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Atheism

An Atheist is a person who has analyzed the available material evidence for the existence of one or more deities (gods and/or goddesses) and has concluded that none exist. Atheists believe that the highest form of known intelligence in the universe is human.

In ancient Greece, the term was used to refer to people who did not believe in the official pagan religion; i.e. unbelievers. In ancient Rome, Christians were often called atheists because they did not believe in the Roman gods and goddesses. Until the word agnosticism came into general usage during the 18th century , what we now know as agnostics were lumped together with atheists.

The antonym of atheism is theism.

Atheists have always constituted a very small percentage of the population. This belief has grown, particularly over the last few decades. This increase may have been caused by the decline of attendance at Sunday schools, and churches. Many atheists who feel a need for religious discussion, fellowship and ritual join the Unitarian-Universalist Church.

According to the 1994 World Almanac, atheists number: D 161. million in Asia
     - 56. million in the former USSR
     - 18. million (3.5%) in Europe
     - 3.2 million in Latin America
     - 1.3 million (0.5%) in North America
     - .5 million in Oceania
     - .3 million in Africa

According to the 1991 Canadian Census, there are only 13,515 atheists in Canada. However, many atheists identified themselves to the census taker as humanists, free thinker and persons of no religion.
Internet Resources

     - The Left Hemisphere site: ht~~:~/www.~net.cQm/~blatU1.a/left-hem.shtmJ contains dozens of links to various skeptical                   religious and secular sites.
     - Site htt ://www. rimenet.com/~li ard/atheism.html contains information on "Atheism, Christianity and the SubGenius" Church. It        contains many links to atheism home pages, including a list of famous atheists and some of their writings.
     - The Internet Infidels site maintains the Secular Web at: http://freethought.tamu.edu/infidelsL. The infidels:
     - promotes secularism,
     - gives access to various secular organizations, books and periodicals
     - updates readers with news of attacks on basic freedoms by religious groups

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