Zen

Awesome quotes for a lot of intelligent people. Huge Mark Twain fan! Join the movement at http://www.atheistrevolution.com

Change Ben Franklin’s quote about Lighthouses and Churches. Replace “then” with “than”.

Some of these quotes are made by some retarded individuals…and from the the “intelligent” people quoted on this page, it’s quite sad that most would gamble with their “souls” and choose not to believe in something greater than to choose NOTHING. Choosing nothing means you have no meaning being on earth. And that pleases you?

Strong collection of quotes on atheism!
Here’s another:
http://moizkhan.com/blog/?p=28

Good stuff - more quotes and resources can be found at:
http://FreeThoughtPedia.com/

>Some of these quotes are made by some retarded >individuals…and from the the “intelligent” people >quoted on this page, it’s quite sad that most would >gamble with their “souls” and choose not to believe >in something greater than to choose NOTHING. >Choosing nothing means you have no meaning >being on earth. And that pleases you?

It’s not about being pleased. It’s about being honest. As GBS said in quote 31, just because a drunk is happier than a sober man, doesn’t mean it is better to be drunk. Or as James Garfield put it, “The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable.”

you realize eistein is also qouted saying that the biggest mistake he ever made was trying to prove God does not excist.

My meaning is what I make it, and as long as I don’t use force or fraud to achieve my goals, and respect others’ right to live the same way, I think it’s a pretty good thing.

One of my favorite Dawkins quotes:

“If you have a faith, it is statistically overwhelmingly likely that it is the same faith as your parents and grandparents had. No doubt soaring cathedrals, stirring music, moving stories and parables, help a bit. But by far the most important variable determining your religion is the accident of birth. The convictions that you so passionately believe would have been a completely different, and largely contradictory, set of convictions, if only you had happened to be born in a different place.”

Epicurus’ quote has a logical error which I find amusing considering his background.

He says God is malevolent because he does not prevent evil. As I see it the premise to prevent evil and the premise to be malevolent are two different things.

I have enjoyed this collection of quotes, no doubt most of the finest minds in history have had a thing or two to say about religion.

@ This is retarded

So you feel that people should subscribe to a religion just because? To “believe in something”? Like atheists should “join a side” because life and humanity is just some big game?

Let me ask you this; how many people have been raped, tortured and murdered by a group of atheists vying for power? How many wars have been fought because one atheist group didn’t agree with another atheist group?

Atheists aren’t heartless, bloodsucking monsters that want nothing but to destroy society through apathy. A large number of atheists are doctors, researchers and scholars. In other words, most atheists are intelligent, educated people and a lot of them are doing things to make a difference in other people’s lives, like researching cures for diseases.

Atheists don’t choose nothing, because without religion you can only choose humanity. And what could be better than one person helping someone else because it’s the right thing to do, not because they fear punishment if they don’t?

@ This is retarded

Your comment restates Pascals wager. It is a gamble based on infinite return. Heaven is perfect, nothingness is nothingness. Of course it is better to choose perfectness over nothingness.

The problem is, as far as human knowledge is concerned, both heaven and nothingness are but a figment of our imagination. One has the bible as evidence, the other has science.

Excuse me “This is retarded”, but I bet your god would like that you use the word “retarded” to describe some of these people and/or their quotes. I am glad to see you would gamble your intelligence by making such a childish and utterly offensive remark. Does your faith not accept the ‘retarded”? Are the “retarded” not worthy of your god? Do you think that the “retarded” do not worship or are unable to worship your god?
You sir sound like a nazi to me?

The argument over whether or not a God (or gods) exists measures as a monumental exercise in futility. The subject both sides intend to prove is not capable of being done so absolutely and the nature of the argument invariably turns antagonistic.

Several of these quotes are taken out of context to provide an atheistic slant, which is pathetic. There are enough intellectual atheists around that you need not manipulate the words of those who aren’t.

I’m glad that Arthur Clarke’s quote on religion hijacking morality was last since that is what people tend to remember the best. This might be the only quote on the list worth considering.

The universe doesn’t owe you a ‘meaning’. Atheism isn’t for the weak. It is not easy to accept that this is it. But it is oh so freeing! Time to take off the gloves and punch religion in the neck! Aren’t you all sick of these pathetic fools messing up our short lives with their medievil nonsense?

#36 is by Seneca, a Roman Philosopher not whoever is listed above.

You know what sucks about people who are religeous. They’re so committed to it, that its NOT ok, to leave their fellow man out of their religeon. They’ve gotta try to convert or kill you for not being a part of theirs. What the hell. I just want to live, if you’re right when we’re dead… go ahead, laugh then. If you’re not, nobody will know, so why do you care?

Oh, and the whole, “how can you live with life if it means nothing” question. Good grief people. Your life means something to YOU damnit, to your FAMILY. Isn’t that enough? why do you need some omnipotent being to give a crap if you’re around. Your friends, your family. They are the legacy of your life, no religious leader’s reassurances will ever be a substitute for them.

Where are all the poker quotes at? Ghandi loved Texas Holdem!

http://pokerquotewisdom.blogspot.com

>Your comment restates Pascals wager. It is
>a gamble based on infinite return. Heaven
>is perfect, nothingness is nothingness

You have the Heaven part wrong. It’s either nothingness or eternal Hell. I’ll take my chance with Christianity, as I’ve got nothing to lose if it’s wrong. Unless Islam is right.

@JPD

-” Any man who believes he has all the answers, is the furthest from being correct. ”

Yes, indeed… /sarcasm

-which also means most of the people with these fancy smart person quotes you guys get your tickles out of reading are also burning and being violated in the depths of hell for eternity!

Can you say contradiction? Or is the word too fancy and smart for you to pronounce, JPD?

Seriously, how do YOU know that this is indeed the case? Do YOU know everything?

And scientists don’t claim that they know everything. This is the furthest from the truth. Not knowing everything is the impetus for them to explore and be curious about the universe, and hence our technological advances.

@retarded

Meaning? Why do you need someone else to give you meaning? Are you so desperate that you’ll cling on to meaning others give you rather than think for yourself? And what’s this BS about not thinking about the greater good? Just who do you think is working to stop global warming, disease, famine, etc? If we take away people of reason and science and replace them with faith, we’d be no better off than people a thousand years ago.

If there can ever be a meeting between religion and science, this guy describes it best:

godloveenergy.blogspot.com

Both atheism and religious belief are far too broad and complex for simple answers about either to be correct.

To call someone an atheist, is to ignore the question of which God or Gods they make a special point of rejecting - and perhaps more important, it ignores the question of why it is somehow important to explicitly reject something one believes to be irrelevant in the 1st place.

To call a person religious is to ignore a spectrum of beliefs and ideas ranging from the childish and absurd to some of the most profound and useful philosophical and practical constructs in the human experience.

The most basic questions about the origin and nature of the Universe, and about the nature and substance of consciousness, are fundamentally beyond the reach of analytical study. Those who fear the answers to these questions, can take one of two easy paths: Formally declare the questions themselves to be meaningless (atheism), or replace the disturbing questions with false but reassuring answers (ordinary religion).

Neither position adequately addresses the relevant question, “Why am I here and what really matters in my life?” Both are stopgap conveniences, treating lack of knowledge as if it were, in and of itself, final knowledge.

Atheism/religion is a social and spiritual disease affecting industrial/imperial cultures only. It is not found among most “primitive” peoples, who take a strictly experiential and utilitarian approach to spiritual matters. When the mind is not overwhelmed with abstract ideological beliefs, the truth is largely self evident.

The knowledge of reality can not be taught or told, it can only be lived. Those who manage to do this in a modern industrial society are likely to find atheism and organized religion equally offensive and dangerous.

Both atheism and religious belief are far too broad and complex for simple answers about either to be correct.

To call someone an atheist, is to ignore the question of which God or Gods they make a special point of rejecting - and perhaps more important, it ignores the question of why it is somehow important to explicitly reject something one believes to be irrelevant in the 1st place.

To call a person religious is to ignore a spectrum of beliefs and ideas ranging from the childish and absurd to some of the most profound and useful philosophical and practical constructs in the human experience.

The most basic questions about the origin and nature of the Universe, and about the nature and substance of consciousness, are fundamentally beyond the reach of analytical study. Those who fear the answers to these questions, can take one of two easy paths: Formally declare the questions themselves to be meaningless (atheism), or replace the disturbing questions with false but reassuring answers (ordinary religion).

Neither position adequately addresses the relevant question, “Why am I here and what really matters in my life?” Both are stopgap conveniences, treating lack of knowledge as if it were, in and of itself, final knowledge.

Atheism/religion is a social and spiritual disease affecting industrial/imperial cultures only. It is not found among most “primitive” peoples, who take a strictly experiential and utilitarian approach to spiritual matters. When the mind is not overwhelmed with abstract ideological beliefs, the truth is largely self evident.

The knowledge of reality can not be taught or told, it can only be lived. Those who manage to do this in a modern industrial society are likely to find atheism and organized religion equally offensive and dangerous.

(Network connection failure in progress - please delete this post if it is a duplicate!)

@ Darren:

A number of those quoted here, regardless of the weight of their words, would never have considered themselves atheists or agnostics. Their quotes are simply a measure of their thoughts.

Re: One day religion will be gone, and on that day, so will war.

Land and water are at the center of wars, and unfortunately religion is used as a facade. If one day far in the future religion ceased to exist, I am certain war would not accompany it.

Jesus >> Herr

Sorry dude, but my brothers and sisters tried to tell you, but you didn’t listen.

Thats right America lose “God bless America” stickers and get one of those “God forgive America”

America have been blessed because christians were ruling it, and now since atheists taking it over with their shit (Fag marriges etc.) America will be going DOWN.

Quote this suck ups.

Although Bill Hicks was only quoted once in this article, I just wanted to say that the relevance of his material to today’s issues is startling. I’m a teenager, and I was 4 years old when he died. It’s getting around to having been two decades since Hicks died, and the issues he spoke still mostly have yet to be universally resolved, which I think says something about us as a species. He talked about how we need to “evolve ideas,” because “evolution didn’t stop with us getting opposable thumbs.” And yet, we really haven’t moved on key moral issues in life yet.

Goddamnit, religion.

“but it is so ridiculous that it has no chance of being true.”

Pot. Kettle. Black

Oh Steve K, do we have to teach you the meaning of atheism again…….oh the pain!!

Just because I believe in a religion doesn’t mean that I’m a loser here on earth. I help others, I try to be kind, I work, I learn, I teach. You are not better than me because you don’t believe in God. I’m not a zombie because I believe in God. I have not raped anyone, I have not started any wars. Stereotyping believers is just as wrong as stereotyping atheists. Please show some respect for your fellow man.

Excellent list, indeed. Many favorites. Thanks for putting it up.

On Fire for Reason @
http://sansfaith.blogspot.com

Brilliant!

This is retarded:
“Some of these quotes are made by some retarded individuals…and from the the “intelligent” people quoted on this page, it’s quite sad that most would gamble with their “souls” and choose not to believe in something greater than to choose NOTHING. Choosing nothing means you have no meaning being on earth. And that pleases you?”

