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001			16512
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040			_aUtSlPG
041		7	_aen _2iso639-1
050		4	_aBL
100	1		_aSouthwell, Charles, _d1814-1860
245	1	3	_aAn apology for atheism
264		1	_aSalt Lake City, UT : _bProject Gutenberg, _c2005
300			_a1 online resource : _bmultiple file formats
336			_atext _btxt _2rdacontent
337			_acomputer _bc _2rdamedia
338			_aonline resource _bcr _2rdacarrier
500			_aRelease date is 2005-08-11
508			_aProduced by The Freethought Archives
520			_a"An Apology for Atheism" by Charles Southwell is a philosophical treatise written in the mid-19th century. This work addresses the interconnectedness of religion and politics, arguing that the pervasive influence of religious belief, particularly in Christianity and Roman Catholicism, hinders political and social progress. It critiques the superstitions that plague society and argues for a rational understanding of existence without reliance on divine entities. At the start of the treatise, the author emphasizes the need for a deeper understanding of the gods people worship, suggesting that ignorance of one's beliefs leads to societal oppression. Southwell discusses the significant impact of religion on political practices and the need for intellectual emancipation to achieve genuine political freedom. He insists that prevailing superstitions, particularly among the Irish population, result in stagnation and challenges the notion that political rights can be achieved without addressing the underlying religious beliefs that shape societal behaviors. The opening sets a tone of intense critique aimed at both religious dogma and the societal complacency that allows such dogma to persist unchallenged. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
534			_nOriginal publication data not identified
653			_aAtheism
856	4	0	_uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16512
999			_c57900 _d57900