In a letter to John Calvin, Italian theologian Lelio Sozzini wrote: "Most of my friends are so well educated they can scarcely believe God exists.
"[3] Roger Ascham in 1551 wrote about his experience in Italy: "a man may freelie discourse against what he will, against whom he lust: against any Prince, agaynst any gouernement, yea against God him selfe, and his whole Religion"[4] Gui Patin in the 17th century described Italy in reference to religion as the land of: "Pox, poisoning, and atheism"[3] Lucilio Vanini represented an early voice in Italian secularism.
In this time, Vanini wrote two books: Aversus veteres philosophos in 1615, and De Admirandis Naturae Reginae Deaeque Mortalium Arcanis in 1616.
The ideas in Vanini's books caused controversy in Italy with the Catholic Church and he was accused of atheism.
[13] Using a less direct definition, the WIN/GIA Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism survey found that 23% of the population was "not a religious person" in 2012, which grew to 26% by 2017.