Retarded or not, people only gamble with things they have, or think they have…so basicly we’re not gambling with anything. I feel sorry for you. You spend your entire life trying to get to a place that might or might not exist. I’d rather spend my entire life trying to get to Japan, kuse no matter what when I get there I’m going to be up on the best tech, and therefore the best hospitals to keep me alive for as long as possible.

What do u mean nothing? I believe in evolution, science (even if i don’t understand 1/20000 of it), aliens (the universe is a big place), and alot of other things. Just because I don’t believe in what you believe in means I have no meaning on earth? I have plenty of friends and family (who are extremly religious might I add) who would disagree.

Finally, yes. Being atheist does please me. I don’t hate you for believing in what I do not. I hate you for being such an @$$hole about it.

[…] Left of Zen » Top 50 Atheism Quotes (tags: atheism religion quotes funny christianity johnspicks) […]

I fail to see how Mahatma Gandhi was atheist.

this is a doozy and deserves to be considered on the list. It’s from Bertrand Russell, and it still makes me shake in my boots:

“That man is the product of causes which had no prevision of the end they were achieving; that his origin, his growth, his hopes and fears, his loves and his beliefs, are but the outcome of accidental collocations of atoms; that no fire, no heroism, no intensity of thought and feeling, can preserve an individual life beyond the grave; that all the labors of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius, are destined to extinction in the vast death of the solar system, and that the whole temple of man’s achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the debris of a universe in ruins — all these things, if not quite beyond dispute, are yet so nearly certain that no philosophy which rejects them can hope to stand. Only within the scaffolding of these truths, only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair, can the soul’s salvation henceforth be safely built.”

Certanlly god is in Iraq seen how americans kill 700,000 inocent people and brake one of the main rules he gives to them.

Religion is crap, as bush family.

Wow, Benjamin Franklin really said “Lighthouses are more helpful then churches.”?

THEN!? Really? Come on, people, let’s make an effort here..

Atheists spend [waste] their whole lives trying to prove religion wrong. What gain is there in that?

Let people believe in a God.

Let people love. Let them have faith. Nothing wrong with that.

Now go do something better with your lives than just trying to find flaws in faith.

@ This Is Retarded:

How, exactly, should someone go about CHOOSING to believe? The very statement is a paradox. If I have seen what I’ve seen in my life, read what I’ve read, studied the sources of religion, read the bible, or the torah, or whichever you prefer, and do not as a result believe that any of it could possibly be true, how can I knowingly change my logical conclusion?

I couldn’t. Not without being a liar. I believe what I believe, not because I CHOOSE to, but because I have weighed the evidence and realized that there is only one logical conclusion.

Good list, but it’s missing my all-time favorite:

The most preposterous notion that H. Sapiens has ever dreamed up is that the Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of all the Universes, wants the saccharine adoration of His creatures, can be swayed by their prayers, and becomes petulant if He does not receive this flattery. Yet this absurd fantasy, without a shred of evidence to bolster it, pays all the expenses of the oldest, largest, and least productive industry in all history.

The second most preposterous notion is that copulation is inherently sinful.

Lazarus Long
via
Robert A. Heinlein

Hmm… These are not all quotes on atheism, so much as they are commentary on the state of religion.

My favorite atheist quote ever wasn’t on the list:

“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”
-Stephen Roberts

Those who say that these quotes are retarded fear that the great one would send them to hell for believing this

Anyway, nice quotes

especially

21, 31, 33

My views on atheism: A true athiest is one who doesn’t give a f*** whether Big Brother exists or not. And as long as I keep reading such stuff and argue with theists, I am not an athiest.

Hope I will become an athiest very soon

I Know:

That I am made of atoms forged in the hearts of stars.

That every one of my ancestors was a survivor.

You believe:

That your fate is in the hands of a fickle god, who hurts because he loves.

That you are unable to control yourselves without his existence.

one is part of the universe the other is an abused child.

Atheism is broadly defined as the non-belief in deities. It is possible to have religious belief and not believe in a god or gods (for example Buddhism).

The argument for theism/atheism comes down to whether there is a god or gods. A skeptical person will choose not to believe in a deity until sufficient testable and verifiable empirical evidence is presented to indicate a high probability of such a hypothesis being true. Since the existence of a deity is an extraordinary claim, there would need to be extraordinary evidence in support of it.

Moreover, the burden of proof lies with those who hypothesise the existence of a god or gods. If I started telling people that I was an invisible sky ghost that could perform miracles, those people would naturally like to see evidence of my claims before making their minds up about my outrageous claims. Such evidence is not forthcoming from those who hold such a “God hypothesis”.

Since there is no evidence for the existence of a god or gods, the only sensible choice is to be atheistic about it. There really are only two options here: belief or non-belief. Being agnostic is simply choosing not to make the choice!

If you do believe in a god then I don’t mind! Believe what you like, just don’t require that belief of anyone else and we can all be friends.

Finally, if you believe in a god because you think it’s the safe thing to do (i.e. you will burn in hell if you don’t believe) then you’re living in a cage of your own conscience. You’re entitled to your self inflicted cage. I don’t envy you at all.

Needs work on the form kind of hard to follow, which person said what with some headings. Not all quotes are a confirmation on atheism. Just questioning God’s existence, which is on par with faith. Einstein himself loathes being used in this way. Compared it to the way fundamentalists attack unbelief. Congrats you and Falwell in the same boat. Otherwise re-affirming.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_wager

Read the criticisms. Pascal’s Wager is stupid.

>>One day religion will be gone, and on that day, so will war.

As long as there are stupid jackasses that say things like this, radical atheism would, and should, not be taken any more seriously than whacko fundamentalism, too often used as the straw man by said atheists.

@ This is retarded:

There is nothing wrong with having no meaning in life. Ego-death is one of the most brilliant things you can experience, and rightly so. It returns your self to the real you, without the need for a God, or rewards of any kind. If you need a supreme being in order to make your life worthwhile, then please by all means - praise your God, but don’t think that people are worthless or wrong because they have different beliefs to you. It is this stance that people endure that creates the problems involving religion.

Atheism is just an organised religion. You have your beliefs, you have your things you praise and people you believe (as this post shows).

You are no better (and in most cases) no worse than any other organised belief.

Every religion (including your religion of atheism) has morons it. Every religion (including your religion of athiesm) has hypocrites in it.

The website - http://www.atheistrevolution.com/ says : “The Atheist Revolution is about the Non Religious coming together to make positive change.” - Much like a church group with the same beliefs ?

Please show me physics, I would love to see the physical “thing” I can see touch and hold (a popular question to prove there is good). I can see the effects, but just as religions “believe” God is there no one can see it, just the effects of it… So once again atheism is any different how?

There are multiple theories (as in not proved and never can be) in the physics and science world, people arguing on what is right and what they believe is correct. Just like organised religion.

So please don’t be hypocritical and say that being atheist makes you any different than religion because you have all the marks of one.

I’m glad to see the number of intelligent and spirited responses to this article. Somebody asked if we could imagine what the world would be like without religion. I don’t think that point can be understated. If there are people in this world who avoid doing things that are wrong for the fear of posthumous retribution, then we are better off for it. I live in a highly religious community; and although I don’t share there beliefs regarding god and after life, I am a big supporter of the family values and morals that result from their “faith”.

Religion to me is a coping mechanism that justifies death. It has survived from thousands of years ago when the earth was flat and the center of the universe, because the thought of simple end to life would simply consume most people. Truthfully, I sometimes wish that I was raised in religion so I live my life without that very thought creeping into my mind. I’m 24 years, and a day doesn’t pass that I don’t think about the finality of life…

Why do atheists spend so much time talking about something they don’t believe in?

In case you can’t see past the end of your nose, let me point it out to you. Atheism is a religion too. Many just refuse to acknowledge it.

[…] by Einstein, Nietzsche, Gandhi, Mark Twain, Voltaire, Stephen Hawking, and other notable thinkers. read more | digg story This was written by gregor. Posted on Monday, January 14, 2008, at 10:13 pm. Filed […]

“Religion is the impotence of the human mind to deal with occurrences it cannot understand.” -Karl Marx

A huge percentage of these quotes come from Jewish people. Are they particularly atheistic?

What was Stalin’s religion?

Atheism is just an organised religion. You have your beliefs, you have your things you praise and people you believe (as this post shows).

You are no better (and in most cases) no worse than any other organised belief.

Every religion (including your religion of atheism) has morons it. Every religion (including your religion of athiesm) has hypocrites in it.

The website - http://www.atheistrevolution.com/ says : “The Atheist Revolution is about the Non Religious coming together to make positive change.” - Much like a church group with the same beliefs ?

Please show me physics, I would love to see the physical “thing” I can see touch and hold (a popular question to prove there is good). I can see the effects, but just as religions “believe” God is there no one can see it, just the effects of it… So once again atheism is any different how?

There are multiple theories (as in not proved and never can be) in the physics and science world, people arguing on what is right and what they believe is correct. Just like organised religion.

So please don’t be hypocritical and say that being atheist makes you any different than religion because you have all the marks of one.

[…] Left of Zen » Top 50 Atheism Quotes Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]

[…] Atheism Quotes Top 50 Atheism Quotes 50 atheist quotes from many people. Some that cought my eye. It ain’t those parts of the Bible […]

Wow, I’m amazed… I personally found this article to be extremely amusing and clever. It just proves how intelligent man is.

The intelligent men study, observe, learn, and make comments about how God does not exist. The intelligent men grow old, sick, and die leaving behind a legacy that states that they did good things on earth simply because they felt it was the right thing to do. Their parents brought them up, taught them right from wrong, and they learned to rely on their intelligent minds to make decisions.

The smart men choose study, observe, learn, and use faith as the excuse to exert their Godless intentions. The smart men grow old, sick. and die leaving behind a legacy that states that they died for what they believed in and took others with them because they deserved it.

The foolish men study, observe, learn, and realise that the beauty of this created universe is far beyond the ability of man to fathom. The foolish men grow old, sick, and die leaving behind a legacy that states that they did good things on earth simply because they loved God and his creations. God brought them up, taught them that at the most crucial times they will fail to make the right choice, and became their guide at these times.

When it came time to make a decision, the smart men died, the intelligent men gave up, and the foolish men followed their Spirit.

I’m a fool…

@Steve K

“Formally declare the questions themselves to be meaningless (atheism), or replace the disturbing questions with false but reassuring answers (ordinary religion).”

Who says atheists formally declare the most basic questions about the origin and nature of the Universe meaningless? Most atheists say they cannot answer them. That’s something completely different from declaring them meaningless.

Religion makes the only claim it has all the answers. It has explained everything and knows for certain a divine being exists.

[…] Then redress the balance and cheer yourself up with this one. […]

Some good posts here and some bad, gonna make this short. Many of those quoted would have openly professed a belief in god. The problem many atheists have with religion draws more from the corruption we can see in organized faith but the mass atheism movement has decided that this means anyone of faith. Consequently the mass atheism movement is probably just as guilty of hubris as the organized religions.

I’d say I’m rather an agnostic. Right now I don’t explicitly believe in a single god, Muslim; Christian; etc…, I understand the value of discourse on the ancient texts such as the Bible or Koran but fear the effects that group think can have on a population. For me religion is a personal thing, some day I may feel a spiritual connection to something, we’ll call it god, and I don’t reject the notion that it could happen. I’m just willing to wait and be wary of the false prophets of mass religious/atheist movements.

