When and where did atheism first start ?

[Abaddon_ire]

So the early humans were by default, atheists with questions.

I wonder about this though, Cod. I see where you're coming from. But the thing is, you don't find primitive tribes with worldviews that resemble those of, say, atheists on this forum. They typically have shamanistic beliefs or assume some kind of animism. To me, that says something about what default human belief is.

I think this is because they are using an unrefined, rudimentary kind of logic to form conclusions about the world. As we all know, our innate sense of logic is often fallacious. People who depend on such logic are bound to form erroneous conclusions.

Anyway, long story short, I wonder if humans need a developed sense of logic with a careful, systematic study of the natural world (ie. science) in order to genuinely reach the conclusion of atheism.

Of course it depends how you define things like "nonbelief in gods" or the "default position of belief in gods" etc. etc. but the argument could be made that humans innately form ideas about the world that include spirits and such. And atheism is not a default, but an ability to reach different conclusions after carefully and systematically considering evidence.

We can split hairs all day about what belief is default , but anthropologists have arguably observed default human belief, and it don't look like atheism.

Or you could look at the Piraha people.

Interesting discussion from a missionary who tried to convert them
https://ffrf.org/publications/freethough...ithout-god