Changes

The history of atheism and agnosticism are not very well-tread topics, even in the 21st century. To study such things, even in the past 30-40 years, has been seen as reckless and even dangerous, especially for those academics looking for tenured positions. This, however, leaves a lacuna of historic information for those who have the wherewithal to subvert traditional academic restraints. The data on atheism/agnosticism/irreligion is plentiful, but various governmental/religious authorities were unrelenting in their attempts to erase such concepts from the historical record during the time, so secondary sources are difficult to come by.

1. ''A Secular Age'' by Charles Taylor – This book is ''dense'', but extremely worthwhile. The information contained within is unparalleled, but, as a warning, it does contains phrases that would make even the most senior academic roll their eyes. Despite Taylor’s somewhat arrogant prose and verbosity, this work is a must-read for anyone interested in the rise of secularism in the Western world.

2. '' The Secularization of the European Mind'' by Owen Chadwick – This book is considered “academic” in that Chadwick’s style can be somewhat convoluted and erudite. Chadwick bases most of his conclusions off of the moral philosophy of the Enlightenment, which comes with its own set of problems. For many, a turn away from religion was not based on new philosophy, but rather on a disdain for State-sponsored activities.

5. ''Religion and the Decline of Magic'' by Keith Thomas – This book primarily deals with the epic battle between religion and magic from the medieval period until around the seventeenth century, and it does so in an endlessly fascinating way. When did magic, miracles, and superstition become concepts that could be differentiated between, and why did some become sinful and others acceptable? When did fortunetellers and “cunning men” become witches and demons?

6. ''Divided by Faith: Religious Conflict and the Practice of Toleration in Early-Modern Europe'' by Benjamin Kaplan – This work asks a very basic question: After the Protestant Reformation of ~1517 brought into question most of Europe’s (Catholic) religious beliefs, how did people of different/evolving faiths coexist? The answer is: not well. Kaplan's work is, at once, fascinating and all-encompassing.

8. ''At the Origins of Modern Atheism'' by Michael Buckley – In this book, Buckley argues that atheism arose due to the religious establishment’s efforts to discredit disbelief. While Enlightenment philosophers argued against God’s existence from the standpoint of rationalism, Buckley offers that the attempts by religious/anti-religious philosophers to counteract this philosophy ultimately led to disbelief among broader society.

9. ''A History of Atheism in Britain'' by David Berman – In this work, Berman agues that numerous religious forces sought to keep the very idea of atheism repressed and out of the minds of the public in Britain during the nineteenth century. Berman holds that because of the Church’s sway on society, the very concept of the denial of God would have been inconceivable prior to the Enlightenment, and the various philosophical texts that arose from it. Agree or disagree, he presents a good case.

10. ''The Selfish Gene'' by Richard Dawkins – While this book does not particularly deal with atheism or history, it is, perhaps, one of the most important treatises in evolutionary biology ever published, and is thus, a part of history itself. In 2017, Dawkins' book was voted as the "most inspiring science book of all time" by Britain's Royal Society of Science.<ref>The Royal Society (Ed.). (2017, July 19). ''The Selfish Gene'' tops Royal Society poll to reveal the nation's most inspiring science books. Retrieved October 28, 2017, from https://royalsociety.org/news/2017/07/science-book-prize-poll-results/</ref>