Heroes of Atheism

[Minimalist]

Robert Green Ingersoll

Who can over estimate the progress of the world if all the money wasted in superstition could be used to enlighten, elevate and civilize mankind?
-- Robert Green Ingersoll, "Some Mistakes of Moses"

We have already compared the benefits of theology and science. When the theologian governed the world, it was covered with huts and hovels for the many, palaces and cathedrals for the few. To nearly all the children of men, reading and writing were unknown arts. The poor were clad in rags and skins -- they devoured crusts, and gnawed bones. The day of Science dawned, and the luxuries of a century ago are the necessities of to-day. Men in the middle ranks of life have more of the conveniences and elegancies than the princes and kings of the theological times. But above and over all this, is the development of mind. There is more of value in the brain of an average man of to-day -- of a master-mechanic, of a chemist, of a naturalist, of an inventor, than there was in the brain of the world four hundred years ago.
These blessings did not fall from the skies. These benefits did not drop from the outstretched hands of priests. They were not found in cathedrals or behind altars -- neither were they searched for with holy candles. They were not discovered by the closed eyes of prayer, nor did they come in answer to superstitious supplication. They are the children of freedom, the gifts of reason, observation and experience -- and for them all, man is indebted to man.
-- Robert Green Ingersoll, "God In The Constitution"

Ambrose Bierce

Religions are conclusions for which the facts of nature supply no major premises.
-- Ambrose Bierce, Collected Works

Theology is a thing of unreason altogether, an edifice of assumption and dreams, a superstructure without a substructure.
-- Ambrose Bierce, Collected Works

Camels and Christians receive their burdens kneeling.
-- Ambrose Bierce, quoted from James A Haught, ed, 2000 Years of Disbelief

Telling religious twits off since the 19th century

[Faith No More]

Mark Twain was a great atheist also, and he has some great quotes.

There has been only one Christian. They caught him and crucified him--early.
- Notebook, 1898

The Church has opposed every innovation and discovery from the day of Galileo down to our own time, when the use of anesthetics in childbirth was regarded as a sin because it avoided the biblical curse pronounced against Eve.
- Mark Twain, a Biography

This is a Christian country. Why, so is hell. Inasmuch as "Strait is the way and narrow is the gate, and few-few-are they that enter in thereat" has had the natural effect of making hell the only really prominent Christian community in any of the worlds; but we don't brag of this and certainly it is not proper to brag and boast that America is a Christian country when we all know that certainly five-sixths of our population could not enter in at the narrow gate.
- Mark Twain in Eruption

I found out that I was a Christian for revenue only and I could not bear the thought of that, it was so ignoble.
- Mark Twain in Eruption

If Christ were here there is one thing he would not be--a Christian.
- Mark Twain's Notebook

Christianity will doubtless still survive in the earth ten centuries hence--stuffed and in a museum.
- Notebook, 1898

You can never find a Christian who has acquired this valuable knowledge, this saving knowledge, by any process but the everlasting and all-sufficient "people say." In all my seventy-two years and a half I have never come across such another ass as this human race is.
- Mark Twain's Autobiography

[AthiestAtheist]

Agree with all of them except Dawkins. Would add Michael Shermer, Penn & Teller, etc to the list.

Why not dawkins?

I too am interested why our militant atheist friend doesn't think Richard Dawkins is that great.

Yeah, I third this motion.

[Minimalist]

There has been only one Christian. They caught him and crucified him--early.

I love that one.

[The Grand Nudger]

The various authors and editors of all of our fairy tales. Each of them has done such a great service to atheism that it would be difficult to top it.

“Irony is wasted on the stupid” ― Oscar Wilde

[RW_9]

As someone else said, Stephen Fry is fantastic as well. Forgot to mention him earlier.

[Jackalope]

Neil deGrasse Tyson and Stephen Hawking - though I am not certain they are atheists strictly speaking.

[passionatefool]

Carl Sagan - I fell in love with him and ...still is.... :] If i were to write about this man, it would go on forever so I wont.

Richard Dawkins - His straight-forward and blunt approach to things is refreshing, the man has courage. I know some people criticised him for being "heartless", i call it tough love. Some people criticize him for being weak in his philosophical argument...but for science's sake, this man is a biologist that felt religion is threatening the development of science and education, he applies logic and reasoning so if you don't like it then you can go suck it lol.

Neil Tyson - Just a fun guy,.....

[Minimalist]

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers.


The God of the Christians is a father who makes much of his apples, and very little of his children.

Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.


Denis Diderot

[Chuff]

The Robert Green Ingersoll, "God In The Constitution" passage is beautiful.

I will also add the late great Bill Hicks to my list