[…] Left of Zen » Top 50 Atheism Quotes […]

I believe these are the most ridiculous comments I have ever read in my life.I think it should be buried.

From “Despair” by V. Nabokov:

The non-existence of God is simple to prove. Impossible to concede, for example, that a serious Jah, all wise and almighty, could employ his time in such inane fashion as playing with manikins, and - what is still more incongruous - should restrict his game to the dreadfully trite laws of mechanics, chemistry, mathematics, and never - mind you, never! - show his face, but allow himself surreptitious peeps and circumlocutions, and the sneaky whispering (revelations, indeed!) of contentious truths from behind the back of some gentle hysteric. this divine business is, I presume, a huge hoax for which priests are certainly not to blame; priests themselves are its victims. The idea of God was invented in the small hours of history by a scamp who had genius; it somehow reeks too much of humanity, that idea, to make its azure origin plausible; by which I do not mean that it is the fruit of crass ignorance; that scamp of mine was skilled in celestial law - and really I wonder which variation of Heaven is best: That dazzle of argus-eyed angels fanning their wings, or that curved mirror in which a self-complacent professor of physics recedes, getting ever smaller and smaller. There is yet another reason why I cannot, nor wish to, believe in God: the fairy-tale about him is not really mine, it belongs to strangers, to all men; it is soaked through by the evil-smelling effluvia of millions of other souls that have spun about a little under the sun and then burst; it swarms with primordial fears; there echos in it a confused choir of numberless voices striving to drown one another; I hear it in the boom and pant of the organ, the roar of the orthodox deacon, the croon of the cantor… the flowing eloquency of the Protestant preacher, gongs, thunderclaps, spasms of epileptic women; I see shining through it the pallid pages of all philosphies like the foam of long-spent waves; it is foreign to me, and odious and absolutely useless…

Have you seen the wedding portrait taken at the wedding of Mark Twain’s daughter. There are the newlyweds with Mark beaming at the camera dressed in the cap and gown presented to him at Oxford. He upstaged his own daughter on her wedding day! The happily married couple couldn’t wait to get out of town. Such an ego! Carlin. Voltaire. Hawkings. Hitchens. Shaw. Asimov. Franklin.This group might also be titled: Top 50 Egos! Of course, they don’t need God because they are gods! How could they ever be happy in Heaven where they have to worship the real God? These are tiny gods who eventually wind up worshipping at the alter of despair.
Ted

What kind of moronic god would be stupid enough to leave “his word” in a book, written in a language that only a small minority of “his people” understand?

If he does exist and he did do this, then he’s an idiot.

Religion is only needed by those not intelligent enough to deduce right from wrong for themselves.

[…] by Einstein, Nietzsche, Gandhi, Mark Twain, Voltaire, Stephen Hawking, and other notable thinkers. read more | digg […]

“This is retarded, on January 14th, 2008 at 1:31 pm Said:

Some of these quotes are made by some retarded individuals…and from the the “intelligent” people quoted on this page, it’s quite sad that most would gamble with their “souls” and choose not to believe in something greater than to choose NOTHING. Choosing nothing means you have no meaning being on earth. And that pleases you?”

Firstly, i find it funny that you wrote “intelligent” instead of just intelligent - are you trying to suggest that Arthur C. Clark, Einstein, Freud, Stephan Hawking or Voltaire aren’t intelligent? omg

Secondly, it is even sadder that you believe in something absurd just not to “gamble your soul”; in fact, your choice of words suggests that you only believe in order not to burn in hell - “ok, it might be true so i’ll just “believe” to stay safe anyway”. –> That’s your line of judgement right there.

And finally, WHY must we have a purpose?
Can’t we just accept morality without having mythology as a background? Can’t we just have faith in ourselves instead?

Who exactly said the #45th quote???

No Ayn Rand quotes? That does not seem right since she was such a prominent and influential atheist philosopher in the second half of the twentieth century.

@ this is retarded
You are going to be very very very disappointed when you die…

@This is retarded
“Some of these quotes are made by some retarded individuals…”

Yeah, welcome to the Internet jackass!

Thank you for consolidating this, it was very enjoyable. I also found the comments to be amusing, you can actually see the difference in intelligence (and mental stability) that is present between atheists and the devout here. It’s fairly sad actually. I’m sure they will find it offensive that I think them stupid, but ignorance is bliss, I hope they find some comfort in that. As for intelligent schizophrenics, well they have all the comfort in the world knowing people who never did any wrong aside from thinking freely will burn in their own lustful concept of ‘hell’. Which sounds more fun than hanging out with the saved when we’re all zombies.

Also, JPD, sweetie…you contradicted yourself to an absurd irony with that quote, try to be a little more perspective so you don’t trip over your own two feet when being valiant.

“Choosing nothing means you have no meaning being on earth. And that pleases you?”

And to what purpose should we have meaning in our existence? Why should we have a purpose? Is it not plausible that we are the same as a fly, a goat, an eagle; except with free thought? Is it not the fact that because we have imagination, awareness of our existence, history, knowledge and so many qualities that all other inhabitants of this planet lack, we seek to know why we are here? Why must we be here for a reason?

I’d rather choose science and accept that I have no meaning to my life except to enjoy it, than to waste my existence believing in a false idol for whom there is no evidence except that of the uneducated and fearfull from thousands of years before.

@ This is retarded, on January 14th, 2008.

At least put yourself on the playing field before making judgements. Once you’re on the playing field, honour yourself and those around you by keeping it level. Once you’re on a level playing field, you’re in a better position to be rational about this.

The universe is a wonderful and infinitely surprising place. It will never run out, it will never stop, it will never judge you or the people you judge.

Enjoy the humour and brilliance of these quotes, the people who said them would probably get along with you just fine even if your beliefs don’t mesh.

The bottom line is the more you judge people the more difficult it will be to lead an easy and honest life.

Believe what you want. It’s the ultimate expression of free will. To acknowledge others’ beliefs is to have the ultimate respect for them.

There is no proof either way so you might as well have fun just in case

Many of these have absolutely nothing to do with ATHEISM and much to do with REASON. You can be religious/spiritual/mystical/whathaveyou and still find both logic and meaning in them.

Publishing them under the guise of supporting atheism and not of free thought is only supporting those who lash out against Christians because they were told they were going to hell a few times too many. There are just as many ‘atheists’ who embrace their ‘religion’ without serious thought as there are Christians who do the same. At least the Christians aren’t doing it as a form of rebellion. (Religion as inheritance?)

Nice collection though. Less than half are of actual worth to me, but it was a relatively pleasant read besides the faux-atheism presupposition.

[…] uma crença a ser seguida. Terminada a apresentação, posso falar do Left of Zen, que fez uma lista das melhores citações ateístas. Mais algumas delas: Religion easily has the best bullshit story of all time. Think about it. […]

[…] http://leftofzen.com/quotes-atheism/2008/01/14/ […]

Whoever collected these quotes didn’t do their research! Many of these people are not atheists:
Thomas Jefferson and Franklin were deists
Ghandi was a theistic Hindu
Pascal was a Christian
Einstein and Hawking were non-theists which is different from atheism
Most of these quotes are anti-hierarchical religion and anti-Christian, but says nothing about the existence of God

LOL. When you have to include Dave Barry, George Carlin and Bill Maher in your short list of “the greatest intellectual minds” who were atheists, you know you are in trouble right there. This is the best you can do? Alrighty then! I though you are supposed to be too intelligent for nonsense but I digress. Quotes of some of “the greatest intellectual minds” pro faith would go on and on for pages and pages. Not a fair analysis with nothing quoted to analyze (the difference). Yes, there is no definite proof either way. However what you atheists fail to realize is that faith is not as abstract as want to make it seem. It is a true feeling for those who are or have have experienced it. It is real for many people and therefore not a myth or mystical panacea to get us through life. There will always be good atheists and bad-faith based people and everyone in between, granted. Duh! I do feel sorry for those who have closed their minds to faith because they are too intelligent to buy into it. The experience is far beyond anything that you might feel in this living in this world. It is absolutely beautiful and over powering and peaceful. Actually it really cannot be explained and must be felt for oneself. I would suggest opening your minds to the possibility of experiencing this feeling or you will have forsaken one of the most profound parts of life as we know it. I, and millions of others, who have felt this experience or “presence” just cannot disregard it. It is too real and cannot be denied. It is not a passing fancy or one that we concocted to comfort us, forgive us, etc. But we know it is real. For us there is no argument but you are free to do with your life as you choose. I am grateful to have kept my mind open either way growing up and then been fortunate enough to have this in my life and oh my, it is wonderful. Argue away. We who feel it know it to be true. Some things are not learned in books or by reason. They just have to be felt.

Simply put, Religions are Training Wheels for those who can’t steer their lives without it.

I can’t help but think that an Atheist putting himself at risk to help someone else is about as selfless an act as could exist. And isn’t that kinda the point?

I have a question for all of you.

I grew up catholic, went to catholic schooling all the way through college. It was not until I got out of college that I truly started to “learn” about life in general.

I now lean more on the side of there being no God/Jesus, than being Catholic. This is a very hard pill for me to swallow because ALL of my family go to church every Sunday, and it hard for me to swallow to accept that “this might be it”

Did anyone else grow up with a religion, and turn away from it in favor of your belief in there being no God? I am really having a hard time with this…

Thanks

[…] Question my good sir,question.When there is doubt,question.To read 50 Atheistic quotes by Atheists all over the world,including science-oriented Atheists,click here […]

“Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.” - Seneca, Stoic philosopher 4BC - 65CE

@ JPD -

I think it’s very funny that you and the other religious folks are the ones slinging insults more than anyone. Perhaps you didn’t read all of the quotes, but us “noobs” actually don’t believe we have all the answers. Quite the contrary, in fact. We’re all constantly seeking more knowledge.

You, on the other hand, as a religious person are supposed to have all the answers given to you in that book of yours, are you not?

Who’s the noob now?

if there can ever be a meeting between science and religion, this guy thinks he found it.

godloveenergy.blogspot.com

My grandfather fought in three wars, and he constantly taught me (in the way that I imagine all grandfathers should) that what he fought for was freedom - That while he did not agree with what a man may say, he would fight and die for that man’s right to say it.

What does my grand father have to do with this grand debate?

I respect what for many of you must be a thoroughly reasoned decision to reject God - but in the same breath I can’t help but feel that many of the commenting atheists in this thread are being mean spirited and childish by ridiculing that which they have rejected.

Do you blame Judaism or Christianity for all the ill will in our world? What have you done to bridge the chasm that lay between us? Do you believe that your ridicule better communicates love and brotherhood than my Gospel?

Rather than rush to the bottom and flame my post with more faux-intelligentsia “debate” - consider carefully what I am saying:

Many millions of people have made sincere attempts to come into contact with and live in harmony with the Divine. Many, myself included, have made this decision very carefully.

When you mock our God, you take what is most meaningful to us and treat it like garbage.

I disagree with the commenter that claimed your life must be meaningless without God. I believe that you have much that is meaningful in your life.

