[[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 various governmental/religious authorities were unrelenting in their attempts to erase these questions such concepts from the historical recordduring the time, so secondary sources are difficult to come by.
The list below is just the beginning of the history of irreligion in Europe, mostly because much of this history remains to be written. It is only recently that academia, in general, has become tolerant towards non-religious or anti-religious beliefs, so the field of atheism/agnosticism in Europe remains wide open to the scholar(s) who would explore it.
1. ''A Secular Age'' by Charles Taylor – This book is ''dense'', but extremely worthwhile. The information contained within is unparalleled, but, as a warning, 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 must-read for anyone interested in the rise of secularism in the Western world.
12. ''A Secular AgeThe Secularization of the European Mind'' by Charles Taylor Owen Chadwick – This book is ''dense'', but worthwhileconsidered “academic” in that Chadwick’s style can be somewhat convoluted and erudite. It contains phrases that would make even Chadwick bases most of his conclusions off of the moral philosophy of the most senior academic roll their eyesEnlightenment, which comes with its own set of problems. ButFor many, despite Taylor’s somewhat arrogant prosea turn away from religion was not based on new philosophy, this work is but rather on a mustdisdain for State-read for anyone interested in the rise of secularism in the Western worldsponsored activities.
2[[File:relmagic. ''The Secularization jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|<i>Religion and the Decline of Magic</i>]]3. <i>Formations of the European Mind'' Secular</i> by Owen Chadwick Talal Asad – This book Asad begins is considered “academic” in work by asking what an anthropology of the secular might look like. Ultimately, Asad concludes that Chadwick’s style can be somewhat convoluted and erudite. Chadwick bases most of his conclusions off of the moral philosophy secular is not necessarily a byproduct of the Enlightenment, which comes with its own set decline of problems. For many, a turn away from religion was not based on new philosophy, but rather on and nor is it a disdain for State-sponsored activitiesproduct of more scientific and rational thinking of the modern age.
34. ''Formations of the SecularThe Cambridge Companion to Atheism'' by Talal Asad Michael Martin – Asad begins is This work by asking what an anthropology of the secular might look like. Ultimately, Asad concludes that the secular is not necessarily a byproduct collection of eighteen essays by the decline of religion, world’s leading scholars on atheism and nor is it a product of more scientific and rational thinking of irreligion. It deals with atheistic beliefs from antiquity to the modern age. The essays contained within present varying perspectives of irreligious beliefs – from philosophical to societal.
45. ''The Cambridge Companion to AtheismReligion and the Decline of Magic'' by Michael Martin Keith Thomas – This work is a collection of eighteen essays by book primarily deals with the world’s leading scholars on atheism epic battle between religion and irreligion. It deals with atheistic beliefs magic from antiquity to the modern age. The essays contained within present varying perspectives of irreligious beliefs – from philosophical to societalmedieval 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, and why did some become sinful and others acceptable? When did fortunetellers and “cunning men” become witches and demons?
56. ''Religion Divided by Faith: Religious Conflict and the Decline Practice of MagicToleration in Early-Modern Europe'' by Keith Thomas Benjamin Kaplan – This book primarily deals with work asks a very basic question: After the epic battle between religion Protestant Reformation of ~1517 brought into question most of Europe’s (Catholic) religious beliefs, how did people of different/evolving faiths coexist? The answer is: not well. Kaplan's work is, at once, fascinating and magic from all-encompassing. 7. '''Victorian Infidels'' by Edward Royle -- Royle’s work examines the medieval period until around beginning of secularism, outside the seventeenth century, context of class and it does so in an endlessly fascinating waypolitical boundaries. When did magicBefore Royle, miracles, and superstition become concepts most British historians considered atheism/agnosticism to be products of working-class distrust of the State. This work changed all that could be differentiated between, and why did some become sinful and others acceptable? When did fortunetellers and “cunning men” become witches and demons?it is perhaps one of the most important books on the beginnings of secularism ever published.
68. ''Divided by Faith: Religious Conflict and At the Practice Origins of Toleration in Early-Modern EuropeAtheism'' by Benjamin Kaplan Michael Buckley – This work asks a very basic question: After In this book, Buckley argues that atheism arose due to the Protestant Reformation religious establishment’s efforts to discredit disbelief. While Enlightenment philosophers argued against God’s existence from the standpoint of ~1517 brought into question most of Europe’s rationalism, Buckley offers that the attempts by religious beliefs, how did people of different/evolving faiths coexist? The answer is not wellanti-religious philosophers to counteract this philosophy ultimately led to disbelief among broader society.
7[[File:orgath. ''Victorian Infidels'' by Edward Royle -- Royle’s work examines jpg|left|thumbnail|200px|<i>At the beginning Origins of secularism, outside the context of class and political boundaries. Before Royle, most British historians considered atheismModern Atheism</agnosticism to be products of working-class distrust of the State. This work changed all that, and it is perhaps one of the most important books on the beginnings of secularism ever published.i>]]
89. ''At the Origins A History of Modern Atheismin Britain'' by Michael Buckley David Berman – In this bookwork, Buckley argues Berman agues that numerous religious forces sought to keep the very idea of atheism arose due 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 religious establishment’s efforts to discredit Enlightenment, and the various philosophical texts that arose from it. While Enlightenment philosophers argued against God’s existenceAgree or disagree, Buckley offers that the attempt by religious philosophers to counteract this philosophy ultimately led to disbeliefhe presents a good case.
910. ''A History of Atheism in BritainThe Selfish Gene'' by David Berman Richard Dawkins – In While this workbook does not particularly deal with atheism or history, Berman agues that numerous religious forces sought to keep the very idea of atheism repressed – out it is, perhaps, one of the minds most important treatises in evolutionary biology ever published, and is thus, a part of the publichistory itself. Berman holds that because of the Church’s sway on societyIn 2017, Dawkins' book was voted as the very concept "most inspiring science book of the denial all time" by Britain's Royal Society of God would have been inconceivable prior Science.<ref>The Royal Society (Ed.). (2017, July 19). ''The Selfish Gene'' tops Royal Society poll to reveal the Enlightenmentnation's most inspiring science books. Agree or disagreeRetrieved October 28, 2017, he presents a good casefrom https://royalsociety.org/news/2017/07/science-book-prize-poll-results/</ref>
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.====References====<references/>
