Atheism is not an ideology, but rather the absence of belief in deities; it simply answers negatively to the question of the existence of gods. It contains no dogmas, sacred texts, or commandments, although it often relies on critical thinking. While it is often part of broader currents, such as secular humanism, scientific skepticism, or philosophical materialism, atheists base their moral and ethical code on reason, empathy, social well-being, and respect for others, entirely independent of divine mandates.
In antiquity, the thinker Diagoras of Melos was considered the first to openly profess atheism. Centuries later, the German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach became the intellectual father of atheistic humanism; his work argues that God is a creation and a projection of human desires and perfections. For his part, the Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza is considered the precursor of modern atheism. In the 19th century, Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Sigmund Freud consolidated this position from political, philosophical, and psychological perspectives.
The term atheism originated in France in the 16th century as a label of accusation for those who rejected God or divinity in intellectual controversies.
Currently, six profiles or types of atheism are identified: intellectual agnostic atheist, ritual atheist, activist, seeker agnostic, non-theist, anti-theist.
One of the most famous atheists in history was the existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, who declared himself an atheist at the age of 12. At the state level, Albania proclaimed itself the world's first atheist country in 1967 and enshrined atheism in its Constitution in 1976. Currently, China is one of the leading examples, with between 47% and 67% of its inhabitants identifying as atheist or non-religious.
Finally, in the biblical context, the concept of atheism is associated with “living without God” or being estranged from Him. The word “atheist” does not appear in the Old Testament as such, but it describes an attitude of disbelief and rebellion. Ultimately, arguments in favor of atheism range from rigorous philosophical aspects to solid social and historical perspectives.
