Atheists: At what point in human history did atheism become tenable?

Question

I don't mean in the "they'd have burned you at the stake" sense, but when did man's state of knowledge become sufficient to justify that magic was not a necessary component of our worldview?

I personally can sympathize that before Darwin there wasn't a really good answer to "since a watch can't create a watchmaker, how did the most complex things in existence come to be."

Answer 1

It depends on the society.  Atheism was common in the far east long ago, but atheism was still being punished in Europe fairly recently.  It depends on how much of a stranglehold theistic religions have on government, I suppose.

Answer 2

Actually, there have been atheists throughout history. It isn't a matter of knowledge but of belief; the belief that even that which one cannot explain has an explanation outside of the divine. If it was a matter of knowledge, then there still isn't enough knowledge to make it "tenable" (that is, there is still too much that we don't know how it works, but atheists and others believe that when we do discover how it works, magic wont be the cause).

The question between Theism and Atheism isn't how something was done, but why something was done. Theists say that God did it (and leave science to explain how it was done). Atheists say that nothing did it (and leave it to science to explain how it came about).

Answer 3

Modern Atheist started with the formation of Marxism, that people could live without religion, not really Darwin, he was not an Atheist, he was a Deist, although he did help the Atheist cause. But there were other forms of Atheist such as Epicureanism, Platonism, and Stoicism, but Christianity killed those off long ago. They were a different atheist philosophy that virtually no one fully practices today. And didn't start again until the formation of Marxism.

Answer 4

I would think that at any time there were at least a few people who thought that the lack of evidence was something.  Even if they had really no answers, they might have figured that it was best to just hold out a belief until evidence was put forth.  But they would have been in the extreme minority until only recently.  Through most of history myths that were presented as facts were just accepted by 99% of the people.

Answer 5

Fairly recently, I would think. 19th century.  

Answer 6

The Greeks and Romans doubted the existence of their Gods.

As soon as man reflected intellectually, skepticism existed.

Answer 7

I think it was always tenable and was in practice before religion (obviously).  Our ancestors were animals (as we still are) and they had to evolve the ability to create a mythology.  Before that, they simply lived in and reacted to the real world without such complex fantasies.  I think there must also have been some people always who did not partake in such fantasies.

Answer 8

Everyone is born an atheist.  Theism is something that is learned from superstitious/religious people who have nurtured and cultivated mythos.

Answer 9

The day the first humanoid was born.  All humans are born atheists

Answer 10

When Science proved Darwin's theory to be sound, and 150 years later we're still surprised at its accuracy.  

Answer 11

From the moment man was able to understand that a tree comes from a seed.

Answer 12

The whole world started out atheist.  Christianity is a modern invention!!

Whilst Christians claim they are the largest religion it is a close run thing with Islam and Islam is gaining whilst Christianity is loosing.

That said add the two together and atheists and the other religion are way much bigger!!

The real question now is  - is Christianity capable of surviving in the very real modern world?

Science has shown atheists have a higher intelligence than people with a strong religious faith. The difference is 5.8 points according to findings in developmental psychology!!!    

More members of the "intellectual elite" considered themselves atheists than the national average.

Only 7 percent of members of the American National Academy of Sciences believed in God. Whilst only 3.3 percent believed in God in the UK’s Royal Society.

Several Gallup poll studies of the general population have shown that those with higher IQ’s tend not to believe in God."

Evolution in action with Christians getting left behind like the monkeys and apes before them!!!

Answer 13

Many Athenian Greeks were, in principle if not fact, atheists.

It's always tenable, the question is whether someone prefers faith or reason.

Answer 14

When we moved passed the Dark Ages.

Answer 15

Atheism has always been tenable.  

Religion has always been nothing other than a grouping... a way of controlling the masses under a common theme.

From the day we are born, though, we are all atheists.

Answer 16

The watchmaker argument, though, can only be used to establish polytheism, and not monotheism.  The presumption that complexity requires a more complex creator begs the question of who created the creator.  One is left with an infinite regression of ever more complex Gods...

Atheism has always been tenable: it is the natural default...

Answer 17

In the Far East, a contemplative life not centered on the idea of gods began in the 6th century BCE with the rise of Jainism, Buddhism, and certain sects of Hinduism in India, and of Taoism in China.

Answer 18

I would say the 1960's with the dawn of the "New Age" and the advancement of "Quantum Mechanics" it may have been a false proclamation at the time. A multi billion dollar "New Age" industry would say otherwise. Either way that led to a few smaller religions and theories to present themselves on a serious level. From Wicca to Atheism, hey even the crazed alien cultivation theories.

Answer 19

never..

this is relig

Answer 20

There are many early scientists that were Christian only in name because they feared losing their status or their lives. Galileo, Newton, etc.

Answer 21

I don't think I would have had a problem asking "If we need a creator, why didn't the creator need a creator?" no matter what the century.  It's a logical catch 22 that is pretty obvious.  So I'd say there have been people quietly shaking their heads at the whole "god" thing since some loony started insisting they existed.  As for it becoming socially tenable - as in a lot of people would be able to shake superstition for a less magical belief system, sadly it seems to still be an issue, at least in the fundie US.  I think the Black Plague should have ended any questions about there being a god.

Answer 22

It was always tenable. Science is not the backbone of Atheism, nor does an Atheist need to have answers as to how the world works mechanically. The burden of proof is always on the Theist to provide evidence of his claims.

Answer 23

Northern European heathens had atheists in their midst because belief was not a necessary component of their culture, but participation.  They didn't care if you didn't believe in the gods or not as long as you were present for the sacrifices and the community centered cult.