quotations about atheism
The thing framed says that nothing framed it; the tongue never made itself to speak, and yet talks against him that did; saying that which is made, is, and that which made it, is not. But this folly is infinite as hell, as much without light or bound as the chaos or the primitive nothing.
JEREMY TAYLOR
Sermon XX, Discourses on Various Subjects
The path from Christianity to Atheism is a long one, and its first steps are very rough and very painful; the feet tread on the ruins of the broken faith, and the sharp edges cut into the bleeding flesh; but further on the path grows smoother, and presently at its side begins to peep forth the humble daisy of hope that heralds the springtide, and further on the roadside is fragrant with all the flowers of summer, sweet and brilliant and gorgeous, and in the distance we see the promise of the autumn, the harvest that shall be reaped for the feeding of man.
ANNIE BESANT
My Path to Atheism
Bold with joy,
Forth from his dark and lonely hiding-place
(Portentous sight!) the owlet Atheism,
Sailing on obscene wings athwart the noon,
Drops her blue-fringed lids, and holds them close,
And hooting at the glorious sun in Heaven,
Cries out, "Where is it?"
SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE
"Fears in Solitude"
Atheism's attraction -- greatness, dare I say? -- is that it takes seriously, deadly seriously indeed, the reality of this world, because, for atheism, this world is all we have. There is no emergency exit, which, for atheism, is what religious belief often amounts to. And in this perspective, the rejection of immortality can be seen as an invitation to a life of complete honesty in the here and now.
MARTIN HENRY
"Easter a time to reflect on life and `life hereafter'", The Irish News, March 24, 2016
If there were not God, there would be no atheists.
G. K. CHESTERTON
Where All Roads Lead
The People will not allow themselves to be changed into hogs by the Circes of Atheism. Their souls will flash indignation against their transformers. A day will come when they will see that they are impoverished under the pretext of being enriched; that, when they are robbed of their souls and of God, both their titles to liberty are stolen from them.
ALPHONSE DE LAMARTINE
Atheism Among the People
Those are not at all to be tolerated who deny the being of God. Promises, covenants, and oaths, which are the bonds of human society, can have no hold upon an atheist. The taking away of God, though but even in thought, dissolves all.
JOHN LOCKE
An Essay Concerning Toleration
Atheists put on a false courage and alacrity in the midst of their darkness and apprehensions, like children who, when they fear to go in the dark, will sing for fear.
ALEXANDER POPE
"Thoughts on Various Subjects", Miscellanies in Verse and Prose
If this be not atheism, to acknowledge no other deity besides dead and senseless matter, then the word hath no signification.
RALPH CUDWORTH
The True Intellectual System of the Universe
Atheism is not a world view or a belief system or a political philosophy. It is not a religion, it has no doctrine or dogma. It has nothing to do with whether a person is moral or immoral, good or evil. Atheism is simply a lack of belief in a god or gods.
RANDY VLACH
letter to the editor, "Important to define atheism", Casper Star Tribune, March 15, 2016
I do not believe in God and I am not an atheist.
ALBERT CAMUS
Notebooks 1951-1959
If you have a sloppy religion you get a sloppy atheism.
RONALD KNOX
attributed, The Knox Brothers
What I find funny about promoting atheism is that atheists are doing the same thing many religions do. They are literally advocating for their (non)beliefs. And doing that with so much passion, trying to convince people to give up their faith, working that hard to prove everyone that your standpoint is the right one and that everyone around who don't believe in the same thing you do are stupid ... there is something religious about it.
NINA ZDINJAK
"Top 10 Atheist YouTube Channels To Watch", Insider Monkey, March 9, 2016
To its adherents, it is the antidote to centuries of ignorance and superstition, but to its detractors it is the product of latter-day decadence and materialism. But a new Cambridge University study argues that atheism is in fact one of the world's oldest beliefs -- long predating Christianity and Islam. The belief that there were no gods was common in the ancient world, research by Professor Tim Whitmarsh, professor of Greek culture at Cambridge, concludes. But "ancient atheism" was effectively written out of history when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire in the early fourth century, heralding a new era of state-imposed belief.
STAFF WRITER
"Believe it, atheism is ancient", Times LIVE, February 16, 2016
Even the Atheists ... readily acknowledge it for an indubitable truth, that there must be something ... which was never made or produced -- and which therefore is the cause of those other things that are made, something ... whose existence must needs be necessary.... Wherefore all the question now is, what is this ... self-existent thing, which is the cause of all other things that are made.
RALPH CUDWORTH
The True Intellectual System of the Universe
I have no religion, and at times I wish all religions at the bottom of the sea. He is a weak ruler who needs religion to uphold his government; it is as if he would catch his people in a trap. My people are going to learn the principles of democracy, the dictates of truth and the teachings of science. Superstition must go. Let them worship as they will; every man can follow his own conscience, provided it does not interfere with sane reason or bid him against the liberty of his fellow-men.
MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATURK
attributed, Ataturk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey
Therefore, as atheism is in all respects hateful, so in this, that it depriveth human nature of the means to exalt itself, above human frailty.
FRANCIS BACON
"Of Atheism", Essays
Atheism can never be an institution ... it can never be more than a destitution.
ROBERT COLLYER
"Yesterday in the Pulpit", The New York Times, Mar. 6, 1882
Atheism is not the default position despite what many atheists persist. The default position is nothing. To be an atheist you must first become aware of the concept of gods to reject them either consciously or unconsciously. To disbelieve in something you must first acquire knowledge.
RATIONAL THINKER
"Atheism is the default position aka nonsense", MyNews24, March 15, 2016
It has long been observed, that an atheist has no just reason for endeavouring conversions; and yet none harass those minds which they can influence, with more importunity of solicitation to adopt their opinions. In proportion as they doubt the truth of their own doctrines, they are desirous to gain the attestation of another understanding: and industriously labour to win a proselyte, and eagerly catch at the slightest pretense to dignify their sect with a distinguished name.
SAMUEL JOHNSON
"The Life of Sir Thomas Browne, Kt., M.D."