Theophrastus redivivus

The Theophrastus redivivus is one of an unknown French author around the year 1659 authored in Latin text. He is regarded as the earliest decidedly atheistic document of modern times.

The author, who sees himself as Redivivus of Theophrastus, criticizes the current proofs of God, which he relies among other things on the theodicy argument. He concludes that there is no God. However, religion is but useful:

"It is of benefit that share most of the conviction [ that there is a God ], but this belief is not true. " (P. 91, cited in Schroeder, 2003, p 26)

The text is part of the so-called littérature clandestine ( underground literature ). Such texts were anonymous and were spread mostly handwritten and illegal.