Atheism

✨Introduction

Atheism, although not a religion in the strict sense, can be seen as a worldview with its own references, convictions, and ways of explaining existence.
In this sense, some consider it almost like an “ideological religion,” since it offers an overall explanation of life and the world—even without a deity.

👉 In contemporary Western societies, atheism—or at least the absence of religious belief—has become one of the most widespread systems of thought, playing a role comparable to that of major spiritual traditions.

1️⃣ Definition

The word atheism comes from the Greek a-theos, “without god.” It refers to an absence of belief in God or in deities.

• Strong atheism: the firm conviction that God does not exist.
• Weak atheism: simply lacking belief, without seeking to prove God’s non-existence.

👉 To be distinguished from agnosticism, which holds that the existence of God is unknown or unknowable.

2️⃣ Philosophical and Intellectual Dimensions

Atheism is not limited to “not believing.” It often relies on certain philosophical currents:

• Rationalism: human reason is sufficient to understand the world.
• Materialism: only matter exists—no supernatural reality.
• Secular humanism: dignity and morality can be grounded without reference to God.

👉 For some, it simply means living without religion. For others, atheism is a true intellectual and social project.

3️⃣ Atheism, Secularism, and Laïcité

It is important not to confuse:

• Atheism → an individual stance, absence of belief.
• Secularism → a political principle separating religion from the State.
• Laïcité (especially in France) → the neutrality of the State toward religions, ensuring freedom to believe or not to believe.

👉 In a secularized society, atheism has its place but coexists with religions in a framework of freedom.

4️⃣ Arguments Often Raised by Atheists

Common reasons given for rejecting belief include:

• Lack of evidence for God’s existence.
• Science: it provides natural explanations for the world, life, and consciousness.
• The problem of evil: why suffering, if there is an all-powerful and benevolent God?
• Religious diversity: so many competing worldviews that it seems unlikely only one holds “the truth.”

5️⃣ Atheism in the Contemporary World

• Western Europe: very widespread, sometimes even the majority view (France, Sweden, Czech Republic).
• United States: society remains largely religious, but atheism is growing, especially among younger generations.
• Other regions (Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa): minority position, sometimes repressed.

👉 General trend: increasing secularization. Religion is retreating from the public sphere, while atheism is becoming a culturally and philosophically accepted option.

📌 Conclusion

Atheism is not an organized religion, but it can function as a system of beliefs and a comprehensive worldview.

• For some, it simply means “living without God.”
• For others, it is a strong intellectual and moral commitment.

In Western societies, it is today one of the most influential frameworks of thought, on par with the great religions it coexists or competes with.

👉 Yet, atheism also sparks criticism. Many thinkers, philosophers, and apologists argue that it does not provide a sufficient foundation for morality, reason, or meaning in life.

• Christian apologist Frank Turek claims that “atheism requires more faith than Christianity,” since concepts like truth, morality, or rationality presuppose the existence of God.
• Writer and philosopher C.S. Lewis, a former atheist turned Christian, likewise criticized atheism. He argued that judging the world as “unjust” or “evil” presupposes an objective standard of good—which, he maintained, only God can provide (Mere Christianity).

Thus, atheism, far from being neutral, is part of the great intellectual and spiritual debate that continues to shape our modern societies.