Discusses the ideas and impact of 27 atheists, agnostics, and secularists whose ideas have shaped society over the last 200 years. In the opinion of many critics and philosophers, we are entering an age of atheism marked by the waning of Christian fundamentalism and the flourishing of secular thought. Through alphabetically arranged entries written by expert contributors, this book profiles 27 iconic figures of unbelief whose ideas have shaped American society over the last 200 years. Included are entries on influential figures of the past, such as Albert Einstein and Voltaire, as well as on such contemporary figures as Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris. Each entry discusses the ideas and lasting significance of each person or group, provides sidebars of interesting information and illuminating quotations, and cites works for further reading. The volume closes with a selected, general bibliography. Students in social studies and history classes will welcome this reference as a guide to the ideas central to the American separation of Church and State and to many of the political debates at the heart of society today. Each entry discusses the ideas and lasting significance of the person or group, provides sidebars of interesting information and quotations, and closes with a list of works for further reading. The volume ends with a selected, general bibliography. Students in history and social studies classes will welcome this reference as a guide to the American separation of Church and State and to the ideas central to contemporary political debates.

Discusses the ideas and impact of 27 atheists, agnostics, and secularists whose ideas have shaped society over the last 200 years.

About the Author
S. T. Joshi is an independent scholar and the author or editor of numerous books, including Icons of Horror and the Supernatural (Greenwood, 2007), Supernatural Literature of the World: An Encyclopedia (Greenwood, 2005), Atheism: A Reader (2000), God's Defenders: What They Believe and Why They Are Wrong (2003), and The Agnostic Reader (2007). He is also founder and editor of Lovecraft Studies and Studies in Weird Fiction.

Reviews
This biographical collection offers in-depth, essay-format profiles of 27 iconic figures of 'unbelief,' intellectuals who have advocated for atheism, agnosticism, or secularism, from the historical . . . to the contemporary. . . This is an excellent starting point for research and paper writing, but the casual reader will find the book engaging as well. This reviewer was caught up in the content and found the profiles to be well written, clearly presented, and very informative. . . . This set is recommended for public, high school, and academic libraries. * ARBA *



Book Information
ISBN 9780313347597
Author S. T. Joshi
Format Hardback
Page Count 476
Imprint Greenwood Press
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Weight(grams) 1162g