Teemu Taira is Senior Lecturer in the Study of Religion, University of Helsinki. His publications include Media Portrayals of Religion and the Secular Sacred (Ashgate 2013, co-authored with Kim Knott & Elizabeth Poole), Taking 'Religion' Seriously: Essays on the Discursive Study of Religion (Brill 2022) and more than 70 articles in journals and edited volumes.

• Table of ContentsPreface xi-xiii, Teemu TairaConceptual and Historical Issues1. What Does the Term “Atheism” Mean? 3-6, Nathan G. Alexander2. What Is the Difference Between “Atheism”, “Agnosticism”, “Nonreligion” and “Secular”? 7-10, Christopher R. Cotter3. Why Have Researchers Become Interested in Atheism? 11-14, Stephen Bullivant4. Are Researchers of Atheism Promoting Atheism? 15-18, Lois Lee5. What Are the Most Common Ways to Study Atheism? 19-22, Lois Lee6. How Should Atheism Be Measured? 23-25, Ryan Cragun7. When Did It Become Possible to Identify as an Atheist? 26-29, Gavin Hyman8. Who Are the Most Famous Atheists? 30-33, Christopher R. Cotter9. Was Darwin an Atheist? 34-36, Bernard Lightman10. Have All Great Scientists Been Atheists? 37-40, Aku Visala11. What Is New Atheism? 41-43, Christopher R. Cotter12. Are There Atheistic Religions? 44-47, Teemu Taira13. Were There Atheists in Ancient Greece and Rome? 48-51, Ramón Soneira Martínez14. What Is the Relationship Between Judaism and Atheism? 52-55, Daniel Langton15. Why Has Buddhism Been Perceived as Atheistic? 56-59, Jens Schlieter16. What Is Christian Atheism? 60-63, Gavin Hyman17. What Does Islam Teach About Atheism? 64-66, Ilkka Lindstedt18. Is It Difficult to Be an Atheist in Muslim Countries? 67-70, Karin van Nieuwkerk19. Are Pagans and Satanists Really Atheists? 71-74, Jesper Aagaard Petersen20. What Kind of Dialogue Is There Between Atheists and Religious People? 75-78, Paul Hedges21. Is Atheism a Religion, Belief-System or a World View? 79-82, Paul-Francois TremlettSociety, Politics and Media22. What Are the Most Atheistic Societies? 85-87, Isabella Kasselstrand23. Why Are Some Societies More Atheistic Than Others? 88-91, Teemu Taira24. Has the Internet Made Atheism More Popular? 92-95, Teemu Taira25. What Makes Atheists Different from the Rest of the Population, If Anything? 96-99, Teemu Taira26. Are Atheists Typically Young People? 100-104, Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme, Joel Thiessen27. Why Are Men More Likely to Be Atheists Than Women? 105-108, Tiina Mahlamäki28. Why Are There So Few Black Atheists? 109-112, Daniel Swann29. Does Migration Make People Less Religious? 113-116, Tuomas Martikainen30. How Has Atheism Related to Politics? 117-120, Steven Kettell31. What Is the Historical Relationship Between Atheism and Racism? 121-124, Nathan G. Alexander32. Does Atheism Promote Peace? 125-128, Stacey Gutkowski33. How Has Atheism Related to Communism? 129-132, Atko Remmel34. Is Contemporary Atheism Leaning Politically to the Right or the Left? 133-136,Stuart McAnulla35. Is It Possible for an Atheist to Become a President or a Prime Minister? 137-139, Stuart McAnulla36. Do Laws About Religion Take Atheism into Account? 140-143, Lori G. Beaman37. Why Do Some Atheists Want to Convert Others? 144-147, Steven Kettell38. Is There Discrimination Against Atheists? 148-151, Ryan Cragun39. What Do Religious People Think of Atheists? 152-155, Petra Klug40. Why Do Some Atheists Remain Members of Religious Groups? 156-159, Isabella Kasselstrand41. How Are Atheists Organized? 160-162, Richard Cimino, Christopher Smith42. Are Atheist Activists Mostly Men? 163-165, Richard Cimino, Christopher Smith43. Do Atheists and Feminists Support Each Other? 