The Future of Atheism

We have seen the progression from religious belief to atheism and humanism. But is there another step on this intellectual journey?

Questions for atheism

There are a number of questions for the future of atheism to consider:
- If a human is just a body, and there is no everlasting soul, what makes up a human person?
- What is human intelligence? Is the brain like a computer and do human beings behave as dictated by their programming?
These are big and important questions. They are the focus of some of the most recent thinking by modern philosophers.
- Such as Daniel Dennett, an American philosopher and scientist, born in 1942.

Transhumanism

We have seen the developing focus on the human mind.
- And now, some philosophers are asking whether technology may be able to help humans increase their intellectual abilities and their moods.
If so, there are potential benefits.
- Great advances in science and medicine could be made.
- If mood can be controlled, then perhaps anger and warlike attitudes can be suppressed.
- This could lead to a more peaceful world.

Artificial intelligence

If the human mind is a computer, then it could be possible to use artificial intelligence to enhance the mind.
- Perhaps a human being is just their mind. After all, bodies change and decay.
- In this case, human minds could be uploaded into a computer programme allowing the person to live on when their bodies have died.

Artificial intelligence (cont.)

Artificial intelligence may not be immortality as promised by religion, but certainly human longevity!
- Artificial intelligence (very sophisticated robots) may come to be recognised as people. The idea of a person in terms of biology could be abandoned.

A brave new world?

The term ‘Brave New World’ was the title of a novel by Aldous Huxley. It is about a world that used technology to engineer intelligence.
- It is an example of a dystopian novel, one where the outcomes of the story alarm the writer.
The idea of transhumanism suggests the possibility of a new kind of human existence.
- Without the idea of God, human beings can focus on improving themselves and their society. By using technological advances.

Questions on technological advancement

But there are also big questions about these technological advancements:
- Does it change what we understand as human beings in a fundamental way?
- Is it possible to develop a set of rules that will say what developments are right and wrong?
- Have we come to a point where questions of right and wrong no longer apply?
- Should human beings want to live forever?

1Year 7

1.1Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.2Judaism

1.2.1The Nature of God

1.2.2Creation

1.2.3What Do Jews Believe?

1.2.4Moses

1.2.5Abraham & Moses

1.2.6Tenakh & Talmud

1.2.7Rabbis & Rabbinic Literature

1.2.8The Jewish Scriptures - The Written Law

1.2.9The Jewish Scriptures - The Oral Law

1.2.10The Tradition of Discussion & Debate

1.2.11Orthodox Judaism

1.2.12Reform Judaism

1.2.13The Daily Practices of Orthodox & Reform Jews

1.2.14Morality & Living a Good Life

1.2.15Ethical Duties of Jews

1.2.16Prayer & Acts of Worship

1.2.17Written & Oral Jewish Law

1.2.18Afterlife

1.2.19The First Temple

1.2.20The Tabernacle's Journey & End

1.2.21Orthodox & Reform Synagogues

1.2.22The Daily Service

1.2.23What is Shabbat?

1.2.24Traditional Rituals for Shabbat

1.2.25What is Pesach?

1.2.26What is Yom Kippur?

1.2.27How Have Jews Been Persecuted?

1.2.28The Persecution of the Jews Throughout History

1.2.29The Black Death

1.2.30Antisemitism in Nazi Germany

1.2.31Antisemitism in Nazi Germany 2

1.2.32The Holocaust

1.2.33Genocide

1.2.34How the Holocaust has Impacted the Jewish Identity

1.2.35Holocaust Memorial

1.2.36Global Diversity of Jews

1.2.37Jewish Practices

1.2.38Jewish Celebrations & Rituals

1.3Christianity

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 - Dukkha and Samudaya

1.4.8The Four Noble Truths - Nirhoda and Magga

1.4.9The Three Marks of Existence

1.4.10The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

1.4.11How do Buddhists Live?

1.4.12The Four Sights

1.4.13The Buddha

1.4.14The Middle Way & Enlightenment

1.5Disciplinary Knowledge

1.5.1Scripture and Religious Authority

1.5.2Interpreting Data

1.5.3Forms of Expression

1.5.4Shaping and Being Shaped by Wider Society

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

2.2.10The Divine Presence

2.2.11Hindu Statues and Icons

2.2.12British Colonialism & Gandhi

2.3Atheism

2.3.1Where Did Atheism Come From?

2.3.2The Impact of Scientific Developments

2.3.3Plato's Cave

2.3.4Challenging the Bible

2.3.5The Enlightenment

2.3.6Evolution

2.3.7Evolution & Religion

2.3.8Morality & God

2.3.9Morality Without God

2.3.10Frederick Nietzsche - How to Live Without Religion

2.3.11Militant Atheism

2.3.12Humanism

2.3.13The Future of Atheism

2.4Philosophy of Religion

2.4.1Who is God?

2.4.2Theists, Atheists & Agnostics

2.4.3Faith & Empiricism

2.4.4The Design Argument

2.4.5Is The Design Argument Convincing?

2.4.6The Cosmological Argument

2.4.7Criticisms of The Cosmological Argument

2.4.8The Problem of Evil

2.4.9Free Will Theodicy

2.4.10Soul-Making Theodicy

2.4.11Religious Experience

2.4.12Types of Religious Experience

2.4.13Criticisms of Religious Experience

3Year 9

3.1Life & Death

3.1.1What is the Right Thing To Do?

3.1.2Thomas Aquinas - Natural Law

3.1.3Building a Moral Code

3.1.4Criticisms of Natural Law

3.1.5Joseph Fletcher - Situation Ethics

3.1.6Understanding Situation Ethics

3.1.7Criticisms of Situation Ethics

3.1.8Sanctity of Life

3.1.9Quality of Life

3.1.10Abortion

3.1.11Moral Questions About Abortion

3.1.12Euthanasia

3.1.13Moral Questions About Euthanasia

3.1.14Capital Punishment

3.1.15Arguments Against Captial Punishment

3.1.16Animal Rights

3.1.17Alternative Views on Animal Rights

3.2Extremism

3.3Equality

3.3.1Introduction to Equality

3.3.2Is the UK an Equal Society?

3.3.3Religion & Equality

3.3.4Interpreting the Scripture

3.3.5Racism & Scripture

3.3.6Scripture Against Racism

3.3.7The Fight for Racial Equality

3.3.8Gender Equality & Scripture

3.3.9Gender Equality; Women in Worship

3.3.10LGBTQ+ Matters

3.3.11The Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality

3.3.12Disability Matters

3.3.13The Fight for Disability Equality

4Additional Concepts

4.1Non-Religious People in the UK

4.1.1Statistics & Reasons

4.1.2Main Tenets on Non-Religious People

4.1.3Allegations Against Religious People

4.2Believing in God Oustide of Religion

4.2.1Non-Religious Believers & New Age

4.2.2Stay-At-Home Christians

4.2.3Agnosticism

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