Discrimination against atheistsboth at present U s Constitution Discrimination historically, includes persecution of and discrimination against people identified as atheists. Discrimination against atheists may also comprise negative attitudes, prejudice, hostility, hatred, fear, or intolerance towards atheists and atheism. Because atheism can be defined in various ways, those discriminated against or persecuted on the grounds of being atheists might not have been considered atheists in a different time or place. In some Muslim-majority countriesatheists face persecution Discrinination severe penalties such as the withdrawal of legal status or, in the case of apostasycapital punishment. Sometimes such discrimination is called atheophobia[6] atheistophobia[7] anti-atheist discrimination.
Tim Whitmarsh argues atheism existed in the ancient worldthough it remains difficult more info assess its extent given that atheists are referenced usually disparagingly rather than having surviving writings.
Given monotheism at the time was a minority view, atheism generally attacked polytheistic beliefs and associated practices in references found. The word "atheos" godless also was used for religious dissent generally including the monotheists check this out complicates study further. Despite these difficulties, Whitmarsh believes that otherwise atheism then was Constitutiion the same. While atheists or people perceived as such were occasionally persecuted, this was rare perhaps due to being a small group, plus a relative tolerance toward different religious views. Lucien Febvre has referred to the "unthinkability" of atheism in its strongest sense before the sixteenth century, because of the "deep religiosity" of that era.
Karen Armstrong has concurred, writing "from birth and baptism U s Constitution Discrimination death and burial in the churchyard, religion dominated the life of every single man and woman. Every activity of the day, which was punctuated by church bells summoning the faithful to prayer, was saturated with religious beliefs and institutions: they dominated professional and public life—even the guilds and the universities were religious organizations.
Even if an exceptional man could have achieved the objectivity necessary to question the nature of religion and U s Constitution Discrimination existence of God, he would Constiitution found no support in either the philosophy or the science of his time.
Those labeled as atheist, including early Christians and Muslims, were as a result targeted for legal persecution. During the early modern periodthe term "atheist" was used as an insult and applied to a broad range of people, including those who held opposing theological beliefs, as well as those who had committed suicideimmoral or self-indulgent people, and even opponents of the belief in witchcraft. Lawyer and scholar Thomas More said that religious tolerance should U s Constitution Discrimination extended to all except those who did not believe in a deity or the immortality of the soul.
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During the Inquisitionseveral of those who were accused of atheism or blasphemy, or both, were tortured or executed. Though heralded as atheist martyrs during the nineteenth century, recent scholars hold that the beliefs espoused by Dolet and Vanini are not atheistic in modern terms. During the nineteenth century, British atheists, though few in number, were subject to discriminatory practices. He was denied the right to U s Constitution Discrimination rather than swear his oath of office, and was then denied the ability to swear the oath as other Members objected that he had himself said it Constitutikn be meaningless.
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Bradlaugh was re-elected three times before he was finally able to take his seat in when the Speaker of the House permitted him to take the oath. In Germany during the Nazi eraa decree stated that "No National Socialist may suffer detriment During the negotiations Dscrimination lead up to the Nazi-Vatican Concordat of 26 April Hitler stated that "Secular schools can never be tolerated" because of their irreligious tendencies. By]
Where the world slides?