How would you react if I mocked what meant the most to you? As any reasonably well read person, I can easily mock something that is meaningful to you - Yet I will not…

It is regrettable that those who agree with my worldview fail to share the tolerance which that worldview advocates. If my apology means anything, than I give it, sincerely. I desire nothing more than to live in harmony with those who I now engage in hostility with, for this is the Heaven that I await. Not some pie in the sky Disneyland for eternity, but a world where love is more important than any dissension.

It is this Heaven that I train for by arguing against such petty hostility, and even if my voice is unheard, I will nonetheless exercise it.

What do you train for? As you sit and type, comparing these lists of biased, de-contextualized and in some parts outdated list, the goal of which seems to be nothing more than the ridicule of some anonymous, ignorant and pitiful religious masses.

I suppose that is your right.

I’m a Christian, but I can understand the Atheist’s viewpoint, and even their fervor against religion. The only point I’d like to make (and this goes for Christianity as well, so don’t pull the “Bias” card), is that all of the above statements along with anything you can say about religion in general is only considered intelligent, astounding, argument winning etc, if they are indeed correct, and since at this point in history nothing about the origins of our world can be proven, it truly does all boil down to faith, either faith in God, or faith in no God existing.

Didn’t Einstein believe in an afterlife?

How about “religion is a crutch for the weak minded”

I find it truly amazing that there is so much controversy over something that doesn’t exist. I mean we are not having this conversation about the toothferry. Why? Because it doesn’t exist. It isn’t that God does not exist, but rather that man isn’t willing to accept the consequences for rejecting His being. For if he truly did not exist then there would be no atheist, just as their is no form of relegion aginst fairy tales.

For the record, Franklin and Jefferson were not atheist. To take bits and pieces of speeches to make them appear the way you want doesn’t make them atheist. It only shows ignorance.

Atheism is elitism.

Hitler and Stalin killed more people in the name of atheism then all people ever have in the name of God.

Get over your smug selves, you can’t and don’t know everything.

Regarding the following comment: Some of these quotes are made by some retarded individuals…and from the the “intelligent” people quoted on this page, it’s quite sad that most would gamble with their “souls” and choose not to believe in something greater than to choose NOTHING. Choosing nothing means you have no meaning being on earth. And that pleases you?

Answer: No it does not please me, but it does not cause me to feel fear like you. I do not fear inevitability. I do fear those who choose to believe in a make-believe idol to suppress their fears. I fill my time on this planet with what I like to do, and try to help others as much as possible. I do not need fake Gods to give me a reason to act.

What a load of bs, athiest lol you think have it all figured out but you dont. All these stupid quotes, you guys are looking at every single religion and are saying their all the same and that even those corny cult religions that were made like 5 years ago by some rednecks in the south are the same as catholics or christians, wtf? Haha what a bunch dumb ases who dont know wtf their talking about, yeah athiest your here on earth for NO reason and science explains everything, but you know what science doesent and never will haha lol. Oh yeah god doesent exist lol yeah right, one day you will learn.

it seems like only one christian has responded, and has subsequently been viciously attacked. i might as well stand up if no one else will.

I was born catholic and raised to believe that if i mess up, i will burn in an everlasting hell- but yes God loves me. Reading these quotes and following up on the comments, i am beginning to understand the basic premise to the atheist argument. You think that Christians are naive and that you can have just as much purpose in life as the next religious fanatic, right? i’m not so convinced…
it seems to me that the BIGGEST problem brought up in these comments was the fact that it’s silly to think that living life for in hopes of a grand reward, but it is most likely we will be damned to hell because we are all war-raging, hypocritical sinners. in that case, yes it is silly. Fortunately, that is not what the Christian religion teaches. now here comes my bible thumping- the bible says “all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death”, death meaning hell. therefore, EVERYONE is going to hell. BUT, “God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him will never die, but have eternal life”. So, if you believe in Jesus and love him, you will go to heaven. does it say you have to follow a perfect life? no. God gave the commandments as guidelines because at that point in history his people did not know how to follow him and actually asked him for guidance.
For my next point, you say that you have all the purpose in life that you need. Why are you here? To make the world a better place? why? a lot of you think you know all the answers, don’t deny it, i’ve read the comments. Do you not have the faintest hint of uncertainty of what comes next? What if you’re wrong? If i’m wrong, sorry for waisting your time… but if you’re wrong, that is ETERNITY. Not really something that just blows over. God’s not up there with a magnifying glass… he really does love us, why else would he give up his child, even for the people that hate him or tell people that he doesn’t exist?
i know i’m probably going to get the rip for this, hopefully i can take it. Please, ask me whatever you want.

[…] Left of Zen » Top 50 Atheism Quotes 재밌는 게 많네요 (via http://southstep.egloos.com/1698511) (tags: 무신론 인용) […]

[…] Left of Zen » Top 50 Atheism Quotes Lots to thnk about:) (tags: atheist quote wisdom humour funny atheism) […]

The Bible: a mediocre crime novel which has a bad ending for the main character.

- Gerrit Komrij

I don’t see any God up here !

- Yuri Gagarin

Amen…or something, it’s too bad 90% of the world’s population have delusions about invisible, all-mighty beings. I vote we throw em all in a mental instituion, which we could locate on antarctica so that they would soon freeze to death(and thus meet g(G)od).

You people are more ignorant than informed, and it is amazing that you think you know so much. If you really knew anything you would understand that the laws of the Old Testament WERE ignorant because they were NOTHING MORE THAN LAWS MADE BY PEOPLE FOR A SOCIETY THAT HAD NEVER GOVERNED ITSELF. Israel had been freed from the Egyptians and were left to lead themselves. People think that the laws and rules of the Old Testament are God’s rules for humanity, when anyone who does any historical research can learn that the collected writings of the Hebrew people, NOT THE EXPRESSED WORDS OF GOD, make up the Old Testament.

The idea that God would even think about casting a human being into Hell just because they missed some rules or something like that is not in the Bible, it is something that was created by those who, as this article points out, wished to rule the masses.

Do some research, people. It is not God you hate or disbelieve in; it is the church. I am a Christian and I am also a free thinker. I find the truth in the Genesis accounts (YES, DEFINITELY MEANT TO BE PLURAL) of creation and I also find the truth in the theory of Evolution. Science= How, Religion/Philosophy=Why. The arguments of atheists are often based on little more than assumptions made about what every religious person believes that are themselves based on the ignorant statements of televangelists who have no desire to show people that God loves them, that God gave them the freedom to choose to love him back, and that God will never cast a human into an eternity of torture as that act would cause as much harm to him as to any of us.

Do not blame God for the acts of the church. Evil is not perpetrated by God, evil is perpetrated by EVIL PEOPLE. I do not believe that I am predestined for Heaven. I believe that God gave me a choice to love him back in the simple act of taking the first step and creating me to begin with.

No one ever wrote Genesis believing that the Earth was actually created in 7 days. They had no idea how the Earth was created; that story suggests that the atmosphere is a glass bowl that holds back the water that clearly gives the sky its blue color and, when it gets through cracks in the glass bowl, causes rain (it’s there, look it up). That story offers meaning and offers a truth that is not available in a simple statement, as is the purpose of any short story. It gives humanity a place in the world and tells the story of a God that chose to give us life, for whatever reason and through whatever creation process he used (I personally believe this to be evolution) and also chose to gave us a choice to do with our lives whatever we wanted.

Those who do evil in the name of God do not know God.

Those who blame God for the evil actions of the church do not know God.

God loves and will never condemn those who do not know God.

Many atheists know God better than religious people, they just don’t know it, and it is clear by the arguments I have read here that they don’t know a whole lot about anything they don’t care to actually confront, which makes them no better than evangelical lunatics the world over.

I think this is one of the best things I’ve ever read. The fact that so many influential people have brought forth such intelligent quotes backing the most hypocritical fraud of man kind is surely amazing. I just have an extremely hard time believing that something that blinked us into existence 6000 years ago could zap us out without us knowing is beyond me. I am an extremely scientific person, and I think that the fact that scientists are looking for an answer, and admittedly will tell you that they probably never will, is a key evidence that religion is BS. WHO in the hell could come up with this craziness thousands of years ago, why do they need my money, and why do i have to believe in it to go to a better place? does god only love me if i think he’s there? If he loves everyone, then can’t i just be a good person now, and still go wherever the crazy people think we go? Why did god only give humans the ability to hold the kind of information we can? why cant rabbits or bird believe? And why is it that the smartest people to roam this earth that he created, are smart enough to know nothing is there. the human race is just billions of years of atoms hitting each other, molecules forming, heat, pressure, and PHYSICS. Religion is a lucrative, irresponsible, belief for the people who are IMPATIENT and need answers NOW. If there is a god and heaven, then ill be playing poker, drinking a dry martini with Hawkins, Einstein, and my family. I’ll give it another 50 years where the US gets smart and non-religion is the main religion.

Only the wise excel, the rest are doomed to their own fantasies.

half of these quotes do ot come from athiests

ghandi was not an athiest he was hindu and his quotes are only commenting on christianity not the existance of god

einstien wasnt an athiest either, he beleved in god but he also beleived in science

[…] Left of Zen » Top 50 Atheism Quotes 50. One of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion. Arthur C. Clarke (tags: atheism funny philosophy religion quotes) […]

Thanks, Z, for some perspective. Not all the quotations are correctly attributed, but I suppose it’s close enough for our purposes… In any event, I would only disagree with you regarding one statement: the one that predicts the United States evolving beyond religion within the next 50 years. In my opinion, after the profoundly back-setting Bush, we probably face twice that number. I can only hope, indeed, that by 100 years hence U.S. citizens will have ceased to need religion to justify their existence or the existence of their independently-conceived values and beliefs.

Noooo problem. You’re right! God exists and so does heaven!!

Now, since you religious folks will be having an eternity of happiness, prosperity, and freedom with naked, winged, harp-playing, toddlers (on clouds, no less), would you PLEASE back the fuck off of my business for the 60 or so years that I have left?!! You get infinity over 60 years max…any mathmetician will tell you that this still equals infinity. If you really believe in this crap, then gather all ye faithful and get out of politics. I hear volcanoes are a favored place of the almighty.

backoffchristians@charter.net

I have another view about @retarted ’s comment -
perhaps we just read one of the best ’sarcasm’ on this page.

the day my father realized i no longer attended church he lashed out and yelled out at me that “that” was what i was “taught” to believe. how very odd that he just assumed that he could mold me into accepting his beliefs. his attitude still astonishes me to this day! well, apparently his brainwashing had failed. although i doubt he considers himself the failure, most likely he blames me for being a poor student.

as we grow and experience life, our own personal attitudes and beliefs develop. although many maintain the beliefs of their families of origin, others do not. and some, like myself, decide to purse a more intellectual route and refute the existence of a deity.

although i derive pleasure from a cynical quip from george carlin i would never attack another for their judeo/christian beliefs and i expect the same from them. so let’s stop bickering wether or not god exists. to you christians who become so hostile when you hear atheist views i ask the following: “would jesus christ fight back so venomously?” seems you should practice what you preach. whatever you want to believe is just fine with me, so please leave me alone. thank you very much.

