atheism and other moral issues ===
For more information please see: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]]

=== Atheism and hypocrisy ===
''See also:'' [[Atheist hypocrisy]]

In order to attempt to justify their atheism, atheists often engage in [[Hypocrisy|hypocritical]] argumentation. In addition, atheists often engage in hypocritical behavior. Please see: [[Atheist hypocrisy]]

=== Atheism and social justice ===
See: [[Atheism and social justice]]

=== Earlier definitions of atheism ===
Dictionaries point out that previous/archaic meanings of the word atheism are: ungodliness. wickedness, immorality<ref>[http://www.positiveatheism.org/mail/eml9779.htm Dictionary Says 'Atheism' Means 'Immorality'!?]</ref><ref>[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism Definition of atheism - Merriam-Webster dictionary]</ref>

== Atheism and philosophy topics ==
=== Atheism and meaning ===

=== Why atheism is irrational ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and irrationality]] and [[Irreligion and superstition]]

A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that [[Atheism and irrationality|atheism is irrational]].<ref name="athdef"/> In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.<ref name="inconsist"/> For example, the atheistic worldview cannot account for the laws of [[logic]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Lisle, Dr. Jason (October 10, 2007). [http://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/atheism/atheism-an-irrational-worldview/ "Atheism: An irrational worldview"]. AnswersinGenesis.
*Slick, Matt (2010). [http://carm.org/christian-worldview-atheist-worldview-and-logic "The Christian worldview, the atheist worldview, and logic"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry.
*Petersen, Jason (2013). [http://answersforhope.org/portfolio_item/can-atheism-coherently-explain-the-laws-of-logic/ "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]]
**[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1hSx2evTGM "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). [http://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2006/12/05/greg-bahnsen-vs-gordon-stein-the-great-debate/ "Greg Bahnsen vs Gordon Stein mp3"]. The Domain for Truth.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and critical thinking]]

The atheist worldview cannot explain the existence of [[consciousness]] either and the [[theism|theistic]] worldview can offer a reasonable explanation.<ref>Multiple references:
*Piippo, John (March 20, 2012). [http://www.johnpiippo.com/2012/03/argument-from-consciousness-for.html "The argument from consciousness for the existence of God"]. John Piippo.
*Piippo, John (April 14, 2014). [http://www.johnpiippo.com/2014/04/one-of-atheisms-irresolvable-problems.html "Consciousness: One of atheism's irresolvable problems"]. John Piippo.</ref>
[[File:113320508 2b86fdb94a.jpg|thumb|201px|right|A common and legitimate criticism of the atheist worldview is that [[Atheism and irrationality|atheism is irrational]].<ref name="athdef">Multiple references:
*Slick, Matt (2010). [http://carm.org/cut-atheism "Atheism"]. Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry.
*Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"]. ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Internet Christian Library
*Gilson, Tom (March 21, 2012). [http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2012/03/21/atheists-dont-own-reason/10924 "Atheists don’t own reason"]. FaithStreet/On Faith.
*McInerny, Professor Ralph (1985). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html "Why the burden of proof is on the atheist"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 1. LeadershipU
*Platinga, Alvin (1991). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/3truth02.html "Theism, atheism, and rationality"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 3. LeadershipU. See [[Alvin Plantinga]].
*Day, Vox (2008). [http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf ''The Irrational Atheist: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens''](Dallas TX: Benbella Books). ISBN 1933771364; ISBN 978-1933771366.</ref> In short, atheism is a fundamentally incoherent worldview with a number of inconsistencies.<ref name="inconsist">Multiple references:
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4K_WZpIkM4 "William Lane Craig on scientific naturalism"] (January 12, 2008). YouTube video, 9:55, posted by Drcraigvideos
*[http://vimeo.com/102663614 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 1"] (August 5, 2014). Vimeo video, 8:10, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
*[http://vimeo.com/103277405 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism with J.P. Moreland, part 2"] (August 12, 2014). Vimeo video, 7:43, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
*[http://vimeo.com/103865278 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 3"] (August 19, 2014). Vimeo video, 7:21, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
*[http://vimeo.com/105068126 "The Summit lecture series: Scientific naturalism worldview with J.P. Moreland, part 4"] (September 2, 2014). Vimeo video, 6:40, posted by Jefferson Drexler.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6cTlDn4PiU "The incoherence of atheism - Ravi Zacharias"] (February 5, 2013). YouTube video, 51:59, posted by Christianity Reason and Science.
*Cooper, Jordan (August 31, 2012). [http://justandsinner.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-incoherence-of-atheism.html "The incoherence of atheism"]. Just and Sinner blog.
*Randy (November 12, 2012). [http://ephesians4-15.blogspot.com/2012/11/more-on-inconsistent-atheists.html "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]]</ref>]]

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheism and irrationality]]
*[[Atheism and logic]]
*[[Irreligion and superstition]]
*[[Atheism and groupthink]]
*[[Atheism and epistemology]]
*[[Atheism and postmodernism]]

=== Atheism and reason ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and reason]]

If [[Naturalism (philosophy)|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.
<ref name="C.S. Lewis' argument from reason">*[http://creationevolutiondesign.blogspot.com/2006/09/cs-lewis-argument-from-reason.html C.S. Lewis' argument from reason]
*[http://www.evolutionnews.org/2013/11/cs_lewis_and_th079541.html C.S. Lewis and the Argument from Reason] by Jay W. Richards, November 25, 2013
*[http://www.acton.org/pub/religion-liberty/volume-6-number-6/cs-lewis-and-materialism C.S. Lewis and Materialism] by John G. West
*[http://wmbriggs.com/blog/?p=8669 C.S. Lewis On The Validity of Reasoning]
*[http://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2012/04/cs-lewis-on-rationality-and-materialism.html C.S. Lewis on Rationality and Materialism ]
*[http://str.typepad.com/weblog/2008/08/naturalisms-hot.html Naturalism's Hot Water]</ref> Therefore, believing in naturalism is self-defeating.

In short, atheism/naturalism and reason are incompatible.<ref name="C.S. Lewis' argument from reason"/>

=== Logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit ===
List of logical fallacies that atheists commonly commit: [[Atheism and logical fallacies]]

=== Atheism and meaninglessness ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and meaninglessness]] and [[Nihilism]] and [[Absurdism]] and [[Existentialism]]

Under an atheistic worldview, there is no objective meaning or purpose in life.<ref>Multiple references:
*Anderson, James (July 16, 2013). [http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/can-life-have-meaning-without-god "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). [http://www.bethinking.org/atheism/reclaiming-reason-from-atheism "Reclaiming reason from atheism".] Bethinking. ["Why atheism?"]
*Sirrahc (April 19, 2012). [http://aviewfromtheright.com/2012/04/19/heat-death-and-atheist-inconsistency-or-isnt-it-ironic/ "Heat death and atheist inconsistency (or, isn’t it ironic?)"]. A View from the Right
*Shramek, Dustin (2009). [http://www.oocities.org/athens/delphi/8449/atheism.html "Atheism and death: Why the atheist must face death with despair"]. Contend for the Faith [archive]. Archive
*Brake, Aaron (2013). [http://pleaseconvinceme.com/2013/apathy-atheism-and-the-absurdity-of-life-without-god/ "Apathy, atheism, and the absurdity of life without God"]. Pleaseconvinceme.
*Prayson, Daniel (December 16, 2010). [http://withalliamgod.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/the-meaningless-life-of-atheism/ "The meaningless life of atheism"]. With All I Am.</ref> Through [[Jesus Christ]], Christianity offers objective meaning and purpose to life.<ref>Multiple references:
*Slick, Matt (2012). [http://carm.org/meaning-of-life "What does the Bible say about the meaning/purpose of life?"]. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website
*[Under a Christian worldview] [http://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_MeaningLife.htm "What is the purpose and meaning of life?"] (2009). Christian Bible Reference Site.</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and meaninglessness]]

=== Arrogance of atheism/atheists ===
''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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"]. ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Internet Christian Library
*Copan, Paul (April 6, 2009). [http://www.equip.org/articles/the-presumptuousness-of-atheism/ "The presumptuousness of atheism"]. Christian Research Institute.
*Cupp, S. E. (December 29, 2010). [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/arrogance-atheists-batter-believers-religion-smug-certainty-article-1.469613 "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). [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100230985/how-atheists-became-the-most-colossally-smug-and-annoying-people-on-the-planet/ "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). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/how-anger-fuels-atheistic-arrogance-58281/ "How anger fuels atheistic arrogance"]. Christian Post website.
*[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/atheist_arrogance.htm "Militant atheist arrogance and pride"] (2007). Militant Atheism Exposed.</ref>

==== Why atheism is an arrogant ideology ====
''See also:'' [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|Arguments against atheism]] and [[Atheism and arrogance]]
[[File:Old Nietzsche, 1899.JPG|thumbnail|220px|right|[[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!".<ref>[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/atheist_arrogance.htm 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]</ref>
 

The picture of Nietzsche above was taken in 1899. Nietzsche died in 1900. See: [[Atheism and arrogance]] ]]
Atheists [[Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism|lack proof and evidence]] that God does not exist and ignore the [[Christian apologetics websites|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.<ref name="defensive">Samples, Kenneth R. (Fall 1991 and Winter 1992). [http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0131a.html "Putting the atheist on the defensive"]. ''Christian Research Institute Journal'', p. 7. Internet Christian Library</ref>

Contrary to the mistaken notion of individuals who are inexperienced in [[logic]]/philosophy, there are plenty of cases where universal negatives [[Universal negative|can be proven]].<ref>Ferguson, Shawn (August 14, 2014). [http://blog.faithbeyondbelief.ca/2014/08/the-universal-negative-can-it-be-proven.html "The universal negative: Can it be proven?"] Faith Beyond Belief.</ref> However, atheists' universal negative claim that God does not exist is not a reasonable universal negative claim.<ref name="defensive"/>

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]]

==== Study: Arrogance of New Atheists ====
See: [[Atheism and arrogance#Study relating the arrogance of New Atheists and the discovery of errors by the New Atheists|Study relating the arrogance of New Atheists]]

=== Atheists/agnostics and ultimate purpose ===
''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]]).<ref>Multiple references:
*Banerjee, Konika and Bloom, Paul (October 17, 2014). [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/opinion/sunday/does-everything-happen-for-a-reason.html "Does everything happen for a reason?"] The New York Times website
*Catchpoole, David (July 16, 2009 [GMT+10]). [http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed "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). [https://books.google.com/books?id=BGU7LZ2bQ4cC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=As+for+me,+I+don%E2%80%99t+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.&source=bl&ots=die9xMUdsB&sig=3dAJOK34aBalYieFKcJLdGpwFjY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NXhqVMSmHMexyASUyYKIBw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=As%20for%20me%2C%20I%20don%E2%80%99t%20see%20myself%20as%20so%20much%20dust%20that%20has%20appeared%20in%20the%20world%20but%20as%20a%20being%20that%20was%20expected%2C%20prefigured%2C%20called%20forth.%20In%20short%2C%20as%20a%20being%20that%20could%2C%20it%20seems%2C%20come%20only%20from%20a%20creator%3B%20and%20this%20idea%20of%20a%20creating%20hand%20that%20created%20me%20refers%20me%20back%20to%20God.&f=false ''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 atheism|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 [[Orchid]]s, and upon The [[Earthworm]]s, 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)"
**[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html "Notes to 'Teleological arguments for God's existence'"] [article revised removing reference in January 2015].
**The Duke of Argyll (1885). [https://books.google.com/books?id=CskhAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22good+words%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fs24VKGOMpDnsATg_4HYDQ&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22it%20seems%20to%20go%20away%22&f=false "What is science?"] ''Good Words'' [United Kingdom], vol. 26, p. 244. GoogleBooks archive
</ref>

See also:

*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]

== Atheism and religion ==
=== Atheism is a religion ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism is a religion]] and [[Atheist cults]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
[[File:Sanderson Jones.jpg|thumbnail|right|200px|The [[British atheism|British atheist]] Sanderson Jones is a founder of the Sunday Assembly atheist church movement.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/06/atheist-church-split_n_4550456.html Atheist Church Split: Sunday Assembly And Godless Revival's 'Denominational Chasm'], Huffington Post, 2014</ref>]]

See: [[Atheism is a religion]]

[[Atheism is a religion]].<ref name="Atheismisareligion">Multiple references:
*[http://creation.com/atheism-a-religion Is Atheism a religion?] by Daniel Smartt, Published: 4 May 2010(GMT+10)
*Hodge, Bodie; Patterson, Roger (2016). ''[https://assets.answersingenesis.org/doc/prod/etc/sample/10-2-476_sample.pdf ''World Religions and Cults Vol. 3'']. Master Books. 29–44. ISBN: 978-0-89051-970-7.
*Hodge, Bodie; Ham, Ken (Febraury 20, 2017). [https://answersingenesis.org/world-religions/atheism/atheism-is-religion/ Atheism Is Religion]. ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved March 27, 2018.</ref> And many of the leaders of the atheist movement, such as the evolutionist and [[New Atheism|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 [[Atheism and beliefs|number of beliefs]] such as [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]], belief in evolution and [[Origin of life|abiogenesis]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Slick, Matt (October 2011). [http://carm.org/atheism-worldview "Is atheism a worldview?"] Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website. See [[CARM]]
*Hearn, Brian F. (December 31, 2009). [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-a-worldview.aspx "Atheism a worldview?"] Apologetics.net.
*Hearn, Brian F. (May 2, 2012). [http://www.apologetics.net/post/Atheism-is-a-worldview-%28II%29.aspx "Atheism is a worldview II"]. Apologetics.net.
*Bannister, Andy (October 14, 2013). [http://www.rzim.eu/the-scandanavian-sceptic-or-why-atheism-is-a-belief-system "The Scandanavian sceptic (or why atheism is a belief system)"]. Ravi Zacharias International Ministries website. See [[Ravi Zacharias]]</ref>

Roderick Ninian Smart, a Scottish writer and professor, defined a seven-part scheme of understanding both religious and secular worldviews<ref>Smart, Ninian (1996). [https://books.google.com/books?id=14j2UrLCi64C&pg=PA130&lpg=PA130&dq=ninian+smart+narrative&source=bl&ots=Hq3WwG_mVT&sig=j-8FpwSdqohURYodSdcl46erSJY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FgybT6zxIc-_gAe864X6Dg&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=ninian%20smart%20narrative&f=false ''Dimensions of the Sacred'' [preview]] (Oakland, CA: University of California Press). Preview: GoogleBooks</ref> 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.<ref>Smartt, Daniel (November 6, 2008). [https://archive.is/L3cY5 "Atheism religion naturalism morally relative"]. Archive of SpiritualLiving360°.</ref> However, it can be argued that all seven are present in the case of atheism.<ref name="Atheismisareligion"/>
<ref>*Ammi, Ken (June 11, 2009). [http://creation.com/atheism "Atheism"]. Creation Ministries International.</ref>

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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Thier, Dave (June 23, 2013). [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/24/us/in-the-bible-belt-offering-atheists-a-spiritual-home.html?_r=0 "In the Bible belt offering atheists a spiritual home"]. Nytimes.com
*Hallowell, Billy (April 17, 2013). [http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/17/atheist-sunday-morning-worship-services-are-on-the-rise/ "Bizarre trend: atheist Sunday morning ‘worship’ services are on the rise (minus God, of course)"] TheBlaze.
*Ortberg, Mallory (January 5, 2013). [http://gawker.com/5973377/londons-first-atheist-church-opens-tomorrow "London's first atheist church opens tomorrow".] Gawker.</ref>

See also:

*[[Atheism is a religion]]
*[[Atheist indoctrination]]
*[[Atheist cults]]

=== Atheist cults ===
See: [[Atheist cults]]

[[File:2384975035 230a0eac30.jpg|thumb|right|170px|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."<ref name="online.wsj.com">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref>]]

=== Atheism and spirituality ===
*[[Atheism and spirituality]]

=== Atheism and evidence ===
See: [[Atheism and evidence]]

=== Irreligion and superstition ===
''See also:'' [[Irreligion and superstition]]

In September 2008, the [[Wall Street Journal]] reported:
{{cquote|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 [[Conservative Christianity|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...."<ref name="paranormal">Hemingway, Molly Ziegler (September 19, 2008). [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html "Look who's irrational now"]. The Wall Street Journal website.</ref>}}
[[File:Loc of United States.png|thumbnail|175px|right|According to Pew Forum, [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Protestant]] churches in America grew by 2 million from 2007 to 2014.<ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2015/05/why-conservative-churches-are-still-growing/ Why conservative churches are still growing]</ref> See: [[Atheism vs. Christianity]] ]]

=== Atheism vs. Abrahamic religions and religion ===
*[[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
*[[Atheism vs. religion]]
*[[Atheism vs. Judaism]]

=== Atheism vs. Islam ===
:''See main article: [[Atheism vs. Islam]]''

=== Atheism and miracles ===
:''See main article: [[Atheism and Miracles]]''

In relation to [[Atheism and Miracles|atheism and miracles]], modern scholars are divided on the issue of whether or not [[David Hume]] was an atheist.<ref>Russell, Paul (February 11, 2013). [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/hume-religion/#10 "Hume on religion"]. ''The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' (Spring 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
</ref> 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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Lennox, John (2009). [http://www.bethinking.org/are-miracles-possible/the-question-of-miracles-the-contemporary-influence-of-hume "The question of miracles: the contemporary influence of Hume"]. BeThinking.
*Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986). [http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html "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</ref> 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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Lennox, John (2009). [http://www.bethinking.org/are-miracles-possible/the-question-of-miracles-the-contemporary-influence-of-hume "The question of miracles: the contemporary influence of Hume"]. BeThinking.
*Craig, Dr. William Lane (1986). [http://www.leaderu.com/offices/billcraig/docs/miracles.html "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
*Hoffman, Paul K. (Spring 1999). [http://www.galaxie.com/article/caj02-1-03?highlight=hoffmanA "A jurisprudential analysis of Hume’s ‘in principal’ argument against miracles" [excerpt]]. ''Christian Apologetics Journal'', 2:1, p. 2. Galaxie Software. Subscription required for full article.
*Geisler, Professor Norman (1985). [http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth19.html "Miracles and modern scientific thought"]. ''Truth Journal'', vol. 1. LeadershipU
*Lewis, C. S. (1960). [https://books.google.com/books/about/Miracles.html?id=tH8di3qQDhEC ''Miracles''] (New York: HarperCollins). Abstract: Google Books
*Holding, J. P. [http://www.tektonics.org/gk/hume01.html "David Hume: a critique"]. Tekton Apologetics.
*Esposito, Lenny (2002). [http://www.comereason.org/phil_qstn/phi060.asp "Are miracles logically impossible?"] Come Reason Ministries.</ref>

The ''Christian Post'' reporter Stoyan Zaimov wrote: "Double-blind prayer experiments: where people pray for others with terminal illness. [[Gary Habermas|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."<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-apologist-10-reasons-for-the-fall-of-atheism-106531/ Christian Apologist: 10 Reasons for the Fall of Atheism] by Stoyan Zaimov,'' Christian Post'', October 14, 2013</ref>

==== Atheists who believe in life after death ====
''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.<ref>[http://www.theskepticsguide.org/one-third-of-atheists-agnostics-believe-in-an-afterlife Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife], Skepticsguide.com</ref><ref>[http://relationshipsinamerica.com/religion/do-people-still-believe-in-life-after-death Do people still believe in life after death?], Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture Study</ref>

== Atheism and death ==
[[File:Atheism and death.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm "Fear of death: Worst if you’re a little religious?"] (July 13, 2005). World Science.
*Wink, P. L. and Scott, J. A. (July 2005). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 "Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study" [abstract]]. ''The Journals of Gerontology, series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences'', vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 207-14. PubMed.gov</ref> 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''.<ref name="Otago">University of Otago [New Zealand] (April 2, 2012). [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120402094322.htm "Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God"]. ScienceDaily.</ref> In a ''Psychology Today'' article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.<ref name="Heflick">Heflick, Nathan A. (May 25, 2012). [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-big-questions/201205/atheists-death-and-belief-in-god "Atheists, death and belief in God: The effects of death reminders on atheists' supernatural beliefs"]. Psychology Today website.</ref> Under stress, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.<ref>Multiple references:
*Ruhr University Bochum (August 9, 2012). [http://aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/pm2012/pm00263.html.en "Learn to forecast the weather after stress"]. aktuell.ruhr-uni-bochum.de.
*Gregoire, Carolyn (July 31, 2013). [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/learn-under-stress-brain_n_3678222.html "How the brain learns successfully, even under stress"]. The Huffington Post.</ref>

A United States study and a [[Taiwan]]ese study indicated that the irreligious fear death more than the very religious.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm "Fear of death: Worst if you’re a little religious?"] (July 13, 2005). World Science.
*Wink, Paul. and Scott, Julia. (July 2005). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 "Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study"]. ''The Journals of Gerontology. Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences'', vol. 60, no. 4, pp. 207-14. PubMed.gov.
*Wen, Ya-hui. (December 2010). [http://www.hraljournal.com/Page/4%20Ya-Hui%20Wen.pdf "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.</ref>

==== Atheists and belief in life after death ====
''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]]).<ref>[http://www.theskepticsguide.org/one-third-of-atheists-agnostics-believe-in-an-afterlife Survey: 32% of Atheists & Agnostics Believe in an Afterlife]</ref>

For additional information, please see:

* [[Atheism and cryonics]]
*[[Atheism and transhumanism]]

==== Atheism and Hell ====
''See also:'' [[Atheism and Hell]]

The journalist and [[ex-atheists|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.<ref name="PH">[http://vimeo.com/10354237 "Peter Hitchens author interview—The rage against God"] [interview of Peter Hitchens] (March 22, 2010). Vimeo video, 8:38, posted by Gorilla Poet Productions.</ref> This started a train of thought within Peter Hitchens that eventually led him to become a [[Christian]].<ref name="PH"/>

== Atheism and science ==
[[Image:Newton.jpg|alt=atheism quotes|right|thumbnail|200px|[[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|Atheism quotes]] ]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and science]]

=== Atheism and the suppression of science ===
See: [[Atheism and the suppression of science]]

=== Atheism and the social sciences ===
See: [[Atheism and the social sciences]]

=== Atheism and the foundation of modern science ===
''See also:'' [[Christianity and science]]

The birth of modern [[science]] occurred in Christianized Europe.<ref>Bumbulis, Michael, Ph. D. (November 24, 1996). [http://www.ldolphin.org/bumbulis/#anchor5343749 "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.</ref>

[[Sociology|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,<ref name="Origins">Williams, Alex (August 2004). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1581/ "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.</ref> only one ([[Edmund Halley]]) was a skeptic and another ([[Paracelsus]]) was a [[pantheism|pantheist]].
The other 50 were Christians, 30 of whom could be characterized as being devout Christians.<ref name="Origins" />

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 [[Koran|Alcoran]], than that this universal frame is without a mind."<ref name="bacon">Bacon, Francis (1601). [http://www.authorama.com/essays-of-francis-bacon-17.html ''The Essays or Counsels, Civil and Moral, of Francis Ld. Verulam Viscount St. Albans''; "Of atheism"]. Authorama.</ref>

===Atheism and questions of origins===
:''See articles: [[Atheism and Evolution]]'' and [[Evolution as a secular origins myth]]
[[Creationism|Creationist]] scientists state that the [[First Law of Thermodynamics|first law of thermodynamics]] and the [[Second Law of Thermodynamics|second law of thermodynamics]] argue against an eternal universe or a universe created by natural processes and argue for a universe created by [[God]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Hergenrather, John (2004). [http://www.creationencounter.com/space/lawsofscience.php "Evidences for God from space: can laws of science explain the origin of the universe?"] Creation Encounter.
*Thompson, Bert (2003). [http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=12&article=310 "So long, eternal universe; 'Hello beginning, hello end!'"] Apologetics Press.
*Brown, Dr. Walt (2008). [http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/AstroPhysicalSciences14.html "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.</ref> 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.<ref>
* Dr. Don Batten, [http://creation.com/a-whos-who-of-evolutionists A ''Who’s Who'' of evolutionists] ''Creation'' 20(1):32, December 1997.
* [[Jonathan Sarfati]], Ph.D.,F.M., [http://www.creation.com/content/view/3830 ''Refuting Evolution'', Chapter 1, Facts and Bias]
</ref> [[Creation science|Creation scientists]] assert that the theory of evolution is an inadequate explanation for the variety of life forms on earth.<ref>Morris, Henry M., PhD. (January 2001). [http://www.icr.org/home/resources/resources_tracts_scientificcaseagainstevolution/ "The scientific case against evolution"]. Institute for Creation Research.</ref> The theory of evolution [[Social effects of 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.<ref>[http://creation.com/origin-of-life Origin of life] by Dr. Don Batten</ref>

=== Atheism and scientific community ===
*[[Atheism and science]]
*[[Scientists and belief in the existence of God]]
*[[Atheism and the origin of the universe|Atheist scientists and the origin of the universe]]
*[[Atheists and the National Academy of Sciences]]

=== Atheism and scientific fraud and speculation ===
*[[Atheism and deception|Atheism and scientific fraud and speculation]]

==Atheism and mental and physical health==
:''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 [[science|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 <ref>Multiple references:
*[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3671693/ Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications] by Harold G. Koenig, ISRN Psychiatry. 2012; 2012: 278730.
*Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). [http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2811%2962799-7/fulltext "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice"]. ''Mayo Clinic Proceedings'' vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235. Mayo Clinic Proceedings website
*[http://www.spiritualityandhealth.duke.edu/index.php/research/research-library "Research library"]. Duke University Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health.
*McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf "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
*Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009). [http://www.ionainstitute.ie/the-benefits-of-religious-practise/ "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary]]. Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website.
*McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (2009). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications"]. ''Psychological Bulletin'', vol. 135: 1, pp. 69–93. University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website
*University of Colorado at Boulder (May 17, 1999). [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/05/990517064323.htm "Research shows religion plays a major role in health, longevity"]. ScienceDaily.
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract]]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8. Abstract: National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med
*University of Warwick (December 2003). [http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/A/20037338.html "Psychology researcher [Dr. Stephen Joseph] says spiritual meaning of Christmas brings more happiness than materialism"]. Scienceblog.
</ref> For more information please see: [[Atheism and health]] and [[Atheism and life expectancy]]

=== Mayo Clinic and other studies ===
[[Image:Mayo-clinic-gondaoverview.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The prestigious [[Mayo Clinic]] found that
religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better physical health and mental health outcomes.<ref name="Mueller">Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). [http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196%2811%2962799-7/fulltext "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice"]. ''Mayo Clinic Proceedings'' vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235. Mayo Clinic Proceedings website</ref> See: [[Atheism and health]] ]]
The prestigious [[Mayo Clinic]] reported the following on December 11, 2001:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="Mueller"/>}}

The [[Iona Institute]] reported:
{{cquote|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%.<ref>Multiple references:
*Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009). [http://www.ionainstitute.ie/the-benefits-of-religious-practise/ "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary]]. Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website.
*McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/rel_mort_meta.pdf "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</ref>}}

===Atheism and suicide===
:''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 and suicide|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]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html "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.
*Dervic, Kanita, et al. (December 2004). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15569904 "Religious affiliation and suicide attempt" [abstract]]. ''The American Journal of Psychiatry'', vol. 161:12, pp. 2303-8. Abstract: National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Pub Med
*[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction"] (September 17, 1894). ''New York Times'', p. 2.</ref> In 1894, the [[NY Times|''New York Times'']] stated the following in relation to atheism and suicide:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="nytimes">[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9507E2DC1131E033A25754C1A96F9C94659ED7CF "Atheism a cause of suicide; Dr. MacArthur preaches on the sin and cowardice of self-destruction"] (September 17, 1894). ''New York Times'', p. 2.</ref>}}
[[Image:Desperation_man.jpg‎ |thumb|left|200px|Atheists have higher suicide rates. See: [[Atheism and suicide]] ]]

The website Adherents.com reported the following in respect to atheism and suicide:
{{cquote|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."<ref>http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html</ref>}}

For more information please see:

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

[[File:Europe pol 2004.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|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.<ref name=whoalc>[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/alcohol-use/data-and-statistics "Data and statistics"] (September 2014 or bef.). Health topics/Disease prevention/Alcohol use. World Health Organization (WHO)/Regional office for Europe</ref>]]

=== Atheism and mental illness ===

See: [[Atheism and mental illness]]

=== Irreligion and recovery from illnesses ===

See: [[Irreligion and recovery from illnesses]]

=== Atheism and alcoholism ===
''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.”<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-briggs/charlie-sheen-circus-and-_b_836934.html The Doubled-Edged Sword of Religion and Alcoholism]</ref>

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.<ref name=whoalc/>

=== Atheism and illegal drug use and drug addition ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and drug addiction]]

Studies indicate that religious individuals are less likely to engage in illegal drug use than atheists/nonreligious.<ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/believers-consume-fewer-drugs-than-atheists-106266/ Believers Consume Fewer Drugs Than Atheists], ''Christian Post'', By Jim Denison, Christian Post Columnist, October 9, 2013|9:47 am</ref><ref>[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists], Science Daily, Date:October 3, 2013, Source: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung]</ref><ref>Multiple references:
*McCullough, Michael E. and Willoughby, Brian L. B. (January 2009). [http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf "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: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054 "Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: associations, explanations, and implications" [abstract]]. Retrieved from PubMed.gov on September 10, 2014.</ref>

According to ''Science Daily'': "Young [[Switzerland|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.<ref>Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung [Swiss National Science Foundation] (October 3, 2013). [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131003093041.htm "Believers consume fewer drugs than atheists"]. Science Daily website/Science News.</ref>

=== Atheism and loneliness ===
[[File:Depressed man.jpg|thumb|right|200px|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.<ref>Multiple references:
*Gammon, Katherine (March 2, 2012). [http://www.livescience.com/18800-loneliness-health-problems.html "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''.</ref>

Compared to deeply religious cultures where an extended family and a sense of community often exists, secular countries [[Secular countries and loneliness|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/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social skills]]).

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheism and loneliness]]

=== Atheism and cancer ===
See also: [[Atheism and cancer]]

Irreligious countries such as European countries and China, have significant problems with cancer (see: [[Atheism and cancer]]).

