[[File:secage.jpg|thumbnail|left|200px|<i>A Secular Age</i>]]The history of atheism and agnosticism are not very well-tread topics, even in the 21st century. To study such things, even in the past 30-40 years, has been seen as reckless and even dangerous, especially for those academics looking for tenured positions. This, however, leaves a lacuna of historic information for those who have the wherewithal to subvert traditional academic restraints. The data on atheism/agnosticism/irreligion is plentiful, but the codification of such primary sources (by various governmental/religious authorities) is were unrelentingin their attempts to erase such concepts from the historical record during the time, and more than worthy of studyso secondary sources are difficult to come by.
1. ''A Secular Age'' by Charles Taylor – This book The list below is ''dense''just the beginning of the history of irreligion in Europe, but worthwhilemostly because much of this history remains to be written. It contains phrases is only recently that would make even the most senior academic roll their eyes. Butacademia, despite Taylor’s somewhat arrogant prosein general, this work is a musthas become tolerant towards non-religious or anti-read for anyone interested in religious beliefs, so the rise field of secularism atheism/agnosticism in Europe remains wide open to the Western worldscholar(s) who would explore it.
21. ''The Secularization of the European MindA Secular Age'' by Owen Chadwick Charles Taylor – This book is considered “academic” in that Chadwick’s style can be somewhat convoluted and erudite''dense'', but extremely worthwhile. Chadwick bases most of his conclusions off of the moral philosophy of the EnlightenmentThe information contained within is unparalleled, which comes with its own set of problems. For manybut, as a turn away from religion was not based on new philosophywarning, but rather on it does contains phrases that would make even the most senior academic roll their eyes. Despite Taylor’s somewhat arrogant prose and verbosity, this work is a disdain must-read for State-sponsored activitiesanyone interested in the rise of secularism in the Western world.
32. ''Formations The Secularization of the SecularEuropean Mind'' by Talal Asad Owen Chadwick – Asad begins This book is work by asking what an anthropology 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 the secular might look likeEnlightenment, which comes with its own set of problems. UltimatelyFor many, Asad concludes that the secular is not necessarily a byproduct of the decline of turn away from religionwas not based on new philosophy, and nor is it but rather on a product of more scientific and rational thinking of the modern agedisdain for State-sponsored activities.
4[[File:relmagic. ''The Cambridge Companion to Atheism'' jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|<i>Religion and the Decline of Magic</i>]]3. <i>Formations of the Secular</i> by Michael Martin Talal Asad – This Asad begins is work by asking what an anthropology of the secular might look like. Ultimately, Asad concludes that the secular is not necessarily a collection byproduct of eighteen essays by the world’s leading scholars on atheism decline of religion, and nor is it a product of more scientific and irreligion. It deals with atheistic beliefs from antiquity to rational thinking of the modern age. The essays contained within present varying perspectives of irreligious beliefs – from philosophical to societal.
54. ''Religion and the Decline of MagicThe Cambridge Companion to Atheism'' by Keith Thomas Michael Martin – This book primarily work is a collection of eighteen essays by the world’s leading scholars on atheism and irreligion. It deals with atheistic beliefs from antiquity to the epic battle between religion and magic modern age. The essays contained within present varying perspectives of irreligious beliefs – from the medieval period until around the seventeenth centuryphilosophical to societal. When did magic, miracles, and superstition become concepts that could be differentiated between, and why did some become sinful and others OK? When did fortunetellers and “cunning men” become witches and demons?
65. ''Divided by Faith: Religious Conflict Religion and the Practice Decline of Toleration in Early-Modern EuropeMagic'' by Benjamin Kaplan Keith Thomas – This work asks a very basic question: After book primarily deals with the epic battle between religion and magic from the Protestant Reformation of ~1517 brought into question most of Europe’s religious beliefsmedieval period until around the seventeenth century, and it does so in an endlessly fascinating way. When did magic, miracles, and superstition become concepts that could be differentiated between, how and why did people of different/evolving faiths coexistsome become sinful and others acceptable? When did fortunetellers and “cunning men” become witches and demons? The answer is not well.
76. ''Victorian InfidelsDivided by Faith: Religious Conflict and the Practice of Toleration in Early-Modern Europe'' by Edward Royle -- Royle’s Benjamin Kaplan – This work examines asks a very basic question: After the beginning Protestant Reformation of secularism~1517 brought into question most of Europe’s (Catholic) religious beliefs, outside the context how did people of class and political boundaries. Before Royle, most British historians considered atheismdifferent/agnosticism to be products of working-class distrust of the Stateevolving faiths coexist? The answer is: not well. This Kaplan's work changed all thatis, at once, fascinating and it is perhaps one of the most important books on the beginnings of secularism ever publishedall-encompassing.
87. ''At the Origins of Modern Atheism'Victorian Infidels'' by Michael Buckley – In this bookEdward Royle -- Royle’s work examines the beginning of secularism, outside the context of class and political boundaries. Before Royle, Buckley argues that most British historians considered atheism arose due /agnosticism to be products of working-class distrust of the religious establishment’s efforts to discredit itState. While Enlightenment philosophers argued against God’s existenceThis work changed all that, Buckley offers that and it is perhaps one of the most important books on the attempt by religious philosophers to counteract this philosophy ultimately led to disbeliefbeginnings of secularism ever published.
98. ''A History At the Origins of Modern Atheism in Britain'' by David Berman Michael Buckley – In this workbook, Berman agues Buckley argues that numerous atheism arose due to the religious forces sought establishment’s efforts to keep discredit disbelief. While Enlightenment philosophers argued against God’s existence from the very idea standpoint of atheism repressed – out of the minds of the public. Berman holds rationalism, Buckley offers that because of the Church’s sway on attempts by religious/anti-religious philosophers to counteract this philosophy ultimately led to disbelief among broader society, the very concept of the denial of God would have been inconceivable prior to the Enlightenment. Agree or disagree, he presents a good case.
[[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/>
