The Historical Evolution of Atheism: A Journey Through Time

Atheism, the belief in the nonexistence of any deities, has a long and complex history that is closely intertwined with the development of human religion and philosophy. The origins of atheism are challenging to pinpoint, but evidence suggests that it emerged in tandem with the first theistic religions. This article delves into the history of atheism and highlights key figures who expressed atheistic views throughout the centuries.

The Emergence of Atheism

The concept of atheism first arose in response to the emergence of theistic religions. Before the advent of such religions, it is reasonable to assume that all humans would be considered atheists, as they would not have a context to differentiate between the existence and nonexistence of deities. The first theistic religion is believed to have emerged in ancient Mesopotamia around 4000 BCE.

Early Prominent Atheists

Here are some historical examples of early atheists:

5th Century BCE Greece

Diagoras of Melos was a prominent atheist in ancient Greece. Diagoras opposed religion and was so vocal that he faced accusations of blasphemy. He was forced to flee Athens to avoid execution.

5th Century BCE Greece

Euripides wrote a play called Bellerophon in which the main character explicitly denies the existence of gods. Additionally, either Euripides or Critias wrote the satyr play Sisyphus, which features a discussion about a clever man who invented a religion.

Unknown Date Ancient Roman Empire

A traveler gravestone from the ancient Roman Empire declares that travelers should cease believing in afterlives and gods, indicating some form of atheistic belief.

823-911 CE Iran

Ibn al-Rawandi deconverted from Islam and publicly wrote against religion. Although none of his works survived, his views are known through the surviving works that countered his arguments.

1100s Iran

The Mathematician Omar Khayyam wrote a poem mocking the Koran.

Circa 1200s Iceland

The Old Norse poem Slar lioe describes men who abandoned Norse Paganism and embraced atheism.

Late 1200s Iceland

The Hrafnkell Saga features an atheist protagonist, described as goelauss, which could mean "without God."

Notable Atheists in the Renaissance and Beyond

As society became more accepting, ateistic voices continued to be heard:

1500s Italy

Niccolò Marrucco, known as Menocchio, was a well-liked miller who publicly declared that Jesus was not divine, the Gospel stories were fabrications, immortality was impossible, and God might be a figment of human imagination. He was tried for heresy, convicted as an atheist, and burned at the stake.

1546 France

rétienne Dolet was found guilty of atheism and hanged for upholding unbelief.

1500s Italy and France

Giulio Cesare Vanini denied the immortality of the soul, believed humans evolved from apes, and insisted that religious teachings were false. He was persecuted, having his tongue cut out, strangled, and then burned alive.

1600s Poland

Kazimierz Pu?aski harshly criticized priests, argued that the Bible was false, and wrote a treatise titled The Nonexistence of God. He was executed by having his tongue, mouth, hands, and body burned.

1600s Edinburgh, Scotland

Thomas Aikenhead, a 20-year-old with no criminal record, was hanged for blasphemy. He criticized Christianity, calling theology a "rhapsody of ill-invented nonsense" and stating that the Holy Scriptures were full of contradictions and that Christ was an "imposter."

1817 England

Percy Bysshe Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, was denied custody of his children and expelled from university due to his atheistic beliefs.

There are also examples of atheists using religious imagery to express their atheistic beliefs. For instance, in a poem by Ibn al-Rawandi, he challenges the Quran, suggesting that atheists can quote the Quran as well:

“The Koran! well come put me to the test
Lovely old book in hideous error drest
Believe me I can quote the Koran too
The unbeliever knows his Koran best.”

Such historical figures and their works offer valuable insights into the evolution of atheist thought and its challenges within religious and cultural contexts.