A few years ago a philosopher wrote an article in the New York Times that suggested that maybe the gods were real in antiquity, on the tacit presumption that belief in gods was then universal, such universality being a consequence of common and widespread divine manifestations that eradicated doubt.
Of course, he was trying to be provocative, but I took issue with the presumption of universality. When I wrote to remind him that Plato briefly discussed atheists in The Laws, implying that atheism among young adults was common, though invariably transitioning to adherence to the local faith as they grew older and wiser[1], he replied with, "Oh, yeah, I forgot."
[1] Of course, there's multiple ways to interpret Plato's argument, including 1) older, wiser people came to see the truth of the existence of the gods and 2) older, wiser people came to see the usefulness of shared belief in the gods, regardless of the actual existence of the gods.
Of course, he was trying to be provocative, but I took issue with the presumption of universality. When I wrote to remind him that Plato briefly discussed atheists in The Laws, implying that atheism among young adults was common, though invariably transitioning to adherence to the local faith as they grew older and wiser[1], he replied with, "Oh, yeah, I forgot."
[1] Of course, there's multiple ways to interpret Plato's argument, including 1) older, wiser people came to see the truth of the existence of the gods and 2) older, wiser people came to see the usefulness of shared belief in the gods, regardless of the actual existence of the gods.