Where do you think atheism came from?

Question

If your answer is the European enlightenment, think again.

In the Early Middle Ages, when Europe was in the theocratic Dark Ages, rationalist thought was developing in the Islamic world.

Abū Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakarīya Rāzi (865-925) on the Qu'ran:

'You claim that the evidentiary miracle is present and available, namely, the Qu'ran. You say: "Whoever denies it, let him produce a similar one." Indeed, we shall produce a thousand similar, from the works of rhetoricians, eloquent speakers and valiant poets, which are more appropriately phrased and state the issues more succinctly. They convey the meaning better and their rhymed prose is in better meter. ... By God what you say astonishes us! You are talking about a work which recounts ancient myths, and which at the same time is full of contradictions and does not contain any useful information or explanation. Then you say: "Produce something like it"?'

Your thoughts?

Guys, read the question before answering.

Answer 1

I think 2 roads lead to atheism - an analytical mind or despair. Each rejects the story that keeps so many others content, but for different reasons. The analytical mind thinks there must be a better answer than that, something they can touch and sink their teeth into rather than some nebulous guy on a cloud story. Despair leads one to reject anything that seems uplifting, for in their despair they seem to think hope and faith are a weakness - for life is not easy and the fairy tales are offensive.

Peace!

Answer 2

The same thing occurred to Europeans in that they were still using Aristotle (ancient Greece) and Galen (ancient Rome) as the No. 1 Authority as far as into the 1600-1700s. As well as "If the Bible says otherwise, you are wrong".

Things like that probably set us back a thousand years, like the world could be living in technology for the year 3007 right now, today in 2007.

Religion has really set humanity back quite some time and still does (Creationism, Islamic prohibitions, etc).

Answer 3

it is interesting that the the next incremental level after believing in divine creation that Satan thought would be the easiest for man to succumb to, is the idea that random chaotic events is the basis of our beginnings, and how right (he) was. Because in our proud, analytical and clever minds, how could anything be more powerful than we are.
And once that seed is sown, the bottom line is we in our hearts know our God is more powerful than we are, but since we exiled Him, we seek to fill His place with myth. We are so far down the road to deceiving ourselves that such a huge number of us would not know the truth even as it stares us blindly in the face. How sad that our Creator has shown us the way through the Holy Spirit, through His son Jesus, through the Bible, yet we chose to ignore every truth before us.

Answer 4

I think that atheism generally comes from people who want to see some scientific evidence or at least logical argument that a personal God exists, before they accept typical religious beliefs.

It comes from within thinking people today who are allowed to question and think. It is from people today, not tradition or history.

I am not against organized religion ----- It does really help people and generally benefits civilization, providing they do not rule a society.

Answer 5

Well, I never thought that. Atheists have been around along time. Even in earlier Roman times there were atheists. Probably before too.
I see we still have ignorant people who believe we must be with Satan. The type of Fundy that I pity the most.

Answer 6

Actually I think you should be asking where religion came from. It's much more likely that the world was atheistic as opposed to there being religion since the beginning of time.

Answer 7

Same place "Defenestration" comes from, if there was never a person tossed out of a window, there would be no need for the term...

Answer 8

Growth of Knowledge

Answer 9

Intelligent rational thought processes.

Answer 10

I didn't realize it came from anywhere. Some people in all places and times have come to realize that there is no God or gods. That's it. Nothing more. Nothing less.