166-169, Tiina Mahlamäki44. How Are Atheists Represented in the Media? 170-173, Teemu Taira45. What Is the Historical Role of Atheism in Literature and the Arts? 174-177, James Bryant Reeves46. Is Atheism Visible in Popular Culture? 178-181, Teemu TairaBeliefs, Values and Practices47. Are Children Born Atheist? 185-188, Andrew Ross Atkinson, Thomas Joseph Coleman III48. Do Atheist Parents Have Atheist Children? 189-192, Christel Manning49. How Does One Become an Atheist? 193-196, Julia Martínez-Ariño50. How Do Atheists Reason That God Does Not Exist? 197-200, Aku Visala51. How Do Atheists Deal with the Problem of Evil? 201-204, Sami Pihlström52. How Do Atheists Cope with Mortality? 205-207, Jacob Sawyer53. Where Do Atheists Get Their Values? 208-211, Kyle Thompson54. Do Atheists Have Beliefs in Supernatural Phenomena? 212-215, Jonathan Andrew Lanman55. Do Atheists Have Religious Experiences? 216-219, Abby Day56. Do Atheists Have Sacred Scripture? 220-223, Ethan Quillen57. Do Atheists Have Rituals? 224-226, Richard Cimino, Christopher Smith58. Can an Atheist Be Spiritual? 227-230, Atko Remmel59. Are Atheists Immoral? 231-234, Kyle Thompson60. Are Atheists Intolerant? 235-238, Filip Užarević61. Do Atheists Value Some Religions More Than Other Religions? 239-243, Joel Thiessen, Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme62. What Do Atheists Value in Religion, If Anything? 244-247, Teemu Taira63. Is Atheism Good for Your Health? 248-251, Kevin McCaffree, Anondah SaideFuture64. What is the Future of Atheism? 255-258, Teemu TairaEnd MatterIndex 259-266, Teemu Taira

Teemu Taira is Senior Lecturer in the Study of Religion, University of Helsinki. His publications include Media Portrayals of Religion and the Secular Sacred (Ashgate 2013, co-authored with Kim Knott & Elizabeth Poole), Taking 'Religion' Seriously: Essays on the Discursive Study of Religion (Brill 2022) and more than 70 articles in journals and edited volumes.

• Table of ContentsPreface xi-xiii, Teemu TairaConceptual and Historical Issues1. What Does the Term “Atheism” Mean? 3-6, Nathan G. Alexander2. What Is the Difference Between “Atheism”, “Agnosticism”, “Nonreligion” and “Secular”? 7-10, Christopher R. Cotter3. Why Have Researchers Become Interested in Atheism? 11-14, Stephen Bullivant4. Are Researchers of Atheism Promoting Atheism? 15-18, Lois Lee5. What Are the Most Common Ways to Study Atheism? 19-22, Lois Lee6. How Should Atheism Be Measured? 23-25, Ryan Cragun7. When Did It Become Possible to Identify as an Atheist? 26-29, Gavin Hyman8. Who Are the Most Famous Atheists? 30-33, Christopher R. Cotter9. Was Darwin an Atheist? 34-36, Bernard Lightman10. Have All Great Scientists Been Atheists? 37-40, Aku Visala11. What Is New Atheism? 41-43, Christopher R. Cotter12. Are There Atheistic Religions? 44-47, Teemu Taira13. Were There Atheists in Ancient Greece and Rome? 48-51, Ramón Soneira Martínez14. What Is the Relationship Between Judaism and Atheism? 52-55, Daniel Langton15. Why Has Buddhism Been Perceived as Atheistic? 56-59, Jens Schlieter16. What Is Christian Atheism? 60-63, Gavin Hyman17. What Does Islam Teach About Atheism? 64-66, Ilkka Lindstedt18. Is It Difficult to Be an Atheist in Muslim Countries? 67-70, Karin van Nieuwkerk19. Are Pagans and Satanists Really Atheists? 71-74, Jesper Aagaard Petersen20. What Kind of Dialogue Is There Between Atheists and Religious People? 75-78, Paul Hedges21. Is Atheism a Religion, Belief-System or a World View? 79-82, Paul-Francois TremlettSociety, Politics and Media22. What Are the Most Atheistic Societies? 