Atheism in Europe: Insights from the Pandemic

The Covid pandemic had a dramatic impact on religious and non-religious individuals around the world. However, academic research into its effects has largely focused on issues of religiosity, neglecting the experiences of atheists. This chapter addresses this gap by exploring three key debates: (1) the relationship between atheism and trust in science, (2) the impact of atheism on health and wellbeing during the pandemic, and (3) the extent to which the pandemic influenced levels of atheism in Europe. Drawing on emerging research, the chapter shows that atheists’ higher trust in science may have led them to adhere more closely to safety guidelines and reject conspiracy theories. It also challenges the assumption of a positive link between religiosity and wellbeing, showing that atheists may have experienced comparable or even better health outcomes than their religious counterparts. Finally, the chapter assesses the claim that crises boost religiosity, finding little evidence that the pandemic caused a decline of atheism in Europe.