Question

The following chart shows religious beliefs in modern Europe. Use the chart to answer the following question:

A circle graph displaying the percentage of those who had a belief in God in modern Europe. 52 percent believe in God, 27 percent believe in a spirit of life force, 18 percent believe in atheism, and three percent were unknown.

How would a chart of mid-17th century religious beliefs differ from this chart?

A Fewer people would believe in a single God because most people believed in multiple gods.
B Fewer people would identify as atheist because people were not willing to share alternative religious beliefs publically.
C More people would list their religion as unknown because there were no strong religious entities during this era.
D More people would believe in a spirit or life force because such beliefs were encouraged during this era.

Answer 1

Fewer people would identify as atheist because people who did not identify with the official religion did not say so out loud.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Fewer people would identify as atheist because people were not willing to share alternative religious beliefs publicly.

In the late 17th century, noted empirical philosopher John Locke promoted religious toleration ... but by religious toleration he meant toleration between Catholics and Protestants. But atheists were not to be tolerated, according to Locke (and most others in that era). Locke argued in his Letter Concerning Toleration (1789): "Those are not at all to be tolerated who deny the being of a God. Promises, covenants, and oaths, which are the bonds of human society, can have no hold upon an atheist. The taking away of God, though but even in thought, dissolves all."