| Author |
Southwell, Charles, 1814-1860 |
| Title |
An apology for atheism : addressed to religious investigators of every denomination by one of its apostles
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 51.7 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.
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| Credits |
Produced by The Freethought Archives
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| Summary |
"An Apology for Atheism" by Charles Southwell is a philosophical treatise written in the mid-19th century. This work addresses the interconnectedness of religion and politics, arguing that the pervasive influence of religious belief, particularly in Christianity and Roman Catholicism, hinders political and social progress. It critiques the superstitions that plague society and argues for a rational understanding of existence without reliance on divine entities. At the start of the treatise, the author emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of the gods people worship, suggesting that ignorance of one's beliefs leads to societal oppression. Southwell discusses the significant impact of religion on political practices and the need for intellectual emancipation to achieve genuine political freedom. He insists that prevailing superstitions, particularly among the Irish population, result in stagnation and challenges the notion that political rights can be achieved without addressing the underlying religious beliefs that shape societal behaviors. The opening sets a tone of intense critique aimed at both religious dogma and the societal complacency that allows such dogma to persist unchallenged. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
BL: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Religion: General, Miscellaneous and Atheism
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| Subject |
Atheism
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
16512 |
| Release Date |
Aug 11, 2005 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Dec 12, 2020 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
78 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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