The [[World Health Organization]] declares concerning [[secular Europe]]: "Europe comprises only one eighth of the total world population but has around one quarter of the global total of [[cancer]] cases with some 3.7 million new patients per year."<ref>[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/cancer/data-and-statistics World Health Organization - Cancer statistics for Europe]</ref> See also: [[Europe and cancer]]

[[Denmark]], [[France]] and [[Australia]] have significantly higher rates of individuals holding to an [[Atheist worldview|atheistic worldview]] (see also: [[Irreligion in Denmark]] and [[French atheism]] and [[Irreligion in Australia]]). According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, Denmark, France and Australia have the three highest [[per capita]] cancer rates in the world.<ref>[http://www.wcrf.org/int/cancer-facts-figures/data-cancer-frequency-country Data for cancer frequency by country], World Cancer Research Fund International</ref>

=== Atheist and higher levels of harmful genetic mutations ===
''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]]).<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/religion-healthy-atheism-mutant-genes-756984 RELIGIOUS PEOPLE LIVE HEALTHIER, LONGER LIVES—WHILE ATHEISTS COLLECT MUTANT GENES], Newsweek, 2017</ref> <ref>[Atheists are more likely to be left handed, study finds], ''The Telegraph'', 2017</ref>

=== Atheism and obesity ===
See: [[Atheism and obesity]]

=== Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism ===

''See also:'' [[Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism]] and [[Irreligion and unsportsmanlike conduct]] and [[Atheism and obesity]]
[[File:Basketball.jpg|left|225px|thumbnail|Numerous studies report that athletes to be more religious than non-athletes.<ref>[http://www.thesportjournal.org/article/strength-religious-faith-athletes-and-nonathletes-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>]]
''The [[Sport]]s 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.<ref name="thesportjournal.org">[http://thesportjournal.org/article/strength-of-religious-faith-of-athletes-and-nonathletes-at-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions/ ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>
An excerpt from the abstract of the journal article ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'' declares:
{{cquote|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.<ref name="thesportjournal.org">[http://thesportjournal.org/article/strength-of-religious-faith-of-athletes-and-nonathletes-at-two-ncaa-division-iii-institutions/ ''Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions'']</ref>}}

{{See also|Atheism and bodily-kinesthetic intelligence}}

== Atheism and intelligence ==
[[File:Cerebellum.jpg|right|thumb|200px|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 the theory of multiple intelligences|Atheism and Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences]] and [[Causes of atheism]]

Within various countries, standardized [[intelligence testing|intelligence test]] (IQ) scores related to the issue of atheists/agnostics vs. theists intelligence scores yield conflicting results.<ref>
*[http://www.doxa.ws/other/smarter.html "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.
*[http://www.randalolson.com/2014/08/24/the-myth-of-the-smarter-atheist/ The myth of the smarter Atheist] by Randy Olson, Posted on August 24, 2014</ref> Part of the problem is that social scientists use variant definitions of atheism.<ref>Multiple references:
*Briggs, Dr. William M. (2013). [http://www.strangenotions.com/atheists-higher-iqs/ "Do atheists really have higher IQs than believers?"] Strange Notions. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.
*Wright, Bradley (January 26, 2012). [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/blackwhiteandgray/2012/01/how-many-americans-are-atheists-fewer-than-you-might-think/ "How many Americans are atheists? Fewer than you might think"]. Black, White and Gray. Retrieved on October 29, 2014.</ref> 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]]

=== Study on emotional intelligence and religiosity ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|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]].<ref>''Journal of Organizational Behavior'', Paek, Ellen (2006). "[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886906000961 Religiosity and perceived emotional intelligence among Christians". Personality and Individual Differences] (International Society for the Study of Individual Differences) 41 (3): 479–490</ref> See also: [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|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.<ref>
*[http://intentionalworkplace.com/2012/03/15/how-emotion-shapes-decision-making/ How emotion affects decision making], The Intentional Workplace
*[http://people.hss.caltech.edu/~steve/bechara.pdf 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
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wup_K2WN0I When Emotions Make Better Decisions - Antonio Damasio] - short video
*[https://news.usc.edu/29569/Antonio-and-Hanna-Damasio-Receive-Honorary-Degrees/ News item about Professor Antonio Damasio], University of Southern California
</ref>

=== Brain studies of atheists ===
''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]]).

== Atheism and women ==
''see also:'' [[Atheism and women]] and [[Atheism and rape]] and [[Elevatorgate]] and [[Prominent atheists whose wives believe in the existence of God]]

[[File:women.jpg|thumbnail|right|205px|Studies indicate that women tend to be more religious than men (See: [[Atheism and women]]). ]]

=== Recent studies ===

=== Atheist Alliance International analysis ===

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."<ref>[https://www.atheistalliance.org/about-aai/position-statements/1206-aai-position-statement-gender-balance.html AAI Position Statement - Gender Balance]</ref>

==== Surveys by country ====
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|atheist population]].<ref>Khan, Razib (November 18, 2010). [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/sex-differences-in-global-atheism-part-n/ "Gene expression; "Sex differences in global atheism, part N"]. Discover magazine website.</ref>

==== United States surveys ====
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.<ref name=agap>Carter, Stephen L. (March 27, 2015). [http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-03-27/the-atheism-gap "The atheism gap"]. BloombergView website.</ref>

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.<ref name=Britt>Britt, Robert Roy (February 28, 2009). [http://www.livescience.com/7689-women-religious-men.html "Women more religious than men"]. Livescience.</ref> In 2007, the Pew Research Center found that American women were more religious than American men.<ref name=Britt/>

=== Atheism and sexism ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and sexism]]

Most atheists are politically on the [[leftist|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]]
*[[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships|Atheist leaders and immoral relationships]]

=== Atheist feminism ===
See: [[Atheist feminism]]

== Atheism and marriage/relationships ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism and marriage]] and [[Atheism and illegitimate births]]

=== Atheism and rates of marriage in the United States ===
''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."<ref name="marry"/>

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."<ref name="marry"/>

For more information please see: [[Atheism and marriageability]]

=== Atheist marriages ===
See: [[Atheist marriages]]

=== Atheism and polyamory ===
*[[Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships]]

=== Atheism and divorce ===
See: [[Atheism and divorce]]

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

=== Atheism and its inability to explain love ===
See also: [[Atheism and love]] and [[Atheism and forgiveness]]

From a [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]], moral and spiritual perspective, atheists have an inability to satisfactorily explain the existence of [[love]].<ref name="How do atheists define love">[http://www.strangenotions.com/atheists-love/ How do atheists define love?] by Dr. Taylor Marshall</ref><ref name="atheistforum.wordpress.com">[https://atheistforum.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/what-is-love-how-materialist-atheism-fails-to-have-a-satisfactory-answer/ What is love? how materialist atheism fails to have a satisfactory answer], July 9, 2014</ref>]
From a moral, [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] and spiritual perspective, atheists have an inability to satisfactorily explain the existence of [[love]].<ref name="How do atheists define love"/><ref name="atheistforum.wordpress.com"/>

=== Atheism and sexuality ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and sexuality]] and [[Atheism and romance]] and [[Atheism and fertility rates]]

Research shows that religious women (especially [[evangelicalism|evangelical]]/low-church [[Protestantism|Protestant]] women) are more sexually satisfied than irreligious women.<ref>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</ref><ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2008/11/25/the-christian-sexual-awakening.html Why Are Christians Having Better Sex Than the Rest of Us?] by Tucker Carlson, The Daily Beast, November 11, 25, 2008</ref><ref>[http://blog.getrelationshiphelp.com/2009/07/christian-women-have-more-sexual-fun.html Christian Women Have More Sexual Fun], Relationship Center in Springfield Missouri</ref>

A social science study also reports that Hispanic men are more sexually satisfied than other ethnic groups in the United States.<ref>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</ref>
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 ===
''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.<ref>[https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unique-everybody-else/201806/defending-atheist-mutational-load-theory-part-2 Defending Atheist Mutational Load Theory — Part 2] by
Scott A. McGreal MSc., Psychology Today, June 22, 2018</ref>

== Atheism and race ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism, race and gender]]

=== Asian atheism ===
''See also:'' [[Asian atheism]]

[[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."<ref>[http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2010/11/most-atheists-are-not-white/ Most atheists are not white & other non-fairy tales], Discover magazine</ref>

The current [[Atheist Population|atheist population]] mostly resides in East [[Asia]] (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia among whites.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live], By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, ''Washington Post'', May 23, 2013</ref> See: [[Atheism and China]]

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 ===
[[File:Sikivu Hutchinson.JPG|thumbnail|200px|right|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.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/06/16/blacks-are-even-discriminated-against-by-atheists/ Atheism has a big race problem that no one’s talking about] by Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson, Washington Post June 16, 2014</ref>

Hutchinson also mentioned that church organizations significantly help poor African-Americans.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/> See also: [[Atheism and charity|Atheism and uncharitableness]] ]]
''See also:'' [[Western atheism and race]] and [[Black atheism]] and [[Atheism and diversity]]

==== Atheism and race: United States and Europe ====
In 2015, ''BloombergView'' reported:
{{cquote|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 [[Secular Europe|deeply Eurocentric]].<ref name=agap/>}}

In the United States, blacks have the highest rate of religiosity.<ref>[https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/gallup-blacks-most-religious-group-us Gallup: Blacks Most Religious Group in U.S.]</ref> Among Hispanics, religion has traditionally played a significant role in daily activity.<ref>[http://www.diocesephoenix.org/old_site/fc/CatecheticalLeadership/ChurchDocs/UnderstandingtheHispanicCulture.pdf Understanding Hispanic culture]</ref>

In 2011, Beliefnetnews reported concerning the race and gender of American atheists:
{{cquote|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|Freedom from Religion Foundation]] found that 95 percent were white, and men comprised a majority.<ref>http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/01/atheists-diversity-woes-have-n.php</ref>}}

== Atheism and education ==
*[[Religion and education]]
*[[Atheist indoctrination|Atheistic indoctrination and education]]
*[[Atheism and academia]]
*[[Atheism and academic performance]]

== Global atheism in the 21st century ==
=== Global decline of atheism ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and diversity]] and [[Atheism and culture]]
[[File: Blue Marble.jpg|200px|thumbnail|right|Atheism is in [[Global atheism|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.<ref name="cnsnews.com">[https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]</ref>]]
Atheists as a percentage of the world's population have declined since 1970 and global atheism is expected to face long term decline.<ref>
*[http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-world-is-turning-more-religious-atheism-declining-100518/ Study: World is becoming more religious]
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/globally-worldviews-of-atheism-and-non.html Globally the worldviews of atheism and non-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity is exploding in adherents]
*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf 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]
*[http://www.gordonconwell.edu/resources/documents/StatusOfGlobalMission.pdf Gordon-Conwell Seminary - Status of Global Mission, 2014, in the Context of AD 1800–2025]</ref>

On July 24, 2013, ''CNS News'' reported:
{{cquote|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."<ref name="cnsnews.com">[https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]</ref>}}

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%.<ref name="eb-2010">{{cite web|title=Religion: Year in Review 2010: Worldwide Adherents of All Religions|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1731588/Religion-Year-In-Review-2010/298437/Worldwide-Adherents-of-All-Religions|work=Encyclopædia Britannica Online|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.|accessdate=2013-11-21}}</ref> See: [[Global atheism statistics]]

=== Demoographics of atheism ===
[[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 ====
*[[China and atheism]]
*[[French atheism]]
*[[British atheism]]
*[[American atheism]]
*[[Irreligion in Australia]]
*[[Irreligion in New Zealand]]
*[[Atheism in the Anglosphere]]

=== Atheism statistics ===

*[[Atheism statistics]]
*[[Christianity vs. atheism statistics]]
*[[Research on atheism]]

=== Atheist movement and leadership ===
* [[Atheist movement]]
* [[Atheism and leadership]]

== Views on atheists ==
''See also:'' [[Views on atheists]] and [[Distrust of atheists]] and [[Atheism and social outcasts]] and [[Atheism and public relations]] and [[Atheophobia]]
[[File:Sam Harris-2010.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|[[Sam Harris]] ]]

Sociological research indicates that atheists are widely distrusted in both religious cultures and nonreligious cultures.<ref name="USATodayviewsonatheists">[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-12-10/religion-atheism/51777612/1 Study: Atheists distrusted as much as rapists]</ref><ref name="CPviewsonatheists">[http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheists-widely-distrusted-even-among-themselves-culturally-ingrained-uk-study-finds-160480/ Atheists Widely Distrusted, Even Among Themselves, UK Study Finds], Christian Post, 2015</ref><ref name="Independentviewsonatheists">[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/anti-atheist-distrust-deeply-and-culturally-ingrained-study-finds-a6952276.html Anti-atheist distrust ‘deeply and culturally ingrained’, study finds], ''The Independent'', 2015</ref><ref>Edgell, Gerteis & Hartmann 2006</ref>

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."<ref name="Independentviewsonatheists"/> The study found that many atheists do not trust other atheists as well.<ref name="Independentviewsonatheists"/>

=== Other topics related to views on atheists ===
*[[Persecution of atheists]]
*[[Atheophobia]] is a fear and/or hatred of atheism/atheists.

== Desecularization and its causes ==
''See also:'' [[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.<ref>''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)</ref>

=== Atheism and sub-replacement levels of fertility ===
''See also:'' [[Atheism and fertility rates]]
[[File:Jacques Berlinerblau.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|In 2011, atheist [[Jacques Berlinerblau]] declared: "The Golden Age of [[Secularism]] has passed."<ref name="chronicle.com"/>]]
Michael Blume, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany, wrote about the sub-replacement level of fertility among [[Atheist Population|atheistic populations]]: "Most societies or communities that have espoused atheistic beliefs have not survived more than a century."<ref name="scilogs.eu">[http://www.scilogs.eu/en/blog/biology-of-religion/2011-01-06/atheists-a-dying-breed-as-nature-favours-faithful-sunday-times-jan-02-2011-jonathan-leake-full-draft-version Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful]</ref> 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."<ref name="scilogs.eu"/> See also: [[Atheism and sexuality]]

On December 23, 2012, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] who teaches at Birbeck College, University of London wrote:
{{cquote|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.
<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2013/04/97-of-worlds-population-growth-is.html 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious], Tuesday, April 30, 2013</ref>}}

At a conference Kaufmann said of religious demographic projections concerning the 21st century:
{{cquote|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.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7vCDeKPRSo Eric Kaufmann - Religion, Demography and Politics in the 21st Century]</ref>}}

=== Secularism is exhausted and unconfident ===
''See also:'' [[Decline of the atheist movement]]

[[Eric Kaufmann]], an [[agnosticism|agnostic]] professor whose academic research specialty is how demographic changes affect religion/irreligion and politics, wrote in 2010:
{{cquote|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.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/uploadsepk/JQR%20Demography.pdf Shall the religious inherit the earth? - Eric Kaufmann]</ref>}}

[[File:Edward Tabash 2013.jpg|thumbnail|right|190px|[[Eddie Tabash]] ]]
The American atheist activist [[Eddie Tabash]] said at the 2010 Michigan Atheists State Convention:
{{Cquote|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 [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic alternative]] to supernatural claims in the public consciousness...<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iix6OjLH6aM Atheists Speak Up - Eddie Tabash]</ref>}}

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 ===
*[[Causes of desecularization]]
*[[Decline of the secular left]]

=== Zero secularization rates in France and Protestant Europe ===
''See also:'' [[British atheism]]

In April 2010, Eric Kaufmann declared "the rate of secularisation has flattened to zero in most of [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Europe]] and [[France]]."<ref>[https://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/shall_the_religious_inherit_the_earth/ Shall the Religious Inherit the earth] by Eric Kaufmann</ref>

''The Guardian'' published an article in 2017 entitled ''Nearly 50% are of [[Nones|no religion]] – but has [[UK]] hit ‘peak secular’?'' which declared:
{{Cquote|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.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/13/uk-losing-faith-religion-young-reject-parents-beliefs ''Nearly 50% are of no religion – but has UK hit ‘peak secular’?''], ''The Guardian'', 2017</ref>}}

=== Growth of evangelical Christianity in secular regions ===
*[[Growth of Christianity in China|Growth of evangelical Christianity in China]]
*[[East Asia and global desecularization]]
*[[Growth of evangelical Christianity#Evangelical Christianity and the developed world|Growth of evangelical Christianity in the developed world]]
*[[Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union]]
*[[Growth of Protestantism in Russia]]

=== Future of desecularization via the continued global resurgence of religion ===
''See also:'' [[Growth of global desecularization]] and [[Atheism vs. Christianity]]
[[File:Birkbeck College, University of London.jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|[[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]].<ref>
*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf 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]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]
*[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref>]]
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]].<ref>
*[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf 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]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]
*[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]</ref><ref>[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref> In addition, Kaufmann argues that religious conservatism has a long term trend of rising and that their influence in the world will significantly increase.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf 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]</ref> Kaufmann is author of the book ''Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books/about/Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth.html?id=nXVylycU2gQC Shall the religious inherit the earth by David Kaufmann]</ref><ref name="sneps.net">[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf 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]</ref> 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."<ref name="sneps.net"/>

Kaufmann told a secular audience in Australia: "The trends that are happening worldwide inevitably in an age of globalization are going to affect us."<ref>[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth Shall the religious inherit the earth]</ref> 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.<ref>*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/08/european-christian-immigration-will.html European immigration will pour Christian creationists into Europe]
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-future-of-european-darwinism-and_16.html The future of European Darwinism and atheism is bleak]</ref>

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 ====
See: [[Growth of global desecularization]]

== Notable atheists who became ex-atheists ==
''See:'' [[Ex-atheists]]

== Claims about the conditionality and existence of atheism ==
''See also:'' [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]] and [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|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'."<ref>More, Hannah (1815). [https://archive.org/details/anessayoncharac00moregoog ''An Essay on the Character and Practical Writings of St. Paul''], 5th ed., vol. 2 (London: T. Cadell and W. Davies), p. 234.</ref>

=== There are no atheists in foxholes ===
''See also:'' [[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]] and [[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
[[File:Foxhole.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring ''[[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]''.<ref>Multiple references:
* Taylor-Blake, Bonnie (September 24, 2006). [http://web.archive.org/web/20080617035633/http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696 "'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). [http://nealebooks.newsvine.com/_news/2012/12/15/15931810-there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes "There are no atheists in foxholes..."]. Newsvine website/Neal Osborn.</ref>]
Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring "[[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes|There are no atheists in foxholes]]."<ref>[http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,792459,00.html "Milestones [excerpt]"] (October 15, 1945). ''Time''. magazine website</ref> 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."<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9905EFD91239E13ABC4D51DFB7678383609EDE "Tells of religion in army. Chaplain Lawson says there are no atheists in front line"] (November 25, 1918). ''New York Times'', p. 13.</ref> On the other hand, the news organization NBC featured a story in which atheist veterans claimed that there are atheists in foxholes.<ref>Breen, Tom (April 2, 2011).[http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42391558/ns/us_news-military/t/army-group-coming-out-atheist-closet/#.UbgMndihjSg "Army group 'coming out of the atheist closet'"] from NBCNews.com</ref>

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|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."<ref name="Heflick"/> Please see: [[Atheism and death]]

=== Denials that atheists exist ===
* [[Denials that atheists exist]]

== Causes of atheism ==
:''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 ==
[[File:TFT.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[True Freethinker]] is a Christian apologetics website run by Ken Ammi which offers many [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments|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 [[Shadow To Light blog]], the [[True Freethinker]] website, the [[Creation Ministries International and atheism|Creation Ministries International resources on atheism]] and the [[Fixed Point Foundation]] website.

=== Freedom from Atheism Foundation (FFAF) ===
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 [https://www.facebook.com/FFAF.International 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.<ref>http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2014/05/09/i-support-the-freedom-from-atheism-foundation/</ref> 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.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/freedom-from-religion-how-about-freedom-from-atheism-119389/</ref>

=== Online videos related to atheism ===
*[[Atheism videos]]
*[[Creation vs. Evolution Videos]]

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

== Atheism and the media ==
''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]].<ref name=mrc>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTxORumTarg "Smoking gun proof that there is an atheist media bias"] (July 17, 2008). YouTube video, 2:56, posted by Atheism Sucks!</ref> 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.<ref name=mrc/> The study is not surprising given the liberal bias [[Liberal bias|that commonly exists in the major media outlets]].

See also:

*[[Atheism and the media#Post 2010 drop in volume of atheism news stories|Drop in news stories about atheism]]
*[[Atheism and the media#Post 2010 the percentage of negative news stories about atheism has increased|Negative news stories about atheism]]).

== Atheism and culture: Art, architecture, music, poetry, dance and humor ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism and culture]]

Atheism has not produced any outstanding cultural achievements and it has had a negative effect on cultures (see: [[Atheism and culture]]).

For additional information, please see:

*[[Atheist art]]
*[[Atheism and architecture]]
*[[Atheist music]]
*[[Atheist poetry]]
*[[Atheism and dance]]
*[[Atheism and humor]]

== Atheism and homosexuality ==
See:

*[[Atheist actions against homosexuals]]
*[[Atheism and homosexuality]]

== Other well-known proponents of atheism ==
''See:'' [[Famous atheists]] and [[Famous agnostics]]
[[Image:nietzsche2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Friedrich Nietzsche]] ]]
*[[Diagoras of Melos]]
*[[Friedrich Nietzsche]]
*[[A. J. Ayer]]
*[[Ludwig Feuerbach]]
*[[Friedrich Engels]]
*[[Sigmund Freud]]
*[[Adolf Hitler]]<ref name="Today's atheists"/>
*[[Albert Camus]]
*[[Ayn Rand]]
*[[Madalyn Murray O'Hair]]
*[[Paul Kurtz]]
*[[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]]

=== Well-known proponents of skepticism/atheism/agnosticism ===
*[[David Hume]]
*[[Bertrand Russell]]

== Atheist organizations ==
See: [[Atheist organizations]]

=== Atheist organizations and fundraising ===
*[[Atheist organizations and fundraising]]

==Atheism quotes==
''See articles: [[Atheism Quotes]]''

== Atheism news ==
See: [[Atheism news]]

== Recommended reading ==
*[[Christian apologetics books on atheism]]

== Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian ==
*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
*[http://creation.com/good-news Some good news]
*[https://rightsmarts.com/atheism-is-dead Atheism Is Dead]

==See also==
*[[Atheism articles]]
*[[Atheism symbols]]
*[[Essay: Atheism and evolution essays]]
*[[Atheism and satanic deception]]
*[[Second generation atheist]]
*[[Conservapedia:Atheism Project|Conservapedia Atheism Project]]

==External links==
''see also:'' [[Atheism website resources]]

'''General articles on atheism:'''

*[http://creation.com/atheism Atheism] by [[Creation Ministries International]]
*[http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/horrific-human-toll-of-militant-atheism-exposed/ Horrific Human Toll of 'Militant Atheism' Exposed: USSR's genocide against Christians largely ignored - World Net Daily]
*[http://creation.com/atheism-agnosticism-and-humanism-godless-religions-questions-and-answers Atheism, agnosticism and humanism: godless religions] by [[Creation Ministries International]]
*[https://www.bethinking.org/tag/atheism/page/all Atheism articles - Bethinking.org]
*[http://www.truefreethinker.com/atheism True Free Thinker - atheism section]
*[http://www.carm.org/atheism.htm Atheism] by [[Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry]]
*[http://www.wnd.com/2017/04/former-atheists-case-for-christ-hits-big-screen/ Former Ateist's 'Case For Christ Hits Big Screen], 2017

'''Prominent atheists:'''

*[[Atheism and leadership]]
*[http://www.thebestschools.org/blog/2011/12/01/50-top-atheists-in-the-world-today/ 50 most prominent atheists in the world today]

'''Other articles on atheism:'''

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

{{Nb Atheism}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

[[Category:Atheism]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]

Satan

2018-12-14T16:01:06Z

Mhutch: Added quote about Satan

[[Image:GustaveDoreParadiseLostSatanProfile.jpg|right|thumb|Gustave Doré's depiction of Satan from John Milton's Paradise Lost.]]

'''Satan''' or the '''[[Devil]]''' is the embodiment of evil, who plays a major role in [[Christian]] theology and literature, besides other religions under different names. He is the tempter and spiritual enemy of mankind. He is the adversary of [[God]], although subordinate to Him and able to act only by his sufferance, and is represented frequently as the leader or prince of all apostate angels and as ruler of [[hell]].
"Satan is the force that loves to find the guilt and weakness in people, to humiliate them with it, to convince them that, because they are not good, God cannot love them."<ref>[http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/258360/iritei-stuff-satan-prosecutor-mike-potemra The Rite Stuff: Satan as Prosecutor] - Mike Potemra</ref> [[Leftist]] Saul Alinsky dedicated to Lucifer his book ''Rules for Radicals'', which inspired some [[liberal]] activists. Charles Baudelaire said, "the finest trick of the devil is to persuade you that he does not exist".<ref>{{cite web|title="WikiQuote"|url=https://en.m.wikiquote.org/wiki/Charles_Baudelaire|date=December 14, 2018}}</ref>

==Old Testament==
Satan was once a member of the divine council of God referenced in the [[Old Testament]]. He is referenced 11 times in [[Job]] and 4 other times in the Old Testament. The [[New Testament]] mentions Satan 34 times in all, starting with the first book [[Matthew]] and ending with the last [[Revelation]]. In the Christian tradition, he rebelled against God and is now the enemy of God and man alike. He is the father of lies, and no good is found in him. He leads a host of fallen angels, (or [[demon]]s), who know their days are numbered before they will be cast in the lake of fire, so they seek to take as many humans as possible with them.

== New Testament==
In the [[New Testament]], Satan tries to tempt [[Jesus]] in the desert, and fails. Jesus warns extensively to beware of Satan, as does [[Paul]].

In Christian theology, Satan's goal is to lead people away from the love of God, by tempting or tricking them. The only sources of supernatural power in the world are from either God (good) or Satan (evil). In the book of [[Genesis]], Satan takes the form of a snake and tempts Eve with fruit from a tree. This causes sin to come into the world. Kelly (2006) demonstrates how assumptions—such as the identification of the Eden serpent with Satan, probably first made by Justin Martyr in the second century—have hardened into fact.

Satan, in the Book of Job, listens to God speak highly of Job and accuses Job to God before the host of angels that Job praises God only because he is blessed and would curse God if he was forced to suffer. God allows Satan to do what he will except to spare his life, and Satan causes Job to suffer immensely. (Job remained true to God through his hardships; Satan accused him further and punished him further, but could not get Job to break).

==Possession==
[[Jesus]] makes references to demonic possession on multiple occasions that He then casts out. Some believe that Satan is able to possess and control living humans on Earth even today. Even more, some others believe that Satan actually has done this in the past as well. Specifically, Satan is said to have entered Judas during [[The Last Supper]] (John 13:27). The Catholic church believes that priests (and sometimes only bishops) are able to exorcise this possession through Jesus.

==Terms==
The word ''Satan'' derives from the Hebrew "ha-satan", meaning the "accuser", "tempter", "persecutor", "calumniator", or "adversary". He "was a liar and a murderer from the beginning." (John 8:44) Synonyms include '''Lucifer, The Devil, Mephistopholes, Mephisto, Beelzebub, the Evil One, the Tempter,''' and '''The Prince of Darkness.''' The term "demon" generally refers to one of the fallen angels who join into Satan's attempt to overthrow God.

The adjectives include "devilish," "demonic", and "diabolic". Those who worship Satan are called [[satanism|Satanists]], Satan-worshippers, devil-worshippers, or demonists.

=== Lucifer ===
'''Lucifer''' is a name literally meaning "Son of the Morning" (or "Light-Bearer"), and is mentioned in the Bible only in the [[book of Isaiah]] (Isaiah 14:12). Though in Christian tradition Lucifer is equated with Satan, the immediate context of the passage is Isaiah's prophecy against the king of Babylon, [[Nebuchadnezzar]], and the name "Lucifer" was not present at all in the original manuscripts (in the Latin Vulgate, the phrase "Son of the Morning" was transliterated as a proper name).

Whomever Lucifer may be, the Isaiah makes strong prophecy against him, condemning him for 5 pronouncements:

* I will ascend into [[heaven]]
* I will exalt my throne above the stars of God
* I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north
* I will ascend above the heights of the clouds
* I will be like the most High

Those who take this passage to be a reference to Satan believe that it gives more history of what caused his downfall, that he was created by God as one of His most powerful angels (possibly a [[Seraphim|Seraph]]), but that he fell from grace after he in his pride rebelled against his Creator. Some, however, believe that there is no grounding to interpret the passage as a history of Satan, citing that the passage uses highly figurative and poetic language that was meant as a prophecy against Babylon and nothing more.

[[Image:Paradise Lost 12.jpg|right|thumb|''The fall of Lucifer'' by Gustave Doré.]]

===Beelzebub===
Literally "lord of the flies," this is believed to be a deliberately insulting perversion of the name "Beelzebul."<ref name="oxfordbiblicalstudies.com">http://www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com/article/opr/t94/e242</ref>

===Beelzebul===
Literally "Lord of Heaven" or "Lord of the House," this name is believed to have originated from the name Baal-Zebul, and may refer to the god of Ekron (see 2 King. 1:2-3).<ref name="oxfordbiblicalstudies.com"/>

== Jewish Views ==
In the Jewish tradition, Satan is an angel who faithfully serves God as a prosecuting attorney — one who accuses men of wickedness and impiety. At the direction of God, Satan may be permitted to test these accusations, such as in Job. In this view, Satan's goal is not to lead men away from their faithfulness to God, but merely to reveal the true depths of their devotion, although in [[I Chronicles]] 21:1 Satan provoked [[David]] to take a [[census]] of the people of Israel against the will of God and 70,000 men are slain because of it. [[II Samuel]] 24:1 supports the view of Satan as God's prosecuting attorney by reporting that it was the Lord Who moved David to take the census; the two passages can easily [[Scripture interprets Scripture|be reconciled]] if Satan acted as God's agent.

==Jehovah's Witnesses==

[[Jehovah's Witnesses]] believe that Satan was at one time an [[Angel]] who lived among the many millions of Angels that existed before the [[world]] was created. They believe that at some point He developed the desire to be worshiped by [[Humans]] and other Angels and so set himself in Opposition to worship of [[Jehovah]], his [[God]] and Father. This they believe occurred in the Garden of Eden, and not prior to the Earths creation. [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] teach that Satan used a serpent as his mouth piece, the same way a vantriloquist uses a dummy, to bring the first [[Human]] couple under his control.

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that God has allowed Satan to rule mankind for several resons such as:

*Satan has challenged God's Right to rule his creations, not his power....

*Satan accuses God of bribeing Humans for their loyalty with protection and blessings....

*Satan has accused Humans of being loyal to God out of selfish reasons....

*Satan claims that he can rule mankind better than God....

Jehovah's Witnesses teach also that [[God]] decided that time, rather than a display of force, is needed to settle these issues. This, they believe, has giving Satan thousands of years to prove that Mankind is better off without God, that He (Satan) can rule Mankind successfully, and that the Humans that Do serve God do so only out of selfish reasons.

Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Satan does not live in any kind of [[Hell]] or world of the dead, but on the [[Earth]] as it's current ruler, along with as many as a third of the Angels of [[Heaven]]. They teach that Satan had lived in Heaven up until 1914, when Jesus and his Angels cast him out of Heaven, bringing woe to the Earth. this is their reasoning on Why the world has experienced two World wars, increasing lawlessness, an increase in disease and pollution, and the overall conditions on earth today.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Satan delegates authority to each Demon as he see's fit, and over what he see's fit, sometimes including whole Nations and kingdoms. They believe that Satan and his demons are in every way the enemy of God, rather than working alongside him. They teach that Satan will continue to rule the world until [[Armageddon]], when Jesus Christ and his heavenly Angels come to earth and bind him, eventually killing him, freeing the world of all opposition towards True worship.

==Defenses==
The three classic defenses against Satan are:

* mockery, which Satan cannot withstand due to his pride
* sunlight or exposure, from which Satan hides
* the [[Holy Spirit]], meaning "The Advocate" (i.e., defense lawyer), or the ''Armor of God''.<ref>Ephesians 6:1-17</ref>

Note that Satan lacks self-restraint, which often leads him to failure. In addition, Satan delights in [[deceit]], even to the point of causing his downfall.

==Dante and Milton==
The classic literary depictions of Satan appear in Dante's Italian poem, "Inferno," and in [[John Milton]]'s English poem, "Paradise Lost." These are considered the two greatest poems in Italian and English literature.

In western art and popular culture the devil is used to represent evil influences or motivations.

==Similarity to Prometheus==
Some writers have pointed out that a few popular depictions of Satan are similar to that of Prometheus.<ref>Werblowsky, Raphael Jehudah Zwi. Lucifer and Prometheus: A Study of Milton's Satan. Routledge, reprinted 1999 and 2001; originally published 1952.
</ref>
==See also==

* [[Devil]]
* [[Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)]]
* [[Atheism and satanic deception]]
* [[Salem Witch Trials]]

==Further reading==
* Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: I. In the Old Testament," ''The Biblical World,'' Vol. 41, No. 1 (Jan., 1913), pp. 29–33 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3142352 in JSTOR]
* Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: II. Satan in Extra-Biblical Apocalyptical Literature," ''The Biblical World,'' Vol. 41, No. 2 (Feb., 1913), pp. 98–102 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3142425 in JSTOR]
* Caldwell, William. "The Doctrine of Satan: III. In the New Testament," ''The Biblical World,'' Vol. 41, No. 3 (Mar., 1913), pp. 167–172 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/3142755 in JSTOR]
* Empson, William. ''Milton's God'' (1966)
* Jacobs, Joseph, and Ludwig Blau. "Satan," ''The Jewish Encyclopedia'' (1906) [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=270&letter=S&search=Satan#ixzz0UQlw0zPS online] pp 68–71
* Kelly, Henry Ansgar. ''Satan: A Biography.'' (2006). 360 pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=gPIpQg0lRbMC&pg=PA12&dq=intitle:satan+inauthor:kelly&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=3#v=onepage&q=&f=false excerpt and text search] ISBN 0-521-60402-8, a study of the Bible and Western literature
* Kent, William. "Devil." ''The Catholic Encyclopedia'' (1908) Vol. 4. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04764a.htm online older article]
* Osborne, B. A. E. "Peter: Stumbling-Block and Satan," ''Novum Testamentum,'' Vol. 15, Fasc. 3 (Jul., 1973), pp. 187–190 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1560340 in JSTOR] on "Get thee behind me, Satan!"
* Rebhorn Wayne A. "The Humanist Tradition and Milton's Satan: The Conservative as Revolutionary," ''Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900,'' Vol. 13, No. 1, The English Renaissance (Winter, 1973), pp. 81–93 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/449871 in JSTOR]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''The Devil: Perceptions of Evil from Antiquity to Primitive Christianity'' (1987) [http://www.amazon.com/Devil-Perceptions-Antiquity-Christianity-Paperbacks/dp/0801494095/ref=pd_sim_b_1 excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''Satan: The Early Christian Tradition'' (1987) [http://www.amazon.com/Satan-Christian-Jeffrey-Burton-Russell/dp/0801494133/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''Lucifer: The Devil in the Middle Ages'' (1986) [http://www.amazon.com/Lucifer-Devil-Middle-Cornell-Paperbacks/dp/080149429X/ref=pd_sim_b_1 excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''Mephistopheles: The Devil in the Modern World'' (1990) [http://www.amazon.com/Mephistopheles-Modern-Jeffrey-Burton-Russell/dp/0801497183/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c excerpt and text search]
* Russell, Jeffrey Burton. ''The Prince of Darkness: Radical Evil and the Power of Good in History'' (1992) [http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Darkness-Radical-Power-History/dp/0801480566/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255995689&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Schaff, D. S. "Devil" in ''New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge'' (1911), [[Mainline]] Protestant; vol 3 pp 414–417 [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc03.d.iii.html online]
* Scott, Miriam Van. ''The Encyclopedia of Hell'' (1999) [http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Hell-Miriam-Van-Scott/dp/0312244428/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b excerpt and text search] comparative religions; also popular culture
* Wray, T. J. and Gregory Mobley. ''The Birth of Satan: Tracing the Devil's Biblical Roots'' (2005) [http://www.amazon.com/Birth-Satan-Tracing-Devils-Biblical/dp/1403969337/ref=pd_sim_b_1 excerpt and text search]

== Notes ==
<references/>

== External links ==
*[http://www.1timothy4-13.com/files/teach/accuser.html The accuser of the brethren - commentary on Revelation 12:7-12] - Dr. J.B. Buffington
*[https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/30460-antifa-witches-a-glimpse-into-the-source-of-the-demonic-rage-surging-about-us “Antifa Witches”: A Glimpse Into the Source of the Demonic Rage Surging About Us], by William F. Jasper of ''[[The New American]]''

[[Category:Abrahamic Religions]]
{{DivineComedy}}

Gun control

2018-12-14T15:54:27Z

Mhutch: Added internal link

'''Gun control''' is a term used by [[liberal]]s when advocating [[unconstitutional]] laws designed to disarm people by restricting the lawful purchase, ownership, or carrying of [[gun]]s, under the guise of "public safety." Studies show that increasing lawful access to guns results in less crime,<ref>''Shall issue: the new wave of concealed handgun permit laws'', Cramer C and Kopel D. Golden CO: Independence Institute Issue Paper. October 17, 1994</ref> but, despite the fact that gun ownership is a Constitutional right, [[Leftist]]s push gun control because it increases the dependency of voters on government for protection while disarming citizens from any [[self-defense]] against violent crime or [[tyranny]] such as [[genocide]].

The political effect of gun control is to shift voters leftward, and hence gun control is pushed hard by the [[liberal media]] and [[leftist]] politicians.<ref>[http://www.gmu.edu/departments/economics/wew/quotes/repeal.html Quotes of Leftists Demanding Gun Control]</ref> In the [[United Kingdom]], which already has the strictest gun control in Europe, [[leftists]] demand control over 120,000 ''deactivated'' guns, although their activation and use constitute only 0.04% of all gun offenses there. But leftists want gun control because fewer guns means greater dependency on government.<ref>http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3168607.ece</ref> Gun control can be considered a form of [[doublespeak]].

In a stunning blow to the gun control effort just after Independence Day 2018, the case ''Defense Distributed v. U.S. Department of State'' resulted in a settlement<ref>[https://www.dailywire.com/news/32872/doj-settles-landmark-gun-suit-safeguarding-second-amanda-prestigiacomo DOJ Settles In Landmark Gun Suit, Safeguarding The Second Amendment]</ref> and an admission on part of the [[Department of Justice]] that stated:

<blockquote>Non-automatic firearms up to .50-caliber – including modern semi-auto sporting rifles such as the popular [[AR-15]] and similar firearms – are not inherently military.<ref>[http://joshblackman.com/blog/2018/07/10/doj-second-amendment-foundation-reach-settlement-in-defense-distributed-lawsuit/ DOJ, Second Amendment Foundation Reach Settlement In Defense Distributed Lawsuit]</ref></blockquote>

==Background==
Gun control is a denial or limitation by [[government]]s of the right to armed [[self-defense]]. "In contrast to most other weaponry, firearms are preeminently defensive in effect."<ref name=polsby>{{cite news|url=http://www.constitution.org/2ll/2ndschol/76holo.htm |work=Washington University Law Quarterly|title=OF HOLOCAUSTS AND GUN CONTROL|quote=This essay seeks to reclaim a serious argument from the lunatic fringe. |first=Daniel|last=Polsby|date=Fall 1997|accessdate=July 14, 2016}}</ref> as promised by the [[Second Amendment]] of the Constitution of the [[United States of America]]. Genocide has occurred only after gun control first disarmed the citizenry.<ref name=polsby/>

Proponents use the discredited – but superficially appealing – claim that fewer lawfully-owned guns lead to less crime, although guns are primarily defensive weapons<ref>People who support gun control claim that gun control laws significantly reduce violent crime. [http://home.sprynet.com/~owl1/irrationality.htm Why People Are Irrational about Politics]</ref><ref>Gun control primarily restricts the lawful acquisition and use of guns. Over 99% of the guns restricted by most gun control regulation are used in a lawful manner.</ref> (see [[Concealed carry]]).

Gun control laws cause enormous hardships. In May 2012, a gun control law resulted in a 20-year prison sentence against an [[African American]] woman for merely firing warning shots against her husband, and there was widespread outrage in [[Florida]] against this unconscionable sentence.<ref>https://www.cnn.com/2012/05/11/justice/florida-stand-ground-sentencing/index.html?hpt=hp_t3</ref>

In the United States the three primary [[federal]] gun control laws are:
* [[National Firearms Act]] (1934)
* [[Gun Control Act]] (1968)
* [[Brady Bill]] (1993)

These laws have further been amended by other laws such as the Firearms Owners Protection Act (1986) and the Omnibus Crime Bill (1994).
Seeking a loophole in the federal gun laws, in 2009 Montana passed a law "making guns that are made and kept within state boundaries exempt from federal regulations" including "background checks, licensing and registration."<ref>http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=6367553</ref> However, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that all gun sales affect interstate commerce to the point that federal regulation attaches to guns even if the gun owners and manufacturer promise to keep that make of gun within a single state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2013/08/23/10-36094.pdf|title=''MSSA v. Holder''|work=Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals|date=August 23, 2013|format=PDF|accessdate=April 22, 2016}}</ref>

==Weapon forfeiture==
One of the main stated goals of gun control is to prevent criminals from using weapons to commit crimes. So, in addition to laws regulating the sale and possession of weapons, some laws specify forfeiture if a weapon was used during the course of committing a crime. For example, [http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title19.2/chapter22.2/section19.2-386.29/ Virginia Code § 19.2-386.29] provides:
<blockquote>All pistols, shotguns, rifles, dirks, bowie knives, switchblade knives, ballistic knives, razors, slingshots, brass or metal knucks, blackjacks, stun weapons, and other weapons used by any person in the commission of a criminal offense, shall, upon conviction of such person, be forfeited to the Commonwealth by order of the court trying the case.</blockquote>
There are also federal laws specifying the forfeiture of weapons used during a crime.<ref>E.g.,16 U.S. Code § 128</ref>

So, to the extent that opponents of gun control laws claim that the government is trying to "take away" guns, such provisions are the focus of their concerns.

== The Fallacy and Motivation for Gun Control ==
[[Image:No Weapons Allowed.gif|right]]
Gun control potentially causes an increase in crime by restricting its main deterrent: [[self-defense]]. A study by Professor Gary Kleck, initially a liberal critic of gun control, caused him to change his mind on this issue when the evidence showed that crime was predominantly ''prevented'' when people could carry guns. ''See Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America''.<ref>http://www.largo.org/effects.html</ref> In the United States, law-abiding uses of guns outnumber criminal uses by about a factor of 1000 to 1,<ref>http://www.americanselfdefense.com/gunfacts3.0.pdf (p. 60)</ref> and the removal of guns from everyone eliminates the lawful use of self-defense and its deterrent effect. "[[Americans]] use firearms to defend themselves from criminals at least 764,000 times a year."<ref name="Gallup_LAT">"This figure is the lowest among a group of 9 nationwide surveys done by organizations including Gallup and the Los Angeles Times." (Just Facts - [http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp Gun Control])</ref> Specific examples of guns being used successfully in [[self-defense]] are easy to find.<ref>Two 70-ish store owners stopped armed robberies of their stores by shooting at the bandits. "The person came in and pointed the gun at him and my father shot him. I'm proud of him." [http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/253849.html Buffalo News]</ref><ref>[http://sittingduckpolicy.com/ Sitting Duck Policy: True Stories of Self-Defense]</ref> "In 1982, a survey of imprisoned criminals found that 34% of them had been "scared off, shot at, wounded or captured by an armed victim."<ref name="Gallup_LAT"/> When Florida began allowing its citizens to carry a concealed weapon, [[Florida]]'s firearm homicide rate fell by 37% while the national average ''increased'' by 15%.<ref name="Gallup_LAT"/> As explained below, the political effect of gun control is to cause voters to become more dependent emotionally on government and more supportive of bigger government.

Studies by [[John Lott]] and others indicate that gun control causes higher crime rates.<ref>[http://www.johnrlott.com/ John Lott's Website]</ref> [[Washington, D.C.]] has one of the highest crime rates in America even though it completely bans private handguns.<ref>[http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/dccrime.htm District of Columbia Crime Rates 1960 - 2006]</ref> "Switzerland, Israel, Denmark and Finland, all of whom have a higher gun ownership rate than America, all have lower crime rates than America, in fact, their crime rates are among the lowest in the Western World."<ref>Slashdoc - [http://www.slashdoc.com/documents/71244 gun control]</ref> Lott demonstrates that in Britain, [[Australia]] and [[Canada]], increased gun control in the late 1990s led to increased crime, the exact opposite of what the proponents of the gun control promised.<ref>John R. Lott Jr. and Eli Lehrer - [http://johnrlott.tripod.com/op-eds/IBDGunConFailure.html Add Gun Control To Litany Of Misbegotten Gov't Plans]</ref> States in the [[U.S.]] that have enacted concealed-carry laws enjoy lower crime rates.<ref>[http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=4706 Cato report]</ref>

[[image:Robbery victims per 100K.png|300px|thumb|Source data: Australian Bureau of Statistics]]
[[image:Robbery victims.png|300px|thumb|Source data: Australian Bureau of Statistics]]

In Australia, where gun ownership was less widespread and the gun control measures were less strict, there was an immediate increase in robbery and armed robbery after the gun control went into effect in 1996 (see chart at right).<ref>

Gun control passed in Australia because "public was immediately whipped into a gun control frenzy by the press" after the "Port Arthur massacre" in Tasmania on April 28, 1996, in which 32 were shot dead and 19 injured. "Although polls done prior to the massacre indicated that the public was satisfied with the amount of 'gun control' they already had, a major newspaper did a poll just a few days after the massacre (while all minds were "clear") and, not surprisingly, found high levels of support for extreme gun control measures. This poll would be used forever by the commonwealth government and other gun controllers to claim that Australians supported the new gun laws to come." - [http://www.gunsandcrime.org/aussiegc.html Gun Control in Australia] (by gunsandcrime.org)</ref>

There is no clear evidence supporting a decrease in crime from gun control.<ref name="Results">[http://www.gunsandcrime.org/auresult.html Results of the Australian Gun "Buyback" & New Gun Laws], October 2001</ref><ref>[http://bjc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/azl084v1 Study showing lack of promised benefits from gun control]</ref> Although from 1979 to 1996, 11,110 Australians died by gunshot representing an annual average of 617. In the seven years after new gun laws were announced (1997 to 2003), the yearly average almost halved, to 331. In the decade up to and including Port Arthur There have been 11 mass shootings where 100 people were shot dead and another 52 wounded, while in In the 10 years since 1996 and the new gun laws, not one mass shooting (more than five victims) has occurred in Australia (although in 2002 a gunman killed two and wounded four at Monash University) <ref name="theage.com.au">http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-safer-place-after-howards-gun-buyback/2006/04/27/1145861484114.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1</ref>

Subsequent to gun control in England:<ref>http://www.reason.com/news/show/28582.html</ref>
[[File:Send_a_gun_to_a_British_home.jpg|thumb|right|[[Second Amendment]]-supporting [[American]] [[citizen]]s gifted their [[firearm]]s to [[gun free zone]]-gun control supporting [[British]] citizens during [[World War II]] via [[The American Committee for the Defense of British Homes]]]]

:"from 1997 to 2001, the rate of violent crime more than doubled. Your chances of being mugged in London are now [as of 2002] six times greater than in New York. England's rates of assault, robbery, and burglary are far higher than America's, and 53 percent of English burglaries occur while occupants are at home, compared with 13 percent in the U.S., where burglars admit to fearing armed homeowners more than the police. In a United Nations study of crime in 18 developed nations published in July, England and Wales led the Western world's crime league, with nearly 55 crimes per 100 people."<ref>However this increase in recorded violent crime between 1997 and 2001 is explained by the Home Office as a result of changes in the definition of violent crime and new counting rules introduced in 1998. [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/rdsolr1804.pdf Violent Crime in England and Wales] According to the British Crime Survey, which is considered a more reliable guide to trends in crime [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/crime-statistics-independent-review-06.pdf], violent crime fell 24% between 1997 and 2001/02, and burglary fell 40% over the same period.[http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb1105tab201.xls Trends in BCS incidents of crime]</ref>

Gun control in Britain and Australia has been followed by a predictable shift to the left politically by voters as they lost their instrument of self-defense and became more emotionally dependent on government. Contrast that with the [[United States]], where an effort to push gun control after the [[Columbine massacre]] failed in 2000 and the government has remained as [[conservative]]—if not more so—ever since.

The emasculation of the citizenry by gun control also arguably reduces the resistance of a society to intimidation, and exacerbates fear of consequences from causing offense. Subsequent to the passage of strict gun control in [[England]] some teachers have avoided teaching controversial subjects such as the [[Holocaust]], the Arab-Israeli conflict and the [[Crusades]] during history classes.<ref>http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/RW100.pdf</ref>
Teaching Emotive and Controversial History 3-19 (p. 15) The anti-self-defense attitude of British authorities has also turned criminals into "victims" and victims who fight back into "criminals." One particularly egregious case involved a farmer being sentenced to life imprisonment for defending himself in his home after the home was repeatedly burglarized <ref>http://www.theinternetparty.org/commentary/c_s.php?td=200107200000&section_type=com</ref>

== Trends ==
After decades of increasing gun control laws, the current trend in the [[United States]] is in the direction of more gun rights. The 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill included a ban on certain new rifles labeled assault rifles solely because of features of their appearance, and on new high-capacity magazines. This law recently expired and was not renewed by [[Congress]]. Also, Washington D.C.'s gun ban was struck down as unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals on March 9, 2007.<ref>The New York Times - [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/09/washington/09cnd-gun.html?hp Appeals Court Says Gun Ban Violates 2nd Amendment]</ref><ref>The Washington Post - [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/09/AR2007030902416.html D.C.'s Ban On Handguns In Homes Is Thrown Out]</ref>

By removing the deterrent effect of guns, gun control causes dramatic increases in crimes committed with other weapons:<ref name="bbc">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2656875.stm</ref>

:You are now six times more likely to be mugged in [[London]] than [[New York]]. Why? Because as common law appreciated, not only does an armed individual have the ability to protect himself or herself but criminals are less likely to attack them. They help keep the peace. A study found American burglars fear armed home-owners more than the police. As a result burglaries are much rarer and only 13% occur when people are at home, in contrast to 53% in England.

Supporters of gun control argue that homicide with guns is much less in [[England]] than in the [[United States]],<ref>In 2005/06, the total number of victims of homicide by shooting (including crossbows) in England and Wales was 50 and there were 212 victims of homicide by sharp instruments. Home Office Statistical Bulletin - [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb0207.pdf Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2005/2006][http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb0104.pdf] The data for gun deaths in the United States include guns used in self-defense, as in fending off an assault, robbery or rape, and there were a total of 11,350 gun deaths (including deaths of criminals) in 2005. US Department of Justice, FBI - [http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_01.html Crime in the United States by Volume and Rate per 100,000 Inhabitants, 1986 - 2005]</ref> but that was true even before gun control and is likely due to cultural reasons. "A study comparing New York and London over 200 years found the New York homicide rate consistently five times the London rate, although for most of that period residents of both cities had unrestricted access to firearms. When guns were available in England they were seldom used in crime. A government study for 1890-1892 found an average of one handgun homicide a year in a population of 30 million."<ref name="bbc" />

Gun control laws are often seen to conflict with the [[Second Amendment]] to the [[United States Constitution]], which recognizes the right to bear arms. The Second Amendment reads: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a [[Free States Movement|free State]], the [[unalienable rights|right]] of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

The "right to keep and bear arms" is a right guaranteed to the American citizen by the Bill of Rights through the virtue of a selective reading of said Bill. The phrase "a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state" precedes the statement, and most federal Courts of Appeals have held that this phrase requires that the "right to bear arms" relates to the collective rights of state militias, as opposed to the individual's rights to have any weapon desired. Just recently, the Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit went against nine other circuits in holding that the Second Amendment constitutes an individual right.<ref>The New York Times - [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/washington/10gun.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Court Rejects Strict Gun Law as Unconstitutional]</ref><ref>FOX News - [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258067,00.html Appeals Court Strikes Down Washington, D.C. Handgun Ban]</ref> However, according to the judge writing for the majority in this case, its decision does still allow for "reasonable restrictions" on gun ownership and use, such as carrying of guns by intoxicated individuals, or in churches.

Only six cities in the United States ban handguns: [[Washington, D.C.]], [[Chicago]], and four of its suburbs.<ref>David Kopel, "The Democrats and Gun Control," Wall St.J., Page A19, April 17, 2008 [http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB120839466717921537-lMyQjAxMDI4MDE4NzMxOTc0Wj.html]</ref> Some specific locations have also been labeled "[[gun-free zone]]s," including schools, shopping malls, movie theaters, corporate offices, and more. In most cases, mass-shootings take place in these gun-free zones, since those who obey the rules do not carry, while those already planning to break the law disregard this rule. When attempted in areas where firearms are permitted, [[Mass shootings prevented by armed citizens|mass-shootings have often been quickly stopped by armed citizens]].

Support for stricter gun control laws fell deeply between 1992 and 2012, and while it rose in the succeeding six years, support levels remained far lower than in 1992.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (October 20, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/10/20/poll-gun-control-support-down-17-percent-over-past-28-years/ Poll: Gun Control Support Down 17 Percent Over Past 28 Years]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 21, 2018.</ref>

==Overview==
"Gun control" can include:

* Restricting which persons can own firearms.
* Restrictions on the number of firearms a person may own, or purchase during a given time period
* Requirements that privately owned firearms be registered with the government.
* Bans on certain types of firearms; for example, "handguns" or assault rifles
* Restrictions on where firearms may be carried, for example into restaurants or post offices
* Requiring a "background check" and/or a "waiting period" to purchase a firearm
* Restricting when and where firearms may be bought and sold, for example banning their sale through the mail
* Requiring licenses or some other form of permission from the government to buy and/or sell a firearm
* Requiring some form of permission from the government to carry a firearm in public, either concealed or openly
* Laws granting special gun rights for some people, for example, retired law enforcement officers, which are denied the rest of the public, which was used in several southern states.
* Outright bans on carrying firearms in public
* Outright bans on private possession of firearms, though this has never occurred in the United States (with the exception of some municipalities, prior to those bans being struck down in court)

===Arguments in favor===
"The only purpose of a gun is to kill people."

Advocates point to the number of accidental deaths caused by children gaining access to improperly-stored guns. According to the [[Brady Campaign]], a [[liberal]] organization that advocates for gun control, in the United States, " 1 out of 3 homes with kids have guns and nearly 1.7 million children live in a home with an unlocked, loaded gun."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bradycampaign.org/key-gun-violence-statistics|title=Key Gun Violence Statistics|accessdate=July 14, 2017}}</ref>

Another argument is that of suicide prevention. Guns are highly effective tools for committing suicide with a reported success rate of over 95%, whereas other common methods such as overdoses and cutting have a less than 10% success rate.

===Arguments against===
{{coulter-armed-self-defense}}

[[Emily Miller]] wrote,
"New York City Mayor [[Michael R. Bloomberg]] has spent tens of millions of his billions trying to get his gun bans instituted in the rest of America, even though these laws have never stopped criminals from getting guns."<ref>[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/aug/26/miller-bloomberg-loses-stop-and-frisk-and-nra-gets/ Bloomberg loses stop and frisk, and NRA gets blamed: The mayor’s default disgust for gun owners tarnishes his life-saving program] - [[Emily Miller]]</ref>

Critics, such as Awr Hawkins of [[Breitbart.com]], have argued that background checks, a form of gun control, have done nothing to prevent gun crimes.<ref name="Hawkins"/>

Hawkins has also pointed out that despite [[France]] having very strict gun control laws, the nation has had many [[List of Islamist terrorist attacks|Islamic terrorist attacks]] that used a variety of weapons, including guns and rifes.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (April 21, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/04/21/france-2015-to-present-strict-gun-control-a-paper-tiger/ France 2015 to Present: Strict Gun Control a Paper Tiger]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 22, 2017.</ref>

Since 1950, 97.8% of mass public shootings have occurred in [[gun-free zone]]s.<ref>[https://crimeresearch.org/2018/06/more-misleading-information-from-bloombergs-everytown-for-gun-safety-on-guns-analysis-of-recent-mass-shootings/ UPDATED: Mass Public Shootings keep occurring in Gun-Free Zones: 97.8% of attacks since 1950]. ''Crime Prevention Research Center''. June 15, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.</ref><ref>Hawkins, Awr (November 20, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/11/20/study-97-8-percent-mass-shootings-since-1950-gun-free-zones/ Study: 97.8% of Mass Shootings Since 1950 Occurred in ‘Gun-Free Zones’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 20, 2018.</ref> On the other hand, a 2018 analysis of FBI data by Jacob Paulsen found that 94% of all mass shootings [[Mass shootings prevented by armed citizens|were thwarted by law-abiding armed citizens]].<ref>Duke, Selwyn (November 28, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/30766-guns-saving-lives-study-armed-citizens-thwart-active-shooters-94-of-the-time Guns Save Lives — Armed Citizens Thwart Active Shooters 94 Percent of the Time]. ''The New American''. Retrieved November 28, 2018.</ref>

==Constitutional Debate==
The [[Second Amendment]] reads:

"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Most constitutional scholars agree that since the amendment refers to "the right of the People" instead of the right of the militia, it protects an individual right to own guns. The reason for this was the fact that the supplying of guns for the military and militas was already provided for in Article I Section 8 as a power of Congress. The extent of that right was something hotly debated for decades, until the Supreme Court ruling of 26 June 2008, Heller v District of Columbia.

The majority opinion, written by Justice [[Antonin Scalia]], held for the first time that the Constitution provides an individual right to bear arms, such as for self-defense, rather than a right that applies only to a state militia.

The decision upheld an appellate court ruling striking down Washington, D.C.'s 1976 handgun ban. The case marked the first time in more than 70 years that the Supreme Court had addressed the Second Amendment ''and the first time it spoke directly about the implication of an individual right''. The court struck down two of the District of Columbia's gun control laws: its handgun ban and its requirement that other firearms kept at home have a trigger lock or be disassembled.

Relying on the broader historical record, Justice Scalia wrote:
{{cquote|'''putting all of these textual elements together, we find that they guarantee the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation.'''}}

Scalia noted that the ruling should not be interpreted to "cast doubt on long-standing prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons or the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings." <ref>[http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/07-2901.pdf Supreme Court Opinion, District of Columbia v Heller]</ref>

==Racism of gun control==
In the [[United States of America]], gun control has a strong racist origin and reasoning. Before the Civil War ended, State "Slave Codes" prohibited slaves from owning guns. After President [[Abraham Lincoln]] issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and after the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolishing slavery was adopted and the Civil War ended in 1865, States persisted in prohibiting blacks, now freemen, from owning guns under laws renamed "Black Codes." They did so on the basis that blacks were not citizens, and thus did not have the same rights, including the right to keep and bear arms protected in the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as whites. This view was specifically articulated by the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] in its infamous 1857 decision in ''[[Dred Scott v. Sandford]]'' to uphold slavery.

The United States Congress overrode most portions of the Black Codes by passing the Civil Rights Act of 1866. The legislative histories of both the Civil Rights Act and the Fourteenth Amendment, as well as The Special Report of the Anti-Slavery Conference of 1867, are replete with denunciations of those particular statutes that denied blacks equal access to firearms. [Kates, "Handgun Prohibition and the Original Meaning of the Second Amendment," 82 Mich. L. Rev. 204, 256 (1983)] However, facially neutral disarming through economic means laws remain in effect.

After the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1878, most States turned to "facially neutral" business or transaction taxes on handgun purchases. However, the intention of these laws was not neutral. An article in Virginia's official university law review called for a "prohibitive tax...on the privilege" of selling handguns as a way of disarming "the son of Ham," whose "cowardly practice of 'toting' guns has been one of the most fruitful sources of crime.... Let a negro board a railroad train with a quart of mean whiskey and a pistol in his grip and the chances are that there will be a murder, or at least a row, before he alights."<ref>Comment, Carrying Concealed Weapons, 15 Va L. Reg. 391, 391-92 (1909); George Mason University Civil Rights Law Journal (GMU CR LJ), Vol. 2, No. 1, "Gun Control and Racism," Stefan Tahmassebi, 1991, p. 75.</ref> Thus, many Southern States imposed high taxes or banned inexpensive guns so as to price blacks and poor whites out of the gun market.

Today, "gun control" laws continue to be enacted so as to have a racist effect if not intent:

* Police-issued license and permit laws, unless drafted to require issuance to those not prohibited by law from owning guns, are routinely used to prevent lawful gun ownership among "unpopular" populations.
* Public housing residents, approximately 3 million Americans, are singled out for gun bans.
* "Gun sweeps" by police in "high crime neighborhoods" whereby vehicles and "pedestrians who meet a specific profile that might indicate they are carrying a weapon" are searched are becoming popular, and are being studied by the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] as "Operation Ceasefire."
* Some U.S. cities with high minority populations, such as Washington, D.C., are singled out for gun bans.
* "Project Exile" began in the U.S. city of Richmond, Virginia and mandated that people arrested for technical firearms violations (note: not for violent crimes committed with a firearm, but for technical violations of the law) be tried in federal court where they would be subject to lengthy mandatory minimum sentences rather than in state court under the more lenient Virginia laws. As with many other restrictions this was aimed primarily at the city's Black residents. It has since been copied in many other cities.

