Is atheism such an original thought?

[Xeno.of.athens]

Psalm 52: (Greek numbering)
1 (To the choir-master. The Melody, Mahalat. A maskil. Of David.✻ )
There is no God above us, is the fond thought of reckless hearts.

vv. 1-7. See notes on Ps. 13. In the part common to the two psalms, this one uses ‘God’ where the earlier psalm uses ‘the Lord’, but otherwise there is no substantial variation except in verse 6.​

2 Warped natures everywhere and hateful lives, there is not an innocent man among them.
3 God looks down from heaven at the race of men, to find one soul that reflects, and goes in search of him;
4 but no, all have missed the mark and rebelled against him; an innocent man is nowhere to be found.
5 What, can they learn nothing, all these traffickers in iniquity, who feed themselves fat on this people of mine, as if it were bread for their eating,
6 and never invoke God’s name? What wonder if fear unmans them, where they have no cause for fear? Where are the foes that hemmed thee round?✻ God has scattered their bones far and wide, forgotten as his enemies must ever be.

Some think that this verse was inserted to celebrate the destruction of Sennacherib’s army (IV Kg. 19.35).​

7 Oh, may Sion bring deliverance to Israel! Day of gladness for Jacob, day of Israel’s triumph, when God restores the fortunes of his own people.

 

[BobRyan]

Psalms 53
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
There is no one who does good.
2 God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind
To see if there is anyone who understands,
Who seeks after God.
3 Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.

 

[Blade]

There has to be a GOD to have

atheism​

 

[jacks]

Psalms 53
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice;
There is no one who does good.
2 God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind
To see if there is anyone who understands,
Who seeks after God.
3 Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.

And this must of been a point that was very important since Psalms 14 says the same thing.

Psalms 14
The fool[a] says in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.

2 The Lord looks down from heaven
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God.
3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Would it be a fool who says in his heart "I do not know if there is a God"?

 

[hislegacy]

Would it be a fool who says in his heart "I do not know if there is a God"?

That would be an Agnostic -

 

[Jonaitis]

Psalm 52: (Greek numbering)
1 (To the choir-master. The Melody, Mahalat. A maskil. Of David.✻ )
There is no God above us, is the fond thought of reckless hearts.

vv. 1-7. See notes on Ps. 13. In the part common to the two psalms, this one uses ‘God’ where the earlier psalm uses ‘the Lord’, but otherwise there is no substantial variation except in verse 6.​

2 Warped natures everywhere and hateful lives, there is not an innocent man among them.
3 God looks down from heaven at the race of men, to find one soul that reflects, and goes in search of him;
4 but no, all have missed the mark and rebelled against him; an innocent man is nowhere to be found.
5 What, can they learn nothing, all these traffickers in iniquity, who feed themselves fat on this people of mine, as if it were bread for their eating,
6 and never invoke God’s name? What wonder if fear unmans them, where they have no cause for fear? Where are the foes that hemmed thee round?✻ God has scattered their bones far and wide, forgotten as his enemies must ever be.

Some think that this verse was inserted to celebrate the destruction of Sennacherib’s army (IV Kg. 19.35).​

7 Oh, may Sion bring deliverance to Israel! Day of gladness for Jacob, day of Israel’s triumph, when God restores the fortunes of his own people.

I believe the context of that passage is referring to the enemies of Israel, rather than a denial of God's existence. We must admit that atheism is the original thought, for it must be taught.