The twilight of atheism : the rise and fall of disbelief in the modern world by Alister McGrath
Rider, 2004 279 pages £12.99 ISBN 978 1 844 135 748
A wide-ranging study of disbelief from an academic with an easy and engaging style.
Prof. McGrath begins with a brief survey of atheism in classical Greece and continues with in-depth accounts of the high noon of atheism in France (the Revolution of 1789).
Exploring the ideas of such Europeans as Feuerbach, Marx and Freud offers a clue to the basic approach of the author., who looks at the ideas and the movement of ideas in the writings of significant figures in western history.
The development of science in the 17th century with its often alleged antipathy to religion is followed by a look at Victorian atheists – Shelley,, George Eliot and Swinburne in the UK and some European co-religionists – Dostoevsky, Nietsche and Camus.
We take a look at atheism in the modern world as well as in the postmodern world.
The USA comes under the spotlight with an expose of Madalyn Murray O’Hair which is well worth reading if you have not heard that name before in connection with atheism.
This fascinating read ends with the fading appeal of atheism but finishes with a surprising declaration of the enduring appeal of atheism.
We are indebted to Alister McGrath for his superb work in researching and publishing his successful, impressive and detailed survey of this important idea – how atheism has developed and faltered, waxed and waned, over the years, around the world.