The [[Ku Klux Klan]] began also as a gun-control organization.<ref>http://www.examiner.com/article/kkk-began-as-gun-control-organization-confirms-racist-roots-of-gun-control</ref>

== Sexism of gun control ==

Firearms, especially lower recoiling ones such as many handguns, allow any person to wield enough power to stop another person from attacking them.<ref name="genderDiscrimination1">http://www.learnaboutguns.com/2008/03/19/firearms-rights-are-a-gender-equality-issue-too/</ref> Many women (quite reasonably) fear the threat of attack by a physically stronger man, and a firearm could prevent many of these attacks, but gun bans leave these women vulnerable. Take the case of the “North Side Rapist” in Chicago, a city where hand guns are banned, as an example: The rapist broke in to the women's homes, and at least one of the women heard him break in and then climb the stairs. Had this woman had a handgun, she almost certainly could have stopped the rapist before it was too late. This would have prevented her from enduring such a horrific crime, as well as preventing the rapist’s future victims from experiencing the same thing. Instead, Chicago law prevented her from being able to defend herself, and gave the advantage to the rapist/home-invader. This is not an isolated incident, and similar events happen every day across the county.

== Elitism of gun control ==

Many of the most ardent American anti-gun politicians, such as Chicago’s Mayor Daley, are protected by taxpayer-sponsored armed body guards, but deny law abiding citizens the right to defend themselves with a gun.<ref name="classDiscrimination1">http://www.learnaboutguns.com/2008/04/16/a-double-standard-anti-gun-politicians-and-their-gun-toting-bodyguards/</ref> These politicians seemingly believe themselves to be part of an elite group who deserve to be protected against violent criminals, while ordinary law-abiding citizens are left with less-effective means to defend themselves, and must instead rely on the police arriving in time.

== Gun control outside the United States ==
{{See also|Gun Control in Nazi Germany}}
Gun control advocates cite foreign countries to argue that gun control can reduce crime, but such comparison can be difficult due to the presence of other factors. For example, they cite [[Singapore]] as having gun control and a lower crime rate than the United States, but Singapore has a population of 5 million people and one of the highest literacy and average wealth in the world. It lacks many of the freedoms found in the United States and strictly imposes harsh physical punishment, such as caning and the [[death penalty]], for crimes that are not punished so harshly in the United States. The real issue of the security in Singapore is its tight criminal control, not the gun control itself.

Gun control supporters also cite [[Gun Control in Japan|Japan's gun control laws]], which severely restrict gun ownership and crime rates are relatively low. But [[Japan]] also lacks many freedoms and diversity which exist in the United States, and Japan has strong cultural deterrents to crime. Ironically, Japan is home to [[Tokyo Marui]], the world's largest airsoft gun manufacturer, which designs airsoft guns that are made to the same scale and with the same materials as the real counterpart and which have been mistaken by police for real guns.

In the [[European Union]], gun control is more strict than in the United States, but gun ownership differs widely between member states, from 36 per 100 people in [[Cyprus]] to one per 100 in [[Poland]]." In [[Switzerland]], on the other hand, gun ownership is quite widespread, which no doubt contributes to its reputation as a peaceful and neutral country.<ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/09/27/switzerland.shooting Gun control in Switzerland]</ref> In November 2007, the [[European Parliament]] passed legislation to tighten and harmonize gun control across the EU, and oblige each member state to set up a computerized database of firearms, as it "hoped to prevent Europe from becoming a gun-friendly culture like the United States". Parliament wanted to limit cross-border trade from states with less control to those with tougher laws, such as from [[Lithuania]], where replica guns can cost as little as [[Euro|€]]100 (US$150), to the United Kingdom, where most replicas are outlawed.

In Australia, gun violence has always been significantly lower than other types of violence.<ref>http://www.gunsandcrime.org/aussiegc.html</ref> Australia has not experienced considerable violence problems with legally purchased guns. It has always had a much lower homicide rate than the more violent culture in the United States.<ref>In Australia the gun related homicide rate is 0.44 per 100,000 of population. In the US it is about 8 times as high at 3.72 per 100,000 of population.</ref> From 1979 to 1996, 11,110 Australians died by gunshot representing an annual average of 617. In the seven years after new gun laws were announced (1997 to 2003), the yearly average almost halved, to 331. In the decade up to and including Port Arthur There have been 11 mass shootings where 100 people were shot dead and another 52 wounded, while in In the 10 years since 1996 and the new gun laws, not one mass shooting (more than five victims) has occurred in Australia (although in 2002 a gunman killed two and wounded four at Monash University).<ref name="theage.com.au"/>

Gun control began in Australia in response to fears that guns would be used by home-grown Communist Revolutionaries.<ref>http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1083528 This study discusses the parallel policies of early-mid 20th century Britain and Australia.</ref> The most restrictive reforms were made in 1996 and 2002, following highly publicized shootings.<ref name="ReferenceA">http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-safer-place-after-howards-gun-buyback/2006/04/27/1145861484114.html</ref>

Both sets of reforms (1996 and 2002) were lead by Prime Minister [[John Howard]] of the Coalition (Australia’s conservative government). Howard was well known as an anti-gun advocate.<ref name="ReferenceB">http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/anger-lingers-among-those-who-lost-their-firearms/2006/04/27/1145861489398.html</ref> The move offended gun supporters, many of whom had traditionally supported the Coalition.<ref name="ReferenceB"/> Despite the loss of this voting group, Howard won elections following both reforms (in 1998 and 2004).

There is controversy over the success of Australia’s gun restrictions. Studies suggest overall gun violence has decreased since the 1996 and 2002 bans.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> However, Australia’s bike and drug gangs, the main perpetrators of gun violence, still easily access illegal firearms.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/a-disarming-cause/2006/04/27/1145861489519.html</ref> Further, the overall homicide rate remains constant.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-safer-place-after-howards-gun-buyback/2006/04
/27/1145861484114.html?page=2</ref>

== Gun Control and Genocide ==

Gun control "contributes to the probability of its government engaging" in [[genocide]], including the three worst instances in the 20th century:<ref>"[A] society's weapons policy might be one of the institutional arrangements that contributes to the probability of its government engaging in some of the more extreme varieties of outrage. ... [I]t is [] an arresting reality that not one of the principal genocides of the twentieth century, and there have been dozens, has been inflicted on a population that was armed." [http://ls.wustl.edu/WULQ/75-3/753-4.html Washington University Law Quarterly]</ref>

*From 1911, [[Turkey]] imposed gun control and then, from 1915 to 1918, killed 3.5 million out of 5 million Ottoman Christians, including 1.5 million out of 2 million Armenians, 750,000 out of 1 million Assyrian Christians, and 250,000 million out of 1 million Pontic Greeks.

*In 1917, the [[Soviet Union]] imposed gun control and over the next 24 years about 20 million defenseless dissidents were killed.

*In 1938, [[Nazi Germany]] imposed gun control and then from 1942-1945, Europe under its control led by [[Adolf Hitler]] killed 6 million out of 9 million European Jews,<ref>https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10008193</ref> with 3 million going to the death camps and another 3 million in war, as well as 2 million Poles, and 27 million Soviet civilians.<ref>http://www.self.gutenberg.org/articles/eng/World_War_II_casualties_of_the_Soviet_Union</ref> The American Gun Control Act of 1968 is modeled off the Nazi Gun Control Act of 1938, while the FOID (Firearms Owner’s ID), adopted by Illinois in 1968, is modeled off Nazi gun licensing.<ref>http://mobile.wnd.com/2012/12/the-nazi-roots-of-u-s-gun-control-laws/</ref>

*In 1935, [[China]] established gun control, and then from 1966-1976, 35 million political dissidents were killed in [[Mao Zedong]]'s Cultural Revolution. In ''Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung'', Mao said, “Every Communist must grasp the truth; Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."

*In 1975, [[Cambodia]] established gun control and between 1975 and 1979, three million out of nine million Cambodians were exterminated.

*In 1970, [[Uganda]] imposed gun control. Between 1971 and 1979 300,000 Christians and political oppositionals were killed.<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/66751/gun-control-amin/dave-kopel#</ref>

"The Nazis made only two important changes to the Weapons Law that was in place when they came to power. First, they forbade Jews from owning guns or any other weapon. Second, they exempted members of the Sturmabteilung (SA) and many Nazi party officials from the law's strictures."<ref name=polsby/> The German Firearms Act of 1937 stated "No civilian is to have a firearm without a permit and permits shall not be issued to persons suspected of acting against the state. ''For Jews, this permission will not be granted.'' Those people who do not require permission to carry weapons include the whole of the SS, and the SA - including the Deaths Head group, and the officers of the Hitler youth." <ref name="Volokh">[http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a38d04d5c7c40.htm The Journalist's Guide to Gun Policy Scholars and Second Amendment Scholars], Professor Eugene Volokh, FreeRepublic.com, March 15, 2000</ref>

Adolf Hitler said, "The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to permit the conquered eastern peoples to have arms. History teaches that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by doing so." <ref name="Volokh" />

[[Josef Stalin]], former dictator of the [[USSR]] and murderer of over 20 million people, infamously supported gun control in the fear that his evil regime might be torn down and so only soldiers could have firearms.

== Gun Control and Dictators ==

"One man with a gun can control 100 without one" - [[Vladimir Lenin]]

"This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration! Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future." - [[Adolf Hitler]], 1935.

"A system of licensing and registration is the perfect device to deny gun ownership to the bourgeoisie." - [[Vladimir Lenin]]

"Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas?” - [[Joseph Stalin]]

"All political power comes from the barrel of a gun. The communist party must command all the guns, that way, no guns can ever be used to command the party." [[Chairman Mao]]

"The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subject races to possess arms. History shows that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by so doing." - quoted in [[Hitler]]'s Tischegesprache Im Fuhrerhauptquartier 1941-1942.

"If the opposition disarms, well and good. If it refuses to disarm, we shall disarm it ourselves." - [[Joseph Stalin]]

== Gun Control and young mass murderers ==

{{Main|Young mass murderers}}

Strict gun control failed and still fails to prevent mass murderers from starting killing sprees while the victims are unable to defend themselves.

Compare the cases of Pekka-Eric Auvinen ([[Finland]]) and Robert Steinhäuser ([[Germany]]) with the case of Matthew Murray. The latter was stopped by an armed citizen before he could harm more victims; Auvinen killed 8 people and Steinhäuser killed 16. Both Finland and Germany have gun control laws.

U.S. Senator from [[West Virginia]] [[Joe Manchin]] supported legislation to establish universal background checks across the nation. He pushed it after the [[Sandy Hook massacre]], despite the fact that even he admitted that the legislation would not have stopped the massacre, since the shooter stole the weapons he used.<ref name="Hawkins">Hawkins, Awr (April 21, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/04/21/joe-manchin-trump-fortitude-make-senate-pass-gun-control/ Joe Manchin: Trump Has the ‘Fortitude’ to Make Senate Pass Gun Control]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 22, 2017.</ref> Background checks have been shown to be ineffective in preventing other shootings as well.<ref name="Hawkins"/>

==See also==
* [[List of state constitutions containing a RKBA provision]]

==Further reading==
*Charles, Robert (March 28, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/03/28/if-second-amendment-falls-our-entire-bill-rights-falls.html If the Second Amendment falls, our entire Bill of Rights falls]. ''Fox News''.

==External links==

=== Opposed to gun control ===
*[http://www.2asisters.org/ Second Amendment Sisters]
*[http://www.nra.org/ The National Rifle Association]
*[http://www.nrapublications.org/AC/index.asp Armed citizens defending themselves.]
*[http://www.a-human-right.com/ A Human Right] Discussion of the human right to self-defense with a firearm.
*[http://www.learnaboutguns.com/ Learn About Guns] Firearm information and politics.
*[http://www.gunowners.org/ Gun Owners of America] A no-compromise pro-gun lobby in Washington, D.C.
*[http://www.aim.org/wls/category/gun-control/ What Liberals Say - Category: Gun Control]
*[http://www.guncite.com/ GunCite: Gun Control and Second Amendment Issues]
*[http://jpfo.org/ Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership]
*[http://nssf.org/ National Shooting Sports Foundation]
*[http://concealedcampus.org/ Students for Concealed Carry]
*[http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/the-long-racist-history-of-gun-control-in-america/ The Long, Racist History of Gun Control in America]

=== In favor of gun control ===
*[http://www.guninformation.org/ Gun Control and the Second Amendment]
*[http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-switzerland.htm Myth: Switzerland proves that high gun-ownership doesn't increase murder]
*[http://www.bradycampaign.org/ Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence]
*[http://www.vpc.org/ Violence Policy Center]
*[http://www.lwv.org/ League of Women Voters]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Second Amendment topics}}

[[Category:Gun Free Zones]]
[[Category:Gun Control]]
[[Category:United States Political Terms]]
[[Category:Second Amendment]]

Democrat Party

2018-12-14T15:52:29Z

Mhutch: Added information on Democrat policies

:''For the political party in Thailand, see [[Democrat Party (Thailand)]]''
'''Democrat Party''' is the grammatically correct term for the [[Democratic Party]]. The Party is not "[[democratic]]," and proper nouns like "Democrat" are not converted into adjectives by adding "ic" as a suffix. For example, it is not the "Republicanic Party," or the "Libertarianic Party," or a "Smith-ic Wedding." yet many Democrats bristle at the term "Democrat Party." and perhaps they prefer the false illusion that their party is somehow more "democratic" than other parties. In fact, the Democrat Party is '''''less''''' democratic than the other political parties.

In the 1800s, the Democrat Party was predominantly pro-[[slavery]], even though they nowadays advocate for race mixing. Today, the Democrat Party is predominantly [[pro-abortion]] and [[anti-gun]].

==History of usage==
"Democrat Party" has a long history of usage by critics of the Democratic Party — mostly Republicans, but also third party leaders like [[Ralph Nader]].<ref>See "Transcript: Ralph Nader on 'Meet The Press' Sunday, May 7, 2000" at [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/050800-03.htm](Nader repeatedly uses the term "Democratic Party" in the transcript); "Presidential candidate Ralph Nader makes stop in Minnesota; sees little difference between Bush, Kerry," Oct 27, 2004, at [http://www.hometownsource.com/2004/October/27nader.html]</ref> The history has been traced by scholars and commentators to the early 20th century.<ref>including Feuerlicht (1957), Lyman (1958), Safire (1993), Sperber and Trittschuh (1962), Numberg (2005) and Hertzberg (2006).</ref> The earliest known use of the term, according to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'', was in Britain in 1890: "Whether a little farmer...is going to rule the Democrat Party in America."<ref>under "Democrat" 4 citing ''Spectator'' 15 Nov. 1890 p 676.</ref> The term was used by [[Herbert Hoover]] in 1932, and in the late 1930s by Republicans who used it to criticize Democratic big city machines run by powerful political bosses in what they considered undemocratic fashion. Republican leader [[Harold Stassen]] said in 1940, "I emphasized that the party controlled in large measure at that time by [Frank] Hague in New Jersey, [Tom] Pendergast in Missouri and Kelly-Nash in Chicago should not be called a 'Democratic Party.' It should be called the 'Democrat Party.'"<ref>Hertzberg (2006) citing Safire</ref>

The noun-as-adjective has been used by numerous Republican leaders since the 1940s and appears in most GOP national platforms since 1948.<ref>''National Party Platforms, 1840-1996'', editors Kirk H. Porter, and Donald Bruce Johnson, (1996).</ref> In 1947 the Republican leader Senator [[Robert A. Taft]] said, "Nor can we expect any other policy from any Democrat Party or any Democrat President under present day conditions. They can not possibly win an election solely through the support of the solid South, and yet their political strategists believe the Southern Democrat Party will not break away no matter how radical the allies imposed upon it."<ref>Robert Taft, ''The Papers of Robert A. Taft'', edited by Clarence E. Wunderlin, Jr., 2003, 3:313.</ref> President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] used the term in his acceptance speech in 1952 and in partisan speeches to Republican groups.<ref>''Washington Post'', October 28, 1958, page A8.</ref> Ruth Walker notes how [[Joseph McCarthy]] repeatedly used the phrase "the Democrat Party," and critics argue that if McCarthy used the term in the 1950s then no one else should do so.<ref>Walker (2005).</ref>

==Current usage==
In recent decades, however, the Republican Party has sometimes used the phrase "Democrat Party" in referring to its opposition. The Republican Party web site www.gop.com gets 82 Google hits for "Democrat" and 350 hits for "Democratic".<ref>See [http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=10&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=Democrat+Party&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=www.gop.com&as_rights=&safe=images] and [http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=10&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=Democratic+Party&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=www.gop.com&as_rights=&safe=images]</ref> The White House since 2001 has often used the noun-as-adjective when referring to the opposition party, and President Bush has used it almost exclusively.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,126757,00.html "Bush Courts Black Voters at Urban League"] AP July 23, 2004; [http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/2/1/212536/7288 List of 356 uses of Democrat as an adjective by President Bush]</ref> Likewise it is in common use by former House Majority Leader [[Tom DeLay]],<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,92971,00.html "DeLay: Democratic Party Unfit to Lead"], [[Fox News]], July 26, 2003.</ref> House Minority Leader [[John Boehner]],<ref>[http://www.slate.com/id/2156949/fr/rss/ "Pelosi's Big Day"], [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]], January 4, 2007.</ref> Senator [[Chuck Grassley|Charles Grassley]],<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181052,00.html "Alito: No Person Is Above the Law"], [[Fox News]], January 9, 2006.</ref> Congressman [[Steve Buyer]]<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/12/18/transcripts/index7.html "Transcript: House debates articles of impeachment"], [[CNN]], December 18, 1998.</ref> and others. George W. Bush spoke the phrase "Democrat majority" in his [[2007 State of the Union Address]].<ref>[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070123-2.html Official 2007 State of the Union Transcript]</ref> (The advance copy that was given to members of Congress read "Democrat''ic'' majority".)<ref name="Copeland">{{cite news | first=Libby |last=Copleand |title = President's Sin of Omission? (Dropped Syllable in Speech Riles Democrats) | date = 2007-01-25 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/24/AR2007012402469.html | publisher = [[The Washington Post]] | accessdate = 2007-03-31}}</ref> Bush joked about his leadership of the "Republic Party" the following month.<ref>Noam H. Levey [http://www.latimes.com/news/la-ex-bush3feb04,1,4457343.story?ctrack=1&cset=true "Bush reaches across Partisan divide"]; LA Times, February 4, 2007</ref>

Aside from partisan usage, the term can also be found used in non-partisan media. [[Media Matters for America]] has documented the occasional use of "Democrat Party" by CNN, ''The New York Times'', ''The Wall Street Journal'', ''The Chicago Tribune'', and the Associated Press. Abroad the term is occasionally used by the [[BBC]].<ref>[[Media Matters for America]], August 16, 2006. [http://mediamatters.org/items/200608160005 "GOP strategists christen 'Democrat (sic) Party' -- and the media comply"] On BBC see [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4259291.stm], on ''[[USA Today]]'' see [https://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-11-reid_x.htm]; on [[Fox News]] see [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,227961,00.html]</ref>

Some state and local Democratic organizations use the noun-as-adjective on their web pages in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Indiana.<ref>[http://www.jeffcodems.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=117&Itemid=2 ''Chair's Newsletter--March 31-April 11, 2006'']. Jefferson County Democratic Party. Retrieved 2007-01-26. [http://www.il-democrats.org/DeWitt/calendar.html ''DeWitt County Democrat Party'']. Retrieved 2007-01-25. Indiana. [http://democrat.whitleynet.org/ ''Whitley County Democrat Party'']. Retrieved 2007-01-25. [http://www.ksdp.org/node/3044] regarding "The Kansas House Democrat Caucus" and "The Democrat Leadership Team" in 2007. On Missouri see [http://missouridems.org/calendar/] for "February 15, 2007: Saline County Democrat Club" and "March 2, 2007: Missouri Democrat Days."</ref> Lyman (1958) noted that "Democrat party" is common local usage in Maryland. In Indiana numerous "Democrat clubs" have filed incorporation with the Secretary of State, indicating widespread non-controversial usage among local Democrats.<ref>In Indiana there are 34 incorporated groups with "Democrat" as part of their legal name (versus 226 that use "Democratic"). These seem to be active local clubs. (Brown County is the official county organization). Alphabetically the first few are as follows: 17th District Democrat Club, Inc.; Indianapolis, 17th Ward Democrat Club Inc.; Andrew Jackson Democrat Club Of Tippecanoe County; Bloomfield Democrat Incorp.; Brown County Democrat Central Committee Corporation; City Of Portage Democrat Club; Clark County Democrat Men's Club, Inc.; Clinton County Democrat Club Inc., etc. Source: [https://secure.in.gov/sos/bus_service/online_corps/name_search_results.aspx?search_name=democrat&search_type=exact&client_id=&search_mode=search&submit.x=0&submit.y=0].</ref>

U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] has stated he prefers using the term "Democrat Party."<ref>Kasperowicz, Pete (October 26, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-taunts-democrat-party-they-should-change-their-name Trump taunts 'Democrat' Party: 'They should change their name']. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved October 26, 2018.</ref>

===Democrats using "Democrat" as adjective===
Although nationally prominent Democrats carefully avoid "Democrat party," they have started to use "Democrat" as an adjective, as in the phase, "not a Democrat or Republican problem." Thus Vice President-elect Joe Biden, speaking of the [[recession of 2008]], said "This is not a Democrat or Republican problem, we’ve got ourselves a problem." Likewise Rep. Charles Rangel in prepared remarks said regarding the recession of 2008, "This is not a Democrat or Republican problem, but an American problem."<ref>see [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/tag/cnn-political-producer-alexander-marquardt/ Biden Statement of Dec. 2, 2008]; also see [http://waysandmeans.house.gov/News.asp?FormMode=release&ID=862 Rangel statement of Feb. 13. 2009]</ref>

Regarding the New Jersey budget crisis, "It’s not a Democrat or Republican problem," said Governor Jon Corzine.<ref>see [http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=corzines_choice June 20, 2008 interview.]</ref>

President Obama used "Democrat" as an adjective parallel to "Republican" in formal remarks at the White House in 2009:
:[Executives] "understand that what makes an idea sound is not whether it's Democrat or Republican, but whether it makes good economic sense for their workers and companies."<ref>Barack Obama, "Remarks by the President on the Economy after Meeting with Business Leaders, January 28, 2009," [http://www.whitehouse.gov/ceos_at_the_white_house/ online]</ref>

==Issues of grammar==
Some believe that the use of the noun "Democrat" as an adjective is ungrammatical.<ref>Copperud (1980)</ref> Using a noun as a modifier of another noun is not grammatically incorrect in modern English in the formation of a compound noun, i.e. "shoe store," "school bus," "peace movement," "Senate election," etc. Americans commonly speak of "the Iraq war" rather than "the Iraqi war."<ref name=walker>Walker (2005); [https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0812097203&id=efMpTxl3n2cC&pg=PA64&lpg=PA64&dq=%22nouns+used+as+adjectives%22&sig=7SOy_ENpfdI1iBit9e4yF36KwGM ''Master the Basics: English''] by Jean Yatets, 1996, page 64.</ref>

In American history many parties were named by their opponents (Federalists, Loco-Focos, Know Nothings, Populists, Dixiecrats), including the Democrats themselves, as the Federalists in the 1790s used "Democratic Party" as a term of ridicule.<ref>Nunberg (2006); Safire, (1993), 176, 391-2, 595-6; Sperber and Trittschuh. 118-9, 150, 231-2.</ref>

The use of "Democrat Party" could be part of a broader linguistic trend. As one linguist explained, "We're losing our inflections – the special endings we use to distinguish between adjectives and nouns, for instance. There's a tendency to modify a noun with another noun rather than an adjective. Some may speak of "the Ukraine election" rather than 'the Ukrainian election' or 'the election in Ukraine,' for instance. It's 'the Iraq war' rather than 'the Iraqi war,' to give another example."<ref>Walker (2005)</ref>

==Response==
Members of the Republican Party, from political commentators to President Bush himself, made especially extensive use of the term "Democrat Party" during the run-up to the 2006 midterm elections. In response to the growing use of the epithet in late 2006, a corresponding epithet for the Republican Party, the "Republic Party", began to circulate in liberal parts of the blogosphere; the previous Republican waves of usage had inspired the "Publican Party", but this failed to catch on.<ref>Feuerlicht, 1956</ref>

Democrats complained about the use of "Democrat" as an adjective in the 2007 State of the Union address by President Bush. "Like nails on a chalkboard," complained Clinton White House Chief of Staff John Podesta. Political analyst Charlie Cook attributed its usage to force of habit rather than a deliberate epithet by Republicans: "They have been doing it so long that they probably don't even realize they're doing it."<ref>Copeland</ref> On February 4, 2007, Bush joked in a speech to House Democrats, stating "Now look, my diction isn't all that good. I have been accused of occasionally mangling the English language. And so I appreciate you inviting the head of the Republic Party."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/03/AR2007020300701.html ''Washington Post'' Feb 4, 2007 at]</ref> Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-[[NY]]) repeatedly invoked the phrase "The Republic Party" on the floor of the House in February 2007 while lambasting Congressional Republicans.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsqprEihjXg Youtube - Anthony Weiner Rips the "Republic Party"].</ref>

Another corresponding noun-as-adjective response has also begun to circulate on the Internet: "The Republicans Party."<ref>[http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1018-02.htm][http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/10/28/112436.php][http://www.ironweedfilms.com/node/525]</ref> Members of the Democratic Underground have proposed that "Republicon Party" be used as a counter to the Republican adoption of Democrat Party as a putdown.<ref>[http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3190412 Democratic Underground thread]</ref>

==Objections in the [[Lamestream media]]==
Complaints about the term "Democrat Party" can be found in the [[lamestream media]]. ''New Yorker Magazine'' commentator Hendrik Hertzberg wrote: "There’s no great mystery about the motives behind this deliberate misnaming. 'Democrat Party' is a slur, or intended to be - a handy way to express contempt. Aesthetic judgments are [[Subjectivism|subjective]], of course, but 'Democrat Party' is jarring verging on ugly."<ref>Hertzberg (2006)</ref>

==References==
* Roy H. Copperud, ''American Usage and Style: The Consensus'' 1980, pages 101-102.
* Ignace Feuerlicht. "Democrat Party," , ''American Speech'', Vol. 32, No. 3 (Oct., 1957), pp. 228–231 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-1283%28195710%2932%3A3%3C228%3ADP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-0 online in JSTOR]
* Bryan A. Garner, ''A Dictionary of Modern American Usage'' 1998, p. 196.
* Hendrik Hertzberg. [http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/articles/060807ta_talk_hertzberg "The 'IC' Factor"] ''The New Yorker'', August 7, 2006.
* John Lyman, "Democrat Party," ''American Speech'', Vol. 33, No. 3 (October 1958), pp. 239–40 [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-1283%28195810%2933%3A3%3C239%3ADP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-T in JSTOR] notes term as used by some Democrats in Maryland.
* ''Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage'', 1994, pp 328–29, page 667.
* Geoffrey Nunberg. [http://www-csli.stanford.edu/~nunberg/democrats.html "The Case for Democracy"] in "Fresh Air" commentary, January 19, 2005 (radio broadcast).
* Geoffrey Nunberg, ''Talking Right: How Conservatives Turned Liberalism into a Tax-Raising, Latte-Drinking, Sushi-Eating, Volvo-Driving, New York Times-Reading, Body-Piercing, Hollywood-Loving, Left-Wing Freak Show'' 2006.
* William Safire, ''Safire's New Political Dictionary'' (1993).
* Hans Sperber and Travis Trittschuh. ''American Political Terms: An Historical Dictionary'' (1962) pages 117-23.
* Walker, Ruth. [http://blogs.csmonitor.com/verbal_energy/2005/01/index.html "Republicans, Democrats, and the Afghan on the couch"] ''[[Christian Science Monitor]]'', January 27, 2005
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904EFD61538F934A2575BC0A962948260 "Democrats Find Ally In Republican Camp"], ''UPI'', August 17, 1984.
* Democratic Underground http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3190412 March 31, 2007
====notes====
<references/>

[[Category:Democratic Party]]

Terrorism

2018-12-14T15:47:18Z

Mhutch: Added information on radical Islamic terrorism.

'''Terrorism''' is defined by the U.S. [[Department of Defense]] as "''the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives.''" According to the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|U.S. Department of Homeland Security]] in 2018, seven potential terrorists try to enter the U.S. every day.<ref>Dinan, Stephen (January 29, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/29/7-potential-terrorists-day-try-enter-us-dhs-chief/ Seven potential terrorists a day try to enter the U.S.: DHS chief]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 30, 2018.</ref> Statistically, all seven are [[Muslims]]. This begs the question of why [[racial profiling]] is considered unacceptable by the [[liberal media]].

Other than the main form of [[Islamic terrorism]], [[Atheism|atheist]]ic terrorism consists of publicity-seeking acts of murder, such as that at [[Columbine High School]], consistent with [[existentialism]] or [[nihilism]], which do not necessarily seek to intimidate or coerce government. [[Environmentalist]] terrorism consists of the destruction of property in a manner designed to bring free publicity to the movement.

The term itself was coined as a result of the [[French Revolution]], referring in particular to [[Maximilien de Robespierre]]'s [[Reign of Terror]], although it was closer to state-sponsored terrorism.

==Terrorist==
One who uses [[terroristic tactics]] to coerce behavior in another person or group is generally considered to fall under the definition of the term "terrorist". One who uses such terroristic tactics ([[suicide bombing]], [[sniper]], [[assassination]], [[random bombing]], etc.) can often be described as such. Aeroflight in the UK [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/definitions.htm], defines it as: ''"One who utilizes the systematic use of violence and/or intimidation to achieve political objectives, while disguised as a civilian non-combatant. The use of a civilian disguise while on operations exempts the perpetrator from protection under the [[Geneva Convention]]s, and consequently if captured they are liable for prosecution as common criminals."''

==Terrorism==
Terrorism is the use of terror (fear), violence, and intimidation to achieve an end. Terrorism also refers to any fear and subjugation produced by this. The term is also used to describe violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians by groups or persons for political or ideological goals. Terrorism is the unlawful use or threatened use, of force, ''intimidation'', and/or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.

