Description
Book SynopsisAtheism in Five Minutes offers insights into a number of commonly held questions about the ideas, practices and attitudes concerning atheism and atheists. The volume highlights approaches based on the study of religion, sociology, history, anthropology, politics and psychology. It also examines the implications and assumptions in common questions about atheism. Ideal for both classroom use and personal study, some of the questions asked include: Are atheists immoral? Are children born atheist? Do atheists have rituals? How has atheism related to politics? Why do some atheists remain members of religious groups? Is it difficult to be an atheist in Muslim countries? Do atheist parents have atheist children? Why are there so few black atheists? What are the most atheistic societies? Has the Internet made atheism more popular? Each essay is based on the latest research written by a leading scholar in the field. They offer concise and thoughtful answers along with suggestions for further reading.
Table of ContentsPreface Teemu Taira Conceptual and Historical Issues What Does the Term “Atheism” Mean? Nathan G. Alexander What Is the Difference Between Atheism, Agnosticism, Nonreligion and Secular? Christopher R. Cotter, University of Edinburgh Have All Great Scientists Been Atheists? Aku Visala, Univesity of Helsinki Were There Atheists in Ancient Greece and Rome? Ramón Soneira Martinez, University of Erfurt What Is the Relationship Between Judaism and Atheism? Daniel Langton, University of Manchester Why Has Buddhism Been Perceived as Atheistic? Jens Schlieter, University of Bern Is It Difficult to Be an Atheist in Muslim Countries? Karin van Nieuwkerk, Radboud University Society, Politics and Media What Are the Most Atheistic Societies? Isabella Kasselstrand, University of Aberdeen Why Are Some Societies More Atheistic than Others? Teemu Taira Are Atheists Typically Young People? Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme, University of Waterloo, & Joel Thiessen, Ambrose University Why Are Men More Likely to Be Atheists than Women? Tiina Mahlamäki, University of Turku Why Are There So Few Black Atheists? Daniel Swann, Goucher College and University of Maryland College Park How Has Atheism Related to Politics? Steven Kettell, Univesity of Warwick Does Atheism Promote Peace? Stacey Gutkowski, King's College London How Has Atheism Related to Communism? Atko Remmel, University of Tartu Is Contemporary Atheism Leaning Politically to Right or Left? Stuart McAnulla, University of Leeds Do Laws About Religion Take Atheism into Account? Lori Beaman, University of Ottawa What Do Religious People Think of Atheists? Petra Klüg, Universität Bremen How Are Atheists Organized? Richard Cimino, Religion Watch, & Christopher Smith Do Atheists and Feminists Support Each Other? Tiina Mahlamäki How Are Atheists Represented in the Media? Teemu Taira What Is the Historical Role of Atheism in Literature and the Arts? James B. Reeves, Texas State University Beliefs, Values and Practices Do Atheist Parents Have Atheist Children? Christel Manning, Sacred Heart University How Does One Become an Atheist? Julia Martínez-Ariño, University of Groningen How Do Atheists Deal with the Problem of Evil? Sami Pihlström, University of Helsinki How Do Atheists Cope with Mortality? Jacob S. Sawyer, Pennsylvania State University Where Do Atheists Get Their Values? Kyle Thompson, Harvey Mudd College and MiraCosta College Do Atheists Have Religious Experiences? Abby Day, Goldsmiths, University of London Do Atheists Have Sacred Scripture? Ethan G. Quillen Do Atheists Have Rituals? Richard Cimino & Christopher Smith Can an Atheist Be Spiritual? Atko Remmel Are Atheists Immoral? Kyle Thompson Are Atheists Intolerant? Filip Užarević, Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb Do Atheists Value Some Religions More than Other Religions? Joel Thiessen & Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme What Do Atheists Value in Religion, If Anything? Teemu Taira Is Atheism Good for Your Health? Kevin McCaffree & Anondah Saide, both at University of North Texas Future What is the Future of Atheism? Teemu Taira
