Atheist Hall of Fame

[Fake Messiah]

One of the people I admire the most for their brave atheism is Voltaire. He was a fearless crusader against religious cruelty and injustice. Not only did he write vehement attacks on the church's record of brutality which put him in exile but he also saved lives directly from bloodthirsty clergy, like when two teenage boys that were accused of wearing their hats while a church procession passed, and singing irreverent songs and mutilating a crucifix. Voltaire helped one to escape before trial to the Prussian army, but other was condemned to torture and to be burned at the stake. Although Voltaire interrupted and shifted case to parliament in Paris the clergy still demanded death, so Voltaire only manage to substitute to the more merciful penalty of decapitation which was carried out.
So it's because cases like that Voltaire raised outcries against injustices related to religion. Under his bombardment, France began to abandon torture and mutilation. Voltaire's efforts taught kindred spirits around the world how to fight for human rights.


Also somehow it looks to me like the most feisty atheist conversations, regarding those on internet forums, were in last decade.