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
- Epicurus
He was not aware of the Hindu philosophy in which it is not God who is responsible for good or evil but man himself through his actions and the karma theory explains it.
You can get more from oupanisadam@yahoogroups.com

Well Einstein did say,

Science without religion is useless. Religion without science is blind.

So he’s not an atheist. Also taking quotes out of their context is misleading.

Your Edward Gibbon quote is not right. You probably want, “The various modes of worship, which prevailed in the Roman world, were all considered by the people, as equally true; by the philosopher, as equally false; and by the magistrate, as equally useful.” — History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Chapter 2.

http://www.bibliomania.com/2/1/62/109/frameset.html

[…] All is well, now that I’ve stumbled upon a list of Top 50 Atheist Quotes. (Although it’s “quotations”, not “quotes.” […]

My absolute favorite: “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime; give a man religion and he will die praying for a fish.”

Kill god.

I want to ass fuck jesus while the virgin mary licks my balls, and then throat rape her with my shit laiden cock so she can taste the shit of her sons philosophies while swallowing my demon seed.

[…] discussion of atheism has led to this collection of ballsy quotes, at least when it comes to the current pro-find-Jesus atmosphere in the states. You’ve heard […]

a lot of these people were spiritual but not religious, einstein being one of them…i don’t think atheism is quite for the title, more that religion sucks

Enough of this Atheism is a religion business. Atheism is no more of a religion than bald is a hair color.

[…] Top 50 Atheism Quotes Our ignorance is God; what we know is science. Robert Ingersoll - Lighthouses are more helpful then churches. Benjamin Franklin (tags: zen quotes list philosophy humor politics) […]

Just a quick note:

Stalin trained as a priest before before switching careers; Hitler, to the best of my knowledge was not an Atheist (I think he was a Roman Catholic). The Germany army had “God is with us” when they went to Russia and killed 20 million or more people and no doubt the people manning the gas chambers would have said they where good Christians.

It seems to me that one the main cause of hate in the world is religion, Atheism in itself is not a cause of hate.

[…] Credit: Left of Zen […]

where is the wise, where is the scribe?where is the disputer of this age?has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? for sinc e in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. for jews request a sign, and greeks after wisdom; but we preached Christ crucified, to the jews a stumbling block and to the greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. BECAUSE THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD IS WISER THAN MEN, AND THE WEAKNESS OF GOD IS STRONGER THAN MEN.
and PRIDE is one thing that causes people not to believe God. close your door and seek God in your heart.

can god make a rock so large that he can’t lift it?

Yeah well dongs TBH.

[…] Left of Zen » Top 50 Atheism Quotes Top 50 Atheism Quotes (tags: christian quotes reference ) […]

awesome ! all religion sucks

Thanks for some great quotes.

Whether or not “retarded” was being sarcastic, it’s a faithful representation of the reasoning of many.

As to why an atheist/agnostic would spend time thinking / speaking about the (in)existence of god(s):

The most powerful people in the world are (or profess to be) believers. Their actions affect us all, and if their biggest commitment is to an entity in which we don’t believe - I think that warrants our attention.

[…] Left of Zen » Top 50 Atheism Quotes […]

Cyrus said “!NO AMOUNT OF SCIENCE CAN PROVE OR DISPROVE THE EXISTENCE OR NONEXISTENCE OF GOD”

This is a rather simplistic statement. Theists seem to find comfort in this but consider….

If a god exists, and intervenes in the natural order in some way, there would (at least if some cases) be evidence of this happening. So his existence could be proven categorically. Science would have little difficulty accepting this if it was clear enough (re-arrange some constellations so they spell out “we apologise for the inconvenience” would do probably), so in that sense the statement is wrong, god could easily prove his existence.

Indeed it is possible Scientists could discover a divine cause at the start of the Universe. That science excludes all religion currently is because there is no evidence for religion, it is nothing to do with the nature of science (or the beliefs of scientists).

If by god we assume some omnipotent being it would be easy toprove his existence, he could just materialize something in front of us all when we are old enough and say “this is the way it is….”. He could presumably supply us with all sorts of handy things, like cures for disease, that sort of thing, which would prove his divinity. That he doesn’t, as Epicurus notes, suggests an absence - or a god that likes watching young children dying of cancers (especially the millions that died of cancers that we now have cures for - since these cancers were presumably curable before we invented a cure - unless science is smarter than god already - or more merciful).

The only way we could never prove the existent of a god is if he never wants us to, or never intervenes in the world. Or intervenes (or reintervenes) to hide previous interventions.

A god who never intervenes is a pointless entity (sorry Deism but you need to learn about William of Occam). Some of the Deists were probably just atheists in a culture where non-belief wasn’t tolerated well - a bit like modern day America.

A god who refused to allow his existence to be proven would seem somewhat paranoid, but it is the kind of unprovable argument apologists like. Sure you can’t prove such a god doesn’t exist, but that isn’t the kind of god most religions claim. “Our god is very shy, but he does exist honest”. Some claim proof would deny faith, without explaining what is so great about believing in something without evidence.

On a second note, science could prove any specific god or gods not to exist, if any believers in such would care to state categorically a testable hypothesis for the existence of their god, or reasons to prefer their god over other gods.

That no believers have put forward (to my knowledge) such a test case means there is no objective reason to believe in any god. Thus my believing in a god would be folly, since I would have to believe something pretty extreme, without any proof.

If I were to claim that there is a green goblin on the shoulder of every man, and the goblins tell me when they lie. If I claimed I could see the goblin, and that no one else could was because they didn’t believe in goblins hard enough. I’d be locked up - the only reason the religious are allowed their delusions is social convention (and lack of a large enough asylum).

Of course my goblin claim is testable - you could have people lie and tell the truth, and have me say if the Goblin agrees with them. Most religions keep reinventing themselves every time one of their claims becomes testable. Remember Galileo…. Of course sometimes the goblins lie to me - goblins are difficult like that.

Pleeeasse ! At least use a true picture of Gandhi, not one of an actor from a stupid bollywood…

Okay, let me just say this: You’re all fighting about religion on a bulliten board that has nothing to do with the subject at hand?
Number one, grow up.
Number two, get over it. Not everyone is going to agree with each other! Stop trying to prove God is or isn’t real on a damn BULLITEN BOARD. The ‘response’ part of this bulliten was supposed to be so you could respond to the quotes, if you liked or agreed or disagreed with them, not if you believed there was a God or not. I don’t believe that was asked anywhere up there, or did I just miss it?

And hey, since it’s what the post is about, number one has to be my all time favorite. I even showed it to a few religious friends of mine and they got a laugh out of it. If they can have a sense of humor, I don’t see why all of you have to be clawing each other’s eyes out about it.

albert enstien also said
“There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable. It would mean that the atom would have to be shattered at will” in 1932, so before we go and take everyone’s comments as complete truth, let us take them all with a grain of salt.

are these quotes antireligion or antitruth or antiGod? because belief in God is not necessarily religion, it is belief in absolute truth. one cannot believe in God without believing in truth, and consequently, one cannot believe in truth without believing in God, or else who would define what is true? us finite, fallible people? or one who is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent?

What Is Truth?

I love this page

[…] Top 50 Atheism Quotes Preview : “If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.” - Einstein “It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.” - Mark Twain “You’re basically killing each other to see who’s got the better imaginary friend”. - Richard Jeni “Where knowledge ends, religion begins.” - Benjamin Disraeli “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime; give a man religion and he will die praying for a fish.” - Unknown “Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.” - Isaac Asimov Posted in Quotes, iLike | Leave a Comment […]

[…] Left of Zen » Top 50 Atheism Quotes (tags: imported atheism) […]

” Christianity, the belief that a cosmic jewish zombie who was his own father and born of a virgin can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and accept him as your master so he can drive away an evil spirit that you are born with because a woman that was made from a man’s rib was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree.” Yeah, makes perfect sense.

“What can be asserted without proof can be dismissed without proof.”

I use logic, i see there is no higher power. You use ignorance, you BELIEVE there is a higher power.

I can’t talk logic to people who don’t listen to logic. I don’t have to prove logic to those who dismiss logic for ignorance.

To be ignorant is to not see the truth. I feel sorry for people who lead themselves to believe anything other than the truth.

“Jesus Christ, God or no God , I think, is one of the most sensible man who walked on this Earth. He talked sense.”

Sense? Jesus promised infinite suffering for finite crimes. He promised unrelenting torture for innocent human doubt. He guaranteed eternal damnation for justified skepticism. You speak as though he was a man of reason, when his convictions indicate a man of hate, vengeance, and sadism. A God who promises Hell or even allows for it to exist is not worthy of worship. Such a God is little more than an perverse anthropomorphism, a reflection and reminder of the capacity for human cruelty and fanaticism. Unlike Mohandis, I do not like your Jesus. He is a vile deity. He preaches messages of peace and love in the guise of vanity and intolerance. Fear, not compassion, is the biblical doctrine. Believe, or suffer the consequences.

“Atheists have no purpose in life, except for trying to convince others that their beliefs are stupid.”

And the plight of a theist, is it so different? Does your God not call you to preach his word?

Hi Metroatheist.

I remember the last time I opened a bible was in 1984 or 23 years ago. Once in a while I got into situation that reminded me of some passages in there in my younger years.

Anyway, when I buy ideas I buy only what I think makes sense. What I needed. I gave you one. There are others like: A tree that does not bear fruit is fit for the dirty kitchen (or maybe, in our time, let’s make shade trees of them). Or, the goose that lay only shits belong to the knife of the housewife -or (maybe the kids can have them as plaything)….There are many more that I think make sense (but ridiculous to the Pharisee).

You see 2000 years ago was very long time ago and some conditions have changed. It’s for one to see what philosophies are deemed applicable in at present. Christ was talking to them and not to us. And as you saw, I prefer to put things in my own words, too, instead of quoting from the source, word for word, of what might possibly be wrong translation (as Christ was not Englishman and bible is English).

And you seem to be angry at Christ. May we know in what instances, for example? But how sure are we that what are disagreeable to you were in fact bad translation, wrong imputation, non factual reporting, or that he was in fact abused and used, etc? Would not it be prudent to clarify allegations attributed to a man first before you stone his porch out of rage? For all you know he might not even have said anything disagreeable to you at all.

Anyway, I call myself a Christian, not your stereo-religious-type. I can enter any Christian church without feeling uncomfortable. After all, priest or pastor will open and quote from the same bible. I guess, I just can’t live like stupid when somebody asks me what religion I belong to and I’d say “I don’t know”. Or maybe I’ll say I’m an Atheist and he’s the type who’ll ask “What kind of thing is that?” or “Oh, yeah?”

And facts are facts while parables are parables and myths are myths. They are not the same and each need different approach. If you cannot differentiate one from the others you are indeed confused mind.

Anyway I think Christ talked more sense than you and me here.

God is Evil is a conclusion. So, what is GOOD? dont answer that you dont know because that would be stupid. What ever you give that’s your religion, that’s your god, God, or diety. Thats what I said.