85-87, Isabella Kasselstrand23. Why Are Some Societies More Atheistic Than Others? 88-91, Teemu Taira24. Has the Internet Made Atheism More Popular? 92-95, Teemu Taira25. What Makes Atheists Different from the Rest of the Population, If Anything? 96-99, Teemu Taira26. Are Atheists Typically Young People? 100-104, Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme, Joel Thiessen27. Why Are Men More Likely to Be Atheists Than Women? 105-108, Tiina Mahlamäki28. Why Are There So Few Black Atheists? 109-112, Daniel Swann29. Does Migration Make People Less Religious? 113-116, Tuomas Martikainen30. How Has Atheism Related to Politics? 117-120, Steven Kettell31. What Is the Historical Relationship Between Atheism and Racism? 121-124, Nathan G. Alexander32. Does Atheism Promote Peace? 125-128, Stacey Gutkowski33. How Has Atheism Related to Communism? 129-132, Atko Remmel34. Is Contemporary Atheism Leaning Politically to the Right or the Left? 133-136,Stuart McAnulla35. Is It Possible for an Atheist to Become a President or a Prime Minister? 137-139, Stuart McAnulla36. Do Laws About Religion Take Atheism into Account? 140-143, Lori G. Beaman37. Why Do Some Atheists Want to Convert Others? 144-147, Steven Kettell38. Is There Discrimination Against Atheists? 148-151, Ryan Cragun39. What Do Religious People Think of Atheists? 152-155, Petra Klug40. Why Do Some Atheists Remain Members of Religious Groups? 156-159, Isabella Kasselstrand41. How Are Atheists Organized? 160-162, Richard Cimino, Christopher Smith42. Are Atheist Activists Mostly Men? 163-165, Richard Cimino, Christopher Smith43. Do Atheists and Feminists Support Each Other? 166-169, Tiina Mahlamäki44. How Are Atheists Represented in the Media? 170-173, Teemu Taira45. What Is the Historical Role of Atheism in Literature and the Arts? 174-177, James Bryant Reeves46. Is Atheism Visible in Popular Culture? 178-181, Teemu TairaBeliefs, Values and Practices47. Are Children Born Atheist? 185-188, Andrew Ross Atkinson, Thomas Joseph Coleman III48. Do Atheist Parents Have Atheist Children? 189-192, Christel Manning49. How Does One Become an Atheist? 193-196, Julia Martínez-Ariño50. How Do Atheists Reason That God Does Not Exist? 197-200, Aku Visala51. How Do Atheists Deal with the Problem of Evil? 201-204, Sami Pihlström52. How Do Atheists Cope with Mortality? 205-207, Jacob Sawyer53. Where Do Atheists Get Their Values? 208-211, Kyle Thompson54. Do Atheists Have Beliefs in Supernatural Phenomena? 212-215, Jonathan Andrew Lanman55. Do Atheists Have Religious Experiences? 216-219, Abby Day56. Do Atheists Have Sacred Scripture? 220-223, Ethan Quillen57. Do Atheists Have Rituals? 224-226, Richard Cimino, Christopher Smith58. Can an Atheist Be Spiritual? 227-230, Atko Remmel59. Are Atheists Immoral? 231-234, Kyle Thompson60. Are Atheists Intolerant? 235-238, Filip Užarević61. Do Atheists Value Some Religions More Than Other Religions? 239-243, Joel Thiessen, Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme62. What Do Atheists Value in Religion, If Anything? 244-247, Teemu Taira63. Is Atheism Good for Your Health? 248-251, Kevin McCaffree, Anondah SaideFuture64. What is the Future of Atheism? 255-258, Teemu TairaEnd MatterIndex 259-266, Teemu Taira

Teemu Taira is Senior Lecturer in the Study of Religion, University of Helsinki. His publications include Media Portrayals of Religion and the Secular Sacred (Ashgate 2013, co-authored with Kim Knott & Elizabeth Poole), Taking 'Religion' Seriously: Essays on the Discursive Study of Religion (Brill 2022) and more than 70 articles in journals and edited volumes.

