Icons of Unbelief: Atheists, Agnostics, and Secularists (Greenwood Icons)

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. This Volume Profiles Some Of The Key Figures And Groups Who Have Advanced Religious Unbelief Over The Past 200 Years. 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.--jacket. Ayaan Hirsi Ali / Jenin Younes -- Charles Bradlaugh / David Tribe -- Richard Dawkins / Donald R. Burleson -- Daniel C. Dennett / Richard Gillilan -- John Dewey / John Shook -- Albert Einstein / Mauro Murzi -- The Existentialists / Max Deutscher -- The Founding Fathers / Edd Doerr -- Sigmund Freud / Kirk Bingaman -- Sam Harris / Jenin Hounes -- Thomas Henry Huxley / Sherrie Lyons -- Robert G. Ingersoll / Tom Flynn -- Paul Kurtz / Bill Cooke -- Corliss Lamont / Bill Cooke -- H.p. Lovecraft / Robert M. Price -- H.l. Mencken / S.t. Joshi -- John Stuart Mill / S.t. Joshi -- Kai Nielsen / Béla Szabados And Andrew Lugg -- Friedrich Nietzsche / Weaver Santaniello -- Madalyn Murray O'hair / Frank R. Zindler -- The Philosophes / Wilda Anderson -- Bertrand Russell / Keith M. Parsons -- Carl Sagan / John Shook -- Leslie Stephen / S.t. Joshi -- Mark Twain / Richard Bleiler -- Gore Vidal / S.t. Joshi -- Voltaire / Jean-claude Pecker. Edited By S.t. Joshi. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [443]-447) And Index. Contents......Page 6 Series Foreword......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Ayaan Hirsi Ali......Page 12 Charles Bradlaugh......Page 20 Richard Dawkins......Page 38 Daniel C. Dennett......Page 50 John Dewey......Page 62 Albert Einstein......Page 78 The Existentialists......Page 90 The Founding Fathers......Page 108 Sigmund Freud......Page 136 Sam Harris......Page 152 Thomas Henry Huxley......Page 164 Robert G. Ingersoll......Page 186 Paul Kurtz......Page 204 Corliss Lamont......Page 222 H. P. Lovecraft......Page 234 H. L. Mencken......Page 252 John Stuart Mill......Page 272 Kai Nielsen......Page 290 Friedrich Nietzsche......Page 308 Madalyn Murray O’Hair......Page 330 The Philosophes......Page 346 Bertrand Russell......Page 368 Carl Sagan......Page 390 Leslie Stephen......Page 400 Mark Twain......Page 412 Gore Vidal......Page 426 Voltaire......Page 438 General Bibliography......Page 454 About the Contributors......Page 460 B......Page 466 D......Page 467 F......Page 468 I......Page 469 M......Page 470 O......Page 471 R......Page 472 T......Page 473 Z......Page 474