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A brief History of Secularism
A relatively quick and simple explanation of the history of western civilization inspired by the intellectual achievement of ancient Athens, Alexandria, and Rome, and later during medieval Arab civilization, during the Renaissance, during the French (and British) Enlightenment, and since the mid-nineteenth century in advanced industrial nations. In all instances the primary impetus has been secular inquiry despite the resistance of religious orthodoxy.
A Secular History of Western Civilization
An overview describing historic trends, summarizing theories that help to explain it, and exploring the many circumstances that might have terminated its advancement at one time or another.
Ancient Secular Philosophy
A secular history of ancient civilization with an emphasis on materialism and skepticism as well as the important but forgotten roles of Strato, Arcesilaus, Carneades, and Aenisidemus.
Cicero is also explained in a new light.
Freethought Breviary--Quotations Against
Religion
270 freethinkers since ancient Greece are quoted, some in a sentence or
two, others in passages of paragraph length. These are the best and most
compelling statements I can find that challenge orthodox religion in general
and Christianity in particular. In the final pages current scientific
information is summarized that makes a personal god highly improbable.
Freethought Bibliography--Major Secular
Texts
Major secular texts and authors are cited since ancient Greece. The emphasis
is on their achievements and publications rather than quotations, as in
the FREETHOUGHT BREVIARY listed above. At the end is a descriptive bibliography
of texts upon the history of freeethought.
History Unbowdlerized
Many historians are devout Christians who neglect to explore in any depth the negative role of Christianity in the history of western civilization.
Often this seems to be their entire purpose in writing history.
Accordingly, they obscure the extraordinary historic dialectic that has transpired between religion and secular inquiry as well as the overall trend toward secularism since the Dark and Middle Ages.
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