American Atheism: An Analysis of Eighteenth-Century Stigma Borne by Twenty-First Century Citizens

1 online resource (54 pages) : PDF

2017

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

This paper analyzes the stigma that surrounds atheists in twenty-first century America, and shows that assumed moral shortcomings of atheists have remained mostly unchanged over the course of America’s history. By outlining the development of a Christianized morality that would serve as a foundational piece of a forming American identity, the amoral atheist construct is described. Using two modern case studies alongside several polls of religious affiliation in the contemporary U.S., this paper shows that the stigma that assailed atheism in the early decades of America’s history has seen little change over the intervening centuries, and that modern atheists are besieged by eighteenth-century stigma – validating questions to their moral worth.

masters theses

History--Religious aspects
Religion

M.A.

Religious Studies

Robinson, Joanne

McCloud, Sean
Cameron, Christopher

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2017.

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