Does Theism lead to the greatest civilizations?

[oldgun]

In all of human time, has there been a society with no Theism that lead the world in its culture or greatness?

When I think of strong Nations in history, I think of Greece, Persia, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Great Britain, France, Russia, China and the United States as examples (I'm sure I left some out) with a smattering of long lived nations that while not big players in the world, aren't small either. I don't think of the USSR and its communist ideal of no God as a great nation as they didn't last very long even though the argument could be made Communism never really stamped out Theism in the USSR. China still clings to Communism in some form but they've been around much longer than Communism and are now more Communist/Capitalist hybrid and while China enjoyed a pretty big stage in human history when they were very Theist, their current power in the world remains to be seen although it is reported many believe in God although the party line says not to.

So can anyone think of a great civilization that had no God?

[mycorrhiza]

Since a majority of the world population are theists, would we expect there to be any large civilizations without Gods?

[Jayhawker Soule]

Correlation is not causation.

[Shuddhasattva]

Humanity hasn't been 'freed' of its theistic clinging long enough to see many atheistic civilizations.

[HonestJoe]

Originally Posted by oldgun

In all of human time, has there been a society with no Theism that lead the world in its culture or greatness?

Has there been a society with no theism that lead the world in its evil or destruction? Has there been a society with no theism at all? Theism has been a fairly constant presence in human history throughout the good, bad and indifferent. All this demonstrates is tha theism doesn't appear to automatically lead to either good or bad.

[Quintessence]

Eh, I think it's important to consider here the nebulosity of the terms "theist" and "atheist." There's a strong precedent for using the term "atheist" to describe any beliefs that don't fit the cultural norms regarding god-concepts. As far as the later Christians were concerned, all the Pagans were atheist scum. From a certain point of view, any culture not based in Christian theology is an atheist civilization. Or any culture not based on the Egyptian gods is an atheist civilization. The term is relative.

[HonestJoe]

Originally Posted by Quintessence

The term is relative.

It really isn't. It's often misused (intentionally or otherwise) but it's definition is entirely objective. I don't think it's been in common use for all that long. Early Christians wouldn't call Pagans atheists, they'd call them heathens. I'd be surprised if the ancient Egyptians had a concept of not believing in gods of some sort at all.

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by oldgun

So can anyone think of a great civilization that had no God?

In fairness, there hasn't been a great civilization that lacked for atheism either. Having a civilization, great or not, doesn't depend on either.

[tumbleweed41]

Just because a large population of the people believe or disbelieve in a deity or deities does not make a nation theistic or atheistic in its governance.
Like the misconceptions that the USA is a "Christian Nation", or that Communism = Atheism.

[Kerr]

Originally Posted by oldgun

In all of human time, has there been a society with no Theism that lead the world in its culture or greatness?

When I think of strong Nations in history, I think of Greece, Persia, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Great Britain, France, Russia, China and the United States as examples (I'm sure I left some out) with a smattering of long lived nations that while not big players in the world, aren't small either. I don't think of the USSR and its communist ideal of no God as a great nation as they didn't last very long even though the argument could be made Communism never really stamped out Theism in the USSR. China still clings to Communism in some form but they've been around much longer than Communism and are now more Communist/Capitalist hybrid and while China enjoyed a pretty big stage in human history when they were very Theist, their current power in the world remains to be seen although it is reported many believe in God although the party line says not to.

So can anyone think of a great civilization that had no God?

There is a difference between theism existing in every great civilization and theism causing every great civilization.

Also, define "great".