About Atheism

Atheism is a very broad term, even though it is basically interpreted as the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. The term is contrasted with theism, which suggests that there exists at least one deity. The word atheism dates back to the 5th Century BCE Greek word atheos, which means “without gods.” Over the years, the application of the word has been narrowed down significantly, thanks to the spread of freethought, skeptical inquiry and an increase in the criticism of religion.

Today, there are very few people who understand the concept completely and that is why atheism is often misunderstood and even vilified to a large extent. Different people perceive atheism differently, and hence, it is difficult to determine the total number of atheists in the world. Questions related to atheism can stem from philosophical, social or even historical perspectives. While some rationalize their lack of belief in a supernatural deity as insufficient empirical evidence, others rationalize their stance with the problem of evil that theism fails to resolve at many levels.

Whatever the reason may be for one to turn to atheism, Atheist Republic is one of the few organizations that try to highlight how okay it is to raise questions and seek answers, an idea that is often denounced by many religious people. The team at Atheist Republic strives to educate those interested in atheism, because they unanimously believe that understanding the subject will help one see how most of the attacks made upon atheism and atheists are based on mistaken assumptions and a general lack of knowledge.

Here is hoping you, too, find Atheist Republic to be a resourceful website that not only answers the questions you may have, but also enriches your mind.

Is there a difference between atheist and agnostic? What do those words mean and are they mutually exclusive? Is absence of evidence a logical basis for belief? By answering these questions perhaps conversations can move more quickly past the semantics games some theists play and lay the burden of proof where it belongs, with the theist.

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In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo tragedy, January 7, 2015 in Paris, many opinions abound, and it becomes difficult to offer any unique insight of one’s own without being drowned out, or indeed, wondering if you should offer anything at all.

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Why would your own relatives declare you an apostate? A story that tells how the name and word of god is used to sever relationships and kill humans.

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They say every journey begins with a single step. My fall into the waters of depression and overwhelming anxiety began with a trip.

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Don’t criticise Islam, you racist! Islamophobia is being used as a big stick to hit people with the second they question Islam, but is this a valid criticism?

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Fandoms have invaded the internet (Whovian, Treckie, Potter Head, Avengers) and it occurred to me that Fandoms are becoming more like religions.

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In his 1986 book "The Blind Watchmaker" Richard Dawkins recalls expressing his position that he couldn't imagine being an atheist before Darwin. As it happens, there WERE atheists before Darwin, and theories of evolution go back to ancient Greece. It's curious, because he also believes God is in itself a bad explanation (would it still be if evolution were false?). It's a shame if Mr. Dawkins (who I have recently met) is unaware of it, but there is a great legacy of atheist pioneers that helped forge the modern world and cut through the fog and terror of religious faith.

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Undoubtedly, human evolution has slowed considerably...maybe even stopped altogether. As an intelligent species, rather than adapting to our environment by evolving, we do so by being inventive. Our ingenuity has led us so far that we can now exploit human genetics to our own ends. We can beat our own nature.

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نحن لسنا عبدة شيطان، نحن لا نؤمن به أصلا.

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The problem of evil is considered by many to be one of the most powerful arguments against the existence of God. Though the theological responses vary considerably, one in particular recently caught my eye.

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