Summa summae S. Thomae sive compendium theologiae

Negative atheism having been excluded, another question is raised, namely, whether positive atheists can be found, who by erroneous reasons persuade themselves that God does not exist.

Here again a distinction must be made. For positive atheists are commonly divided into practical and theoretical. — Practical atheists, while perceiving by reason that God exists, nevertheless so order their moral life as if God did not exist. Concerning such persons the question here is not raised; for sad experience, especially in these troubled and most wretched times, more than sufficiently demonstrates not only that atheists of this sort can be supposed, but that they are in fact found. — Theoretical atheists, however, if perhaps there are any, are those who assert that they hold in their mind that in truth God does not exist.

I say: first, it is more probable that theoretical atheists do not in fact exist as persons truly persuaded.

We say, first, more probably, because since the discourse concerns individuals, the question cannot be determined demonstratively. We say, second, atheists truly persuaded, because there is no question here of doubters, who are outside the case; for it seems that it cannot be denied that some doubt may arise and be able for a short time to occupy the mind.

Probatur the proposition thus explained. — Those who display the species of unbelief with respect to the existence of God are men who from infancy were imbued with the notion of divinity and grew up in it, nor are they ignorant of the demonstrations by which the existence of God is most fully proved. Can it therefore come to pass that a man so put off nature and reason as to hold with firm subjective persuasion that which so openly conflicts with nature and reason? This indeed seems altogether incredible. Hence Seneca says: « They lie who say that they do not perceive that God exists; for although they may assure you of it by day, yet by night and when alone they doubt.¹ » And Bayle himself, certainly a man in this matter by no means suspect, and who knew by friendship or experience the chief atheists of his age, has these words in his Historical-Critical Dictionary: « It is highly probable that those who in gatherings of men are eager to attack the more commonly received truths of religion say more than they really think. Vanity has more place than conscience in their disputations.»² And in fact many who were celebrated as leaders of atheism, when near death, with mind clear considering the falsity of the glory which they had wished to procure for themselves by their denials, and seriously revolving the ineluctable question concerning the origin and end of man, were compelled to acknowledge and confess God, imploring him either as merciful or blaspheming him as an implacable judge. It is certain therefore that, although perhaps they had previously tried to persuade themselves that God does not exist, especially in order to indulge their desires more freely, they were not truly persuaded that he is not.

I say: 2º It is also probable that theoretical atheists truly and firmly persuaded cannot be given.

For whatever they may boast that they believe, those who call themselves atheists, it seems altogether impossible that a man possessed of reason should not be moved by the spectacle of the Universe, and should not in some way detect in the Universe traces of some supreme Mind. To be sure, darkness can be cast over so resplendent a truth, especially through the depravity of the passions; yet not in such a way that reason does not struggle against those darknesses and prevent a man from resting peacefully in the error of the non-existence of God. This at least must be believed by one to whom the honor of human nature is dear. And hence it is that those who profess atheism either display scepticism, by proclaiming universal doubt, or teach pantheism, by perverting the genuine notion of divinity, which they are unable to deny.