Thrower (history of religions, U. of Aberdeen, Scotland) demonstrates that atheism is not merely a modern phenomenon, initiated during the 18th-century Enlightenment, but rather, that it has its roots in ancient Greek, Roman, and Israeli cultures. He explores how atheism was often expressed in opposition to the predominant religious views of the day, and how it has recently developed into a philosophical perspective independent of any religious interpretations. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)