Where Did Atheism Come From?

Theism, from the Greek word ‘theos’, is the belief in God. Atheism is based on the same word and means non-belief in God.

Greek gods

Some early ideas about gods come from ancient Greek stories, called Greek mythology.
- These stories spoke of the immortals.
- The immortals were powerful god-like figures, who often interacted with humans.

Myths

Belief in myths or mythology was quite common thousands of years ago. Myths were often used as a way of explaining frightening things that happened.
- E.g. Poseidon was the god of the sea. He could be responsible for dangerous storms and floods when he was angry.
- E.g. When there was thunder and lightning, it was said that Zeus - the sky and thunder god - was angry.

Early atheism

Over time, humans looked for different explanations for these scary events.
- An early example of atheism was when thunder and storms started to be described as just common natural events instead of Zeus being responsible!
This doesn't necessarily reject any belief in God. But, it says that the Greek gods were just myths - stories about a realm of gods that did not exist in reality.

The Impact of Scientific Developments

The continued development of science led to more doubt of some religious beliefs and myths.

Scientific development

This change can be understood as an example of human intellectual development.
- Humans started to think more carefully about the world around them. They wanted better explanations for the things they experienced.
Many religious believers, for example, had believed that the earth was at the centre of the universe. This belief existed simply because that's the way it's described in the Book of Genesis - the earth and humans were at the centre of God’s creation.

Pythagoras' impact on atheism

Pythagoras was a Greek thinker who studied the movement of the planets.
- Pythagoras proposed a heliocentric theory. This means that the Sun was at the centre and the earth revolved around it.
This form of atheism is best understood as a rejection of some incorrect religious beliefs.
- It argues that these religious beliefs existed because of a limited understanding of the natural world.
- This growing commitment to scientific discovery began to cast doubt on religious ideas.

1Year 7

1.1Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.2Judaism

1.3Christianity

1.3.1The Nativity

1.3.2Christian Beliefs about the Baby Jesus

1.3.3Jesus' Ministry

1.3.4The Sermon on the Mount

1.3.5The Crucifixion

1.3.6The Last Supper

1.3.7The Resurrection

1.3.8Christian Beliefs about the Resurrection

1.3.9The Council of Nicaea

1.3.10The Nicene Creed

1.3.11Saint Augustine

1.3.12Protestantism

1.3.13The Reformation

1.3.14Christianity Today

1.3.15Evangelical Churches

1.3.16The Future of Christianity

1.4Buddhism

1.4.1Religion in India

1.4.2The Caste System

1.4.3Meditation

1.4.4Caste & Religion

1.4.5Puja

1.4.6Karma & the Cycle of Rebirth

1.4.7The Four Noble Truths

1.4.8The Three Marks of Existence

1.4.9The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

1.4.10How do Buddhists Live?

1.4.11The Four Sights

1.4.12The Buddha

1.4.13The Middle Way & Enlightenment

2Year 8

2.1Islam

2.1.1Pre-Islamic Arabia

2.1.2The Prophet Muhammad & The Qur'an

2.1.3The Hijrah & The Conquest of Mecca

2.1.4The Prophet Muhammad: The Final Sermon

2.1.5The Sunni/Shia Split

2.1.6Islamic Caliphates

2.1.7The Five Pillars of Islam

2.1.8Origins of Hajj

2.1.9Hajj Rituals

2.1.10Jihad

2.1.11Islam Today

2.2Hinduism

2.2.1The Prehistoric Roots of Hinduism

2.2.2Key Ideas in Hinduism

2.2.3The Caste System

2.2.4The Vedic Period

2.2.5The Upanishads

2.2.6Alexander the Great & The Mauryan Empire

2.2.7Revelation & The Sharing of Knowledge

2.2.8Understanding the Self

2.2.9Karma, Yoga & the Self