Good stuff, very lively, covers the gamut. But how could you have left Janeane Garofalo, the cutest, sexiest athiest on the planet (and her biting wit) out of this discussion. She’s a real, live, open and well-publicized atheist. She’s political, she’s engaged, she’s vocal, combative and, apparently, well able to look after herself. There must be something she’s said that’s worthy of this collection. And worthy of comment by others. I wish I knew her better and had something of hers to offer. Hey, anyone for bringing back Zoroastrianism, and where is that almighty ruler of the world, Zeus, hanging out these days. Isn’t the almighty one remembered as “Greek Mythology” these days. Where have all the gods gone, long time passing, where have all the gods gone, long time ago…. Thousands of gods have faded since people stopped believing in them. Sad fate for a god, creatror and ruler of the universe, to be forgotten. Shed a tear, if you must, but they are all but gone forever.

Janes

dont ascribe to all statements, but love the collection… great job…. just a tiny thing… instead of mahatama gandhi’s photograph, you have pasted a photograph of the actor who portrayed him in the movie, ‘lagey raho munnabhai’… make the change, if u like…

and http://www.plusaf.com/soapbox/soapbox.htm …

awesome list. i will be linking and quoting these on my site.

thank you so much!

I’m afraid as per Godwin’s Law violations (See Padthai’s comment for the first offense) This thread is now closed.

Fuck all atheists?

a tad ambitious even for a christian…!

“one cannot believe in God without believing in truth, and consequently, one cannot believe in truth without believing in God, or else who would define what is true? us finite, fallible people? or one who is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent?”

I’m not sure if your circular reasoning is even ‘circular’ - does it even join up? ‘Cause there’s a gaping chasm you’ve tried to shroud with the word ‘consequently’ where your conclusion does not logically follow at all.

“Fuck Religion.”

Now now, son, not before you’re married.

For my part, I am Agnostic - I don’t know if there is a god or not, and nobody can prove it either way. So I have no belief concerning the existence, or lack thereof, of such a being.

Atheism is, in my view, just another religion: the belief that there is no god - a belief that, like Christianity, lacks empirical proof. Before you Atheists jump on me about negative belief principles and onus of proof, may I remind you that you are the onces making a positive claim about the origin of the universe; that is, that the Universe is the creation of unreasoning and unintelligent forces. Yet you provide no proof of this assertion. You cannot prove that whatever created the Universe lacked any purpose in doing so, any more than religionists can prove that it had a purpose. In answer to the question of god’s existence, the only valid answer is “I don’t know.” ANYTHING else is a positive assertion about the origin of the Universe, and thereby assumes burden of proof.

I find staunch Atheists as bigoted as the religionists they so love to disparage. I see hundreds of blogs where self-satisfied Atheists rant on about how violent and evil religion is, tarring all God-believers with the same brush, never seeing how hypocritical they are. Yes, there are evengelical fanatics who preach hellfire and brimstone, but these are just a noisy minority. I also recognise that for every Atheist who rants about the evil of religion on a blog, there are hundreds more who simply accept their own unbelief.

But religion also does a lot of good. Look at St. Vincent de Paul, the Salvation Army, and the plethora of religious charities like them. These charities do fantastic work in providing food, shelter and help for poor and destitute. I have friends who owe their lives to these charities. Where are the Atheist equivalents? I don’t see any organised Atheist groups putting time and money into assisting those in need. Unless you want to mention organised science. Such as the medical sciences, whose services cost money - so if you’re poor, bad luck, you just have to die. Real love for one’s fellow man. Nice.

Most Christians in my experience don’t donate time and money to these charities out of fear of punishment, they do it because their religion teaches them to “love thy neigbour as thyself”. While belief in some supernatural entity is not necessary to such a mindset, it creates an important sense of being part of something greater than mere humanity - and humanists should note that the human race, with its greed, war, destructiveness and selfishness, is not an entity worthy of adulation or worship.

Also atheists seem to lose sight of the real reason for these so-called “religious wars”. It’s not about whose god is real, it’s about resources, territory and strategic advantage - and it always has been. By trying to cover the real purpose of wars with religious motives, Athiests commit the same offence against fact and reason as do the religionists who cite their belief system as the purpose of war. In fact, the Atheists are the worse offenders, because they claim to be arguing from a rational, scientific viewpoint. Even the most extreme jihadists don’t claim to be rational or scientific in justifying their wars. It is this very delusion of arguing from reality while denying the truth that scares me most about Atheists.

With all due respect to everyone here…. nobody actually knows if a god exist or not… no matter how many times that person has won the lottery, had a nice day, survived a car wreck, or felt the holy spirit…. no matter how many times that person has been beaten by their parents, stabbed, bankrupt, or given the lowest end of the stick possible…. NOBODY can know if god IS or IS NOT there…. it has nothing to do with your wisdom, since some of you seem to believe that being wise means knowing god doesn’t exist…. some of us were raised into religion, some of us went over to it freely, some of us left it, some of us have always hated it… since no one can KNOW, we shouldn’t argue, if someone has an opinion on what they believe is true, let them have it.. if you feel so strong against that and wish to “save” them in some way… say what you believe, but leave it at that…. religion has not caused war, people wanting to push other people into their ways has caused war… people hating other people because they choose to has caused war……. religion is just something that exist, like a gun… guns don’t kill people.. people kill people as you all already know

@Mystikan

best comment… I completely agree with you!

“Choosing nothing means you have no meaning on earth”

So you should only exist for God then? God is the only reason to be on earth then? I think you are the retarded one!

Brilliant quotes and oh so very true. Thanks.

I personally don’t believe in any organized religion, it is too easily manipulated for individual gain or profit in my honest opinion. I think it is best to follow your own heart and your own beliefs and grow throughout life (yes, I mean it is OK to change your mind about things from time to time as you learn). Religion can limit your growth potential because it is so archaic and some believers follow it so blindly and strictly. Not to say that it is all bad… nothing is so black and white.

Anyway, this quote is a personal favorite.

“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”
~Marcus Aurelius

If what you people call ‘God’ made the ‘Universe’, Then what did this so called ‘Powerful Being’ do when war, poverty, hate were at hand?

What did God do before he created the Universe? Did he just thought of making it? And making a Planet where DIRTY ROTTEN IMBECILES live? How fucking absurd is that? Did this ‘Thing’ make us just for his entertainment? Why the fuck would he even make Bastards like US people if he can make a perfect world?!

Religion is just your conscience. If your looking for something to blame for all the things that happened to you or the world, Blame Religion, Blame yourself may it be good or bad.

Fuck Religion, Fuck Believers, Fuck Non-believers. Fuck You ALL.

First, another great quote to add to the list:

Isn’t it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?
—Douglas Adams

Second: I find it astounding that this web page has turned into a free-for-all debate between religious zealots and atheists.

The most important thing I learned in my life about religion and theism is that it’s built on false hope and that I have no reason to choose faith over reason.

The second most important thing I learned is that there’s no point wasting my time attempting to convince religious people that there is no god. If logic and reason worked on them, they would not have those convictions in the first place.

Have no fear fellow atheists, I’m not saying I want to agree to disagree. What I’m saying is that we choose to live our lives to the fullest because we know this is all there is. So why waste any of that precious time?

And in closing, the best Dawkins quote reads as follows:

“What is an atheist? In practice, an atheist is just somewhat who feels about Yahweh, the way any decent Christian (insert Jew/Muslim) feels about Thor or Bael, or the golden calf. As has been said before, we are all atheists about most of the gods humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further.”

I highly recommend watching the following:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/113

And in closing: to my fellow atheists, take comfort in the idea that in all likelihood, one day the current crop of religions will be regarded as mythology the way we now thing of ancient belief systems of years past. Much as science requires patience, so does atheism.

In case there happens to be someone who isn’t aware of it, a man named James Carr has recorded audios of several of Robert Ingersoll’s speeches. “Myth and Miracle” is a mind-blowing examination of all religion. The audios can also be found on YouTube. They’re free to listen to or to download for later.

I must admit, many of these quotes could be/are very persuasive to the weak-minded.

Not all wars are fought with worldy weapons. There is a war of the minds being waged in America and throughout the world, and the atheists have conquered significant ground. but we know how it ends. hopefully you’ll join our side before then. Check out John 12:48

Kevin Macoy,

Good question. The Trinity is a very complex thing to comprehend. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all the same God, but three persons. I’m really not articulate enough to explain it any better than that but there are some great books in the subject. Oh, PS: Mary is not God, a god, or anything like that. Unfortunately, the Catholics raise her up to be some sort of holy lady

@John
“The wind is invisible, but we see its affects. Same with God.”

Yes the wind is invisible, but you can feel it with your ears, with your skin.
Can you do something similar with God.

Do you know the touch, the sound, the smell of God?
Answer carefully, because if you say yes, you can be an eretic.

I liked this post, i have bookmarked it and saved to print it.
Greetings from Italy

Hi all fellow atheists, when we people learn we have evolved beyond being scared of what we don’t know. It reminds me of the old maps of the sea, the unexplored areas just said ‘there be monsters’. Come on theists grow up

Alright, so there are fools on both ends of this spectrum, atheism and religion. I don’t think anyone with a scrape of a brain can refute that everything has the possibility of being total illusion, therefore false. I think if we forgot the whole ” God does/ God doesn’t!” exist thing and just say… “He/She/It might but until i find out lets just all make like the sixties and have some peace and love.” we might all be better off. You cannot claim to actually know anything apart from mathematics, which is in theory the only universal truth, if it ain’t mathematical it ain’t real, think about it. All of those are genious quotes sure but it doesn’t mean jack when you realize all of us live in a different reality. So lets put our egos away and stop assuming we know anything because the human brain is truly an imperfect organ and makes all kinds mistakes. If you want to believe in something do it. its your life, your legacacy, your comfort zone, its none of my/ our business so keep it that way. The answer is simple… no one knows, they think they do but speculation doesn’t mean anything until some evidence is brought to the table.

*To fathom hell or soar angelic just take a pinch of psychadelic*

The belief in the Trinity is indeed incomprehensible. That’s why the Church calls it “The Mystery of the Holy Trinity”. I consider it funny.

I’ll buy Hegel’s “God is God only in so far as he knows himself.”

omg.. good work, dude

i love these quotes!

the truth is, no one really knows one way or the other. we all have our own opinions and perceptions…no proof.

i say believe what you want, and accept what others believe as their own. we’ll all be wiser for it. and each individual will not have wasted his own time trying to convince another that he is right.

“Check out a book on Calvinism. It’s solid. The Bible is too complex and magnificent to be written without the devine inspiration from God.

Atheism is an attempt to wrest control from the creator and master.”

As for the first part, I’m an author and I’d find it pretty easy to think of a clever story about an invisible man in the sky to explain creation. And the second part is just crazy! Wrest control from the creator and master? Bollocks!

Well theism is just an attempt to find someone to blame for the things that go wrong in your life.

I been read all this different thoughts and comments about this very integrate quotes.
But please there is someone out there can tell me which religion God is???

[…] Men never commit evil so fully and joyfully as when they do it for religious convictions. […]

I see beyond science, beyond rationality, beyond happiness, beyond existence, beyond time. Nothing is real; it never seems real. The only truth I know is nausea.

Wow, I just got through 1/2 of this, and I had to say throw in my 2 cents.

