2.5.1

Where Did Atheism Come From?

Test yourself on Where Did Atheism Come From?

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

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

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

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

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.
Jump to other topics
1

Year 7

1.1

Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.1.1Genesis1.1.2Noah & the Flood1.1.3The Importance of Noah1.1.4Abraham1.1.5The Covenant1.1.6Abraham's Sacrifice1.1.7Ibrahim's Sacrifice1.1.8Ibrahim & Hajar1.1.9Ibrahim & the Ka'aba1.1.10Isaac & Jacob1.1.11Moses & the Exodus1.1.12The Tabernacle1.1.13Leviticus & Sacrifice1.1.14Teachings in Leviticus1.1.15Jesus' Teachings1.1.16Jesus the Rebel1.1.17Jesus' Death & Resurrection1.1.18The Meaning of Jesus' Sacrifice1.1.19The Relationship Between Judaism & Christianity1.1.20The Ka'aba1.1.21The Prophet Muhammad
1.2

Judaism

1.2.1The Nature of God1.2.2Creation1.2.3What Do Jews Believe?1.2.4Moses1.2.5Abraham & Moses1.2.6Tenakh & Talmud1.2.7Rabbis & Rabbinic Literature1.2.8The Jewish Scriptures - The Written Law1.2.9The Jewish Scriptures - The Oral Law1.2.10The Tradition of Discussion & Debate1.2.11Orthodox Judaism1.2.12Reform Judaism1.2.13The Daily Practices of Orthodox & Reform Jews1.2.14Morality & Living a Good Life1.2.15Ethical Duties of Jews1.2.16Prayer & Acts of Worship1.2.17Written & Oral Jewish Law1.2.18Afterlife1.2.19The First Temple1.2.20The Tabernacle's Journey & End1.2.21Orthodox & Reform Synagogues1.2.22The Daily Service1.2.23What is Shabbat?1.2.24Traditional Rituals for Shabbat1.2.25What is Pesach?1.2.26What is Yom Kippur?1.2.27How Have Jews Been Persecuted?1.2.28The Persecution of the Jews Throughout History1.2.29The Black Death1.2.30Antisemitism in Nazi Germany1.2.31Antisemitism in Nazi Germany 21.2.32The Holocaust1.2.33Genocide1.2.34How the Holocaust has Impacted the Jewish Identity1.2.35Holocaust Memorial1.2.36Global Diversity of Jews1.2.37Jewish Practices1.2.38Jewish Celebrations & Rituals
1.3

Christianity

1.3.1The Nature of God1.3.2Creation1.3.3Roots in Judaism1.3.4Early Spread of the Faith1.3.5Roman Persecution1.3.6Morality & Living a Good Life1.3.7Afterlife1.3.8Prayer and Acts of Worship1.3.9Kinds of Prayer1.3.10The Nativity1.3.11Christian Beliefs about the Baby Jesus1.3.12Jesus' Ministry1.3.13The Sermon on the Mount1.3.14The Crucifixion1.3.15The Last Supper1.3.16The Resurrection1.3.17Christian Beliefs about the Resurrection1.3.18The Council of Nicaea1.3.19The Nicene Creed1.3.20Saint Augustine1.3.21Development of the Christian Church1.3.22Written Authority - The Bible1.3.23Interpretation of the Bible1.3.24Celebrations1.3.25Pilgrimage1.3.26Evangelism1.3.27Protestantism1.3.28The Reformation1.3.29Christianity Today1.3.30Faith Across the World1.3.31Evangelical Churches1.3.32The Future of Christianity
1.4

Disciplinary Knowledge

1.4.1Scripture and Religious Authority1.4.2Interpreting Data1.4.3Forms of Expression1.4.4Shaping and Being Shaped by Wider Society
2

Year 8

2.1

Islam

2.1.1Pre-Islamic Arabia2.1.2The Prophet Muhammad & The Qur'an2.1.3The Hijrah & The Conquest of Mecca2.1.4The Prophet Muhammad: The Final Sermon2.1.5The Sunni/Shia Split2.1.6Islamic Caliphates2.1.7The Five Pillars of Islam2.1.8Origins of Hajj2.1.9Hajj Rituals2.1.10Jihad2.1.11Islam Today
2.2

Hindu Dharma (Hinduism)

2.2.1The Origins of Hindu Dharma2.2.2The Vedic Traditions2.2.3The Term 'Hinduism'2.2.4Revelation & Tradition2.2.5The Vedas2.2.6The Bhagavad Gita2.2.7Brahman2.2.8Atman2.2.9Understanding the Self2.2.10Hindu Deities2.2.11The Nature of the Trimurti2.2.12Cyclical Nature2.2.13Karma2.2.14Santana Dharma & Varnashrama Dharma2.2.15Varna & Castes2.2.16Ahimsa2.2.17Mandir & Puja2.2.18Ramayana & Diwali2.2.19Namakarana & Birth Rituals2.2.20Hindu Funerals2.2.21Hindu Communities Across the World2.2.22Yoga2.2.23Alexander the Great & The Mauryan Empire2.2.24British Colonialism & Gandhi
2.3

