Title: Atheophobia
Subtitle: A Genealogy of a Foundational Panic
Subject Classification:  Philosophy, Religion and Faith, History  
BIC Classification: HRA, HRQ, JPA
BISAC Classification: PHI001000, PHI022000, POL010000
Binding: Hardback, eBook
Planned publication date: Nov 2026
ISBN (Hardback): 978-1-80866-138-9
ISBN (eBook): 978-1-80866-139-6

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Description

This book is a genealogical examination of atheophobia –the fear of, ethical judgment against, and political suppression of non-believers. Tracing the evolution of this anti-atheist sentiment back to the dawn of political philosophy, the book seeks to reveal how the construction of “the atheist” as a category of thought has served to advance the political project of totalizing faiths. In other words, it explores how political philosophers have instrumentalized the concept of non-belief to advance their own ideological agendas.

The author contends that modern attempts at curbing atheism are not a uniquely modern phenomenon, but the continuation of a long development. The book argues that the process by which the atheist became a category of thought fit to anchor a political program has been one of gradual accretion. It begins with the transition from polytheism to monotheism that occurred in the Mediterranean and the Asian subcontinent. It then proceeds with the concomitant development of anti-atheist legislation and doctrine that occurred in Europe and the broader Mediterranean region beginning with the Middle-Ages. Finally, it describes how these medieval and early modern developments have affected modern political and popular discourse.

The book’s theoretical basis is rooted in the distinction between theoretical and practical atheophobia. The latter, which is the focus of this book, is the fear of the non-believer as the category of thought that represents an existential threat to the in-group. Examining the evolution of this concept, one can better understand how the political program of totalizing faiths has been advanced throughout history. The anti-atheist sentiment in this context is best understood as a claim that divine authority is the only possible foundation of ethics, fidelity, and human association. Therefore, the non-believer is not just wrong but is ethically incapable of being right.

The book focuses on the concept of non-belief as a foundational pillar of the political order, aiming to contribute to the discussion of how the modern Western political and legal order was formed. It concentrates on the evolution of political concepts and institutions that have been instrumental in advancing the anti-atheist agenda. It is an unusual and valuable contribution to the scholarship on political philosophy, history of political institutions, and the history of religions.

Biography

Author(s):  Tolga Theo Yalur is an independent researcher based in Izmir, Turkey. He is a leading scholar in the history of ideas, specializing in the intersections of political philosophy, media, secularism, and religious history.

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