I really would like to respond to every ignorant Christian, but alas I have little time.

amongst all these post, there are a few that ask. “Why do atheists spend so much time talking about something they don’t believe in?”

the short answer….. It’s fun to watch people like you choke when I come up with a great question about your god.

REALLY?….. Well on a subject that is very important as to GOD, I simply put in more time researching and reading and over all trying to find what is real, trying to wrap my head around this whole thing, so I unlike MOST (not all) Christians actually care enough about this subject to be interested in it, and if it where not for the Christians that felt like they need to question, and attack me I would not have any need to defend my self, as I NEVER try to convert any one!

and IF you belive atheism is a religion, then at the very least relies that, death, wars, and over all intellectual rape has not been the outcome of my my “religion”

Anonymous

Morality is doing the right thing not matter what your told. Religion is doing what your told no matter what is right.”

“Christian Fundamentalist: The doctrine that there is an absolutely powerful, infinitely knowledgeable, universe spanning entity that is deeply and personally concerned about my sex life.”

two quotes I likes from a book I like.

:})

My question is, why do so many Christians/religious folk end up plauguing comment boards on atheist websites? Do they actually search the wide world of the Internet looking for a chance to play the role of an inquisator? If God were seriously that pissed about a website then don’t you think he would have hit us all with lightning or whatever it is he apparently does to people that Christians don’t like? If people of a faith are so easily sent into coniptions by an opinion on a website, then there is a high chance that there is some sort of fear-to-not-believe going on.

I’m glad it’s 2008, though. Back in the day you could literally get away with murder if you say it was for God.

Gandhi was not an atheist, he was very much a religious man, but he saw through the folly of the the evil that people do in the name of religion. The riots of India-Pakistan seperation was a real eye-opener. One does not have to be an atheist or a non-believer to denounce all the evils comitted by so called believers/religious leaders. He was wise enough to seek the higher truth, which was compassion for his fellow beings, and that I believe is true religion.

If I find my self at a the pearly gates when I die will I say “damn Zeus, I thought it was going to be the other guy!”
Wouldn’t I have a better chance of getting in if I voted for no god rather than the wrong god?

[…] Maybe this is too harsh, theodicy has always been problematic in the conception of god. As this quote from Epicurus shows: Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? (source) […]

Obviously christians, for one example, don’t really think god is real, as evidenced by their behavior.

And anyway, the longstanding definition of an atheist is anyone who won’t swear allegiance to Jupiter and Caesar and disavow all other gods.

Anyone see the list of quotes in this article on atheism ?

Blindly believing something without questioning it’s validity is not a good thing

I’m glad to see some intelligent quotes and some great posts on here. It’s a nice feeling that I’m not the only person who has shrugged off another authority figure asking for my money. I also feel sorry for the weak minds attempting to defend their religions on here.

I really enjoyed the quotes. I am going to put them on a random cycle on my blog:
godlessblogger.com

To all the Right Wing Ultra conservative, Jerry Falwell following bible thumping people out there who believe that Obama’s election is the end of mankind I say: It was God’s will….and then watch them stammer

@who said this
“So he’s not an atheist. Also taking quotes out of their context is misleading.”

No he is simpily finding quotes that shed some light on reality, it matters not who said them.

GOD BLESS US!!!

I actually think that a lot of these quotes were kind of bullshit…some of these people quoted were not even atheists and albert einstein has been known to say things that show he believed in a higher power AS WELL as quotes that made it appear as he didn’t. Also, i do believe in a higher power, and i’m not sure if i do much else, but all i know is that i have seen terrible evils in this world, such as possessions, and i know that if something that dark, malevolent, and evil can exist, then so can God, and he is a good one.

Fear and false promises has kept religion in business for many millenniums. Its funny how most Christian Religions teach that if you read about wiccan beliefs, satanic beliefs, and pretty much anything but Christianity, then it will open your soul up for possession and you will become inherently evil. Didn’t “god” give us free will to choose? I would think that making an “educated guess” is better than to make a decision for the infinite life of your soul out of pure blind ignorance, based on the fact you don’t want to burn for eternity. Confidence in your convictions comes from life experience and indisputable knowledge, not blissful ignorance.

The above comments have proved religious people really are the most ignorant of all.

im getting the thomas jefferson quote about reason tattooed on my ribs. its perfect

I refuse a label - yet I am labeled. If I dont believe one way or the other than it is the other I am perceived. In any forum, and any topic - it is not nice to call names & belittle the opinions of others. It only counteracts the point you are trying to make & you simply will not be heard that way. State your opinion…be greatful that we live in a country where we can do so…but listen with tolerance & speak with love. I am not a Christian, but that doesn’t mean I have the right in this matter to claim to be right or wrong, or that we dont share some of the same beliefs, or that I’m imorral, or that it’s too much to expect to be respected & heard but to also be respectful & listen. Honestly, there is much to be learned from both sides…just a shame that so few are listening. If your belief serves some purpose in your life - then it’s real for you. If a Christian man/woman finds peace in their last breath because of their religous background and they are able to pass peacefully without fear becaue they believe God is on the other side - wow…why wouldn’t that be the obvious choice - seems silly to call it ignorant or wrong, I find it beautiful. If an athiest finds peace and freedom in taking a different journey to question & seek a truth of their own, and strives to be a good person & live a good moral life and does these things being only accountable to their own standards and not out of fear, and finds life more beautiful because it is so limited & precious - there is no denying the beauty in this as well. If in the end we are in fact presented to God can you think of a better way to reach him - by searching for the truth and only accepting the truth as you know it - derived by your desire & curiosity in a journey that is between only you & God. I have begged, and prayed for direction - yet somehow despite my upbringing God is lost to me. If my journey leads me back to him how can anyone truly say this is the wrong way…according to who??? Would it not be HIS choice? I prefer to think he would be honored that despite my struggles that I never gave up & that although not taking the traditional path…stayed true to myself, and still found my way back to him. I believe there is likely more….more than we’ll ever be able to comprehend in this life…call it God, or whatever you like, no matter your view on religion, my relationship or lack thereof with God is between myself & God. Yours is your own - private and beautiful in your way. For me, the lessons I was taught just weren’t making sense, once I became unable to accept the blind faith I was raised and expected to have, I’ve struggled, and searched & prayed and begged for guidance…but as much as I seek some absolute truth, I am incapable & unwilling to be led blindly or to follow any other truth but my own. I’ve come to peace with the idea that I may never find my way in this life…but this certainly does not change who I am as a person, morally - the choices I make are a burdon of my own concious - not by the fear of God. After all, isn’t the whole point of any of it that we were gifted with free will & that it’s in our hands to make the right choices & to become the best person you can be for yourself, your family, your peers, to make a positive impace ont the world around you, to live a happy life that can be admired & remembered…to spread love…who cares how we get there. There is no reason we cant all arive at an understanding together. No matter the truth…we all die…and I wish I knew what happens after that…none of us can completely know until the time comes…so we just help eachother along by doing the best we can with the time we have, and live a good life regardless of the motivations. Will God spite you if you live your life according to the gospel if my journey left me lost and unable to find my way & you have to help me walk through the gates of Heaven - and would you show that kind of courage in front of God revealing not a defiance to him but rather compassion for your fellow man? I do say this - if I am lucky enough in my lifetime to find whatever it is we’re all looking for - it would never be a God that would turn me…an athiest, or a Budhist, or a Pagan, or anyone else away…for living the same good life, with the same humanitarian morals as any Christian…or whichever other religion claims to be the only one that will get you into heaven away if he could not open his arms & welcome us all into heaven with love and acceptance…no matter the race, or gender, or spiritual preference, or sexual orientation or whatever other judgements we seem to feel so entitled to. If heaven is biased, and those that break the strict rules that must be followed in organized religion (lying, stealing, pre-marital sex, homosexuality,infidelity…drinking…and so on and so on)cannot go to heaven…I’d say we’re all doomed. Having tollerance for another doesn’t make you weak - to the contrary - it’s harder at times to find a way to accept the things in life you dont believe in or agree with than it is to harbor discontent & hatred for them. You still choose how to live your life, doesn’t mean you have to abandon your beleifs, it simply means you can be free to love your life and the lives of others…and to learn and grow from the experiences we have together. The will of man right? You choose to hate or to love, or to judge or make the best decisions, not God, not anyone. YOU. In the end we may or may not be sent here or there…it may be just over…either way, we can only make good choices while we’re here, death is inevitible & what happens after that is going to be out of our hands - think carefully on that if you’re one of the folks posting nasty messages…you really want to leave that kind of muck behind or want God looking back on that when he’s greeting you at the pearly gates? How dare anyone, with any belief system claim the authority say someone else is going to heaven or hell or nowhere or that someone is right or wrong in their beleifs. Who exactly do you think you are? Mans arrogance (and by this I mean women too) has mistakenly taken on the idea that he is the all powerful center of the universe…and hey…ya never know…it may come to pass…but somehow I seriously doubt that we have as much clout as we think we do in the big scheme of things…but there again…what do I know. I think it would do us all well to be humbled. Bottom line is that right and wrong are simply that & it has nothing to do with religion. Until we can take responsibilty, and stop placing blame on eachother and start being good role models and teaching our children tollerance & love…this continues…and we breed hatred, and a lack of understanding, and the narrow minded thinking that keeps us from all being able to accept eachother exactly as we are - agree with it or not - find a way to be at peace with your differences…holding on to it only harms you, and your relationship with yourself or God or whoever you choose to worship. We all have some governing source - call it what you will, but we all live by some code…standards, beliefs,mine is my own conciouos, yours may be religion…no matter. Religion is a beautiful concept, but not necessarily the absolute concept. However, if it is the guidance you receive in this belief system that makes you a beter person, serves you and fulfill your life - then be thankful for what you have…and right or wrong,true or not…if that’s what works for you then that’s all the proof you need that it’s real, for you…and even I, the athiest can believe then that it’s real…for you. It is no ones place to question or judge you know to be true for you…just as it is no ones place to judge and instruct me, or to look apon me as anything less, or damn me to hell because it’s my choice…it’s my journey - and unless I’m able to get to my place…my peace, on my own, in my own way, it will not be mine…but rather yours. Religion or lack thereof has nothing to do with the state of the world today…that’s a cop out - all cannot be held responsible for the bad decisions made some in the name of God. Religion doesn’t make good people good, or bad people bad. The trouble and fighting starts when there a lack of tollerance & understanding. While there is hypocracy and corruption on both sides - we all have something to learn from the other….take what you need, respectfully leave the rest behind. Both sides could gain from that. I often think how much easier things would be if I was like most people I know & could use my belief in God to see me through the hard times, and for something solid to believe in…one less thing to fret over. As much as I try…I’m not being true to myself or any God by pretending…I can only do my best in the time I have to be a good person - and to be kind & tolleranbt of others despite our differences…because in the end…either way…it’s just the right thing to do. So come on folks - I saw some seriously disturbing commenhts from Christians & athiests alike in this thread…you are each proving the others point by behaving that way. Abuse & name calling, declarations that one is right or one is wrong - or ignorant or whatever…we’re ignorant…no one is wrong. There may be no way until the end to know the whole truth & we will likely always have these differences - so our option is to be nasty & fight and judge and spread hate, or figure out some way to make peace with yourselves & the world around you. There is so much already to dread in the world today - choose to spread love every chance you get - life is way to short - create as many beautiful moments for yourself and your family while you can - and dont trouble yourself with my soul…it’s not your burdon to bear.

