Hi all
This is my first post here so lets hope I avoid any faux pas.

My journey to enlightenment and the realisation that I was atheist was a long road, but there are definitely some people that helped me on the way, and inspired me to have confidence in my own 'beliefs'.

Here are a few of my heroes, people who's words or literature have had a huge impact upon me - I would heartily recommend them all if you aren't familiar with their work:

Tim Minchin - Australian Comedian, Singer, Musician & Atheist. He is easily found on youtube if you wanted a taster!
Richard Dawkins - Perhaps a bit too obvious to list here, but Dawkins work on evolutionary biology and his stance on religion has been a source of continued inspiration for me.
Christopher Hitchens - Delivers his ideas with an unrivalled eloquence, and his debates are some of the most powerful arguments that I have seen.
Carl Saganl - For his contributions to science, human space exploration, and his championing of the scientific method over mysticism and faith - I just wish he was my physics teacher in school!


I would be really interested to see who has inspired others, and why, and am always looking to find new reading material if you have any recommendations!

Chuff

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

I love Penn & Teller, and will look out for Shermer
Dawkins, the first time I saw him on tv I agreed with what he was saying but felt an irrational urge to punch him right in his smug face.
I have learned to overcome this feeling! And apart from one or two issues that I have with him I think he's done some magnificent work for the cause

(February 9, 2012 at 10:32 am)Tiberius Wrote: Agree with all of them except Dawkins. Would add Michael Shermer, Penn & Teller, etc to the list.

Why not dawkins?

Everyone who accomplish something impressive by his or her own efforts, and then properly credit themselves and their collsborators, and not god, is something of a hero to atheism.

Everyone who receives something that is the fruit of someone else's efforts, and chose to properly thank their human benefactors, instead of god, is something of a hero to atheism.

Everyone who receives something that could not be credited to any individual, and chose to understand the process and the chance behind their gift, instead of crediting the random to god, is something of a hero to atheism.

I hate the term "hero" and never use it, but that's besides the point.

It's hard to talk about great atheists without including Bertrand Russell.

Also, Chomsky has had some great things to say on the subject of religion when he does speak on it.

I originally had Bertrand Russell on there but in the end opted for Sagan as I've consumed more of his material - Chomsky I know of through references from Hitchens but thats it, and he's on my ever expanding amazon list that I might get around to reading when I win the lottery or retire.
And 'hero' well it was the closest word I had to hand, certainly individuals that have given me inspiration and helped my thoughts to coalesce into something more substantial on the subject

And I wanted my first post to be a positive one, before I start arguing with evidence deniers

(February 9, 2012 at 12:18 pm)SophiaGrace Wrote:

(February 9, 2012 at 10:32 am)Tiberius Wrote: 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.

Chomsky is a boring hypocritical fuckwit. Dawkins is the nuts, his career is quite amazing. Look up Henry Mencken, way ahead of his time from what I have read so far, read his book; 'Religious Orgy in Tennessee', and note the era he wrote it in, quite ahead of his time and impeccable writing skills coupled with a wit sharper than all bar mine, he also has books purely on religion. Stephen Fry is a good one too.

(February 9, 2012 at 10:37 am)Chuff Wrote: Dawkins, the first time I saw him on tv I agreed with what he was saying but felt an irrational urge to punch him right in his smug face.

Whaaaaat? How can you even think about bringing harm to this beautiful man!


Oh and btw, I put Stephen Fry on my list.