(Apparently the 5th most read article on Atheism on the Web): From Conservapedia Atheism, as defined by the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, is the denial of the existence of God.[2][3] The atheistic worldview has a variety of effects on individuals and society at large which will be elaborated on shortly. In regards to individuals adopting an atheistic worldview, atheism has a number of causal factors that influence its origination in individuals which will be addressed. In addition, critiques of atheism will be offered and some of the historical events relating to atheism will also be covered. Contents [hide] * 1 Types of Atheism o 1.1 Atheism and Which God or gods? o 1.2 Atheism and Why do Atheists State They Disbelieve? o 1.3 Manifestations of Atheism * 2 Attempts to Dilute the Definition of Atheism * 3 Biblical Statements Regarding Atheism * 4 Tenuousness of Atheism in Prominent Atheist * 5 Claims of the Conditionality and Nonconditionality of Atheism * 6 Atheism and Communism * 7 Criticism of Atheism o 7.1 Commonly Cited Arguments Against Atheism and For Theism o 7.2 Christian Apologetics Specifically Addressing the Issue of Atheism o 7.3 Atheism and Mass Murder o 7.4 Atheists in America and Charity o 7.5 Atheism and Immoral Views o 7.6 Atheism and Miracles o 7.7 Atheism and Questions of Origins * 8 Atheism and Mental and Physical Health o 8.1 Atheism and Suicide * 9 Reasonable Explanations for Atheism * 10 Atheism and the Existence of Evil * 11 Atheism and the Foundation of Modern Science * 12 Atheism and Debate o 12.1 Doug Jesseph o 12.2 Gordon Stein o 12.3 Greg Bahnsen and Michael Martin o 12.4 Creation Scientists tend to win creation-evolution debates * 13 Notable Incidences of Atheists Converting to Theism * 14 Atheism and its Decline as a Theoretical Position * 15 Views on Atheists * 16 Brights Movement * 17 New Atheism o 17.1 Impact of the New Atheism * 18 Atheism and the Bible * 19 Internet Infidels and other Atheist Websites o 19.1 Targeting of Young People by Atheists on the Internet * 20 Atheism in Academia * 21 Denials That Atheists Exist * 22 Atheist population as a percentage of various countries' populations * 23 Other Well Known Proponents of Atheism * 24 Atheism Quotes * 25 See Also * 26 Online Videos Regarding Atheism * 27 External links * 28 Notes Types of Atheism There are different types of atheism, based on different answers to the following questions: * What God or gods does the atheist deny? * Why does the atheist deny? * How does the atheist's denial manifest itself? Atheism and Which God or gods? Since atheism is denial of the existence of God or gods, it is important first to identify in which God and/or gods the atheist denies. In ancient times, for example, Christians were accused of being atheists because of their denial of the pagan gods, even though they believed in the Christian God.[4] Socrates was also accused of atheism, although references to God run throughout his recorded statements. [5] Also, Albert Einstein and Baruch Spinoza professed belief in "God," but they defined "God" as the cosmos as a whole, and without personality. Atheism and Why do Atheists State They Disbelieve? 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 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). Manifestations of Atheism There are three ways that atheism manifests itself: * Militant atheism which continues to suppress and oppress religious believers today especially in Communist countries. * Theoretical atheism: atheism of the mind -- that is, believing that God does not exist. * Practical atheism: atheism of the life - that is, living as though God does not exist. [6] Attempts to Dilute the Definition of Atheism Although atheist Charles Bradlaugh in 1876 proposed the idea that atheism does not assert there is no God (by doing so he attempted to dilute the definition of atheism), since 1979 many proponents of atheism have been frequently attempting to dilute the definition of atheism to mean a mere lack of belief there is a God or gods.[7][8] One of the reasons why many proponents of atheism have been attempting to dilute the definition of the term atheism with greater frequency is to shift the burden of proof regarding the existence of God. [7] In the article, Is Atheism Presumptuous?, atheist Jeffery Jay Lowder, a founder of Internet Infidels which is one of the principle websites for atheists, agnostics and skeptics on the internet, states that "I agree (with Copan) that anyone who claims, "God does not exist," must shoulder a burden of proof just as much as anyone who claims, "God exists." [7] In short, the attempt to redefine atheism is merely an attempt to make no assertions so no facts need be offered. [7] The attempt to redefine atheism, however, is not in accordance with the standard definitions of atheism that encyclopedias of philosophy employ which is that atheism is a denial of the existence of God or gods. [2][3][7] Biblical Statements Regarding Atheism The psalmist David wrote: "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'" The psalmist David wrote: "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'" 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). [9] Accordingly, the psalmist David wrote the following: "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 (KJV) The psalmist David also stated that "The heavens declare the glory of God..." - Psalms 19:1 The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans that the creation testifies the existence of God, when he wrote the following: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..." - Romans 1:19-20 (NKJV)
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