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December 30, 2005
Great Moments
Great moments in the history of atheism.
This from the first avowedly atheistic book published in Britain:
"As to the question whether there is such an existent Being as an atheist, to put that out of all manner of doubt, I do declare upon my honour that I am one. Be it therefore for the future remembered, that in London in the kingdome of England, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one a man publicly declared himself to be an atheist."
Great moments in anti-atheism.
He still was not believed. One of the few to review the book claimed this avowal could not be credited because, without belief in God, it was impossible to swear to tell the truth.
Not so great moment in atheism.
The only name mentioned in this ground-breaking, courageous book, William Hammon, seems not to have existed. Best guess is it was written by a chemist from Liverpool.
(Above information from David Berman's A History of Atheism in Britain.)
Posted by Mitchell Stephens at December 30, 2005 9:25 AM
