In the current scientific as well as popular discussions on atheism, different notions of "atheism" are used. Its modern understanding quickly reaches its limits in historical research on atheism, as "atheism" in history does not only restrict itself to explicit forms of the denial of God's existence, but can also be seen as an expression of dissident piety. A crucial precondition for a historical approach to atheism is a historicisation of the history of atheism. This article presents results of recent historical research on atheism, and shows that atheism is not only a product of modernity but that it can already be found in medieval books of consolation or confession manuals. In addition, it becomes clear that the idea of a direct connection between atheism and the Modern era is a historically unsustainable simplification of a considerably more complex history of religion during the early modern and modern period.

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Personen: Kuhn, Thomas K.

Schlagwörter: Glaube Mittelalter Atheismus Unglaube Frühe Neuzeit Begriffsgeschichte