Dale McGowan

Atheism is the simple but kind of startling idea that no god or gods exist. If you’re interested in exploring the topic, it helps to know some of the labels for different types and degrees of religious doubt, some of the most important thinkers in the history of atheism, and a few of the most fascinating spots on Earth for just saying no to God.

Outraged by the role religion had played in keeping women in submission, many feminist leaders of the early Feminist movement identified as atheists and agnostics. Almost every traditional religion puts women in an inferior or even degraded role compared to men.Nearly all religions bar women from serving as clergy.

British philosopher and self-ascribed agnostic, Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) expressed an idea that is both simple and striking: He felt that all opinions, without exception, should be held conditionally (capable of being changed), not dogmatically (etched in stone). When people feel the evidence for a claim is strong, they can be confident in the claim, consider it true, and act accordingly, but they should always keep their minds open to new evidence or further thinking that might change their opinions.

Some atheists also feel that religion has made no positive contributions to the world. Even atheist Bertrand Russell, a pretty levelheaded guy on most days, credits religion only with establishing the calendar, saying he can’t think of any other contributions. Most atheists, even those who feel religion is a bad influence overall, can usually think of a bit more than the calendar: Many great artists and composers are inspired by their belief.

A movement called The New Atheism was born the moment religion flew planes into buildings on September 11, 2001. Though atheists had been around for centuries, the horror and clarity of that moment, and the very clear part played by religion, was the last straw and a call to action for countless nonreligious people.

The title of The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality (Viking) by André Comte- Sponville often draws a chuckle. Some see a contradiction in “atheist spirituality,” whereas others assume the book is a lightweight, touchy-feely book that substitutes religion with the Age of Aquarius. Fortunately it’s much better than that — a thought-provoking, accessible little book that tackles all of those important intangibles that a human being runs into after she’s given up the gods and embraces atheism.

Ask a religious person or an atheist to identify his or her belief and you’re unlikely to hear many different answers. Several labels can easily apply to one person, each emphasizing a different aspect of belief or a different degree of detail. A few of the most common and useful descriptive terms or labels in and around atheism are Atheist: A person who’s of the opinion that no supernatural god or gods exist.

The edgy and risky animated series South Park sprang from nontheistic heads — in this case, atheists Trey Parker and Matt Stone. For many people, believers and non-believers alike, shows like South Park play a valuable role in knocking the big questions down to manageable size. South Park goes after its targets relentlessly, sparing no one, including Parker and Stone’s fellow unbelievers: In one episode, a boy is fostered into a “strict agnostic” home in which a tyrannical father demands absolute uncertainty.