Scientific Atheism in East Germany (1963-1990): How to Turn a Hare Into a Lion

This book offers an in-depth, archive-based analysis of ’scientific atheism’, focused on the development of the field in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Scientific atheism was established as a Soviet import in 1963 at Jena University, with a presence in East German universities, propaganda and politics for nearly thirty years. The chapters explore the sociological work done by scientific atheists such as Olof Klohr, how they defined religion and atheism, and their role as actors of atheisation in various fields. As well as reflecting on the specific religious and political context in East Germany, the author makes comparison with other communist-ruled countries. Drawing on extensive and unique documentation, the book will be of interest to scholars of atheism and secularism, religion and politics, religious history, German history, and East European studies.

Eva Guigo-Patzelt is an associate member of CéSor - Centre d’études en sciences sociales du religieux (EHESS/CNRS) in France and a project lead within the Explaining Atheism Programme led by Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland.