ARGUMENTS AGAINST ATHEISM (AND REFUTATIONS)

Some of the arguments against atheism asserted by religious believers take the form of attacks on what they perceive (often erroneously) atheism to be or represent. Some arguments attempt to point out certain perceived deficiencies, and to suggest that atheism leaves an emptyness or absence that religion can fill.

In this section, some of the commonly levelled accusations against atheism are considered, and counter-arguments provided:

• Atheism is just another religion
• It is impossible to prove the non-existence of God
• “Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence”
• Without God, there can be no morality
• Without God, there is no meaning to life
• Atheism is responsible for the greatest crimes of history
• Religion provides inspiration for great art
• “There are no atheists in foxholes”