• Table of ContentsPreface xi-xiii, Teemu TairaConceptual and Historical Issues1. What Does the Term “Atheism” Mean? 3-6, Nathan G. Alexander2. What Is the Difference Between “Atheism”, “Agnosticism”, “Nonreligion” and “Secular”? 7-10, Christopher R. Cotter3. Why Have Researchers Become Interested in Atheism? 11-14, Stephen Bullivant4. Are Researchers of Atheism Promoting Atheism? 15-18, Lois Lee5. What Are the Most Common Ways to Study Atheism? 19-22, Lois Lee6. How Should Atheism Be Measured? 23-25, Ryan Cragun7. When Did It Become Possible to Identify as an Atheist? 26-29, Gavin Hyman8. Who Are the Most Famous Atheists? 30-33, Christopher R. Cotter9. Was Darwin an Atheist? 34-36, Bernard Lightman10. Have All Great Scientists Been Atheists? 37-40, Aku Visala11. What Is New Atheism? 41-43, Christopher R. Cotter12. Are There Atheistic Religions? 44-47, Teemu Taira13. Were There Atheists in Ancient Greece and Rome? 48-51, Ramón Soneira Martínez14. What Is the Relationship Between Judaism and Atheism? 52-55, Daniel Langton15. Why Has Buddhism Been Perceived as Atheistic? 56-59, Jens Schlieter16. What Is Christian Atheism? 60-63, Gavin Hyman17. What Does Islam Teach About Atheism? 64-66, Ilkka Lindstedt18. Is It Difficult to Be an Atheist in Muslim Countries? 67-70, Karin van Nieuwkerk19. Are Pagans and Satanists Really Atheists? 71-74, Jesper Aagaard Petersen20. What Kind of Dialogue Is There Between Atheists and Religious People? 75-78, Paul Hedges21. Is Atheism a Religion, Belief-System or a World View? 79-82, Paul-Francois TremlettSociety, Politics and Media22. What Are the Most Atheistic Societies? 85-87, Isabella Kasselstrand23. Why Are Some Societies More Atheistic Than Others? 88-91, Teemu Taira24. Has the Internet Made Atheism More Popular? 92-95, Teemu Taira25. What Makes Atheists Different from the Rest of the Population, If Anything? 96-99, Teemu Taira26. Are Atheists Typically Young People? 100-104, Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme, Joel Thiessen27. Why Are Men More Likely to Be Atheists Than Women? 105-108, Tiina Mahlamäki28. Why Are There So Few Black Atheists? 109-112, Daniel Swann29. Does Migration Make People Less Religious? 113-116, Tuomas Martikainen30. How Has Atheism Related to Politics? 117-120, Steven Kettell31. What Is the Historical Relationship Between Atheism and Racism? 121-124, Nathan G. Alexander32. Does Atheism Promote Peace? 125-128, Stacey Gutkowski33. How Has Atheism Related to Communism? 129-132, Atko Remmel34. Is Contemporary Atheism Leaning Politically to the Right or the Left? 133-136,Stuart McAnulla35. Is It Possible for an Atheist to Become a President or a Prime Minister? 137-139, Stuart McAnulla36. Do Laws About Religion Take Atheism into Account? 140-143, Lori G. Beaman37. Why Do Some Atheists Want to Convert Others? 144-147, Steven Kettell38. Is There Discrimination Against Atheists? 148-151, Ryan Cragun39. What Do Religious People Think of Atheists? 152-155, Petra Klug40. Why Do Some Atheists Remain Members of Religious Groups? 156-159, Isabella Kasselstrand41. How Are Atheists Organized? 160-162, Richard Cimino, Christopher Smith42. Are Atheist Activists Mostly Men? 163-165, Richard Cimino, Christopher Smith43. Do Atheists and Feminists Support Each Other? 166-169, Tiina Mahlamäki44. How Are Atheists Represented in the Media? 170-173, Teemu Taira45. What Is the Historical Role of Atheism in Literature and the Arts? 174-177, James Bryant Reeves46. Is Atheism Visible in Popular Culture? 178-181, Teemu TairaBeliefs, Values and Practices47. Are Children Born Atheist? 185-188, Andrew Ross Atkinson, Thomas Joseph Coleman III48. Do Atheist Parents Have Atheist Children? 189-192, Christel Manning49. How Does One Become an Atheist? 193-196, Julia Martínez-Ariño50. How Do Atheists Reason That God Does Not Exist? 197-200, Aku Visala51. How Do Atheists Deal with the Problem of Evil? 201-204, Sami Pihlström52. How Do Atheists Cope with Mortality? 205-207, Jacob Sawyer53. Where Do Atheists Get Their Values? 208-211, Kyle Thompson54. Do Atheists Have Beliefs in Supernatural Phenomena? 212-215, Jonathan Andrew Lanman55. Do Atheists Have Religious Experiences? 216-219, Abby Day56. Do Atheists Have Sacred Scripture? 220-223, Ethan Quillen57. Do Atheists Have Rituals? 224-226, Richard Cimino, Christopher Smith58. Can an Atheist Be Spiritual? 227-230, Atko Remmel59. Are Atheists Immoral? 231-234, Kyle Thompson60. Are Atheists Intolerant? 235-238, Filip Užarević61. Do Atheists Value Some Religions More Than Other Religions? 239-243, Joel Thiessen, Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme62. What Do Atheists Value in Religion, If Anything? 244-247, Teemu Taira63. Is Atheism Good for Your Health? 248-251, Kevin McCaffree, Anondah SaideFuture64. What is the Future of Atheism? 255-258, Teemu TairaEnd MatterIndex 259-266, Teemu Taira