1[[File:secage. ''jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|<i>A Secular Age'' by Charles Taylor – This book is ''dense''</i>]]The history of atheism and agnosticism are not very well-tread topics, but worthwhileeven in the 21st century. It contains phrases that would make To study such things, even in the most senior academic roll their eyespast 30-40 years, has been seen as reckless and even dangerous, especially for those academics looking for tenured positions. ButThis, despite Taylor’s somewhat arrogant prosehowever, this work is leaves a must-read lacuna of historic information for anyone interested those who have the wherewithal to subvert traditional academic restraints. The data on atheism/agnosticism/irreligion is plentiful, but various governmental/religious authorities were unrelenting in their attempts to erase such concepts from the rise of secularism in historical record during the Western worldtime, so secondary sources are difficult to come by.
2. ''The Secularization of list below is just the European Mind'' by Owen Chadwick – This book is considered “academic” in that Chadwick’s style can be somewhat convoluted and erudite. Chadwick bases most of his conclusions off beginning of the moral philosophy history of the Enlightenmentirreligion in Europe, which comes with its own set mostly because much of problemsthis history remains to be written. For manyIt is only recently that academia, a turn away from religion was not based on new philosophyin general, but rather on a disdain for Statehas become tolerant towards non-religious or anti-sponsored activitiesreligious beliefs, so the field of atheism/agnosticism in Europe remains wide open to the scholar(s) who would explore it.
31. ''Formations of the A SecularAge'' by Talal Asad Charles Taylor – Asad begins This book is work by asking what an anthropology of the secular might look like''dense'', but extremely worthwhile. UltimatelyThe information contained within is unparalleled, Asad concludes but, as a warning, it does contains phrases that would make even the secular most senior academic roll their eyes. Despite Taylor’s somewhat arrogant prose and verbosity, this work is not necessarily a byproduct of must-read for anyone interested in the decline of religion, and nor is it a product of more scientific and rational thinking rise of secularism in the modern ageWestern world.
42. ''The Cambridge Companion to AtheismSecularization of the European Mind'' by Michael Martin Owen Chadwick – This work book is a collection considered “academic” in that Chadwick’s style can be somewhat convoluted and erudite. Chadwick bases most of his conclusions off of the moral philosophy of eighteen essays by the world’s leading scholars on atheism and irreligion. It deals Enlightenment, which comes with atheistic beliefs from antiquity to the modern ageits own set of problems. The essays contained within present varying perspectives of irreligious beliefs – For many, a turn away from philosophical to societalreligion was not based on new philosophy, but rather on a disdain for State-sponsored activities.
5[[File:relmagic. ''jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|<i>Religion and the Decline of Magic'' </i>]]3. <i>Formations of the Secular</i> by Keith Thomas Talal Asad – This book primarily deals with Asad begins is work by asking what an anthropology of the epic battle between religion and magic from the medieval period until around the seventeenth centurysecular might look like. When did magicUltimately, miracles, and superstition become concepts Asad concludes that could be differentiated betweenthe secular is not necessarily a byproduct of the decline of religion, and why did some become sinful nor is it a product of more scientific and others OK? When did fortunetellers and “cunning men” become witches and demons?rational thinking of the modern age.
64. ''Divided by Faith: Religious Conflict and the Practice of Toleration in Early-Modern EuropeThe Cambridge Companion to Atheism'' by Benjamin Kaplan Michael Martin – This work asks is a very basic question: After collection of eighteen essays by the Protestant Reformation world’s leading scholars on atheism and irreligion. It deals with atheistic beliefs from antiquity to the modern age. The essays contained within present varying perspectives of ~1517 brought into question most of Europe’s religious irreligious beliefs, how did people of different/evolving faiths coexist? The answer is not well– from philosophical to societal.
75. ''Victorian InfidelsReligion and the Decline of Magic'' by Edward Royle -- Royle’s work examines Keith Thomas – This book primarily deals with the epic battle between religion and magic from the medieval period until around the beginning of secularismseventeenth century, outside the context of class and political boundariesit does so in an endlessly fascinating way. Before RoyleWhen did magic, most British historians considered atheism/agnosticism to miracles, and superstition become concepts that could be products of working-class distrust of the State. This work changed all thatdifferentiated between, and it is perhaps one of the most important books on the beginnings of secularism ever published.why did some become sinful and others acceptable? When did fortunetellers and “cunning men” become witches and demons?
86. ''At Divided by Faith: Religious Conflict and the Origins Practice of Toleration in Early-Modern AtheismEurope'' by Michael Buckley Benjamin Kaplan – In this book, Buckley argues that atheism arose due to This work asks a very basic question: After the Protestant Reformation of ~1517 brought into question most of Europe’s (Catholic) religious establishment’s efforts to discredit itbeliefs, how did people of different/evolving faiths coexist? The answer is: not well. While Enlightenment philosophers argued against God’s existenceKaplan's work is, Buckley offers that the attempt by religious philosophers to counteract this philosophy ultimately led to disbeliefat once, fascinating and all-encompassing.
97. ''A History of Atheism in Britain'Victorian Infidels'' by David Berman – In this Edward Royle -- Royle’s workexamines the beginning of secularism, Berman agues that numerous religious forces sought to keep outside the very idea context of class and political boundaries. Before Royle, most British historians considered atheism repressed – out /agnosticism to be products of the minds working-class distrust of the publicState. Berman holds This work changed all that because , and it is perhaps one of the Church’s sway most important books on society, the very concept beginnings of the denial of God would have been inconceivable prior to the Enlightenment. Agree or disagree, he presents a good casesecularism ever published.
8. ''At the Origins of Modern Atheism'' by Michael Buckley – In this book, Buckley argues that atheism arose due to the religious establishment’s efforts to discredit disbelief. While Enlightenment philosophers argued against God’s existence from the standpoint of rationalism, Buckley offers that the attempts by religious/anti-religious philosophers to counteract this philosophy ultimately led to disbelief among broader society. [[File:orgath.jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|<i>At the Origins of Modern Atheism</i>]] 9. ''A History of Atheism in Britain'' by David Berman – In this work, Berman agues that numerous religious forces sought to keep the very idea of atheism repressed and out of the minds of the public in Britain during the nineteenth century. Berman holds that because of the Church’s sway on society, the very concept of the denial of God would have been inconceivable prior to the Enlightenment, and the various philosophical texts that arose from it. Agree or disagree, he presents a good case. 10. ''The Selfish Gene'' by Richard Dawkins – While this book does not particularly deal with atheism or history, it is, perhaps, one of the most important treatises in evolutionary biology ever published, and is thus, a part of history itself.In 2017, Dawkins' book was voted as the "most inspiring science book of all time" by Britain's Royal Society of Science.<ref>The Royal Society (Ed.). (2017, July 19). ''The Selfish Gene'' tops Royal Society poll to reveal the nation's most inspiring science books. Retrieved October 28, 2017, from https://royalsociety.org/news/2017/07/science-book-prize-poll-results/</ref> ====References====<references/>
