Atheism (including agnostics) represents 16% of the world’s population

ATHEISM

Founded

Numerous advocates and philosophers over the centuries.

God(s)

To be an atheist is to be someone who rejects belief in God for the following reasons (which reason is stressed depends on how God is being conceived):

For an anthropomorphic (giving human characteristics to a non-human being) God, the atheist rejects belief in God because it is false or probably false that there is a God.

For a non-anthropomorphic God (the God of Luther and Calvin, Aquinas, and Maimonides), he rejects belief in God because the concept of such a God is either meaningless, unintelligible, contradictory, incomprehensible, or incoherent.

For the God portrayed by some modern or contemporary theologians or philosophers, he rejects belief in God because the concept of God in question is such that it merely masks an atheistic substance—e.g., “God” is just another name for love, or “God” is simply a symbolic term for moral ideals.

Prophet(s)

None

Leader(s)

Numerous advocates and philosophers over the centuries.

Afterlife

None

Practices

Generally Humanism and Humanitarianism.

Texts

Various philosophical and scientific.

Human situation/

Life's purpose

Atheists find their own answers to the question of what it means to be human.

Atheists are as moral (or immoral) as religious people.

In practical terms atheists often follow the same moral code as religious people, but they arrive at the decision of what is good or bad without any help from the idea of God.

As life's purpose is unknown, the focus is on improving life as we know and experience it.

Punishment for heresy

Not applicable

Attitude to Women

Equality.

Main objectives in theory

To practice Humanism and Humanitarianism - a system of thought that is based on the values, characteristics, and behaviours that are believed to be best in human beings, with a commitment to improve the lives of others. See HUMANISM

To promote education, critical analytical thought, and freedom of expression.

It is possible to be both atheist and religious. Virtually all Buddhists* manage it, as do some modern theologians of other religions, such as Judaism and Christianity, with the "religions" being seen as socio/politically/economically essential, but without the necessity of gods or spiritual beings.

*Buddhism is viewed as a philosophy rather than a religion by many.

People are atheist for many reasons, among them:

·         By virtue of research they find insufficient evidence to support any religion.

·         They think that religion is nonsensical.

·         They once had a religion and have lost faith in it.

·         They live in a non-religious culture.

·         Religion doesn't interest them.

·         Religion doesn't seem relevant to their lives.

·         Religions seem to have done a lot of harm in the world and the world will be better without religion.

Not all atheists are hostile to religion, but many do think that religion is bad. Some of their reasons being:

·         Religion gets people to believe something untrue.

·         Religion makes people base the way they run their lives on a falsehood.

·         Religion stops people thinking in a rational and objective way.

·         Religion forces people to rely on outside authority, rather than becoming self-reliant.

·         Religion imposes irrational rules of good and bad behaviour.

·         Religion divides people, and is a cause of conflict and war.

·         The hierarchical structure of most religions is anti-democratic, and thus offends basic human rights.

·         Religion doesn't give equal treatment to women and gay people, and thus offends basic human rights.

·         Religion obstructs scientific research.

·         Religion wastes time and money.

Main objectives in practice

A concern with the needs, well-being and interests of all people.

To leave the world and society in a better condition for our children to inherit.

Major

benefits to the human

condition

Many major philosophical, scientific, political and humanitarian advances have come about through first questioning religious beliefs, rejecting them, and then developing new ideas based on intellect and science and thereby advancing socio/economic progress.

Major detriments to the human condition in deaths.

None known

Other Major detriments to the human condition.

None known

Notes