===Leftist (Radical) Terrorism===

[[Leftist]] Terrorism, often referred to as radical terrorism, is terrorism that embraces the fringe left side of the political spectrum (Countries that are hostile to dissident terrorist movements often also see violence from the [[far left]] as well). Radical terrorists are future orientated. That is, radicals believe that they are currently being oppressed by some current government, ideology or regime, and therefore they should overthrow that oppressor and install a better government. Radical terrorists often operate with the belief that it is possible to create a utopia for the people. Radicals generally follow the beliefs of [[Karl Marx]] and [[Lenin]], with emphasis on the idea of Lenin's [[vanguard party]]. Marx himself had also advocated for Revolutionary Terror in one of his correspondences with fellow Communist founder [[Friedrich Engels]] and specifically wanted to reenact the year 1793 (fitting, as the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror via the Jacobins, Gironquists, and Cordeliers Club among others were the ones who coined the term terrorism). Leftist terrorists often choose symbolic targets that emphasize what they see as an oppressor to the working class. Leftist terrorist tend to target buildings and governmental structures that represent [[capitalism]], or assassinate government leaders and capitalists. Leftist terrorists are self-characterized as the young, self-educated elites of society, who are destined to both weaken the oppressive government and at the same time expose the weakness of the government to the exploited workforce. Radicals also tend to be more exclusive with what issues they champion. Often, very narrow radicals will focus on one issue, resulting in [[animal rights]], [[feminist]], and eco-terrorists. Radical groups often operated in highly organized and clandestine groups, easily recognizable and orderly. However, leftist groups often had internal divisions in the larger groups that often broke off to create new group.<ref>Gus Martin. Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues.</ref>

====Famous Radical Groups====

*[[Al-Qaeda]]
*[[Animal Liberation Front]]
*[[Baader-Meinhof Gang]]
*[[Cordeliers Club]]
*[[Earth Liberation Front]]
*[[Front de libération du Québec]]
*[[Girondins]]
*[[Irish Republican Army]]
*[[Jacobins]]
*[[John Brown Anti-Klan Committee]]
*[[Ku Klux Klan]]
*[[May 19th Communist Organization]]
*[[Muslim Brotherhood]]
*[[Prairie Fire Organizing Committee]]
*[[Red Army Faction]]
*[[Revolutionary Organization 17 November]]
*[[Symbionese Liberation Army]]
*[[Weather Underground Organization]]
*[[Youth International Party]]

===Right (Reactionary) Terrorism===

Historically, reactionary terrorism has been less organized and less symbolic than leftist terrorists. Reactionary terrorists, like radical terrorists, see the current government as corrupt, but unlike radical leftists, reactionaries do not see the current government as needing revolutionary change. Rather, reactionaries view the government as a perversion of some older, better, government or social order. Reactionary terrorist violence is an attempt to regain the lost government and return to "order" and status quo. Reactionary violence is often justified by a use of mysticism about the old order. Scapegoating is a common tactic among reactionary terrorists to create an enemy for which to blame for the current order. Historical scapegoats among reactionary terrorists have included [[Jew]]s, foreigners, [[homosexual]]s, [[Atheism|atheist]]s, leftists, blacks, [[illegal immigrant]]s, and other racial minorities. Reactionary groups often defined by racial supremacy and a sense of order. Goals of reactionary terrorist include the delegation of minorities back to secondary status with respect to the national majority and a creation of a strong government to sustain order and prevent chaos through a police state. It should be noted however that due to conspiracy theories prevalence in the American fringe right, American reactionaries do not seek the creation of a strong government. Reactionaries often act as individuals or small groups and are not as discriminate with their targets as are leftist groups. This is partially due to the lack of unity between reactionaries and the scope of reactionary targets, often encompassing entire races.<ref>Gus Martin. Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues.</ref>

====Famous Reactionary Groups====

*[[Skinheads]]
*[[New Order]]

===Islamic terrorism===
The most common form of terrorism in modern time is Islamic terrorism.

* [[Abu Sayyaf]], [[Philippines]]
* [[Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]], [[Gaza Strip]] and [[West Bank]]
* [[Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya]], [[Egypt]]
* [[Al-Qaeda]], worldwide
* [[Harakat al-Shabaab Mujahideen|Al-Shabaab]], [[Somalia]]
* [[Ansar al-Islam]], [[Iraq]]
* [[Ansar al-sharia]], [[Libya]]
* [[Armed Islamic Group of Algeria|Armed Islamic Group]] (GIA), [[Algeria]]
* [[Boko Haram]], [[Nigeria]]
* [[Caucasus Emirate]] (IK), [[Russia]]
* [[East Turkestan Islamic Movement]] (ETIM), [[China]]
* [[Egyptian Islamic Jihad]], Egypt
* [[Great Eastern Islamic Raiders' Front]] (IBDA-C), [[Turkey]]
* [[Hamas]], Gaza Strip and West Bank
* [[Harkat-ul-Mujahideen]] al-Alami, [[Pakistan]]
* [[Hezbollah]], [[Lebanon]]
* [[Islamic Movement of Central Asia]], [[Central Asia]]
* [[Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan]], [[Uzbekistan]]
* [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]], worldwide
* [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]], Pakistan and [[Kashmir]]
* [[Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna]], Iraq
* [[Jemaah Islamiyah]], [[Indonesia]]
* [[Lashkar-e-Taiba]], Pakistan and Kashmir
* [[Lashkar-e-Jhangvi]], Pakistan
* [[Moro Islamic Liberation Front]], [[Philippines]]
* [[Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group]], [[Morocco]] and Europe
* [[Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine|Palestinian Islamic Jihad]], Gaza Strip and West Bank
* [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq|Tawhid and Jihad]], Iraq

== Domestic terrorists ==
In describing domestic terrorism before the House Resources Committee on February 12, 2002, James F. Jarboe, Domestic Terrorism Section Chief of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division, stated:
:''"Domestic terrorism is the unlawful use, or threatened use, of violence by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the United States (or its territories) without foreign direction, committed against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives. During the past decade we have witnessed dramatic changes in the nature of the terrorist threat. In the 1990s, right-wing extremism overtook left-wing terrorism as the most dangerous domestic terrorist threat to the country. During the past several years, special interest extremism, as characterized by the [[Animal Liberation Front]] (ALF) and the [[Earth Liberation Front]] (ELF), has emerged as a serious terrorist threat. Generally, extremist groups engage in much activity that is protected by constitutional guarantees of free speech and assembly. Law enforcement becomes involved when the volatile talk of these groups transgresses into unlawful action. The FBI estimates that the ALF/ELF have committed more than 600 criminal acts in the United States since 1996, resulting in damages in excess of 43 million dollars."'' [http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress02/jarboe021202.htm]

The following organizations have been accused by the FBI of being involved with domestic terrorism:
*[[Animal Liberation Front]]
*[[Black Liberation Army]]
*[[Earth Liberation Front]]
*[[Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional]] (FALN)
*[[Ku Klux Klan]]
*[[Symbionese Liberation Army]]
*[[Army of God]]
*[[Weather Underground]]

== International ==

*[[Al-Qaeda]]

*[[PIRA]]

*[[Hamas]]

==Terrorism and the Media==

The prime goal of any terrorist is [[mass media]] exposure. Terrorism cannot recruit new initiates like regular armies, rather when they run out of discontented radicals within their state, they must rely on the media to spread their message. Therefore, media outlets and the press must be careful when choosing a story, as often running a story about a terrorist attack just creates more support for a terrorist cause.

== Groups Considered by the United States to be Terrorist Organizations ==
<ref>http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm</ref>
*[[Abu Nidal Organization]]
*[[Abu Sayyaf]]
*[[Aum Shinrikyo]]
*[[ETA]]
*[[Gama’a al-Islamiyya]]
*[[Hamas]]
*[[Harakat ul-Mujahidin]]
*[[Hizballah]]
*[[Kahane Chai]]
*[[PKK]]
*[[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]
*[[National Liberation Army]]
*[[Palestine Liberation Front]]
*[[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]]
*[[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine]]
*[[PFLP-General Command]]
*[[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]]
*[[Revolutionary Organization 17 November]]
*[[Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front]]
*[[Shining Path]]
*[[Al-Qaeda]]
*[[Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan]]
*[[Real Irish Republican Army]]
*[[Jaish-e-Mohammed]]
*[[Lashkar-e Tayyiba]]
*[[Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade]]
*[[Asbat al-Ansar]]
*[[al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb]]
*[[Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army]]
*[[Jemaah Islamiya]]
*[[Lashkar i Jhangvi]]
*[[Ansar al-Islam]]
*[[Continuity Irish Republican Army]]
*[[Libyan Islamic Fighting Group]]
*[[al-Qaida in Iraq]]
*[[Islamic Jihad Union]]
*[[Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group]]
*[[Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh]]
*[[al-Shabaab]]
*[[Revolutionary Struggle]]
*[[Kata'ib Hizballah]]
*[[al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula]]
*[[Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami]]
*[[Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan]]
*[[Jundallah]]
*[[Army of Islam]]
*[[Indian Mujahedeen]]
*[[Jemaah Anshorut Tauhid]]
*[[Abdallah Azzam Brigades]]
*[[Haqqani Network]]
*[[Ansar al-Dine]]
*[[Boko Haram]]
*[[Ansaru]]
*[[al-Mulathamun Battalion]]
*[[Ansar al-Shari'a in Benghazi]]
*[[Ansar al-Shari'a in Darnah]]
*[[Ansar al-Shari'a in Tunisia]]
*[[Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis]]
*[[al-Nusrah Front]]
*[[Mujahidin Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem]]
*[[Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al Naqshabandi]]
*[[Khorosan Group|ISIL-Khorosan]]
*[[Islamic State|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's Branch]] in [[Libya]]
*Al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent
*Hizbul Mujahideen
*ISIS-[[Bangladesh]]
*ISIS-[[Philippines]]
*ISIS-West Africa
*ISIS-Greater Sahara
*[[al-Ashtar Brigades]]

==Groups directly or indirectly supporting terrorists==
The following organizations within the United States have either directly supported terrorist organizations worldwide through the use of money contributions or media influence, or have prevented enforcement of the laws on the books via court petitions and lawsuits:
*[[Noraid]]

== Groups receiving CIA support ==
The American CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) has the stated objective of ''"Conducting covert action at the direction of the President to preempt threats or achieve US policy objectives."''[https://www.cia.gov/cia/information/mission.html]. Over the course of its well-documented history, this has involved the establishment, funding and organization of various organizations some have regarded as terrorist, including:

*[[Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haïti]] (FRAPH).<ref>Reed Lindsay,[http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1163909,00.html ''Cold War returns to US backyard''], The Observer, March 7, 2004</ref>

== War on terror ==

===Fighting terrorism===
*[http://lightonthings.blogspot.com#fight The Reality Show - The Watch the Fight] links to many sites that deal with the 'war on terror'.
*[[Fox News Channel|Fox News]] has compiled a [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335500,00.html list of known terror plots] thwarted by the U.S. government since Sept. 11, 2001.

==See also==
*[[FBI Most Wanted Terrorist List]]
*[[September 11, 2001 attacks]]
*[[June 2007 UK terror attacks]]
*[[Osama Bin Laden]]
*[[Homicide Bombers]]
*[[Pyroterrorism]]
*[[Baruch Goldstein]]
*[[Arbi Barayev]]
*[[Theodore Kaczynski]]
*[[List of Islamist terrorist attacks]]

==External links==
*[http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/guideDesc.asp?is_campus_support=1 DiscoverTheNetworks.org - Campus Support For Terrorism]
*[http://www.aim.org/wls/category/terrorism/ What Liberals Say - Category: Terrorism], [[Accuracy In Media]]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7v1C0VUhyA A Hamas made video of one of their suicide bomber operations]

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOVhTFOPKxc&feature=related Failed suicide bombing attempt by anguishing 21 year old woman]

*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPU4UN03t7E&feature=related Failed suicide bombing attempt by 14 year old sent by his elders. His explanation why - because he was afraid of "the people" and because of "paradise"]
*[http://bertschlossberg.blogspot.de/2013/04/two-flags-multiple-explosions-one-god.html Two Flags, Multiple Explosions, One God, and no Escape]
*[http://bertschlossberg.blogspot.de/2013/04/two-flags-multiple-explosions-one-god.html Turkey's Islamic leader, Israel's Chief Rabbi, and Al Qaida's assassination attempt]

{{Terrorism}}

[[Category:Political Terms]]
[[Category:Terrorism]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Man-Made Disasters]]
[[Category:Threats]]
[[Category:Military Strategies and Concepts]]

Islam

2018-12-14T15:42:10Z

Mhutch: Added information on September 11

[[Image:Quran.jpg|thumb|right|Pages from the [[Koran]], the foundational text of the Islamic ideology, dictated by a single 7th century author who claimed to have been inspired by a supernatural being whom Muslims call 'Allah'. If the Constitution is the highest law of the United States, then the Koran is the highest law of Islam.]]
'''Islam''' is a major world [[Political|socio-political]] system<ref>[http://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage.cfm/frm/100100/sec_id/100100 Why Islam is Not a Religion], by Rebecca Bynum (Nov. 2011) Speech delivered October 18th to ACT! for America Chapter in Memphis Tennessee</ref> based on the teachings of [[Muhammad]] (sometimes Mohammed), a seventh century [[Arab]]. Muhammad claimed descent from [[Ishmael]], the son of [[Abraham]]. Muhammad claimed to have received revelations from [[Allah]], the entity which adherents of Islam claim to resemble the [[God]] of [[Judaism]] and [[Christianity]], via the archangel Gabriel, which were written in the [[Koran]] – thus forming the core teachings of Islam.

Adherents of Islam, along with their liberal allies (including in the [[mainstream media]]), claim it to be pure religion untarnished by any political agenda. However, this description does not
explain the rise of radical Islamic [[terrorism]] such as the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]]. Unlike [[Christianity]], Judaism and other religions, Islam is presented and acts in ways opposite to the teachings of legitimate religions, and it is more akin to the totalitarian ideologies of [[Nazism]] and [[Communism]], based on the history of Islam and its followers.

The Koran's singular authorship offers no corroborating evidence, as the four Gospels do for example, of testimony of independent eyewitness accounts to its claim of divine inspiration as the Mosaic Law requires,<ref>Dueteronomy 19:15 ''By the testimony of two is a matter established''. The testimony of one - Mohammad - is insufficient to convict the human race, or infidels, of sin, ''per the Law of Moses'' or the Koran itself which claims descent.</ref> from which the Koran's author borrowed selectively.

==Overview==
[[File:World Muslim Population Pew Forum.png|thumb|The Muslim population of the world map according to the Pew Forum 2009 report.]]
The word "Islam"<ref>Arabic الإسلام‎‎, specifically referring to submission to Allah</ref> means "submission" or "surrender" in [[Arabic language|Arabic]]. Islam, as originally designed in the Koran, presents itself as an "Abrahamic faith" and has [[Moses]] in it,<ref>Brannon Wheeler. Moses in the Koran and Islamic Exegesis. Routledge, 2002.</ref> as well as [[Jesus]] as a prophet in Islam,<ref>Muhammad Ata ur-Rahim, Ahmad Thomson. ''Jesus: Prophet of Islam''. TTQ, INC., 2003.</ref> and it specifically denies Jesus's divine nature.

<blockquote>
The world’s Islamic population is expected to increase by about 35% in the next 20 years, rising from 1.6 billion in 2010 to 2.2 billion by 2030, according to new population projections by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. In the United States, for example, the population projections show the number of Muslims more than doubling over the next two decades, rising from 2.6 million in 2010 to 6.2 million in 2030.<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2011/01/27/the-future-of-the-global-muslim-population/ The Future of the Global Muslim Population.]</ref>
</blockquote>

Islam has been criticized for some time because of its demanding of strict submissiveness (especially of women), its suppression and violations of human rights (also including those of women), and its predisposition to being violent toward those of true religious faiths and attacking those faiths deemed a threat to Islam. There have been over 23,000 terrorist attacks committed by adherents of Islam since [[September 11, 2001 attacks|the Islamic terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001]].<ref>http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/</ref> A more recent strain of Islam has combined European totalitarianism and a virulent [[anti-Semitism]]. This version is called [[Jihadism#Lesser jihad|lesser jihad]], [[Islamism]], radical Islam, or militant Islam. Without the historic institution of the Caliph, this form degenerates into stateless terrorist activity that strikes at the heart of civilized man. Some who identify as Muslim have denounced the violent jihadism while others remain silent. Some Muslims and non-Muslims theorize that mainstream Islam has become corrupted over the years that there needs to be an [[Islamic Reformation]] similar to that of the [[Protestant Reformation]].<ref>Michaelle Browers, Charles Kurzman. An Islamic Reformation? Lexington Books, 2004.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.danielpipes.org/954/distinguishing-between-islam-and-islamism|title=Distinguishing between Islam and Islamism|author=Daniel Pipes|date=June 30, 1998}}</ref> The Reformation movements were costly and bloody for well over a century.
[[Image:Mecca.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mecca]], one of the holy cities of Islam.]]
There are small groups of largely Westernized Muslims who publicly reject Islamism. Such moderate Muslim conservatives are in the [[Republican Party]], known as the [[Muslim Republicans]].<ref>http://www.muslimrepublicans.net/</ref> One of America's Founding Fathers, [[Thomas Jefferson]], who was a religious [[libertarian]], declared: "''freedom for the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mohammedan, the Hindu and infidel of every denomination''."<ref>John A. Garraty, Story of America Beginnings to 1877, (1992) Holt, Rinehart and Winston, pg 706.</ref>

Issues with Islam arose in the 2012 U.S. presidential campaign. Republican presidential candidate [[Mitt Romney]] said that "''Radical, violent Islamists pose a threat to Americans and others around the world.''" and that "''they take a very different view of Islam than the Muslims I know.''" Romney said that when he lived in Detroit he knew Muslims, as Detroit has a large Muslim population, and says "''They are peace-loving and America-loving individuals. I believe that very sincerely. I believe people of the Islamic faith do not have to subscribe to the idea of radical, violent jihadism.''<ref>http://www.muslimrepublicans.net/</ref> Former Republican presidential nominee candidate [[Ron Paul]], a libertarian conservative, says that America should not fear Islam and said that America should just embrace people of all faiths.<ref>http://www.muslimrepublicans.net/</ref> American conservative author Margaret Hoover believes that the Republican Party needs to recognize Muslim Republicans, noting an example of Muslim Republican youth Suhail Khan who she describes as "''one of thousands of Muslim Americans who work to promote Christian-Muslim understanding''".<ref>Margaret Hoover, ''American Individualism: How a New Generation of Conservatives Can Save the Republican Party'', Random House Digital, Inc., 2011, pg 202.</ref> Candidates for the Republican nomination like [[Newt Gingrich]] and [[Rick Santorum]] strongly criticized Islamic extremism.<ref>http://www.muslimrepublicans.net/</ref>

[[Multiculturalism|Multiculturalists]] ignore or minimize violence in the history of Islam and exaggerate Christian atrocities to advance a [[moral equivalence]]. Proponents of this view often cite the [[Crusades|Great Crusades]]--an unsuccessful attempt by Western Christians to retake parts of the [[Byzantine Empire]] that had been conquered by Islamic armies--and various religious wars which were later fought in Europe between branches of Christianity. However, they brand critics of Islam "racists" (even though Islam is not a "race") and "[[Islamophobia|Islamophobes]]" (a smear term invented for the purpose of censoring and silencing legitimate criticism of Islam) for exposing today’s threats by [[jihadism|jihadists]].<ref>http://www.bcbsr.com/topics/charity.html</ref>

A follower of Islam is called a "[[Muslim]]" (rarely "Moslem"), a term which means "one who submits (to Allah)." The older terms "Mohammedan" and "Muhammedan" ("follower of Muhammad"), have fallen out of use.<ref>Additional archaic terms for Muslims include "Hagarene", "Musselman", and "Saracen." Saracen as a term for Muslims was limited to the Crusades era, although it makes frequent re-appearances in pre-modern polemics. Hagarene was a more common term in pre-modern works, as it denotes the Biblical connection of Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, who is claimed to be a patriarch of Islam. Additional names for Muslims in pre-modern and Medieval works are generally derived from misspellings.</ref>

Because of its history of terrorism, mass murder, suicide attacks and the overall lack of value it places on human life, Islam, and those who adhere to it, are generally shown as having no regard whatsoever toward human life.<ref>[http://www.conservativenewsandviews.com/2017/07/09/human/permanent-rage-islam/ The Permanent Rage of Islam] at Conservative News and Views</ref>

==Theology==
[[File:Kaaba.jpg|thumb|Masjid al-Haram, the holiest site in Islam.]]

There are no clergy, but there are religious teachers, or [[Imam]]s, who have their followings. All Muslims are supposed to follow the teachings of Muhammad, whom they believe to be Allah's<ref>Arabic الله</ref> last and greatest [[prophet]] (although Jesus, in Matthew 7:15-20, warned "Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will recognize them by their fruit", which serves to explicitly describe Muhammad and such like him). The teachings of Muhammad are transmitted through the [[Koran]], the Hadith, and the Sunnah. The Sunnah is a general term for "the life and doings of the Prophet", which all Muslims are called on to replicate. Islam claims that the Archangel [[Gabriel]] appeared to Muhammad in a cave reciting verbatim a revelation from Allah. The first word that Gabriel says to Muhammad is "Iqra" or "Recite/Proclaim",which is found in the 96th Sura of the Koran.

Muslims believe that Allah revealed the Koran to Muhammad. The key miracle of Islam comes from the historical condition of the illiterate and uneducated Muhammad, as the Koran is composed in an erudite and complex form of Arabic prose and poetry.<ref>Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created- Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,- He Who taught (the use of) the pen,- Taught man that which he knew not.(Surah 96:1-5)</ref> The Koran was not written down in a systematic fashion until a decade after Muhammad died, preferable transmission being through oral recitation. The Koran is claimed by Muslims to be the pure and holy word of Allah, uncreated and eternal. In Islamic belief the term uncreated is very important, as it implies that there is no author for the Koran, only the delivering of the word to Muhammad who delivered it to the Sahab and the Salaf (The Companions and the Pure), who delivered it to the scribe delegated to record it in the reign of the Caliph Uthman bin Affan.

==Origins==
Like Christianity and Judaism, Islam originated in the Middle East. Islam claims to trace its roots back to Abraham through his son Ishmael. Muslims do not believe that Muhammad was the founder of Islam, rather they claim that he restored the original faith of Abraham and the prophets that followed as recorded in the lost books of the Tawrat and Injil.

Based upon this belief, the [[Bible]], both the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]]s, is claimed by adherents of Islam to have become corrupted through the [[Bible translations|translations and misinterpretations]] accumulated over several millennia. The criticism of the [[Torah]] centers around the reconstruction of the existing Biblical text required after the "[[Babylon]]ian captivity". The criticism of the New Testament centers in the many disputed gnostic texts which contradict the orthodox biblical canon. Interestingly, Islamic jurisprudence accepts that the Injil was complete and whole up until the revelation of Muhammad. Therefore, there is some inconsistency in the claims made against the New Testament. For more information, see [[The Bible versus the Qur'an|The Bible versus the Koran]].

Muhammad spent many years attempting to unite disparate polytheistic Arab tribes in the power vacuum created by the fall of the [[Roman Empire]] through recitations of his epic poem, which borrowed heavily from Hebrew scriptures and dietary laws, meeting with only limited success. He was eventually driven out of Mecca by the powers that be for challenging state authority, an event known as the ''Hijra'' or "Flight from Mecca" which marks the beginning of the Islamic calender.

Eventually Muhammad was summoned back to Mecca by a faction of sympathizers, mainly tribal family members, as political chaos engulfed the city. Muhammad conqueered the city after a prolonged siege with attacks on the civilian population and hundreds of beheadings to any who refused to accept his claims to a divine mission of carrying out the will of Allah. The doctrine of abrogation (''nashk'') in Islamic scholarship teaches that the later instructions of Mohammad supersede any earlier contradictory verses in the Koran.<ref>http://www.quranicstudies.com/books/abrogation-in-the-quran-and-islamic-law/</ref> Hence was born political Islam,<ref>https://www.politicalislam.com/abrogation-and-the-koran/</ref> a doctrine of war, conquest, and vengeance, over any earlier utterances which teach Islam a religion of peace. Peace only exists in Islam insofar as all Islam's enemies are subjugated.

==Today==
Islam is the world's largest socio-political ideology, with over 1.6 billion followers, and is claimed to be the fastest growing ideology in America.<ref>[http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/the-fastest-growing-religion-in-america-is-islam]</ref> This rapid growth is mainly due to conversions, high birth rates, and convenient redefinitions of the term "Muslim". Conversions to Christianity (from ''any'' faith or lack thereof) outnumber those to Islam, but are keeping up with the birthrate discrepancy.<ref>[http://www.bible.ca/global-religion-statistics-world-christian-encyclopedia.htm World Christian Encyclopedia]</ref>
<ref>[http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles6/AlJazeerahAfrica.php Translation of AL-Jazeerah interview between Maher Abdallah and Shiekh Ahmed Katani]</ref>

Islamic doctrine, including what is taught in [[North America]], teaches that 1 John 4:9, "God is love", is a false doctrine.<ref>http://www.arabicbible.com/for-christians/1313-christians-common-questions-about-islam.html?start=2</ref> The doctrine of ''Al-Wala wal-Bara'' teaches true faith is measured in sharing Allah's hatred of the ''kufr'', non-believers, or infidels.<ref>http://www.meforum.org/3545/islam-hatred-non-muslim</ref> In other words, Islamic doctrine teaches that Allah hates his own creation, sinful man, which John 3:16 teaches, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son." ''Al-Wala wal-Bara'', or divine hatred, is used to justify terrorist attacks. The believing Muslim feels he is carrying out Allah's will in killing Allah's enemies. Rather than the [[atonement|atoning]] blood of Jesus for sinful man, the murder of infidels and attacks on their societal institutions and national governments is aimed at blotting out evil in the world.

Even Orthodox Judaism teaches that Jehovah loves sinners. Psalm 138:8 for example says, "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands."

[[Indonesia]] has the largest Islamic population in the world.

==Historical Background==
According to Islamic belief, in approximately 610 A.D., [[Muhammad]], a 40-year-old merchant of the Quraysh tribe in [[Mecca]], located in the Hijaz (now eastern [[Saudi Arabia]]), was commanded by the angel [[Gabriel]] (or Jibreel) to "recite" the message of Allah (professed by adherents of Islam to be their god). Gabriel said mankind had lost sight of Allah's previous messages to earlier prophets, [[Adam]], [[Noah]], [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], [[Solomon]], and [[Jesus]], among others, and that Muhammad was to spread Allah's message to all people so that mankind would know how to live, how to show respect for Allah, and how to prepare for the judgment day.
[[File:Islam750.jpg|right|thumb|Map of the expansion of Islam]]
The message to Muhammad was to be Allah's last and fullest revelation, a direct copy of the Umm Al Khitab, the mother of all books located in heaven next to Allah; Muhammad was the "seal of the prophets." Muhammad won some converts to Islam in his local area, but his [[monotheist]] preaching threatened to undermine the profitable [[polytheist]] pilgrim traffic supporting many Meccan merchants. In 622 A.D., the merchants drove Muhammad and his followers out of Mecca to the city of Yathrib (later renamed [[Medina]], or the city – as in the city of the prophet). This flight (hijra) from Mecca to Medina marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar, and is celebrated each year in the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Muhammad's forces, composed of the sahaba (companions) from Mecca, and the Ansar (allied tribes from Yathrib) started attacking the trade caravans going in and out of Mecca, cutting off its economic lifeline. After a series of battles between the Meccans and Muhammad's forces, Mecca finally accepted Muhammad's ultimatum to succumb and convert to Islam. The city welcomed the prophet back in 630. Muhammad died in 632.

Tribal elders in a traditional council called the "Shura" elected [[Abu Bakr]] to be Muhammad's successor, or [[Caliph]] (Khalifa). Abu Bakr united the tribes of the Arabian peninsula during his two years as head of the new faith. Upon his death, the elders elected [[Umar ibn al-Khattab]] the next Caliph. During Umar's ten-year reign, Islam invaded and spread through conquest and negotiation into [[Egypt]], [[Syria]], [[Palestine]], [[Iraq]], and parts of Persia (modern-day [[Iran]]). Umar was assassinated by a Persian in 644, and was succeeded by [[Uthman ibn Affan]], who continued the invasions to spread Islam into [[North Africa]], [[Cyprus]], the rest of Persia, [[Afghanistan]], and parts of [[India]] and [[Pakistan]]. Over the next two centuries, Islamic armies continued to expanded Islam's empire into sub-Saharan Africa, [[Spain]], South-east and Central Asia, and [[Turkey]].

The Muslim armies conquered and superseded the ancient Sassanid and Byzantine empires which had ruled before. Within a generation of Muhammad's death Islamic armies occupied an empire stretching from the Nile river to the far-off Persian province of Khorasan. Reasons for the rapid conquest are varied and obscure. The Arab armies were more akin to tribal war bands raiding and settling where and when they could. The Byzantine and Sassanid empires had been at war for centuries. The constant simmering conflict between Constantinople and Persia reached a climax in the early 7th century. The Sassanids conquered briefly Egypt and the Levant threatening the central Byzantine heartland of Anatolia. Under the military reforms of the emperor Heraclius, the Byzantine army consolidated and counterattacked, recapturing all that they had lost and capturing the Sassanian capital of Ctesiphon in 628.

This brief end of the Roman-Persian wars disrupted the frontier areas which had predicated their economies on raiding and mercenary activities. Two major areas in Arabia were directly affected. The Lackmid tribe and the Gassanid tribe both acted as mercenaries for the Persians and Romans. The official religion of both tribes analogically mirrored that of their overseers. Monophysite Christianity was common, particularly of the Jacobite sect. The death of Muhammad and the subsequent Ridda wars occupied these warrior tribes until the reign of Caliph Umar. Additionally, there was great religious unrest in the Levant and Egypt. These areas resented the ruinous taxes and the harsh orthodoxy imposed by the emperor in Constantinople.

The same climate was present in the Sassanid realm with the rise of the dualism of the Manicheans. Under the Caliph Umar, the Arab tribes which had concluded the infighting following the death of Muhammad were allowed to raid into the Byzantine and Sassanid fronteirs. The weakened state of both regimes from both military and economic exhaustion and religious unrest made them fertile picking grounds for the tribal warbands. The Arabs were chiefly successful in holding these areas in that they upheld a lightweight regime of low taxes based in the Islamic laws and distant government. Rather than employing an army of bureaucrats and nobility, the early Arab empire was more favorable towards maintaining the existing government structures under the leadership of Arab tribes. In this atmosphere it is hardly surprising to note the reports from both Islamic and Christian sources of peaceful capitulation and invitation of the invading forces.

[[File:Madina Haram at evening .jpg|center|800px|thumb|Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (the Mosque of the Prophet) in [[Medina]], [[Saudi Arabia]], the site of [[Muhammad|Muhammad's]] tomb.]]

=== Islam and war ===

''See also:'' [[Irreligion/religion and war]] and [[Islamic terrorism]] and [[Atheism vs. Islam]]

In his book ''The Irrational [[Atheism|Atheist]]'', [[Vox Day]] wrote:
{{Cquote|It’s also interesting to note that more than half of these religious wars, sixty-six in all, were waged by Islamic nations, which is rather more than might be statistically expected considering that the first war in which Islam was involved took place almost three millennia after the first war chronicled in the ''Encyclopedia'', Akkad’s conquest of Sumer in 2325 B.C.