One more thing..you dont get to thrown the tooth fairy into the mix because that is just one more example of something we beleived because that’s what we were told..not because we saw her, or felt her or anything else…what a disappointment that was! I genuinely mean no disrespect…

I am an atheist and I spent a great deal of time thinking and trying to prove if there is a God, or Gods. There in no evidence that there IS a God and there is no evidence that their ISN’T a God. Seems to me that people who are too deeply involved with religion tend to lose touch with reality. The fact that religious people use the idea of God as a scapegoat makes me honestly disgusted. People will alter their desires just to make themselves seem worthy to be accepted into heaven. There are VERY FEW people on this earth that will convert their religion on their own later on in life, you are brainwashed to believe what your parents believe because their parents brainwashed them. The fact that atheists are portrayed to be “worthless/meaningless etc” is utterly offensive. Religious people choose the idea of “Perfectnes” that they don’t even know exsists later on. Atheists are choosing humanity and living their lives among people. Religion was only created to set seperate social classes such as believes aside from non-believers. The non-believers are always looked down upon because society can not accept truth.

dkilla 4e.

Anyone who truly believes that a god exists is being very ignorant and childish. To think that some being or force runs the universe, created the planets and spoke to Moses in the form of a buring bush that didn’t get consumed by the flames is as absurd as thinking the easter bunny will leave dyed hard-boiled eggs in yoru back yard.

Seriously, if someone wants to believe in god, that’s fine, but organized religeon has ruined society throughout the history of mankind. Religeon and churches should receive no more consideration than any other civic club, organization or group. This tax free status needs to be revoked, especially if they’re going to support political candidates.

Religeon has no place in government, public schools and in any publicly owned building or place.

By the way, I was raised roman catholic, typical Italian family. I’m a hard-core atheist now.

Thanks for the posts.These guys are real gods.Thanks for the website.No more fear and bullshit.

LOL What a bunch of assholes! You deserve each other! LOL

Quote by Marx is much better in the long form: “Religious distress is at the same time the expression of real distress and the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of the heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. The demand to give up illusions about its condition is the demand to give up a condition that needs illusions. Criticism has plucked the imaginary flower from the chain, not so that men will wear the chain without any fantasy or consolation, but that they will break the chain and cull the living flower.” - Karl Marx

Also an attribution is incorrect: “Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.” - Seneca the Younger

Haw about these: “reality is the only thing that we have any certainty that exists - anything that requires faith in the supernatural is highly suspect.” and “It is not meaning that is important but the use that that meaning is being put to, who is telling the story and what do they want from you?”

Well said “Eric” above.
The universe as we know it was created in that ’singular’ event that we call the,”Big Bang” as a result of quantum
instabilities.
NO OTHER agent “caused” it or triggered it.
NOTHING outside of this event existed,there was NO space,no time & no matter.
The temperatures in the first hundredths of a second were of the order of >2trillion degrees K(Kelvin).
Nothing can exceed the speed of light & although rapid cooling has continued apace for 13.7 billion years, the CMB temps are still 3 degrees K.
Neither “GOD(s)” or the reilgious advocates of “GOD(s)”existed then & it’s 100% certain they do not exist now,one doesn’t have to be “uncertain” about that fact,it is a certainty,a plain truth,something which is at odds with religion.
Every particle in existance in the whole universe is just the nuclear waste from that event & that means you and I,every atom in the universe is a
product of that one event.
Look at any untuned Cathode Ray Tube TV & you will see part of the remnants of that event.

The “Bible”(book),the Qoran & all the other religious fiction are the compilation of people that have as their sole purpose,the subjugation of the human spirit of free thought to the
doctrines inherent within that fiction.
In respect of “faith”,I say to people, ” the only faith one needs,is faith in one’s own abilities,NOT the mind bending drugs of religion,royalty or political indoctrination”.
Liberate your mind from those whom would chain you to the Yoke of their perverse lies,that is like breathing in fresh air to your brain.

David, You poor illiterate fool. Einstien was NOT religious (”I do not believe in a personal god…” Mark Twain was also NOT a theist (”Faith is believing what you know ain’t so”, or Thomas Jefferson (Deist, “question everything, even the exsitance of god…”). Voltaire, also was an atheist (”God? Who needs that superstition but the poor and the nobility? The wise know it not to be true.”). And, Ben Franklin (”Hume appears correct, there is no god, only ourselves. I do wish it were a sad fact. Yet, I am gladdened by it.”).

Before you blather. THINK and STUDY. If God is,then it gave you a brain and the world. Give up neither.

HH =)

Good Stuff. If you were to wonder, Ask Atheist why do they think there is no God, there could be a creator but not as mentioned in any religion, there could be a designer of your DNA… there might be a Designer / Creator but no god!!

As for Theist, If God were to exist what makes them think that god is happy with their Religion… God could be for real but Religion is more of ‘work of fiction’. There is no evidence of God, then where does the idea of its very existence comes from? Yes, of course religion needed something to sell.

Who cares for The God, It is the Religion that is dividing us. Religion is alternate form of governance. You are not part of Monarchy / Dictatorship / Government try Religion, any of those would work there are many to try on. How else can you sell ‘FEAR’ of daily basis?

@Believer: “.If I’m right I go to HEAVEN!”

Sorry, no. If you are right you go to hell, since you said “If”.

[…] uma crença a ser seguida. Terminada a apresentação, posso falar do Left of Zen, que fez uma lista das melhores citações ateístas. Mais algumas delas: Religion easily has the best bullshit story of all time. Think about it. […]

I dont believe in God in a traditional sense…so for that I’m automatically going to Hell according to arrogant religous folk that apparently believe that they have some devine authority to make such claims on Gods behalf. Humble servents??? Last I checked God is the only authority to pass judgement. I just cant understand the logic of these people who claim to be followers of God - then contradict everything they claim to follow and believe in by going into the world scolding and judging and shunning anyone who believes differently…contributing to tensions and hatred and intollerence. Actions like this do not honor the word of God - if you truly believe in the Kingdom of Heaven…and plan to get there when you die…you may take some time to self reflect and remember that just claiming to believe means nothing if you are not living your life by the word of God…proving yourself worthy of heaven. God sees through your hypocracy - so be who you say you are and honor God by being a good example - honoring his commandments - and showing love and compassion to all of Gods children. I can tell everyone I’m a millionaire…knowingly break the laws that govern society by writing a bunch of checks…walk around town with my nose up in air looking down on those with less - but when those checks start bouncing and I have to be accountable for my actions…I’m in deep shit. That’s just common sense…follow the laws of God - or be accountable to him for your defiance when your judgement day comes.

“Let’s see, Stalin, an athiest and communist, was responsible for more purges and deaths of the soviet people than Hitler and his Nazis killed Jews in WWII. Soviets were responsible/assisted for the wars in Korea, Vietnam, & Afghanistan. The soviet leadership (athiests all, becuase you had to be communist, and the communistic society in the USSR had to be athiest) brutally put it’s people through unspeakable horrors during it’s time of existance

No one knows how many chinese were killed by it’s communistic/athiest leaders as well.”

The point is that it wasn’t in the NAME of atheism.

“FUCK ALL ATHEISTS:
atheists have no purpose in life, except for trying to convince others that their beliefs are stupid.”

Try telling that to all the atheists that devote their lives to bettering humanity, you ignorant fool.

“Who cares whether or not you believe or don’t believe in God.”

I can’t believe you even have to ask that question. There are people who are scared out of their minds to tell people they are atheist because EVERYONE FUCKING CARES.

To Lol, with the August Burns Red quote: That quote is such a repulsive testimony to the utter craziness that is required to believe in most religions, I’m sorry you see it as a positive thing.

“The wind is invisible, but we see its affects. Same with God.”

What would God’s affects be? The constant war? Death? Or are you talking about the prayers that are “answered”? The ones that are fulfilled 50% of the time, the same as when you DON’T pray?

Or are you talking about the universe/earth/life, which we have SENSIBLE explanations for?

“For a person to claim that he is a man of science and to argue that there is no God/god would be fake. Making conclusion not backed by solid evidence is unscientific.”

Wow. So if I said there isn’t an invisible, silent, scentless, tasteless, untouchable monster standing next to you right now, without proof to back it up, I’m therefore unscientific? Burden of proof!

“America will be going DOWN.”

You’re so right. Progress and science will be our DOWNFALL!

“If your wrong, “Good Luck in the LAKE OF FIRE”.”

Pascal’s Wager is idiotic.

I like number 50.

My point of view is probably not very interesting for the skeptic, but maybe I’m wrong. If God does exist and is all good, then it seems to me that He would be at liberty to be silent and invisible in order to find out the true inward nature of everybody’s choices, so that later on He would know just what He is dealing with.

Think about it, if you were all-powerful, needed nothing from your very own creation, were all good, and you had an invisibility garment that you could go anywhere, would you be motivated to spend your time among the ones who you know don’t want you, need you, believe in your power to help them, or even believe that you are real?

In my view, God would have set things in place for us to choose for ourselves to be good and provide a reward for those who endure long suffering. Think of a presidential candidate who must wait for the election to recieve the fruit of the difficult race.

I think that people who choose to be “moral” while not believing in a God (like the Christian one which will pass judgement before His throne) are a significant minority. I think that a majority of athiest or agnosic people will incline toward serving one’s self, at the cost of family, community, and society. They will, because the only authority they accept over their inner world is their own self.

If God were building a more perfect community of people in another place, I see it reasonable that He would not let some of us in because of our likelyhood of making problems there. I think He would be inclined to get that new community off to the best start possible while still giving us free will. To do that, I think He would look at our inward choices as a significant selection criteria. But, I think he probably wouldn’t spend too much time with the ones who don’t acknowlege His authority over that selection. He may see them as unteachable, unreachable. He would probably choose a different community to put them into and work out the hope of their futures in a different way.

I think that it’s too easy to choose athiesm or agnosticism. I think a person should view the idea of God more like Mt Everest: It’s obviously there, and it sticks out like a sore thumb…how could everything come from nothing. It’s got an incredible view from the top, for those couragous enough to attempt it’s ascent. It’s very forgiving at low altitudes, but gets harder the higher you go. If you climb it, you life will never be the same. I think an athiest should climb the mountain before saying that “it isn’t there”, or “the view stinks”. I think the agnostic should listen to the stories of those who have climbed it before they make up their mind.

Voltiere was a deist, Jefferson was a deist, Franklin was a deist. Einstein was an atheism in his youth but latter became a theist and abhorred people quoting his younger, more foolish, self.

Very nice site! cheap viagra

To heave a simple solution doesnt really mean the fix of the problem . Research and find if something works first. j?mf?r priser

i was looking for quotes to explain to a religious finatic that the founders of our country werent puritain and in fact deist, thank you for this site it has a lot of famous quotes that are sure to help. =]

Needs more Bertrand Russell. Christians bandying about words like “retarded” and “fag” don’t really help their own cause much.