Relational Atheism

This dissertation offers a new perspective on the topic of 'Unbelief in Classical Athens' and dispels the notion that atheism in Classical Athens was simply a precursor to modern secularism or merely a philological play on definitions. Using methods from relational sociology and an interdisciplinary approach bridging religious studies and classical studies, the author shows that atheism and unbelief emerge from the same social and religious context and discourse as religion itself. In each case, they are historically situated modifications of self-world relations. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including philosophical, medical, historical, and literary texts, the book provides both a historical account of the subject and an analytical model for future research in this area.