In light of this evidence, the fact that a specific religion is currently sparking a great deal of
conflict around the globe cannot reasonably be used to indict all religious faith, especially when one
considers that removing that single religion from the equation means that all of the other religious
faiths combined only account for 3.35 percent of humanity’s wars.<ref>[http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf The Irrational Atheist - Abbreviated free copy on PDF]</ref>}}

==Divisions within Islam==
Uthman was assassinated in 656 A.D. by soldiers who then installed Ali ibn Abu Talib, Muhammad's son-in-law, as [[Caliph]]. Ali's followers believed Muhammad had chosen Ali to be Muhammad's heir, and had disagreed with the selections of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman as Caliphs. Ali's claim to the position was challenged by Muawiyah, a kinsman of the murdered Uthman. Five years later, Ali was assassinated by Kharjites, dissidents who broke away from the main body of Islam because they rejected Ali's accepting arbitration to resolve his leadership dispute with Muawiyah. Ali's supporters, or the Shiah al-Ali (or Shiat Ali, partisans of Ali) believed that Ali was the true Caliph and was, in part, divinely inspired. Ali's sons, Hassan and Husayn followed as [[Shia]] Caliphs, Hassan dying in 669 or 670 A.D., possibly by poisoning, and Husayn slain by soldiers of his rival, the [[Sunni]] Caliph Yazid, in 680 A.D.

The Shia Islamic community has divided further as followers coalesced around several of Ali's descendants or successors, called [[Imam]]s. The "twelvers," predominant in Iran, believe the twelfth Imam is in hiding and will reveal himself just before judgement day. Ismailis rejected the seventh Imam and practice a spirituality that seeks hidden meaning in scripture. Ismailis ruled much of [[North Africa]] as the [[Fatimid Dynasty]] of [[Egypt]] in the tenth through the twelfth centuries, and today are found primarily in [[Pakistan]], [[Afghanistan]], and [[India]]. The Sunni majority reject the premise that men can be divine, including Muhammad, Ali, or Jesus, and did not accept any of the Imams who followed Ali. Sunnis remain more committed to traditions and less inclined to accept Shia mysticism. Today, about 15% of the world's Muslims are Shia and 85% are orthodox Sunni.

There are other factions within Islam. Sufis, a name possibly derived from the wool garments they wear, developed around mystical practices and trance-induced revelations. Sufis are found today in [[Turkey]], [[Syria]], and parts of [[Africa]]. One of the most famous modern followers of Sufism was American professional boxer [[Muhammad Ali]] in his later years. Other movements have taken reform tracks, such as the Unitarians of [[Saudi Arabia]], also called [[Wahhabi]]s after their 18th century reformist founder Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. The conservative Wahhabis are found today in Saudi Arabia and [[Qatar]]. Today the Wahhabi line has a tendency to produce extremists, such as [[Osama Bin Laden]]. Some critics would argue that the [[Taliban]] of Afghanistan took conservative reform to an extreme. Other sects or break-away groups include, among others, the Alawis found in Syria and Turkey, the [[Druze]] in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Israel, the Ibadhis (Kharjites) in Oman and Africa, the Ahmadiya of Pakistan, and the Zaydis of Yemen.

==Islamic Guidance==
During his lifetime, Muhammad's companions learned and later transcribed the verses (surrahs) of the Koran as Muhammad spoke them. In Islam, the teachings of Mohammed were believed to be direct divine revelation from Allah.

The third Caliph, Uthman, collected and codified the various versions of the surrahs into one written Koran that became the standard Arabic text used by the world's Muslims today. The Koran is longer than the Bible and written in general order of longest chapters to shortest rather than in any order of when they were spoken, sometimes making the work appear to be confusing. In all there are 114 chapters. Most of the later recorded sayings of Mohammed, which were also more warlike, actually appear earlier in the text. Present-day Muslims look first to the Koran as a guide to life, then to the [[Sunnah]], or the way of the Prophet (his life as an example for others) as recorded by his early companions, and then to the [[Hadith]], a collection of the Prophet's sayings, comments, advice, and descriptions.

Frequently, Muslims disagreed over how to interpret certain passages in the Qur'an, the Sunnah, or the Hadith in their search for the ideal life and perfect path to heaven. From these interpretations Sunni Muslims developed four schools of law, or interpretations of law, named after their founders or early leaders: the Hanbali, considered the most strict school and predominant today in Saudi Arabia; Shafi, the school of widest acceptance, found in Egypt, parts of Palestine-Syria, south Arabia, and the Far East; Maliki, prevalent in North Africa, Sudan, and Nigeria; and Hanafi, considered the most moderate school, predominant in Ottoman Turkey and today found primarily on the Levant and Indian subcontinent. Frequently, Islamic countries have two separate legal systems, one for civil, criminal, or commercial law, and a second, and separate, system for religious law. Religious courts and their judges (qadis) might handle issues dealing with marriage, divorce, child custody, inheritance, religious education, charitable or religious property (Waqf), or family matters. Among Middle Eastern countries, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen have Shariah courts serving alongside their secular courts or have adopted [[Sharia]]h (Islamic law) as the basis of their legal systems.

====Clergy====
Sunni Islam does not have a priesthood or clerical hierarchy to conduct religious services or interpret scripture, but it does have prayer leaders, called Imams, and religious scholars, called Ulama, who often are educated men familiar with the Koran and able to offer commentaries on Koranic verses. Sunni Muslims also respect the teachings and interpretations of scholars, judges, and academics who may interpret laws, write treatises on Sharia (religious law) or Hadith, and issue Fatwas, religious declarations intended to enlighten or guide Muslims.

Shia Islam has a hierarchy that resembles a priesthood. Mullahs are prayer leaders, but usually do not interpret religious law. Mujtahids are religious scholars who may interpret law or passages from the Koran or Hadith. The lower order of Mujtahids are called Hojjatolislam. Ayat Allah (literally sign of Allah, also Ayatollah) is a higher order of Mujtahid who may issue Fatwas, or religious edicts, in addition to leading Islamic schools, interpreting religious law and the Koran, and offering sermons or discourses on proper Islamic behavior.

===Five Pillars of Islam===
*'''[[Shahadah]] (Profession of Faith)''' -The Shahadah is the Muslim profession of faith. 'ašhadu 'al-lā ilāha illā-llāhu wa 'ašhadu 'anna muħammadan rasūlu-llāh, a loose English translation reads "''There is none worthy of worship except Allah, and [[Muhammad]] is the messenger of Allah''" This testament can be seen as the foundation of all of the other tenets of Islam and swears off the divinity of Christ.

*'''[[Salat]] (Ritual Prayer)''' -All Muslims are required to pray to Allah five times each day while facing [[Mecca]]. Praying six times a day is consider willful disobedience to Allah, ''per shariah law'', an act punishible by death.<ref>The example is used by Prof. Quinten Wiktorowitz of an extremist considered by Muslim "moderates" as one who loves Allah so much he defies Allah's instructions. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10576100500497004</ref><ref>[https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://archives.cerium.ca/IMG/pdf/WIKTOROWICZ_2006_Anatomy_of_the_Salafi_Movement.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwiXlY7EttfTAhVF02MKHRExBFwQFggcMAA&usg=AFQjCNH4tKyamYaRwVVY8j23A0VjTOOWJg&sig2=zIzwl9aecd3zpGkLsveV0g "Despite the success of the Prophet’s mission and the growth of Islam, Salafis believe human desires continue to grip Muslims and challenge the purity of the message. In this view, there is an eternal temptation to manipulate and distort the religion through innovation. Although nefarious interests often drive deviancy, it can also result from good intentions. Muslims who pray more than the explicitly proscribed five times a day, for example, are likely motivated by love for God. They are, however, still engaged in innovation because they are inventing new practices to fulfill a human desire." p.4 pdf]</ref>

*'''Zakat (Charity)''' Zakat is often described as charitable giving. Able Muslims must donate to the poor based on the wealth one has accumulated. In current usage it is interpreted as 2.5% of [[net worth]] held for a full [[lunar year]]. However, funding violent jihad by wealthy Muslims has been ruled a form of ''zakat'' by Islamic scholars, a requirement to fillful their Islamic duty under the five pilars. There exists the poor, unemployed, and unemployable jihadis, and the ignorant (''jahiliyya'') infidel masses in need if Islamic enlightening, hence funding terrorism is considered charitable work.

*'''Sawm (Fasting)''' All able-bodied Muslims (children, pregnant women, the elderly, and the ill are exempt) must not eat during the daylight hours of the entire month of [[Ramadan]]. According to Muslims, this purifies the body and soul. Although Muslims and their mainstream media surrogates refer to it as a "fast," this in no way aligns with traditional Christian and Judaic concepts of fasting, and indeed violates the basic concept. Torturing oneself in an outward display of [[piety]] is deemed [[hypocritc]]al by the [[monotheist]]ic traditions of Christianity and Judaism. Some Islamic sects allow military, police and emergency services personnel to receive an exemption from fasting from an imam, on the grounds that their work supports the community or national good.

*'''Hajj (Pilgrimage)''' All able-bodied Muslims must make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lives. Many without funds for a round trip never made it back, having been sold off in the slave auction market place a [[Taif]].<ref>https://youtu.be/emRVkisdbhc</ref>

==Other Aspects of Islam==
====Jihad====
Jihad is the "struggle" each Muslim is called to against unbelievers (infidels). Participation in jihad in Allah's cause was the third most important good deed listed in the Hadith, after prayer and honoring one's parents. Jihad was a rallying cry for the military spread of Islam in the seventh through tenth centuries against non-Muslims, and is the same reason for Islamic terrorism and war today. 
Some Muslim apologists in the western world say that jihad refers to the difficulties a Muslim faces in the everyday trials of life, such as the effort to get better grades in school, or the striving to achieve better results from a job, or the struggle to avoid sinful temptations. It is, they say, the internal struggle of good and evil, or the pure and the impure. However, this is simply a fabrication, which has been publicly labeled as such by Muslim scholars in the middle east. Nonetheless, even some mosques not teach this, fostering a more peaceful version of Islam. Unfortunately, it is not based on the Koran and the Hadith, but rather modern revisions. Any Muslim believing this peaceful version can be corrected based on these sacred books, and thus become "radicalized."

====Osama bin Laden and Fundamentalists====
[[Osama bin Laden]], a follower of [[Wahhabism]], stated that Islam is at war with the United States and its allies. Some observers claim that the number of Islamic fundamentalists is growing and poses a threat to the West.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.danielpipes.org/255/islamic-fundamentalists-are-the-new-big-threat-to-the-west|title=Islamic Fundamentalists are the New Big Threat to the West|author=Daniel Pipes|newspaper=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=Sept 16, 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.city-journal.org/html/rev2006-06-04td.html|title=All or Nothing: The quest for a moderate Islam may be futile.|date=June 4, 2006|author=Theodore Dalrymple|newspaper=Cite Journal}}</ref> But other observers differentiate between conservative "fundamentalists" and the "extremists" who follow murderers such as bin Laden or other terrorists.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://townhall.com/columnists/dineshdsouza/2008/09/15/who_speaks_for_islam/page/full/|title=Who Speaks For Islam|author=Dinesh D'Souza|newspaper=Townhall|date=Sept 15, 2009}}</ref> In several major Islamic nations, bin Laden had the support of the majority of people in the early years after the 9/11 attacks. As he lost battles with the West and started to target fellow Muslims his popularity waned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pewglobal.org/2012/04/30/on-anniversary-of-bin-ladens-death-little-backing-of-al-qaeda/|title=On Anniversary of bin Laden’s Death, Little Backing of al Qaeda|date=April 30, 2012|publisher=Pew Research Center}}</ref>

====People of the Book====
Christians and Jews are called "people of the Book" in the Koran and are considered earlier forerunners to Islam and viewed as brothers as long as they pay an extra tax when under Islamic rule. Islam, which claims roots tracing back to Abraham through his son Ishmael instead of Isaac as the Jews did, believes that they are the descendants of Allah's promise. Islam claims that both the Old and New Testament were corrupted and corrected by the Koran (though in truth, it is the Koran itself which plagiarized from and corrupted Biblical scripture), but there is still an earlier link claimed between the two religions and Islam. The view of Jews and Christians varied within different parts of the Koran and Islamic history. Much of current Islamic culture, even in places that were once very tolerant such as Egypt, has seen an upsurge in persecution and violence against Christians and Jews.

====Women in Islam====
[[File:Muslim girls at Istiqlal Mosque Jakarta Indonesia.jpg|left|thumb|240px|Muslim girls at Istiqlal [[Mosque]], Jakarta.]]
In pre-Islamic times women's rights were defined by tribal laws which differed among the tribes. Some women had absolute equity and the ability to hold power, while some women were treated worse than chattel; bride prices, unlimited polygamy, and female infanticide were a common theme. [[Sharia law|Islamic law]] offered a path for which Muslim men could regulate women in a legal system based on Muslim principles of jurisprudence on the Arabian peninsula. Treated merely as individual sex objects, women were granted very limited rights but as distinct legal individuals; forced to marry who their parents tell them to, women are required not to directly object in order for the marriage contract to have some form of validity.

Unlike the pre-Islamic times where unlimited polygamy occurred, [[Sharia law]] limits [[polygamy]] to a maximum of four wives at any one time, though the use of "temporary" marriage in effect rendered this restriction meaningless. Once married, only men are entitled to divorce any time they please. The reality of traditional Sharia law as applied in the modern era has shocked the modern conscience.<ref>Linda Rae Bennett, ''Women, Islam and Modernity'' (2005)</ref> These restrictions on women were put into place over a thousand years ago, and there has been little progress since. Women are still not allowed to drive a [[car]], they cannot ride [[bicycle]]s, are unable to [[vote]], have been prohibited from traveling abroad without permission, and they can't use public facilities when men are present.

[[File:Sharia.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Muslim woman tortured under Sharia law.]]
Women in Islam are treated as inferiors to men in almost every regard and women's rights are all but non-existent in Islam, a fact conveniently ignored by the ideology's liberal allies (including in [[feminism]] and the [[mainstream media]]). In [[Sharia]], the testimony of one man equals that of five women. Women are required to cover the head and body in public, by wearing the hijab. Hijab is applied in different ways: a small scarf around the head and western street clothes may be acceptable in Cairo or Damascus but a full length opaque [[burqa]] was enforced in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. As of 2008, [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Iran]], and [[Pakistan]] are the most significant Middle Eastern countries where the government requires women to wear some form of restrictive garb, though cultural pressure in most Islamic countries offers women little choice but to submit to the dictat of hijab. Women who are claimed by their husbands or family to have disgraced their family are put to death in "[[honor killing]]s"; buried halfway or sometimes up to their neck so they cannot run, women, who are in most cases victims, are stoned to death.

=====Islamic dress is a regular grounds for conflict in multicultural education=====
Treatment of women varies widely by country. In the Islamic state of Saudi Arabia women are forbidden from driving a car, traveling in public without their husband or a male family member as an escort, leaving their home without wearing Islamic dress, working or voting. Though not formally forbidden from owning property, they have no way of obtaining this as work is forbidden and only males are permitted to inherit – should a man die, his brothers, sons, and father will all inherit before his wife. These restrictions are part of Sharia law and enforced by the police and a special Islamic office. Pakistan has similar restrictions but to a lesser extent. In contrast, [[Turkey]] has a majority Muslim population and yet grants women some rights similar to those of men including property ownership, employment, and education to university level.

Islamic apologists suggest the extremely repressive policies of countries such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are cultural rather than religious, though these are the countries where traditional Islam is strongest. They point to the more moderate Islam practiced in Turkey as a demonstration that Islam and women's rights are compatible, ignoring the efforts of traditionalists in Turkey to end the few freedoms women were granted by men.

Islamic women's status is controversial. While Islamic men control and oppress Islamic women by compelling them to remain hidden behind the veil, sequestered in the home, and ignorant of the world by denying them access to education and worldly opportunities, Islamic apologists defend some practices. These men claim that many of the restrictions on women, such as the veil, are cultural traditions that pre-date Islam and are intended to protect women from predatory men. Unfortunately, such Islamic men ignore the fact that if a predatory man or group of rapists were to sexually assault an Islamic woman in Islam, she would be punished under Sharia law for "allowing" such an act to occur, and she would likely receive hundreds of lashes and years of jail time or be punished with death; the predatory man or men commonly go unpunished or only receive very light punishments at worst.

====Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem====
Muhammad's home city of Mecca was the site of his earliest preaching and conversions, and is the location of the Kaaba, traditionally held to be the foundation stone of the first mosque built by Adam and later restored by Abraham, and now the focus of the annual pilgrimage (hajj). Some historians suggest that the Kaaba, a black stone probably meteoric in origin, was venerated by pre-Islamic polytheistic religions.

At first, Jerusalem was claimed by Islam to be its holy city and the focus of prayers, but Mecca became the center of Islam after Muhammad's return in 630. Medina, because of its early association with Muhammad and as the site of Muhammad's tomb, is second in importance to Mecca. Jerusalem is revered by Muslims as the site of Solomon's temple, Abraham's near sacrifice of his son Ishmael, and the scene of Muhammad's miraculous midnight journey, the latter two now enshrined in the [[Dome of the Rock]] mosque. According to the Koran (Surrah 17:1, Isra) and Hadith, Muhammad and Gabriel were taken on winged mules from Mecca to Jerusalem, where they ascended through the seven heavens to the presence of Allah. During the visit, Muhammad learned, among other points, that Muslims were to pray five times each day and to honor Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and the other prophets.

====Abortion====
Muslims see [[abortion]] as ''haram'' (forbidden), but accept it if the life of mother is at risk.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/islamethics/abortion_1.shtml</ref>

====Restrictions====
Observant Muslims are not supposed to eat pork and in general do not have dogs as pets; both swine and canines are considered unclean. Muslims can have dogs for safety. Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcoholic beverages, gambling, and from collecting interest on financial transactions.

===Female Genital Mutilation===
Female genital mutilation (also known as "female circumcision") is mentioned in Hadith as an "honorable" condition for a woman, and act to carry out. It is a pre-Islamic tradition in parts of sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab world, though not in Coptic Egypt as some Islamic apologists claim. Female genital mutilation is not called for nor is it supported by the Koran.

===Honor Killings===
Another violent practice continued in Islamic countries is [[honor killing]], in which a brother, father, or uncle "restores" or "defends" a family's honor by killing the sister, daughter, or niece that "dishonored" the family through supposedly "promiscuous" behavior. This "promiscuous" activity often includes women from Islamic societies living in the West aspiring to a more open lifestyle. The "honor killing" is more ancient, and pagan in origin, but tolerated and practiced more or less openly in some Islamic societies.

Some apologists might try to excuse or justify this practice by putting down this verse:

<blockquote>
'Because of that, We decreed...that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.' -5:32. [http://quran.com/5/32].
</blockquote>

Notice the ellipses between decreed and that? I hope you did, and if you followed the link you would know that this was decreed to the Children of Israel, who would be the Jews. Now, how could this be a defense against honor killing in Islamic countries if this wasn't even given to Muslims? The answer lies in the very next verse:

<blockquote>
'Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment, Except for those who return [repenting] before you apprehend them. And know that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.' (5:33-34) [http://quran.com/5/33] [http://quran.com/5/34]
</blockquote>

So what we get from that, unlike the Jews where it is a blessing not to commit murder, for Muslims, it is a deed for Allah to murder those who have "caused corruption". Among these that "cause corruption" could be one's daughter, sister, or wife who is not wearing the headscarf, praying five times a day, not fasting in Ramadan, becoming too Westernized, etc., and thus honor killing would be "justified" in their view. Of course if you look at the next verse, it says that you should be merciful to those who have repented -before you apprehend them. This implies that they will be terrorized, and then there self-preservation instinct will kick in and they will repent. But what about those who don't? What if one's female relative doesn't believe that the headscarf is necessary while you do? And what if she still believes the same way after you apprehend her? You follow 5:33. As Muhammed himself proclaimed:

<blockquote>
I have been made victorious with terror.'
-Bukhari 4.52.220 [http://www.quranexplorer.com/Hadith/English/Hadith/bukhari/004.052.220.html].
</blockquote>

==Anti-Science==
Modern science started in Christian Europe, not the Islamic world, and not even China. The Islamic world has not accomplished anything major in the sciences, unless copying counts. The Muslims borrowed their architecture from the Byzantines. For example, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem was built and designed by Byzantine craftsmen. Thousands of years before Muhammad was born, the Greeks discovered algebra and the Persians built the first astrolabe. Before Al-Ahzar University was established, there were two universities in China (Nanking University and Southeast University), the School of Nisibis (later absorbed into the School of Edessa), a school of medicine and theology built by the Syriac Orthodox Church in Mesopotamia, but in present-day Turkey, the University of Constantinople, Nalanda in India, and the Academy of Gondishapur in Iran; the first hospital was built by the heretical Nestorians.

==Islam and Christianity==
''See also: [[Dhimma]]'' 
While adherents of Islam do not believe Jesus to be the Son of God or in the Resurrection, they consider Him and His mother to be among Allah's most important prophets (Marian and Isa) otherwise known as Mary and Jesus. However, the Koran warns against worshipping Jesus, Muhammad, and other humans for fear of [[idolatry]].<ref>[http://www.ccg.org/_domain/ccg.org/Islam/Islam.htm Christian Churches of God Articles on Islam], March 10, 2007</ref>

The Koran states that non-believers will be punished, though the nature of the punishment is not specified (same as similar statements in the Bible and the Torah):

{{cquote|Surely, disbelievers are those who said:
'Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity).' But there is no god but One, Allah.
And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them.

Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness? For Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.

The Messiah, son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother was a Siddiqah (i.e. she believed in the words of God and His Books ).
They both used to eat food (as any other human eat).
Look how We make the signs clear to them, yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth)."
}}
::(Koran 5:73-75)

However, Islam does recognize Christians and Jews as "people of the book" since both refer to one God only, and recognize Abraham (Ibrahim in Arabic) as a founding prophet.

==Sharia==
[[Image:StarCresent.png|thumb|right|220px|The Star and Crescent is a symbol of Islam. It is featured in the national flag of [[Algeria]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Malaysia]], [[Tunisia]], [[Uzbekistan]], [[Mauritania]], [[Pakistan]], and [[Turkey]], amongst others]]
[[Sharia]] is the body of Islamic law. The term means "way" or "path"; it is the legal framework within which public and some private aspects of life are regulated for those living in a legal system based on Islamic principles of jurisprudence. It is not actually part of the canonical Koran; that is to say, it is not believed to be the direct word of Allah by Muslims, but rather the interpretation of it.

Sharia deals with many aspects of day-to-day life, including politics, economics, banking, business law, contract law, sexuality, marriage, divorce, and social issues. Most Islamic scholars regard Sharia as the body of precedent and legal theory established during the early stages of the Islamic Empire, though a few scholars also believe contemporary legal cases can and should shape the law, though such thinkers may be subject to ridicule and even threats from Islamists and their liberal allies.

Sharia law proscribes often brutal punishments for acts, that, in the western world, are relatively minor. For example, under sharia law, turning away from Islam is punishable by death,<ref>[http://www.ntpi.org/html/whyoppose.html]</ref> while women found guilty of adultery is punishable by stoning to death, which often includes many rape victims, as Sharia courts often regard a rape victim as guilty of adultery unless she can provide four witnesses to the act of rape.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6148590.stm</ref> In cases involving the death penalty of corporal punishment, methods of carrying out the punishment are often barbaric, and include public beheading, chopping off of the hand, and flogging.<ref>http://saudiwoman.wordpress.com/2009/08/25/punishment-in-saudi-arabia/</ref> Many Islamic groups have been attempting to have Shariah courts set up in European countries, initially to rule over civil cases between Muslims in Europe.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,422661,00.html</ref>

The need by Islam's adherents to add to and retain followers in its ideology through Sharia, deceit, force and intimidation, particularly through threats of death against those who leave Islam or who levy legitimate criticism against it for its barbaric ways and history, would indicate that overall, Islam is a weak ideology that would not withstand criticism or exposure of the truth of its ways and history. To facilitate retaining its membership and to keep the truth about Islam under wraps, its adherents have formed convenient alliances with sympathetic liberals in politics, academia, the courts, the mainstream media and Hollywood to deceive the public about Islam and what it really is, as well as to censor and silence critics of Islam through ridicule, false accusations of "racism", "hate speech" and "Islamophobia" and the illegal use of the legal system to punish critics.<ref>[http://nationalpost.com/news/weaponization-of-free-speech-prompts-talk-of-a-new-hate-law?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NP_Top_Stories+%28National+Post+-+Top+Stories%29 "Weaponization" of free speech prompts talk of a new hate law] at the ''National Post''</ref>

== Violent passages of the Koran championed by Islam ==
In its passages, the Koran has advocated adherents of Islam to commit acts of violence, hatred and insurrection against those who do not follow that ideology (in particular, Jews and Christians) or are critical of it, to subjugate Judaism, Christianity and other religions to Islam and to force the followers of legitimate religions to submit and adhere to Islam.<ref>[https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/quran/violence.aspx What Does Islam Teach About Violence]</ref><ref>[https://thereligionofpeace.com/pages/quran/hell-and-hate.aspx What Does Islam Teach About Hell and Hate]</ref> Not surprisingly, attempts at pointing out the violence advocated by the Koran have been met with denials and excuses by Islamic apologists, who engage in [[taqiyya]] by claiming that the critics of the violent passages took those passages "out of context" and that "critics only quote the part which (suits) them" while the apologists do exactly what they accuse the critics of doing.<ref>[https://discover-the-truth.com/2014/08/12/quran-2191-and-kill-them-wherever-you-find-them-explained/ Quran 2:191- ‘And kill them wherever you find them…’ Explained] - an attempt by Islamic apologists to excuse violent passages of the Koran by offering deceitful explanations of what they claim those passages "really mean"</ref><ref>[http://islam101.com/terror/verse8_12.htm The Holy Quran, verse 8:12], from another Islamic apologist site which excuses the violent passages of the Koran and attacks its critics by claiming "Some non-Muslims either through ignorance or Islam-bashing continue taking the verses of the Holy Quran out of context and its history to justify their false propaganda"</ref><ref>[https://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/games/discover-truth/verses/47-4.aspx "Discover the Truth's" Game] - a refutation of the claims and excuses made by the Islamic apologist site Discover the Truth regarding Koran 47:4</ref><ref>[https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2005/01/jihad_quran_9123_v_matthew_103.html Jihad: Quran 9:123 v. Matthew 10:34] at American Thinker</ref><ref>[https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/06/obama_quotes_verse_532_omits_5.html Obama quotes (Koran) verse 5:32, omits 5:33] at American Thinker</ref> Among the more violent and hateful passages of the Koran are these:

*Koran 2:191 - “Slay the unbelievers wherever you find them.”
*Koran 9:123 - “Make war on the infidels living in your neighborhood.”
*Koran 9:5 - “When opportunity arises kill the infidels wherever you catch them.”
*Koran 3:85 - “Any religion other than Islam is not acceptable.”
*Koran 9:30 - “The Jews and the Christians are perverts; fight them.”
*Koran 5:33 - “Maim and crucify the infidels if they criticize Islam”
*Koran 9:28 - “The infidels are unclean; do not let them into a mosque.”
*Koran 22:19 - “Punish the unbelievers with garments of fire, hooked iron rods, boiling water; melt their skin and bellies.”
*Koran 47:4 - “Do not hanker for peace with the infidels; behead them when you catch them.”
*Koran 8:65 - “The unbelievers are stupid; urge the Muslims to fight them.”
*Koran 3:28 - “Muslims must not take the infidels as friends.”
*Koran 8:12 - “Terrorize and behead those who disbelieve (in Allah).”
*Koran 8:60 - “Muslims must muster all weapons to terrorize the infidels.”

==Terminology==
Additional archaic terms for Muslims include, but are not limited to, "Hagarene" and "Saracen." The term Hagarene was more common in post-crusade Europe as it made specific reference to the Biblical mother of Ishmael. In Islam, Ishmael plays an analogous theological role to Isaac. Muslims do not use it today to avoid confusing worship of [[Muhammad]] with worship of [[Allah]].<ref>Schimmel, (1992)</ref>

==Ex-Muslims==
[[Michelle Malkin]] highlights a group of Ex-Muslims hoping to change the terms of debate about Islam in Europe. Maryam Namazie, the head of the British group said "Too many things in the media and government policies have been geared to pandering to the political Islamic movements and Islamic organizations."<ref>[http://michellemalkin.com/2007/06/20/ex-muslims-stand-up-in-britain/ Ex-Muslims stand up in Britain]</ref> Ex-Muslims include Ibn Warraq, Wafa Sultan, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Mark A. Gabriel, Walid Shoebat, and Mosab Hassan Yousef.

==Critics==
Most contemporary critics of Islam are either atheists or nominally religious: [[Ibn Warraq]] (author), [[Wafa Sultan]] (psychiatrist), [[Ayaan Hirsi Ali]] (author), [[Hugh Fitzgerald]] (of JihadWatch), [[Oriana Fallaci]] (author), [[Geert Wilders]] (politician), [[Sam Harris]] (author), [[Pamela Geller]] (blogger), [[Bill Maher]] (comedian) and the crowd at the Ayn Rand Institute. The notable exception is [[Robert Spencer]], who while a devout Catholic, criticizes Islam as the socio-political ideology it is. Political critics include [[Winston Churchill]],<ref>[http://thefederalistpapers.org/us/winston-churchills-brutal-takedown-of-islam-means-more-today-than-ever Winston Churchill’s Brutal Takedown of Islam Means More Today than Ever]</ref> [[Herman Cain]], [[Rick Santorum]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news-press.com/article/20130323/NEWS0119/303230016/Santorum-delivers-warning-about-radical-Islam-during-Naples-appearance|title=Santorum delivers warning about radical Islam during Naples appearance|date=March 23, 2013|newspaper=Fort Meyers News Press|author=Lindsay Downey}}</ref> [[David Horowitz]] (author) and [[Pat Robertson]] (preacher). Neither [[Ronald Reagan]] (who helped mujahideen fight atheistic Communists) nor [[George W. Bush]] ("Islam means peace") saw Islam as the problem. Commentators note that the conservative response to fundamental Islam is a far cry from the complete and unequivocal condemnation of Communism during the heyday of the Cold War.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liberty-and-culture.com/conservatives.html|title=The Conservative Response to the Islamic Threat.|author=Jason Pappas|date=Sept 5, 2004}}</ref> [[Dinesh D’Souza]] argues that Muslims are "God-fearing conservatives",<ref>{{cite book|author=Dinesh D’Souza|title=The Enemy At Home|year=2007|publisher= Doubleday}}</ref> even though they have formed convenient alliances with liberals and several Islamic countries (particularly Iran) have formed alliances with the Communist regimes in [[China]] and [[North Korea]] and the Marxist regime in [[Venezuela]] to oppose the United States and its Western allies.<ref>''Some of the text for this article was taken from "Islam: A Primer", Congressional Research Service Report for Congress (2003), a work in the public domain'' [http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/islam.htm#back]</ref>

== Atheism vs. Islam ==
See also: [[Atheism vs. Islam]] and [[Secular Europe]]
[[File:Europe pol 2004.jpg|thumbnail|right|325px|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.<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/02/03/10-projections-for-the-global-population-in-2050/ 10 projections for the global population in 2050] By Rakesh Kochhar, Pew Research Forum, February 3, 2014</ref>]]
From a global perspective, [[Europe]] is more secular/[[Atheism|atheistic]] than the rest of the world although it does have a considerable amount of religious immigrants who have higher birth rates (see: [[Secular Europe]] and [[Atheist population]] and [[Global atheism]]).

