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Book: Atheism in Five Minutes

Chapter: 54. Do Atheists Have Beliefs in Supernatural Phenomena?

DOI: 10.1558/equinox.43340

Blurb:

While we can examine survey and interview data to discern whether or not atheists have beliefs in other supernatural phenomena, we should also be aware of how some interested parties frame the answers to suit their own interests. As part of the Understanding Unbelief programme, we found that most (though not all) atheists and agnostics had beliefs in some mix of supernatural phenomena. Our findings problematize common explanations by religious individuals that atheists reject belief in God because of a desire to engage in immorality and by atheists that their atheism is solely a result of rational thinking.

Chapter Contributors

  • Jonathan Lanman (j.lanman@qub.ac.uk - jlanox) 'Queen's University Belfast'