Who is/was the Best Atheist Spokesman?

[downbeatplumb]

Out of the "four horsemen", I think Hitchens was by far the best debater.

He was certainly the most entertaining.

Dawkins is probably more intellectual but dry.

[Minimalist]

Right now, I'd say Richard Carrier.  At least he uses history to support his points.

[Raven Orlock]

I'm going with David Silverman, the man, the meme, the legend. I know that some don't like his "firebrand" activism, but it resonates with me.

[Succubus]

And as a counter to claims that atheism is something 'new and fashionable':

......................................

"Somebody ought to tell the truth about the Bible. The preachers dare not, because they would be driven from their pulpits. Professors in colleges dare not, because they would lose their salaries. Politicians dare not. They would be defeated. Editors dare not. They would lose subscribers. Merchants dare not, because they might lose customers. Men of fashion dare not, fearing that they would lose caste. Even clerks dare not, because they might be discharged. And so I thought I would do it myself"...

About the Holy Bible
by Robert G. Ingersoll
1894

"Of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is no more derogatory to the Almighty, more unedifying to man, more repugnant to reason, and more contradictory to itself than this thing called Christianity. Too absurd for belief, too impossible to convince, and too inconsistent for practice, it renders the heart torpid or produces only atheists or fanatics. As an engine of power, it serves the purpose of despotism, and as a means of wealth, the avarice of priests, but so far as respects the good of man in general it leads to nothing here or hereafter."

Thomas Paine.
1794

“One of the most irrational of all the conventions of modern society is the one to the effect that religious opinions should be respected. …[This] convention protects them, and so they proceed with their blather unwhipped and almost unmolested, to the great damage of common sense and common decency. that they should have this immunity is an outrage. There is nothing in religious ideas, as a class, to lift them above other ideas. On the contrary, they are always dubious and often quite silly. Nor is there any visible intellectual dignity in theologians. Few of them know anything that is worth knowing, and not many of them are even honest.”

Henry Louis Mencken

19 something.

[The Grand Nudger]

There is no other world other than this;
There is no heaven and no hell;
The realm of Shiva and like regions,
are invented by stupid imposters.

no later than 600bc.

Fuck that, that's a nice axe!

Uncle Ogg, circa 48k bc.

[chimp3]

Looking to get back into listening to some good quality debates and discussions again. I personally enjoyed listening to atheists such as Sam Harris and the late Christopher Hitchens argue far more than others such as Dawkins or Krauss. Thoughts?

How about spokesperson? Or are you only interested in males?