=== Future of Islam in Europe and the desecularization of Europe ===
In April 2010, Eric Kaufmann indicated concerning the future of Islam in Europe:
{{cquote|I address this in some detail in the book, as well is in a [http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/features/europes-muslim-future recent article in the April issue of Prospect magazine] here in Britain. The short answer is that I don’t foresee a Muslim-majority Europe in this century or in the next. Why? Mainly because Muslim birthrates are plunging both in Europe and the Muslim world. Already, Iran, Tunisia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and several other Muslim countries have replacement-level fertility or below. In the UK, Bangladeshi and Pakistani fertility has halved in a generation and is now under 3 children per woman. This means their long-term growth will begin to tail off. The other part of the equation is the rise of non-Muslim immigrant groups (African and West Indian Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and other Eastern faiths) who are also increasing and therefore making Europe more plural and, in the process, rendering it harder for Muslims to increase their share of the population.

That said, Muslim membership retention and in-group marriage is exceptionally high (over 90 per cent) and they are a much younger population than the host society. So they are on course for steady growth. My colleagues and I expect their fertility to fall to host levels by 2030, but they will still make up 5-15 per cent of most West European countries by 2050 and 10-25 per cent by 2100. This is a major change from the 2-6 per cent levels of today<ref>[http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/shall_the_religious_inherit_the_earth/#sthash.nE0JGi2Y.dpuf ''Shall the religious inherit the earth?''], 2010 Interview with [[Eric Kaufmann]] by MercatorNet</ref>}}

Due to the growing number of Muslims moving into secular Europe/[[Western World]] and the ideological differences between the [[atheist worldview]] and Islam, there has been growing tension between [[atheism|atheists]]/secularists and Muslims - particularly between [[Militant atheism|militant atheists]] and militant Islam.

The [[New Atheism|New Atheists]] [[Richard Dawkins]], [[Sam Harris]] and the late [[Christopher Hitchens]] have received multiple accusations of engaging in "[[Islamophobia|Islamophobic]]" behavior.<ref>
*[http://www.salon.com/2013/03/30/dawkins_harris_hitchens_new_atheists_flirt_with_islamophobia/ Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens: New Atheists flirt with Islamophobia] by Nathan Lean, ''Salon'', March 30, 2013
*[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/apr/03/sam-harris-muslim-animus Sam Harris, the New Atheists, and anti-Muslim animus] by Glenn Greenwald, ''The Guardian'', April 3, 2013</ref> On the other hand, defenders of atheist criticisms of Islam/Muslims indicated that New Atheists should be able to criticize Islam without being accused of "Islamophobia".<ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2013/04/new-atheism-should-be-able-criticise-islam-without-being-accused-islamophobia New Atheism should be able to criticise Islam without being accused of Islamophobia] by Andrew Zak Williams, ''New Statesman'', Published 19 April 2013</ref>

For more information, please see:

*[[Atheism vs. Islam]]
*[[Atheism vs. Christianity]]

== See also ==
[[Image:Africa islam 87.jpg|thumb|Islam in Africa]]
*[[Arab American]]
*[[Islamic republic]]
*[[Islamophobia]]
*[[Qur'an]]
*[[Jihadism]], an extremist, take on Islam
*[[Ramadan]]
*[[In the midst of a Maelstrom: the Holy Spirit and silence: an essay]] encounter of Israeli Messianic Jew and Egyptian Muslim in Alexandria
*[[List of countries by number of Muslims]]
*[[Undercover Muslim]]
*[[Islamic worldviews]]
*[[Islamophilia]]
*[[Judaism and Islam]]
*[[Atheism vs. Islam]]
*[[Islam and Christianity]]

==Further reading==
* Armour, Rollin. ''Islam, Christianity, and the West: A Troubled History'' (2002) [http://www.amazon.com/Islam-Christianity-West-Troubled-History/dp/1570754071/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259342713&sr=1-32 excerpt and text search]
* Armstrong, Karen. ''Islam: A Short History'' (2002) [http://www.amazon.com/Islam-History-Modern-Library-Chronicles/dp/081296618X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259342302&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Berkey, Jonathan P. ''The Formation of Islam: Religion and Society in the Near East, 600-1800'' (2002) [http://www.amazon.com/Formation-Islam-Religion-Society-600-1800/dp/0521588138/ref=sr_1_27?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259342713&sr=1-27 excerpt and text search]
* Campo, Juan Eduardo. ''Encyclopedia of Islam'' (2009), basic introduction
* Esposito, John J. ''The Oxford History of Islam'' (2000) [http://www.amazon.com/Oxford-History-Islam-John-Esposito/dp/0195107993/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259342302&sr=1-6 excerpt and text search]
* Glasse, Cyril. ''The New Encyclopedia of Islam'' ( 2nd ed. 2008)
* Lewis, Bernard. ''Islam in History: Ideas, People, and Events in the Middle East'' (2001), by leading conservative historian [http://www.amazon.com/Islam-History-People-Events-Middle/dp/0812695186/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259342525&sr=1-15 excerpt and text search]
* Martin, Richard C. et al. ''Encyclopedia of Islam & the Muslim World'' (2003), more advanced
* Newby, Gordon. ''A Concise Encyclopedia of Islam'' (2002) [http://www.amazon.com/Concise-Encyclopedia-Islam-Gordon-Newby/dp/1851682953/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259342942&sr=1-2 excerpt and text search]
* Robinson, Chase F. ed. ''The New Cambridge History of Islam'' (Volume 1) (2009), summarizes advanced scholarship
* Ruthven, Malise, and Azim Nanji. ''Historical Atlas of Islam'' (2004)
* Schimmel, Annemarie. ''Islam: An Introduction''. (1992)
* Sonn, Tamara and Mary Williamsburg. ''A Brief History of Islam'' (2004) [http://www.amazon.com/Brief-History-Blackwell-Histories-Religion/dp/1405109009/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259342302&sr=1-12 excerpt and text search]
* Wheatcroft, Andrew. ''Infidels: A History of the Conflict Between Christendom and Islam'' (2005) [http://www.amazon.com/Infidels-History-Conflict-Between-Christendom/dp/0812972392/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259342525&sr=1-13 excerpt and text search]

==External links==
*[http://muslim-canada.org/islam_christianity.html Islam and Christianity] - excellent article comparing and contrasting the two.
*[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/ Qur'an online in English]
*[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/bukhari/ Sahih Bukhari (Hadith collection) online in English]
*[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muslim/ Sahih Muslim (Hadith collection) online in English]
*[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/abudawud/ Sunan Abu-Dawud (Hadith collection) online in English]
*[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muwatta/ Malik's Muwatta (Hadith collection) online in English]
* Congressional Research Service, "Islam: A Primer", Report for Congress (2003), a work in the public domain and the source of part of this article [http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/islam.htm#back]
*[http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2011/01/islamists-torch-pope-in-effigy-again.html Islamists Torch Pope in Effigy, Again]
*[http://www.tribecatrib.com/news/2010/december/849_kind-strangers.html Muslims Saving Jews During World War II.] By Shane Dixon Kavanaugh.
*[http://differencesbetween.com/islam-and-muslim/ Difference Between Islam and Muslim]
*[http://bertschlossberg.blogspot.com/ A Turkish Delight: they think so in Israel too!]
*[http://bertschlossberg.blogspot.com/ Turkey's Islamic scholar, Rabbi Meir Lau, and Cain speechless before Abel]

==References==
{{reflist|group=note}}

[[Category:Islam]]
[[Category:Political Ideologies]]

Other gods

2018-12-14T15:37:37Z

Mhutch: Information on the Muslim god of the Koran

'''Other gods''' describes deities other than the Abrahamic [[God]] of the Jewish and Christian faiths. The term comes from the [[Ten Commandments]], where God said, "You shall have no other gods before me" ({{Bible ref|Exodus|20|3}}).

While the word "god" refers, in a general sense, to any deity that is or has been [[worship]]ped as part of a theistic belief system, when spelled with an upper-case "G," the term is normally referring to the God of the [[Abrahamic religions]].




== Other gods in the Bible ==
The [[Old Testament|Jewish]] and [[New Testament|Christian Bible]]s contain references to more than just the Jewish and Christian God, but these gods are seen as false and having no real power, whether it be the [[golden calf]] or the images of [[Baal]].

=== Genesis ===
God in the [[Garden of Eden]] often uses the plural when referring to Himself:
*'And God said, let us make man in our image.', ([[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] 1:26)
*'And the Lord God said, Behold, then man is become as one of us, to know good and evil.' (Genesis 3:22)
*'Let us go down, and there confound their language.'. (Genesis 11:7)
This is explained as use of the 'Royal We' in [[Judaism]] or foreshadowing of [[The Trinity]] in [[Christianity]].

=== Exodus ===
The Bible refers to Egyptian gods several times, but they are never presented as having real form or power. For instance, no god is ever discussed taking an action, having a thought, speaking, etc. There are references to collective worship of other gods, but God always takes out His wrath on the Egyptian people themselves and the consequences of that wrath are seen, since they are real and exist.
*'And against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment.' ([[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] 12:12)
*'Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods?' (Exodus 15:11)
*'Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods.' (Exodus 18:11).
* The Magi of Egypt are able to produce plagues of their own, but it is never stated this is due to the power of a god.

The [[Ten Commandments|First Commandment]] makes it clear that God will not tolerate the worship of these other deities:
*'Thou shalt have no other gods before me. ... Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them.' (Exodus 20:3, 5)

=== Deuteronomy ===
If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them. You must certainly put them to death. Your hand must be the first in putting them to death, and then the hands of all the people. Stone them to death. (Deuteronomy 13:6)

Other biblical laws express the same idea:
*'He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.' (Exodus 22:20)
*'Make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.' (Exodus 23:13)
*'Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.' (Exodus 23:24)
*'Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.' (Exodus 23:32)
*'For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.' (Exodus 34:14)

There is also this section on multiple gods: 'Thou shalt not revile the gods.' (Exodus 22:28) This follows from simple logic - how can one revile that which does not exist?

=== Psalms ===
*'God standeth in the congregation of the mighty, he judgeth among the gods.' (Psalm 82:1)
*'Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord.' ([[Psalms|Psalm]] 86:8)
*'For the Lord ... is to be feared above all gods.' (Psalm 96:4)
*'Worship him, all ye gods.' (Psalm 97:7)

The Psalms are considered to be the poetic writings of [[King David|David]]. In the Near East culture of the time, kings and other men of renown could be called "gods." There is no Biblical indication in any of the discussions of David or Israel's kings over almost 500 years where any god was ever considered to be real. For instance, no other god was ever said to have caused a storm or shown any other sign of actually existing.

=== The rest of the Bible ===
None of the 66 Biblical books written over 1500 years of history have any mention of any other gods at all in any form that would grant them living qualities.

==Short Story==
Horror writer [[H.P. Lovecraft]] once wrote a short story called "The Other Gods."

==Muslims==
[[Muslims]] worship a god they call "[[Allah]]". This is not the same [[God]] as the one described in the [[Christian]] [[Bible]].

==Historical==
Other gods worshiped historically include the [[Greek mythology|Greek gods]], the [[Norse mythology|Norse gods]], the [[Egyptian mythology|Egyptian gods]], [[Aztec mythology|Aztec gods]], the [[Sumerian mythology|Sumerian gods]] and [[Jain gods]].

{{Ten Commandments}}

[[Category:Abrahamic Religions]]

Modern conservatism

2018-12-14T15:31:30Z

Mhutch: Homosexuality is a sin in the eyes of God.

'''Modern conservatism''' consists primarily of the following principles:

* [[pro-life]]
* pro-[[sovereignty]] (opposition to [[globalism]] and support for the [[Strategic Defense Initiative]])
* pro-[[parental rights]] (support of [[parent]]al control over school curriculum, and opposition to mandatory [[vaccination]])
* pro-[[homeschooling]]
* pro-alternatives to rule by the Establishment
* pro-[[Second Amendment]]
* pro-[[Christianity]] in the public square
* pro-[[traditional marriage]] (opposition to [[same-sex marriage|"same-sex" "marriage"]])
* pro-[[Constitution]] - (and anti-Con Con)
* pro-[[working class]]
* pro-[[patent]]s
* anti-[[Communist]]
* anti-[[feminist]]
* anti-[[homosexuality]]
* anti-judicial supremacy
* anti-[[illegal immigration]]
* anti-[[gambling]]
* anti-federalizing [[crime]]
== Ronald Reagan ==
Despite attempts by some to portray [[Ronald Reagan]] as a quintessential conservative, he was weak on several of the issues above, including his relative lack of pro-life nominations to the [[Supreme Court]], support for a form of [[gun control]] (in 1994 and 1986), acceptance of [[illegal immigration]] (1986 law), and criticism of [[term limit]]s for president ([[22nd Amendment]]). Also, his "[[free trade]]" policies were not helpful to the working class, and subsequent analysis of free trade shows that it caused huge [[unemployment|losses in American jobs]].<ref>http://www.epi.org/press/korus-cost-united-states-40000-jobs-korea/</ref>

== Barry Goldwater ==
[[Barry Goldwater]] was the last outsider to win the [[Republican]] nominee for president. He gained the nomination as a first-time candidate, in 1964, based on large part to the runaway bestselling book ''A Choice Not an Echo''. Though far more conservative than his [[liberal]] primary opponent, [[Nelson Rockefeller]], some of Goldwater's views did not exemplify the above list of conservative positions.

==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Conservatism]]

Donald Trump achievements

2018-12-14T15:25:41Z

Mhutch: Added new information with citation

[[File:Donald Trump official presidential photo.jpg|200px|thumb|Official presidential photo of President Donald Trump]]
[[File:Donald Trump Joint Congressional Session, February 2017.jpg|thumb|200px|President Trump speaking to Congress, February 28, 2017.]]
This article is a non-exhaustive list of '''political achievements of United States President [[Donald Trump]]''', [[Trump Administration|his administration]], and [[United States Congress|Congress]] during his administration in passing [[conservative]] legislation, advancing conservative ideals, and "Making America Great Again". Conservative polling has shown that Donald Trump is considered one of the greatest presidents of all time, particularly for his economic achievements.<ref>{{cite web|title="Fox News Poll: Record approval of Trump on economy"|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-record-approval-of-trump-on-economy-optimism-on-north-korea|date=December 14, 2018}}</ref>

'''''When adding additional examples, please add at least one reliable source for each example for future reference.'''''
{|
|bgcolor=yellow|    Due to the number of achievements, the list of President Trump's achievements have been moved to sub-articles. Please visit the sub-articles to see the Trump Administration's various achievements.
|}

==2016 election and transition==
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: 2016 election and transition]]''

==As U.S. President==
[[File:Donald Trumpswearing in.jpg|thumb|200px|Trump being sworn in, January 20, 2017.]]
:''See: [[Donald Trump's major achievements]]''
Trump was inaugurated on January 20, 2017, giving one of the strongest inauguration addresses in American history.<ref>Multiple references:
*Boyle, Matthew (January 20, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/01/20/america-first-president-donald-trump-brings-the-rain-in-inauguration-address/ ‘America First’: President Donald Trump Brings the Rain in Inauguration Address]. ''Breitbart''. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
*Newman, Alex (January 20, 2017). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/25191-president-trump-cites-bible-in-unity-call-touts-america-first President Trump Cites Bible in Unity Call; Touts “America First”]. ''The New American''. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
*Dinan, Stephen; Howell, Thomas (January 20, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/20/donald-j-trump-sworn-45th-presiden/ President Trump vows to put 'America first' and promises to 'get the job done']. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
*Bender, Michael C. (January 20, 2017). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-strikes-nationalistic-tone-in-inaugural-speech-1484957527 Donald Trump Strikes Nationalistic Tone in Inaugural Speech]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
*Holland, Steve; Stephenson, Emily (January 20, 2017). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-inauguration-idUSKBN1540I0 Trump, now president, pledges to put 'America First' in nationalist speech]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
*Scott, Patrick; Midgley, Robert (January 20, 2017). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/20/donald-trump-just-delivered-american-inauguration-speech-ever/ Donald Trump just delivered the most 'American' inauguration speech ever]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
*McCaskill, Nolan D. (January 20, 2017). [https://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/key-points-of-trumps-inaugural-speech-233900 Key moments from Trump's inauguration speech]. ''Politico''. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
*Yeip, Randy (February 20, 2017). [https://www.wsj.com/graphics/how-donald-trumps-inauguration-speech-compares-with-other-presidents/ On Speaking Terms: How Donald Trump's Inauguration Speech Compares with Other Presidents]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
Notably, President Trump spoke out against "radical Islamic terrorism," becoming the first president to use the term:
*[http://www.timesofisrael.com/president-trump-puts-fights-against-radical-islamic-terrorism-at-heart-of-inauguration-speech/ President Trump puts fight against ‘radical Islamic terrorism’ at heart of inauguration speech]. ''The Times of Israel''. January 20, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
*Martel, Frances (January 20, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/01/20/inaugural-address-trump-reaffirms-vow-eradicate-radical-islamic-terrorism/ In Inaugural Address, Trump Reaffirms Vow to ‘Eradicate’ Radical Islamic Terrorism]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
*Martel, Frances (January 20, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/live/inauguration-2017-swearing-president-donald-trump/history-trump-becomes-first-president-use-words-islamic-urban-inaugural-address/ History: Trump Becomes First President to Use Words ‘Islamic,’ ‘Urban’ in Inaugural Address]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
Transcript of the speech:
*[https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4650187/president-trump-delivers-inaugural-address President Trump Delivers Inaugural Address]. ''C-SPAN''. January 20, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
*[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/20/full-text-president-donald-trumps-inauguration-speech.html Full text of President Donald Trump's inauguration speech]. ''Fox News''. January 20, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
See also:
*Taylor, Guy (January 20, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/20/trump-inaugural-speech-makes-international-waves/ Trump inaugural speech makes international waves]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
*[https://www.c-span.org/video/?422124-1/donald-trump-sworn-45th-president-united-states President Trump 2017 Inaugural Ceremony]. ''C-SPAN''. January 20, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2018.</ref> His first bill signed as president was to allow retired general and Defense Secretary nominee [[James Mattis]] to be confirmed.<ref>Kopan, Tal (January 20, 2017). [https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/20/politics/donald-trump-first-law-actions/ President Donald Trump signs first bill into law]. ''CNN''. Retrieved January 20, 2017.</ref> Trump had a very busy and productive first week, undoing Obama's legacy and instituting conservative executive orders.<ref>Multiple references:
*Davenport, David (January 27, 2017). [http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddavenport/2017/01/27/how-trump-managed-to-undo-obamas-legacy-in-one-week/#3ae6bcba5bbf How Trump Managed To Undo Obama's Legacy In One Week]. ''Forbes''. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
*Said-Moorhouse, Lauren (January 26, 2017). [https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/26/politics/executive-orders-presidents-actions-presidential-memoranda/ What's Trump done so far? His productive first week and how it stacks up to previous presidents]. ''CNN''. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
*[https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/28/president-trumps-first-week-action President Trump's First Week of Action]. ''whitehouse.gov''. January 28, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
See also:
*Spiering, Charlie (January 23, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/01/23/high-energy-president-donald-trumps-big-first-week/ High Energy! President Donald Trump’s Big First Week]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 3, 2018.</ref> He had already made a reasonably large impact by his 50th day in office.<ref>Kew, Ben (March 10, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/03/10/major-impact-president-donald-trumps-first-50-days-in-office/ Major Impact: President Donald Trump’s First 50 Days in Office]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 10, 2017.</ref> President Trump accomplished many of his campaign promises by his [[First 100 days|100th day in office]], and he had already made significant progress by then, most notably by reducing regulations, enforcing American immigration laws, and appointing and having the Senate confirm his Supreme Court nominee [[Neil Gorsuch]].<ref>Multiple references:
*Kew, Ben (April 28, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/04/28/making-america-great-again-donald-trumps-100-day-success/ Making America Great Again: Donald Trump’s 100 Days’ Success]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
*Wise, Lindsay (April 27, 2017). [http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article146867634.html Think Trump didn’t achieve much in his first 100 days? Think again.] ''The Sacramento Bee''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
*Singman, Brooke (April 29, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/29/trumps-first-100-days-did-keep-his-promises.html Trump's first 100 days: Did he keep his promises?] ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> In his first 100 days as president, Trump signed the most pieces of legislation of any president since [[Harry Truman]] and more executive orders than any previous president.<ref>Singman, Brooke (April 29, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/29/trumps-first-100-days-by-numbers.html Trump's first 100 days – by the numbers]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 29, 2017.</ref> By his 100th day, it was clear that Trump had disrupted the liberal political [[establishment]] consensus.<ref>Derespina, Cody (April 29, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/29/100-days-disruption-how-trump-rewrote-presidential-script.html 100 Days of Disruption: How Trump rewrote the presidential script]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 29, 2017. 
See also:
*Malone, Jim (October 19, 2017). [https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-disruptive-politics/4076397.html Trump Lives Up to Pledge to Be Disrupter, But Country Divided Over Results]. ''Voice of America''. Retrieved October 19, 2017.</ref> The Trump Administration was able to achieve numerous accomplishments by its first year in office,<ref>Multiple references:
*Pappas, Alex (December 27, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/27/trump-ends-2017-with-big-wins-on-economy-taxes-isis-and-more.html Trump ends 2017 with big wins on economy, taxes, ISIS and more]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
*Bedard, Paul (December 21, 2017). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/year-one-list-81-major-trump-achievements-11-obama-legacy-items-repealed Year One List: 81 major Trump achievements, 11 Obama legacy items repealed]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
*Conradis, Brandon (December 25, 2017). [https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/366429-trumps-top-10-accomplishments-of-2017 Trump’s top 10 accomplishments of 2017]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
*Westwood, Sarah; Morrongiello, Gabby (December 28, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trumps-top-9-accomplishments-of-2017/article/2644478 Trump's top 9 accomplishments of 2017]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
*Spiering, Charlie (December 28, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/28/top-12-maga-moments-trumps-first-year-president/ Top 12 MAGA Moments in Donald Trump’s First Year as President]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
*Scaliger, Charles (February 9, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/print-magazine/item/28194-donald-trump-1st-year Donald Trump: 1st Year]. ''The New American''. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
Specifically regarding social issues and for Christians:
*Groppe, Maureen (January 19, 2018). [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/19/first-year-trump-pence-brings-bountiful-blessings-religious-conservatives-say/1044308001/ First year of Trump-Pence brings bountiful blessings, religious conservatives say]. ''USA Today''. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
*[http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2017/december/17-reasons-why-american-christians-celebrated-in-2017 17 Reasons Why American Christians Celebrated in 2017]. ''CBN News''. December 31, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2018.</ref> and it kept many of its promises.<ref>Multiple references:
*Woodward, Calvin; Colvin, Jill (January 15, 2018). [https://www.apnews.com/4c2dce305b4a4d679785fc48bd278704/Trump-has-kept-many-promises-during-his-first-year-in-office Trump has kept many promises during his first year in office]. ''Associated Press''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
*Woodward, Calvin; Colvin, Jill (January 15, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/01/15/trump-has-kept-many-promises-during-his-first-year-in-office.html Trump has kept many promises during his first year in office]. ''Fox News'' (from the ''Associated Press''). Retrieved January 15, 2018.
*[https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/16/associated-press-admits-trump-kept-many-promises-first-year-office/ Associated Press Admits: Trump Has Kept Many Promises His First Year in Office]. ''Breitbart News''. January 16, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
*Basu, Zachary (January 15, 2018). [https://www.axios.com/trump-follows-through-on-dozens-of-campaign-promises-in-first-year-1516042299-6be3391d-acdc-4fdc-aa19-4c58ee0197e8.html Trump follows through on dozens of campaign promises in first year]. ''Axios''. Retrieved January 15, 2018.</ref>

According to Reuters in late September 2017, President Trump had "begun to reshape American life in ways big and small."<ref>Whitesides, John (September 28, 2017). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trump-effect-rules/beyond-the-daily-drama-and-twitter-battles-trump-begins-to-alter-american-life-idUSKCN1C3261 Beyond the daily drama and Twitter battles, Trump begins to alter American life]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved October 6, 2017. 
Article also published in the conservative media:
*[https://freebeacon.com/politics/beyond-daily-drama-twitter-battles-trump-begins-alter-american-life/ Beyond the Daily Drama and Twitter Battles, Trump Begins to Alter American Life]. ''The Washington Free Beacon'' (from ''Reuters''). September 29, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2017.</ref> He undid many of [[Barack Obama]]'s executive orders and worked to undo his entire political legacy.<ref>Multiple references:
*Pappas, Alex (September 8, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/09/08/trump-is-dismantling-obama-s-executive-action-legacy.html Trump is dismantling Obama’s executive action legacy]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
*Boyer, Dave (October 16, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/oct/16/donald-trump-reverses-obamas-legally-dubious-execu/ Trump dismantles Obama’s ‘imperial’ presidency, rescinds dubious orders]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
*Stanage, Niall (October 16, 2017). [https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/355404-the-memo-trump-tries-to-turn-back-clock-on-obama-era The Memo: Trump tries to turn back clock on Obama era]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
*Cawthorne, Cameron (October 16, 2017). [https://freebeacon.com/politics/trump-not-many-obama-administration-policies-kept-place/ Trump: ‘Not Too Many’ Obama Administration Policies Will Be Kept in Place]. ''The Washington Free Beacon''. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
*Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (December 27, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/27/how-trump-is-rolling-back-obamas-legacy.html How Trump is rolling back Obama's legacy]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
*[http://www.wnd.com/2018/01/how-trump-dismantled-obamas-legacy-in-1-year/ How Trump dismantled Obama's legacy in 1 year]. ''WND''. January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.</ref> Not only did President Trump act as a disruptor, but he "set in motion an administration arguably more conservative than Ronald Reagan’s."<ref>Hayward, Steven F. (November 5, 2017). [http://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-oe-election-anniversary-updates-despite-his-many-foibles-trump-has-1509748851-htmlstory.html Despite the chaos, Trump has managed to push the most conservative agenda in a generation]. ''Los Angeles Times''. Retrieved November 28, 2017. See also:
*Bedard, Paul (November 27, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/trump-brags-i-blow-ronald-reagan-away Trump brags, ‘I blow Ronald Reagan away’]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
*Morris, Kyle (November 27, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/11/27/donald-trump-touts-presidential-accomplishments-i-blow-ronald-reagan-away/ Donald Trump Touts Presidential Accomplishments: ‘I Blow Ronald Reagan Away’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
*Burke, Michael (November 27, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/418442-trump-people-would-say-im-far-greater-than-ronald-reagan-if-my-name Trump: People would say I'm 'far greater than Ronald Reagan' if my name weren't Trump]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
*Mikelionis, Lukas (November 28, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-his-presidency-blow-ronald-reagan-away-slams-media-for-not-giving-credit Trump claims accomplishments 'blow Ronald Reagan away,' blasts 'false and corrupt' media: new book]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved November 28, 2018.</ref> In 2018, President Trump continued advancing a conservative agenda, this time focusing on the more nationalistic portions of it,<ref>Multiple references:
*Seib, Gerald F. (April 3, 2018). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-plunges-ahead-with-america-first-nationalist-approach-1522793064 Trump Plunges Ahead With America-First, Nationalist Approach]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
*Miller, S.A. (May 13, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/may/13/donald-trump-breaks-conservative-policies-reshapes/ Trump reshaping GOP by breaking away from traditional conservative policies]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
See also:
*Seib, Gerald F. (June 18, 2018). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-trump-veers-from-traditional-gop-he-bends-it-toward-him-1529331685 As Trump Veers From Traditional GOP, He Bends It Toward Him]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
*Bedard, Paul (September 5, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/list-white-house-touts-53-accomplishments-woodward-ignored List: White House touts 52 ‘accomplishments' Woodward ignored]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
*Lewandowski, Corey (August 20, 2018). [https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/402184-booming-economy-kept-promises-making-america-great-again Booming economy, kept promises, making America great — again]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
*Blake, Aaron (October 7, 2018). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/07/kavanaughs-confirmation-gives-gop-its-most-power-since-great-depression/ The GOP attains domination — at least for a few weeks]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
*Bedard, Paul (October 12, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/trumps-list-289-accomplishments-in-just-20-months-relentless-promise-keeping Trump’s List: 289 accomplishments in just 20 months, ‘relentless’ promise-keeping]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved October 12, 2018.</ref> and he continued undoing Obama Administration policies.<ref>Multiple references:
*Chamberlain, Samuel (May 9, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/05/09/pullout-from-iran-nuclear-deal-is-latest-trump-move-to-dismantle-key-obama-policies.html Pullout from Iran nuclear deal is latest Trump move to dismantle key Obama policies]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
*Harder, Amy; Baker, Sam; Swan, Jonathan (August 2, 2018). [https://www.axios.com/donald-trump-administration-barack-obama-legacy-health-care-energy-36e9b7f3-28ce-476e-8f7c-ccdd095408b1.html Trump's stealth attack on Obama's legacy]. ''Axios''. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
See also:
*Pollak, Joel B. (September 17, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/09/17/pollak-celebrating-two-years-of-restoration-under-president-trump-on-constitution-day/ Pollak: Celebrating Two Years of Restoration Under President Trump on Constitution Day]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 17, 2018.</ref> He received some help from Congress to advance his agenda.<ref>Boyer, Dave (May 29, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/may/28/trump-agenda-congress-passes-dodd-frank-veterans-a/ Trump sees Congress buck tradition of legislative loafing, make significant progress on agenda]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved May 29, 2018. See also:
*Bedard, Paul (September 4, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/trump-breaks-20-year-fouled-up-budget-gridlock-scores-big-wins Trump breaks 20-year ‘fouled up’ budget gridlock, scores big wins]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
*Owens, Caitlin (August 15, 2018). [https://www.axios.com/congress-is-actually-passing-spending-bills-98db2d4e-7838-470e-91e1-48dd1fd6d4ea.html Surprise: One area where Congress is functioning]. ''Axios''. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
*Mass, Warren (August 20, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/29828-trump-and-mcconnell-mend-fences-to-pursue-common-goals Trump and McConnell Mend Fences to Pursue Common Goals]. ''The New American''. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
*Pergram, Chad (October 13, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/amid-kavanaugh-cacophony-congress-forges-bipartisan-agreements-on-key-issues Amid Kavanaugh cacophony, Congress forges bipartisan agreements on key issues]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved October 13, 2018.</ref>