Buddhism

2.3.1Roots in Hindu Dharma2.3.2Siddhartha Gautama2.3.3Siddhartha's Four Sights2.3.4Asceticism, Enlightenment & The Middle Way2.3.5Buddha's Authority & Personal Experience2.3.6Core Belief2.3.7The Three Marks of Existence2.3.8Cyclical Time2.3.9The Four Noble Truths - Dukkha and Samudaya2.3.10The Four Noble Truths - Nirhoda and Magga2.3.11The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment2.3.12Karma, Samsara & Nirvana2.3.13The Three Jewels2.3.14The Five Precepts2.3.15Meditation2.3.16Theravada & Mahayana Buddhisms2.3.17Puja2.3.18Buddhism in the UK and Across the World
2.4

Sikhi

2.4.1Origins of Sikhi2.4.2The Ten Sikh Gurus2.4.3The Guru Granth Sahib2.4.4Waheguru2.4.5The Sikh Concept of God2.4.6Creation of the Universe2.4.7The Khalsa2.4.8Sewa2.4.9Samsara & Mukti2.4.10The Gurdwara & the Langar2.4.11Different Interpretations2.4.12Sikhi Across the World
2.5

Atheism

2.5.1Where Did Atheism Come From?2.5.2The Impact of Scientific Developments2.5.3Plato's Cave2.5.4Challenging the Bible2.5.5The Enlightenment2.5.6Evolution2.5.7Evolution & Religion2.5.8Morality & God2.5.9Morality Without God2.5.10Frederick Nietzsche - How to Live Without Religion2.5.11Militant Atheism2.5.12Humanism2.5.13The Future of Atheism
2.6

Philosophy of Religion

2.6.1Who is God?2.6.2Theists, Atheists & Agnostics2.6.3Faith & Empiricism2.6.4The Design Argument2.6.5Is The Design Argument Convincing?2.6.6The Cosmological Argument2.6.7Criticisms of The Cosmological Argument2.6.8The Problem of Evil2.6.9Free Will Theodicy2.6.10Soul-Making Theodicy2.6.11Religious Experience2.6.12Types of Religious Experience2.6.13Criticisms of Religious Experience
2.7

Disciplinary Knowledge

2.7.1Theology2.7.2Social Sciences2.7.3Changing Roles of Men & Women2.7.4Divorce & Remarriage in the Church of England
3

Year 9

3.1

Life & Death

3.1.1What is the Right Thing To Do?3.1.2Thomas Aquinas - Natural Law3.1.3Building a Moral Code3.1.4Criticisms of Natural Law3.1.5Joseph Fletcher - Situation Ethics3.1.6Understanding Situation Ethics3.1.7Criticisms of Situation Ethics3.1.8Sanctity of Life3.1.9Quality of Life3.1.10Abortion3.1.11Moral Questions About Abortion3.1.12Euthanasia3.1.13Moral Questions About Euthanasia3.1.14Capital Punishment3.1.15Arguments Against Captial Punishment3.1.16Animal Rights3.1.17Alternative Views on Animal Rights
3.2

Extremism

3.2.1What Does Extremism Mean?3.2.2Extremism Explained3.2.3Why do People Become Extremists?3.2.4Why do People Become Extremists? 23.2.5What are Conspiracy Theories?3.2.6Why do People Believe Conspiracy Theories?3.2.7What is Anti-Semitism?3.2.8Anti-Semitic Stereotyping3.2.9The Holocaust3.2.10After the Holocaust3.2.11Religious Fundamentalism3.2.12The Problem of Fundamentalism3.2.13Nationalism3.2.14Nationalism & Extremism3.2.15What is a Terrorist?3.2.16Political & Religious Terrorism3.2.17Free Speech & Hate Speech3.2.18Hate Speech3.2.19How do we Fight Extremism?3.2.20How do we Fight Extremism? 2
3.3

Equality

3.3.1Introduction to Equality3.3.2Is the UK an Equal Society?3.3.3Religion & Equality3.3.4Interpreting the Scripture3.3.5Racism & Scripture3.3.6Scripture Against Racism3.3.7The Fight for Racial Equality3.3.8Gender Equality & Scripture3.3.9Gender Equality; Women in Worship3.3.10LGBTQ+ Matters3.3.11The Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality3.3.12Disability Matters3.3.13The Fight for Disability Equality
4

Additional Concepts

4.1

Non-Religious People in the UK

4.1.1Statistics & Reasons4.1.2Main Tenets on Non-Religious People4.1.3Allegations Against Religious People
4.2

Believing in God Oustide of Religion

4.2.1Non-Religious Believers & New Age4.2.2Stay-At-Home Christians4.2.3Agnosticism

Practice questions on Where Did Atheism Come From?

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What are myths?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Which of the following best describes the origin of the word "atheism"?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    How were myths used in ancient times?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    What was the significance of early atheism?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    Which of the following best describes the role of Zeus in Greek mythology?Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Where Did Atheism Come From?

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

Sikhi Across the World

The Impact of Scientific Developments