2F Atheism Flashcards
Who (it is said) was the first atheist?
Diagoras of Melos
In Ancient Greek, what doe ‘Atheistic’ mean?
‘godless’ or ‘disrespecting the local Gods’
What is the biblical mention of atheism?
Ephesians 2:12 - ‘atheoi’, ‘without God’
When was the term ‘atheist’ coined and what did it mean?
- The Renaissance
* It was an insult as it implied a lack of moral restraint
How did the Age of Enlightenment affect atheism?
- It encouraged people to think for themselves
* Appealed to both human reason and scientific methods to find truth
How did increased travel/communications give credence to atheism?
- Aware of other religions and the contradictions
* Argued that the religion you follow is dependent on where you are born and has little to do with truth
How did the French Revolution affect atheism?
The church was seen as an outmoded institution that propped up the monarchy
Who/when was the last person to be jailed in the UK for atheism?
- George Holyoake
* 1842
Who/when was the first openly atheist MP?
- Charles Bradlaugh
* 1886
What is negative (weak) atheism?
- The atheist does not make the claim that God does not exist
- Theist makes the assertion ∴ bears burden of prood
- Does not believe, but does not assert as true that no deities exist
What is positive (strong) atheism?
Both the atheist and theist give reasons to defend belief
What is protest atheism?
A revolt against God on moral grounds
What is New Atheism (antitheism)?
Religion = a threat to survival of human race
What is strong agnosticism?
- Impossible to know whether God exists as our knowledge is limited
- Evidence is never possible
What is weak agnosticism?
- Existence = currently unknown but not necessarily unknowable
- Judgement must be withheld until evidence becomes available
- The common form of agnosticism, indicating a suspension of a decision