{|
|bgcolor=yellow|    Please visit the sub-articles below to see President Trump's individual achievements, arranged by topic area.
|}

===Social policy===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Religious liberty, gender issues, and other social policies]]''

===Veterans===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Veterans]]''

===Criminal justice, law enforcement, and other DOJ matters===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Criminal justice, law enforcement, and other DOJ matters]]''

===Abortion===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Abortion]]''

===Gun rights===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Gun rights]]''

===Immigration, illegal immigration, and border security===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Immigration, illegal immigration, and border security]]''

===Education===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Education]]''

===Energy and environmental policy===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Energy and environmental policy]]''

===Economic policy and labor===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Economic policy and labor]]''

===Trade===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Trade policy]]''

===Foreign policy===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Foreign policy]]''

===Deregulation and government size===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Deregulation and government size]]''

===Military, national security, and anti-terrorism===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Military, national security, and anti-terrorism]]''

===Miscellaneous achievements===
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Miscellaneous achievements]]''

==The courts==
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: The courts]]''

==Media and political correctness==
:''See: [[Donald Trump achievements: Media and political correctness]]''

==Opposition to Donald Trump's achievements==
:''Main article: [[Opposition to Donald Trump]]''
Due to his promotion and support of conservative, [[America First]]<ref>Spiering, Charlie (April 4, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/04/04/donald-trump-to-american-workers-im-not-and-i-dont-want-to-be-the-president-of-the-world/ Donald Trump to American Workers: ‘I’m Not, and I Don’t Want to Be, the President of the World’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 5, 2017. 
See also:
*Spiering, Charlie (October 17, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/10/17/donald-trump-foreign-countries-like-greece-nervous-about-america-first-agenda/ Donald Trump: Foreign Countries Like Greece ‘Nervous’ About ‘America First’ Agenda]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 18, 2017.</ref> policies, President Trump faced unprecedented opposition from the [[Liberal|Left]] and the [[establishment]],<ref>Multiple references:
*Klein, Aaron (April 28, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/04/28/trumps-first-100-days-establishment-goes-to-war-to-halt-presidents-agenda/ Trump’s First 100 Days: Establishment Goes to War to Halt President’s Agenda]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
*Miller, S.A. (June 20, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/20/donald-trumps-isolation-cripples-agenda/ Isolated from Washington establishment, Trump struggles for presidential victories]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
*Scarborough, Rowan (December 9, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/dec/9/donald-trump-besieged-presidential-harassment/ 'Presidential harassment': Trump under unprecedented attack on multiple fronts]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved December 9, 2018.</ref> including from within the government bureaucracy.<ref>Multiple references:
*Singman, Brooke (January 31, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/31/trump-faces-bureaucratic-battle-in-implementing-agenda.html Trump faces bureaucratic battle in implementing agenda]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
*Kurtz, Howard (February 3, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/03/empire-strikes-back-why-trumps-private-talks-with-foreign-leaders-were-leaked.html The empire strikes back: Why Trump's private talks with foreign leaders were leaked]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
*Starr, Penny (December 19, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/19/bureaucrats-continue-advance-obama-agenda/ Federal Bureaucrats Continue to Advance Obama’s Agenda, Including Climate Change Promotion]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
*Newman, Alex (January 8, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/print-magazine/item/27864-deep-state-bureaucracy-vs-trump-america-constitution Deep State Bureaucracy vs. Trump, America, Constitution]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
*Rogers, Brian (September 13, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obama-holdovers-are-slowing-trumps-agenda-in-key-agencies/article/2634324 Obama holdovers are slowing Trump's agenda in key agencies]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
*Gallington, Daniel (June 7, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/7/donald-trump-agenda-hampered-by-obama-holdovers-di/ Loyalty matters]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
*Pollock, Richard; Barton, Ethan (August 14, 2017). [https://dailycaller.com/2017/08/14/exclusive-obama-holdovers-still-in-dozens-of-key-national-security-council-jobs/ EXCLUSIVE: Obama Holdovers Still In Dozens Of Key National Security Council Jobs]. ''The Daily Caller''. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
*Garcia, Carlos (November 17, 2017). [http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/11/17/ice-union-says-obama-holdovers-are-sabotaging-immigration-enforcement-heres-how ICE union says Obama holdovers are sabotaging immigration enforcement, here’s how]. ''The Blaze''. Retrieved December 20, 2017.</ref> Even some White House officials worked against the president's agenda.<ref>Multiple references:
*Newman, Alex (September 6, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/29991-deep-state-mole-in-white-house-boasts-of-sabotaging-trump Deep State Mole in White House Boasts of Sabotaging Trump]. ''The New American''. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
*Chamberlain, Samuel (September 5, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/09/05/wh-official-pens-anonymous-ny-times-op-ed-calling-trump-anti-democratic-petty-and-ineffective.html WH official pens anonymous NY Times op-ed calling Trump 'anti-democratic,' 'petty and ineffective']. ''Fox News''. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
*Spiering, Charlie (September 6, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/09/06/deep-state-official-there-are-dozens-and-dozens-of-us/ Deep State Official: ‘There Are Dozens and Dozens of Us’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
Other examples:
*Newman, Alex (February 25, 2017). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/25475-some-of-trump-s-picks-have-troubling-links-to-globalism-cfr Some of Trump's Picks Have Troubling Links to Globalism, CFR]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
*Newman, Alex (June 2, 2017). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/north-america/item/26162-top-trump-officials-attend-globalist-bilderberg-summit-why Top Trump Officials Attend Globalist Bilderberg Summit. Why?] ''The New American''. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
*Jasper, William F. (December 29, 2017). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/27832-deep-state-boasts-we-re-sabotaging-trump-from-the-inside Deep State Boasts: We’re Sabotaging Trump From the Inside]. ''The New American''. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
*Wong, Kristina (September 7, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/09/07/deep-state-attacks-midterms-impeachment/ Deep State Attacks Ahead of Midterms: ‘All Roads Lead to Impeachment’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
See also:
*Lieu, Amy (September 6, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/09/06/trump-digs-in-after-explosive-new-york-times-op-ed-vows-to-drain-swamp.html Trump digs in after explosive New York Times op-ed, vows to drain swamp]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
*Samuels, Brett (September 6, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/405297-trump-hits-the-deep-state-the-left-and-the-media-in-aftermath-of Trump hits the 'deep state,' the 'left' and the media in wake of anonymous op-ed]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
*Pollak, Joel B. (September 5, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/09/05/anonymous-new-york-times-opposite-patriotism/ Pollak: ‘Anonymous’ Op-ed in New York Times Is the Opposite of Patriotism]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 6, 2018.</ref> The Trump Administration was the victim of numerous leaks of information, many of which threatened U.S. national security – it was reported in July 2017 that leaks occurred once a day on average,<ref>Boylan, Dan (July 6, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jul/6/donald-trump-target-of-leaks-at-rate-of-one-a-day/ White House leaks that threaten national security stream out at rate of one a day]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved July 7, 2017.</ref> and Trump faced seven times more leaks than Obama or Bush II did.<ref>Wong, Kristina (July 7, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/07/07/deep-state-trump-facing-seven-times-more-national-security-leaks-than-obama-or-bush/ DEEP STATE: Trump Facing Seven Times More National Security Leaks Than Obama or Bush]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 7, 2017.</ref> The Russia probe headed by Independent Counsel and former FBI Director [[Robert Mueller]] was founded to have hired investigators extremely biased against President Trump.<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/13/ex-mueller-aides-texts-revealed-read-them-here.html Ex-Mueller aides' texts revealed: Read them here]. ''Fox News''. December 13, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
*Singman, Brooke (December 7, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/07/another-mueller-investigators-democratic-ties-raise-new-bias-questions.html Top Mueller investigator's Democratic ties raise new bias questions]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
*[http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2017/12/05/anti-trump-bias-exposed-in-mueller-probe.html Anti-Trump bias exposed in Mueller probe]. ''Fox News''. December 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
*Chamberlain, Samuel (December 12, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/12/texts-between-ex-mueller-team-members-emerge-calling-trump-loathsome-human-idiot.html 'F TRUMP': Texts between ex-Mueller team members emerge, calling Trump 'loathsome human,' 'an idiot']. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
*Wong, Kristina (December 13, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/13/deepstate-fbi-agents-discussed-protecting-country-trump/ Deepstate: FBI Agents Texted About Protecting Country Against Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 5, 2018.</ref> Left-wing federal courts also blocked many Trump Administration actions, including President Trump's executive orders regarding sanctuary cities and immigration,<ref>Multiple references:
*Swoyer, Alex (February 27, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/feb/27/judges-use-nationwide-injunctions-block-donald-tru/ Judges unleash ‘political weapon’ against Trump]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgyvPV_Dhb0 Ingraham: Runaway judges vs. the Trump agenda]. ''Fox News'' (via ''YouTube''). February 23, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
*McCarthy, Andrew C. (November 10, 2018). [https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/11/obama-appointed-lawyers-thwart-trump-policies-immigration-energy/ Obama’s Judges Continue Thwarting Trump]. ''National Review''. Retrieved November 10, 2018.
*Dinan, Stephen (November 20, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/nov/20/obama-appointed-judges-undercut-trump-immigration/ Obama-appointed judges undercut Trump on immigration]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
*Miller, S.A.; Dinan, Stephen (November 25, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/nov/25/donald-trump-hit-judges-ideological-gap-correct/ Trump more right than Roberts on 'Obama judges': Washington Times analysis]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
See also:
*Mordock, Jeff (March 10, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/mar/10/ag-sessions-blasts-nationwide-injunctions-federali/ Sessions blasts federal judges for injunctions against Trump administration policies]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
*Shaw, Adam (March 10, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/03/10/sessions-slams-activist-judges-for-nationwide-injunctions-on-sanctuary-cities-daca.html Sessions slams 'activist judges' for nationwide injunctions on sanctuary cities, DACA]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
*Munro, Neil (November 20, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/economy/2018/11/20/dhs-doj-slam-judge-decision-let-illegal-migrants-apply-for-asylum/ DHS, DoJ Slam Judge’s Order to Let Illegal Migrants Apply for Asylum]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
Specific examples of courts blocking President Trump's immigration agenda:
*Spiering, Charlie (April 27, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/04/27/donald-trump-blasts-ninth-circuit-for-blocking-sanctuary-cities-order-see-you-in-the-supreme-court/ Donald Trump Blasts Ninth Circuit for Blocking Sanctuary Cities Order: ‘See You in the Supreme Court!’] ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
*Klukowski, Ken (March 12, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/03/12/federal-court-blocks-immigration-executive-order/ Federal Court Blocks Trump Admin’s Immigration Executive Order]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
*Kirkwood, R. Cort (November 21, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/immigration/item/30694-judge-open-the-borders-trump-can-t-block-asylum-claims Judge: Open the Borders; Trump Can’t Block Asylum Claims]. ''The New American''. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
*Dinan, Stephen (November 20, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/nov/20/judge-blocks-trump-asylum-changes-rulings-means-ca/ Judge blocks Trump asylum changes: Caravan can demand protections even after illegal entry]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
*Caldwell, Alicia A.; Pérez, Santiago; Kendall, Brent (November 20, 2018). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/federal-court-bars-u-s-from-enforcing-trumps-asylum-ban-1542702476 Federal Court Bars U.S. From Enforcing Trump’s Asylum Ban]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
*DeMarche, Edmund; Brown, Benjamin (November 20, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/judge-bars-us-from-enforcing-trump-administrations-asylum-ban Judge bars US from enforcing Trump administration’s asylum ban]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved November 21, 2018.</ref> and Democrat attorneys general were extremely active against the Trump Administration,<ref>Multiple references:
*Hurley, Lawrence; Chung, Andrew (November 2, 2017). [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trump-effect-courts/trumps-opponents-race-to-the-courthouse-to-thwart-him-idUSKBN1D21BG Trump's opponents race to the courthouse to thwart him]. ''Reuters''. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
*Lucas, Fred (February 6, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/02/06/democratic-ags-swarm-trump-administration-with-lawsuits.html Democratic AGs swarm Trump administration with lawsuits]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 6, 2018.</ref> suing it nearly 50 times in 2017 alone.<ref>Wilson, Reid (January 2, 2018). [https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/367147-democratic-ags-sue-trump-at-record-pace Democratic AGs sue Trump at record pace]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved January 3, 2018.</ref>

After his election, left-wingers labeled themselves as the "resistance" against Trump.<ref>Pollak, Joel B. (December 24, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/24/hold-2017-the-year-in-resistance/ 2017: The Year in ‘Resistance’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 24, 2017.</ref> As a testament to the deep opposition and hatred towards him by the left-wing, at least 217 violent protestors were arrested in Washington D.C. on Inauguration Day.<ref>Multiple references:
*Weber, Joseph (January 20, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01/20/trump-supporters-protesters-rally-before-sunrise-on-inauguration-day.html Hundreds of protesters arrested in Inauguration Day clashes]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
*Noble, Andrea; McDermott, Ryan M. (January 20, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jan/20/donald-trump-inauguration-protests-begin-turn-viol/ D.C. police report 217 arrested during Inauguration Day riots]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved March 31, 2017.</ref> Left-wingers [[Left-wing violence in the Trump era|committed or advocated for many other acts of violence]] against President Trump and his supporters.<ref>Multiple references:
*Clark, Alex (June 18, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/06/18/a-year-of-hate-9-times-the-radicalized-left-engaged-in-violence-in-the-trump-era/ A Year of Hate: 9 Times the Radicalized Left Engaged in Violence in the Trump Era]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
*Nolte, John (July 5, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2018/07/05/rap-sheet-acts-of-media-approved-violence-and-harassment-against-trump-supporters/ Rap Sheet: ***613** Acts of Media-Approved Violence and Harassment Against Trump Supporters]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
*Brooks, Dave (June 16, 2017). [https://dailycaller.com/2017/06/16/this-list-of-attacks-against-conservatives-is-mind-blowing/ This List of Attacks Against Conservatives is Mind Blowing]. ''The Daily Caller''. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
See also:
*Adelmann, Bob (August 5, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/29388-the-war-on-trump-from-confrontation-to-harassment-to-violence The War On Trump: From Confrontation to Harassment to … Violence?]. ''The New American''. Retrieved August 5, 2018.</ref> It was reported in early February 2017 that 12,000 tweets already had called for Trump's assassination.<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4189124/More-12-000-tweets-call-Trump-s-assassination.html#ixzz4k0h0zXDl More than 12,000 tweets have called for Trump's assassination since the inauguration]. ''Daily Mail''. Retrieved June 18, 2017.</ref> The mainstream media helped promote such violence.<ref>Harper, Jennifer (June 15, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/15/inside-the-beltway-media-lies-that-radicalized-the/ Expert identifies top media lies ‘that radicalized the violent left’]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved June 17, 2017. See also:
*Nolte, John (August 6, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2018/08/06/nolte-heres-proof-the-establishment-media-encourage-violence-against-trump-supporters/ Nolte: Here’s Proof the Establishment Media Encourage Violence Against Trump Supporters]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
*Nolte, John (September 12, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2018/09/12/violence-against-right-escalates-as-media-amp-up-hate-rhetoric-against-trump/ Violence Against Right Escalates as Media Amp up Hate-Rhetoric Against Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved September 12, 2018.</ref> In addition to domestic opposition, President Trump, and by extension, the United States, was strongly opposed by non-Americans compared to the Obama Administration, despite a majority of non-Americans believing Trump to be a strong leader.<ref>Multiple references:
*Ault, Nicole (June 27, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/jun/27/donald-trumps-low-ratings-call-caution-not-despair/ Trump’s low global ratings call for caution, not despair]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
*Wike, Richard; Stokes, Bruce; Poushter, Jacob; Fetterolf (June 26, 2017). [http://www.pewglobal.org/2017/06/26/u-s-image-suffers-as-publics-around-world-question-trumps-leadership/ U.S. Image Suffers as Publics Around World Question Trump’s Leadership]. ''Pew Research Center''. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
However, it was reported in July 2017 that tourism to the United States continued to rise in 2017:
*Zanona, Melanie (July 5, 2017). [https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/340728-international-travel-to-us-on-the-rise International travel to US on the rise]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved July 6, 2017.</ref> The [[mainstream media]] took an overwhelmingly negative stance toward President Trump according to multiple studies,<ref>Multiple references:
*Huston, Warner Todd (March 2, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2017/03/02/study-finds-88-percent-media-coverage-anti-trump/ Study Finds 88 Percent of Media Coverage is Anti-Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
*Harper, Jennifer (April 19, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/19/donald-trump-media-coverage-is-89-percent-negative/ As first 100 days in office approaches, media coverage of Trump is 89% negative: Study]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
*Richardson, Valerie (May 19, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/19/study-trump-press-coverage-new-standard-negativity/ Harvard agrees: Trump press coverage sets ‘new standard for negativity’]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
*Shaw, Adam (May 19, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2017/05/19/study-93-percent-cnn-nbcs-trump-coverage-negative/ Study: Media Coverage of Trump’s First 100 Days Set ‘New Standard For Negativity’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
*Mitchell, Amy; Gottfried, Jeffrey; Stocking, Galen; Matsa, Katerina Eva; Grieco, Elizabeth (October 2, 2017). [http://www.journalism.org/2017/10/02/covering-president-trump-in-a-polarized-media-environment/ Covering President Trump in a Polarized Media Environment]. ''Pew Research Center''. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
*Bedard, Paul (December 27, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/pew-trump-media-three-times-more-negative-than-for-obama-just-5-percent-positive/article/2644448 Pew: Trump media three times more negative than for Obama, just 5 percent positive]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
*Moran, Sean (December 28, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/28/2017-data-media-three-times-negative-towards-trump-obama/ 2017 Data: Media over Three Times More Negative Towards Trump Than Obama]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
*Bannister, Craig (January 16, 2018). [https://www.cnsnews.com/blog/craig-bannister/study-90-networks-trump-coverage-negative-2017 Study: 90% of Network Coverage of President Trump Negative in 2017]. ''CNS News''. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
*Harper, Jennifer (October 10, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/oct/10/still-hostile-news-coverage-of-president-trump-is-/ Still hostile: News coverage of President Trump is 92 percent negative, study finds]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
Bias from late-night TV:
*[https://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywood/2017/05/04/study-trump-track-mocked-president-late-night-25-years/ Study: Trump On Track to Be Most Mocked President on Late-Night TV in 25 Years]. ''Breitbart News''. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
*Fernandez, Marisa (November 9, 2018). [https://www.axios.com/trump-late-night-tv-more-than-any-other-public-figure-0db5aa62-cafb-4b2d-825e-c4499a1f090e.html Trump was joked about in late-night TV more than any public figure ever]. ''Axios''. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
Public opinion on media bias against President Trump:
*Bedard, Paul (January 11, 2018). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/pew-us-media-bias-ranks-worst-in-the-world/article/2645644 Pew: US media bias ranks worst in the world]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
Hart, Kim (May 8, 2018). [https://www.axios.com/nearly-half-of-americans-say-media-coverage-too-critical-trump-fef4ea3a-ada3-4d4e-b536-bdb6eef34d7b.html Nearly half of Americans say Trump media coverage is too tough]. ''Axios''. Retrieved May 8, 2018.</ref> frequently attacking him and his supporters,<ref>Multiple references:
*Gainor, Dan (August 5, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/08/05/dan-gainor-insults-never-stop-anti-trump-media-just-can-t-help-themselves.html Dan Gainor: The insults, they never stop! Anti-Trump media just can’t help themselves]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
*Kirkwood, R. Cort (August 5, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/29693-acosta-media-push-trump-derangement-syndrome Acosta, Media Push Trump Derangement Syndrome]. ''The New American''. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
*Kirkwood, R. Cort (August 5, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/29691-trump-derangement-syndrome-intensifies-among-anti-trump-left Trump Derangement Syndrome Intensifies Among Anti-Trump Left]. ''The New American''. Retrieved August 5, 2018.</ref> even to the point of promoting violence against them.<ref>Multiple references:
*Nolte, John (August 3, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2018/08/03/nolte-establishment-media-normalize-racism-and-hate/ Nolte: Establishment Media Normalize Racism and Hate]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
*Nolte, John (August 6, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2018/08/06/nolte-heres-proof-the-establishment-media-encourage-violence-against-trump-supporters/ Nolte: Here’s Proof the Establishment Media Encourage Violence Against Trump Supporters]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved August 6, 2018.</ref> The media also attributed some of Trump's achievements, such as the growing economy, to Obama.<ref>Multiple references:
*[https://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/economic-boom-trump-obama-policies/ Economic Boom: Media Rewrite History To Credit Obama Instead Of Trump]. ''Investor's Business Daily''. August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
*Harper, Jennifer (August 14, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/aug/14/mainstream-media-tries-to-rewrite-history-to-credi/ Mainstream media tries to 'rewrite history' to credit Obama for Trump accomplishments]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved August 27, 2018.</ref>

In addition to the above, Senate Democrats unduly delayed President Trump's nominees at historic and unprecedented proportions<ref>Multiple references:
*Crowe, Jack (June 13, 2017). [https://dailycaller.com/2017/06/13/wapo-fact-checkers-surprised-to-find-trump-claim-correct/ WaPo Fact Checkers Surprised To Find Trump Claim ‘Correct’]. ''The Daily Caller''. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
*Singman, Brooke (April 28, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/28/trump-has-his-cabinet-but-lagging-behind-on-other-appointments.html Trump has his Cabinet, but lagging behind on other appointments]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
*Von Spakovsky, Hans A.; Jipping, Thomas (July 30, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/the-lefts-obstruction-of-qualified-trump-nominees-is-yet-another-front-in-the-war-against-the-president The left's obstruction of qualified Trump nominees is yet another front in the war against the president]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
*Rivkin Jr., David B.; Shu, John (August 2, 2018). [https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-senates-unprecedented-obstruction-1533250131 The Senate’s Unprecedented Obstruction]. ''The Wall Street Journal''. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
See also:
*Mordock, Jeff (September 16, 2018). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/sep/16/jeff-sessions-or-deep-state-donald-trumps-justice-/ Trump's dilemma: Leave Justice Department control to Sessions and Rosenstein -- or 'deep state']. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved September 17, 2018.</ref> – by February 8, 2017, only [[George Washington]] had fewer cabinet nominees confirmed by this length of time into his presidency.<ref>Multiple references:
*Singman, Brooke (February 8, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/08/trump-facing-historic-delays-in-confirmation-push.html Trump facing historic delays in confirmation push]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
*Bluey, Rob (February 13, 2017). [https://www.dailysignal.com/2017/02/13/trump-has-fewest-cabinet-secretaries-confirmed-since-george-washington/ Trump Has Fewest Cabinet Secretaries Confirmed Since George Washington]. ''The Daily Signal''. Retrieved May 3, 2018.</ref> Trump's last cabinet secretary was confirmed on April 27, 2017,<ref>Kellman, Laurie (April 27, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/27/alex-acosta-trumps-secretary-labor-confirmed/ Senate confirms last member of Trump cabinet at 100th day in office nears]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved April 27, 2017.</ref> and his last cabinet-level member assumed office on May 15, 2017.<ref>Moons, Michelle (May 15, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/05/15/trump-cabinet-complete-swearing-u-s-trade-representative-lighthizer/ President Donald Trump’s Cabinet Complete with Swearing-In of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 16, 2017.</ref> The GOP establishment also blocked President Trump's [[conservative]] agenda.<ref>Multiple references:
*Starr, Penny (November 9, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/11/09/gop-continues-to-block-president-trumps-agenda-one-year-after-election/ GOP Continues to Block President Trump’s Agenda One Year After Election]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
*Williams, Joe (December 19, 2017). [https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/republican-senate-starting-block-trump-nominees Republican Senate Starting to Block Trump Nominees]. ''Roll Call''. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
*Adragna, Anthony (February 8, 2018). [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/08/republicans-trump-nominees-397714 GOP friendly fire imperils Trump nominees]. ''Politico''. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
*Wallner, James (March 26, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/republicans-are-making-it-harder-to-confirm-trumps-nominees Republicans are making it harder to confirm Trump's nominees]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
*Hillyer, Quin (November 30, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/four-republicans-aim-at-trump-hit-their-country-instead Four Republicans aim at Trump, hit their country instead]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved November 30, 2018.</ref>

President Trump was still able to implement new policies and roll back Obama's policies despite the opposition against him,<ref>Multiple references:
*Williams, Thomas D. (December 12, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/12/huffpo-laments-that-one-year-in-trump-is-winning/ HuffPo Laments That One Year in, ‘Trump Is Winning’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
Higgins, Heather R. (December 25, 2017). [https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/366408-against-the-odds-trumps-agenda-owned-2017 Against the odds, Trump's agenda owned 2017]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved December 28, 2017.</ref> which served as a distraction from the changes being made.<ref>Multiple references:
*Graham, David A. (August 2, 2017). [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/what-trump-is-actually-accomplishing/535458/ Trump Has Quietly Accomplished More Than It Appears]. ''The Atlantic''. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
*[https://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2017/06/05/huffington-post-donald-trump-russia-conspiracies/ Huffington Post: Trump ‘Has Fundamentally Changed The Country’ While Left Chases Russia Conspiracies]. ''Breitbart News''. June 5, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
*Vinik, Danny (December 29, 2017). [https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/12/29/138-trump-policy-changes-2017-000603 138 things Trump did this year while you weren't looking]. ''Politico''. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
*Williams, Thomas D. (January 19, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/01/19/usa-today-media-pay-more-attention-to-trump-tweets-than-policy/ USA Today: Media Pay More Attention to Trump Tweets than Policy]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 19, 2018.</ref> Additionally, numerous polls found that he had higher approval ratings than several [[globalist]] world leaders.<ref>Multiple references:
*Lott, Maxim (December 15, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/despite-heat-at-home-trump-approval-ratings-tower-above-embattled-european-leaders Despite heat at home, Trump approval ratings tower above embattled European leaders’]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
*Hale, Virginia (November 20, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2017/11/20/trump-establishment-merkel-macron/ Trump More Popular Than ‘Establishment’ Euro Leaders Merkel and Macron]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
*Bedard, Paul (November 19, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/europes-merkel-macron-may-less-popular-than-trump Europe's Merkel, Macron, May less popular than Trump]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
*[https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/11/21/donald-trump-is-reportedly-more-popular-than-some-of-europes-biggest-leaders/23284529/ Donald Trump is reportedly more popular than some of Europe's biggest leaders]. ''AOL''. November 21, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
Compared to individual leaders:
*Hale, Virginia (September 6, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2018/09/06/msm-struggles-trump-beating-macron/ MSM Struggles to Come to Terms with Populist Trump Beating Globalist Macron in Poll Ratings]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
*Moody, John (August 9, 2017). [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/suddenly-less-popular-than-trump-frances-macron-gets-schooled Suddenly less popular than Trump, France's Macron gets schooled]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
*Adams, Becket (September 5, 2017). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/emmanuel-macron-more-unpopular-in-france-than-trump-in-us Emmanuel Macron more unpopular in France than Trump in US]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
*Tomlinson, Chris (March 20, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2018/03/20/trudeau-approval-rating-trump-right-wing-parties-surge-canada/ Justin Trudeau Approval Rating Now Below President Trump as Right Wing Parties Surge In Canada]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
*Nolte, John (February 8, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/the-media/2018/02/08/media-fail-trump-popular-obama-point-presidency/ Media Fail: Trump More Popular than Obama at This Point in Presidency]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 5, 2018.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Trump effect]]
*[[Donald Trump and nationalism]]

===Regarding Trump's presidency===
*[[Cabinet of Donald Trump]]
*[[Trump Administration]]

===Regarding leftists and Trump===
*[[Trump Derangement Syndrome]]
*[[Liberal denialism and Donald Trump]]
*[[American liberalism and 21st century political losses]]
*[[Mainstream media and Donald Trump]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=35em}}

==Further reading==
*Black, Conrad (2018). ''Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other''. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing. ISBN 9781621577874.
*Garrett, Major (2018). ''Mr. Trump's Wild Ride: The Thrills, Chills, Screams, and Occasional Blackouts of an Extraordinary Presidency''. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9781250185914.

==External links==
*[https://www.promiseskept.com/ PromisesKept.com], official Trump campaign accomplishments list
*[https://www.whitehouse.gov/trump-administration-accomplishments/ Trump Administration Accomplishments], ''Whitehouse.gov''
*[http://www.magapill.com/ MAGAPILL.com], list of Trump Administration achievements
*[http://www.wnd.com/2018/02/4621979/ Most comprehensive compilation of Trump's 1st-year achievements], ''WND'', March 10, 2018.
*[https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/11/here-it-is-complete-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-in-the-two-years-since-his-historic-2016-election-win/ Complete List of President Trump’s Accomplishments in the Two Years Since His Historic 2016 Election Win], ''The Gateway Pundit'', November 3, 2018.
*[https://libertycounselaction.org/content/home/37877/trump_s_achievements Trump's Accomplishments], ''Liberty Counsel''

'''First 100 days:'''

*[https://www.breitbart.com/trump-100-days/ ''The First 100 Days of Trump: Breitbart Special Report''], by Breitbart News (eBook)[https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/05/01/breitbart-news-releases-e-book-first-100-days-trump/]
*[https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/25190-trump-s-first-100-days Trump's First 100 Days], by ''The New American''
*[https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/04/draft-complete-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-in-his-first-100-days/ Complete List of President Trump’s Major Accomplishments in First 100 Days], by Jim Hoft of the ''The Gateway Pundit''
*[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/03/list-trumps-executive-orders.html List of Trump's executive orders during his first 100 days in office], on [[Fox News]]

'''2017 achievements:'''

*[https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/year-one-list-81-major-trump-achievements-11-obama-legacy-items-repealed Year One List: 81 major Trump achievements, 11 Obama legacy items repealed], by the ''Washington Examiner''
*[https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/12/28/top-12-maga-moments-trumps-first-year-president/ Top 12 MAGA Moments in Donald Trump’s First Year as President], by ''Breitbart News''
*[https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/366429-trumps-top-10-accomplishments-of-2017 Trump’s top 10 accomplishments of 2017], by ''The Hill''
*[https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/12/30/trumps_2017_top_10_achievements_135885.html Trump's 2017 Top 10 Achievements], by ''RealClearPolitics''

{{Donald Trump achievements}}
[[Category:Donald Trump Achievements]]
[[Category:Featured articles]]