How long has atheism been a thing?

[Jumi]

What was the first majority-atheistic society that you recall?

Depends on the definition of atheism and theism. Greeks thought that anyone who didn't believe in their gods was atheist. Even Christians were seen as atheists, because they denied the gods.

Acts 17:23 is, in part, a defense against this in my opinion. This could interest you: Unknown God - Wikipedia

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

How long has atheism existed in the minds and hearts of homo sapiens?

Of course, nobody knows, I'm just wondering if there is evidence of any atheist communities that date back since before Diagoras of Melos?

Arguably Buddha was an atheist, yet some of the visions and temptations he allegedly had were indicating otherwise.

What was the first majority-atheistic society that you recall?

Atheism - i.e. not believing in gods - has always existed. It's just that nobody cared until the advent of theism.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Generally, it is not. But it is a belief stance.

From it specific beliefs may however arise under proper circunstances. An obvious example is that learning of the Christian Bible may lead to concluding that it is not a literal account of an actual God.

That position on the Bible may be a "belief stance" itself that's consistent with atheism, but atheism itself isn't a "belief stance." It's certainly not the case that a person has to believe that the Bible is not a literal account in order to be an atheist.

 

[LuisDantas]

That position on the Bible may be a "belief stance" itself that's consistent with atheism, but atheism itself isn't a "belief stance."

How is it not?

It's certainly not the case that a person has to believe that the Bible is not a literal account in order to be an atheist.

I quite agree.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

How is it not?

Well, it’s not a “stance” at all. No individual person has even heard of most of humanity’s gods. We don’t - can’t - take stances on things we aren’t even aware of.

 

[Woberts]

A philosopher from Greece is considered the first atheist. His name was Diagoras. I think he was from the 5th century. Possibly the 6th.

 

[BilliardsBall]

How long has atheism existed in the minds and hearts of homo sapiens?

Of course, nobody knows, I'm just wondering if there is evidence of any atheist communities that date back since before Diagoras of Melos?

Arguably Buddha was an atheist, yet some of the visions and temptations he allegedly had were indicating otherwise.

What was the first majority-atheistic society that you recall?

I can't recall ANY majority-atheistic society!

 

[ChristineM]

How long has atheism existed in the minds and hearts of homo sapiens?

Of course, nobody knows, I'm just wondering if there is evidence of any atheist communities that date back since before Diagoras of Melos?

Arguably Buddha was an atheist, yet some of the visions and temptations he allegedly had were indicating otherwise.

What was the first majority-atheistic society that you recall?

It dates back to the evolution of mankind, i.e, the default state.

 

[Altfish]

How long has atheism existed in the minds and hearts of homo sapiens?

Of course, nobody knows, I'm just wondering if there is evidence of any atheist communities that date back since before Diagoras of Melos?

Arguably Buddha was an atheist, yet some of the visions and temptations he allegedly had were indicating otherwise.

What was the first majority-atheistic society that you recall?

Isn't everyone born an atheist and is then taught / indoctrinated with theism?

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

It probably existed since forever but we know little of it as anyone who did not believe the god of their culture would be tortured and killed. Now that changing your birth religion is allowed, more atheists are rising since you can be an atheist without being tortured at least in some countries.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Hindu society is not atheistic. But atheism has been around in very clear terms since before RigVeda was codified. That should be around or before 1,000 BC. The name of the writer of hymn (Nasadiya Sukta - generally called as the Hindu Creation hymn) is mentioned as Prajapati Parameshthin.

"The Gods are later than this world's production. Who knows then whence it first came into being?"
Rig Veda: Rig-Veda, Book 10: HYMN CXXIX. Creation.

 

[`mud]

No-one is born a theist, some of us grow up and learn atheism !

 

[GoodbyeDave]

Atheism seems to have existed in Ancient Greece, although agnosticism was more common. There have probably always been some atheists, although they have probably always been rare: claiming that you know something doesn't exist is a rather odd position, after all — what evidence could you produce?

 

[`mud]

Atheist:
Anyone that believes that anyone that believes in any gods is a theist !
Amen !

 

[syo]

atheism is the default state of mind. we learn about Gods. how religion was spread is the actual question, I think.

 

[LuisDantas]

I can't recall ANY majority-atheistic society!

The Scandinavians would like a word with you. So would Japan.

 

[LuisDantas]

Isn't everyone born an atheist and is then taught / indoctrinated with theism?

From all appearances, yes, we are.

But somehow there are people who believe otherwise, most notably Muslims.

To be fair, if supernaturalism as a whole is considered "theism" (which I don't think it should), then it is a natural part of development to go through such a fase. Also, some people seem to have a definite tendency towards becoming theists for no clear reason (just as some are sort-of-destined to be atheists, and others deists, still others animists, etc).

 

[LuisDantas]

If seen as a philosophical position to be articulated and spread in opposition to religion then only a few hundred years.

Arguably, because the need to make explicit that theism is not to be presumed only arose during that time.

The view that theism is somehow "natural" or at least "more natural than atheism" is IMO not only mistaken, but serious misguided and misleading. Making a big deal of theism is a recent phenomenom.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Isn't everyone born an atheist and is then taught / indoctrinated with theism?

Yes... sorta.

It seems that as early as we can test, we start with a rudimentary sort of animism. It's not theism, but also not a blank slate and certainly not reasoned skepticism.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Arguably, because the need to make explicit that theism is not to be presumed only arose during that time.

The view that theism is somehow "natural" or at least "more natural than atheism" is IMO not only mistaken, but serious misguided and misleading. Making a big deal of theism is a recent phenomenom.

In the West, the idea that religion was a matter of belief and not practice is a pretty recent phenomenon... it's basically a product of the Protestant Reformation.

Before that, the religiosity of a baby was a moot point: since a baby has no religious obligations, it can't fail to meet its religious obligations or refuse to perform them.