Atheism

Overview: Atheism is the position that denies the existence of gods or, in broader formulations, does not accept theistic beliefs because they are considered insufficiently justified. In comparative studies, the term covers different realities: philosophical, scientific, existential, political, humanist, practical atheism, or simply absence of religious belief. For that reason, it is not a single tradition with founder, canon, or uniform liturgy, but rather a field of positions converging in the refusal of theism.

Origin and development: Although critiques of gods and religions existed in antiquity in various cultures, modern atheism acquired a clearer identity in the context of the European Enlightenment, the development of biblical criticism, philosophical materialism, the modern sciences, social theories, and secularization. From the nineteenth to the twenty-first centuries, it became visible in Marxist, positivist, existentialist, naturalist, secular humanist, and freethought currents.

Beliefs and central themes: Among its most frequent themes are rejection of theism, demand for public evidence, naturalistic explanations of the universe and mind, moral autonomy without divine foundation, critique of revelations, critique of miracles, defense of freedom of conscience, appreciation of science as a method of empirical knowledge, and understanding religion as a historical, psychological, political, or cultural phenomenon. Not every atheist accepts all of these theses with the same intensity.

Texts and authority: Atheism does not possess sacred scripture. Its references come from philosophical works, scientific writings, critiques of religion, sociology, evolutionary biology, humanist essays, and skeptical literature. Authority is argumentative, not revelational.

Practices and sociability: Since it is not a uniform ritual religion, practices vary greatly. There are freethought associations, secular humanist groups, science education projects, public debates, secularism activism, publishing activity, communal gatherings, and the defense of civil rights. In many cases, atheism is simply an individual intellectual position without formal organization.

Debates and internal diversity: There are major differences between strong and weak atheism, militant and quiet atheism, naturalist atheism, existential atheism, Marxist atheism, and secular humanism without theism. There are also tensions with agnosticism, deism, nontheistic spiritualities, and critiques of so-called New Atheism. In a comparative database, it is important not to portray atheism as merely the inverted mirror of a single religion.