Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Laith Majid Hussein, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad, the Department of Humanities organized a panel discussion on Wednesday morning, September 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Nabīlah ʿAbd al-Munʿim Dāwūd Hall. The event was attended by a number of professors and academics and was entitled “The Phenomenon of Atheism between Heritage and Modernity.”
The lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Anas Issam Ismail, a faculty member at our Center, who discussed the historical presence of atheism, its beginnings in ancient times, and the main reasons for its spread before and after Islam. He explained the distinction between atheism and disbelief, traced the history of disbelief and paganism among the Arabs before Islam, and explored how atheism spread after World War II. He also highlighted the difference between secularism and atheism in contemporary times, as well as the impact of the knowledge explosion, social communication, and the internet on the rise of atheism among young people.
The researcher further noted that atheism in public debates is no longer merely an individual or personal stance but has become an expression of cultural, social, and political challenges facing societies, especially in light of technological development and exposure to global ideas through media and digital platforms. On the other hand, several intellectuals stressed that this movement, despite its diverse orientations, represents a form of intellectual dynamism and cultural diversity that calls for rational and balanced dialogue rather than confrontation or exclusion. They emphasized the importance of instilling values of tolerance and pluralism as a more conscious and effective approach to addressing the phenomenon.
The session also included several interventions and discussions on the topic.
