Relational Atheism - Studying Unbelief in Ancient Greece

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.

About the author

Ramón Soneira-Martínez is a postdoctoral researcher in the research group "Antike Religion" at the Austrian Archaeological Institute (ÖAI), Vienna. He holds a PhD in Religious Studies (cotutelle, University of Erfurt and University of Graz, 2022)

Summary

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.

Product details

• Authors: Ramón Soneira-Martínez
• Assisted by: Bärbel Beinhauer-Köhler (Editor), Alexander Kenneth Nagel (Editor), Alexander Kenneth Nagel (Editor), Jörg Rüpke (Editor), Bärbel Beinhauer-Köhler (Editor of the series), Alexander Kenneth Nagel (Editor of the series), Jörg Rüpke (Editor of the series)
• Publisher: Kohlhammer
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 31.03.2026
• EAN: 9783170471863
• ISBN: 978-3-17-047186-3
• No. of pages: 260
• Series: Religionswissenschaft heute
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology; Literaturgeschichte, Religionsgeschichte, Geschichte der Religion, Philosophiegeschichte, Altgriechische Religion und Mythologie, Unglaube, Agnostizismus und Atheismus, Antike Sagen und Epen