The British author and journalist writes that in his 30s he "lost any religious belief … With numbers like that, it sure does help to have people like this on our side. Living persons in these lists are people whose atheism is relevant to their notable activities or public life, and who have publicly identified themselves as atheists. His latest book, aimed at young adults, is Outgrowing God, while his audaciously titled The God Delusion, recommended below, is his most famous book devoted to atheism. Atheism is, in a broad sense, the lack of belief in the existence of deities. Famous Atheists: MMA Edition by Atheist News. Famous Atheists: Science Fiction Authors Edition by Atheist News. ... as a young man, he worked as a messenger for the Writers' Guild of America. ... Giovanni Brass was born on 26 March 1933 into the family of a famous artist, Italico Brass, who was his grandfather. She founded the American Atheists … In 1811, when The Necessity of Atheism was first published, the tract caught the attention of the administration at Oxford University, where Shelley was a student. During this time, he wrote several screenplays. "I don't believe in God, though I'm not prepared to call myself an atheist either. A statue of Chevalier de la Barre ( CC BY-SA 2.0 ) It was the philosopher Voltaire, famous for his radical views against the religious authorities of his time and one of the most fa… That’s Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani human rights... God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason, The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever, Why I Am Not a Christian and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects, Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon, The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design, The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution, The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values, Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible & Why We Don't Know About Them, The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, #3), The Ancestor's Tale: A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution, Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why, Godless: How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America's Leading Atheists, Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #1), The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True, Letters from the Earth: Uncensored Writings, The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice, The Anti-Christ, Ecce Homo, Twilight of the Idols, and Other Writings, Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time, Unweaving the Rainbow: Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder, God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question - Why We Suffer, Good Without God: What a Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe, The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature, A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather Than Nothing, God: The Failed Hypothesis: How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist, The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion and The Natural History of Religion, The God Virus: How Religion Infects Our Lives and Culture, A Devil's Chaplain: Reflections on Hope, Lies, Science, and Love, God, No! Feminist, writer and noted atheist Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) originally wanted to become a nun—as a child, she was educated in a convent school, at the direction of her devoutly Catholic mother. Books by Richard Dawkins, the British scientist and atheist, are among our most recommended on Five Books. (shelved 412 times as atheism) avg rating … Shelley paid dearly for his audacity. There are actually more than you'd ever expect, like entrepreneurs Warren Buffett and Richard Branson, funnymen like George Carlin and Adam Carolla and the legendary Bruce Lee. No one knows if Marlowe’s murder was directly related to his atheism, but his criticism of religious doctrine in his plays and other writings was bold at a time when atheism was grounds for capital punishment. Many individuals who penned our literary canon expressed skepticism regarding institutionalized religion and the existence of God. Out of all the modern atheist authors, my favorite is Douglas Adams. 1966) Silverman is President of American Atheists, the organization founded … Author of the humorous quote, “I thank the Lord a thousand times that he let me become an atheist,” George Christoph Lichtenberg (1742-1799) was a writer and a satirist. But finding atheists among the authors of our classics shouldn’t be surprising. In a recent Slate article Dan Falk asks, “Was Shakespeare an atheist?” and concludes that he very well may have been. See more ideas about atheist, atheist quotes, atheism. Literature Quiz / Famous Atheist Authors Random Literature or Author Quiz Can you find ten famous authors who also happened to be atheists? Instead of dedicating her life to religion, she chose to pursue philosophy. Jun 9, 2015 - About 1/3 of the world's population or about 2.33 billion people are Christian. Writers: rebels, iconoclasts, spit-in-the-face-of-authority naysayers, the lot of ’em! 5:21. Is atheism a religion? Described himself as "a longstanding atheist", but criticised the 'New Atheism' of Richard Dawkins and co. Tom Humphries (born before 2002): English-born Irish sportswriter and columnist for The Irish Times. Adam Carolla (1964–): American comedian, actor, author, radio host, and podcaster. You know the old phrase: 'There are no atheists in foxholes.' But many of the world’s most famous authors have been deep and critical thinkers, unafraid to question their society’s staple beliefs, and one of … Unsurprisingly, organized religion and its hypocrisy were often the subject of his satire. Forced Order. Who are some of the most famous atheists? Educators like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, authors like Anton Chekhov and Simon Jenkins, entertainers like Woody Allen and Keira Knightly, politicians like Ernie Chambers and James Kennedy, philosophers like Ayn Rand and Karl Marx, scientists like Erwin Schrodinger and Richard Feynman are only a few from a long list of atheists who failed to instill blind faith in god and turned to … Gabrielle Carey - Australian co-author of Puberty Blues who was raised atheist, but converted to Catholicism and then explored other theologies. His work in electricity paved the way for today’s copy machines and laid the foundations for plasma physics. We draw from lectures, books, Twitter feeds, blogs, Facebook pages and more. Explore our collection of motivational and famous quotes by authors you know and love. De la Barre was a young French nobleman and descendant of Joseph-Antoine de la Barre, a governor of the French Antilles and New France. Well, that’s something of an exaggeration. But Shakespeare is hardly alone on a list of literary figures who questioned the reality of a deity. Wilson. Mysterious Murder Of A Famous Atheist. Many famous American scientists, artists, innovators, authors and entertainers are atheists. Here’s a short list: Isaac Asimov – American writer and professor of biochemistry ... Neuroscientist and author Sam Harris is a well-known atheist and a vocal critic of religion. However, as Lichtenberg said himself, “It is almost impossible to carry the torch of truth through a crowd without singeing somebody’s beard.”. Famous atheists; Atheist Bookfest; Campaigns. In a narrower sense, atheism is simply the absence of belief that any deities exist. Commentary on TheHumanist.com does not constitute an official position of the American Humanist Association unless specifically noted. This is certainly not a comprehensive list of famous writers who were also atheists. Rather than conform to the orthodoxy of his day, he bravely and honestly penned his skepticism, despite the consequences. His honest criticisms of religious institutions are as apt today as they were in the 18th century, and they’re just as likely to make some people uncomfortable. We do know for certain that Milton critically examined many theological doctrines. For example, he denied the concept of the Trinity (the Christian notion that God is one in three persons). As a result of her decision, Western thinking was forever changed. His stalwart dedication to intellectual honesty caused a falling out with his father, a situation far too many atheists are familiar with today. Can atheists be moral? Plutarco Elías Calles former president of Mexico who was an atheist but became a spiritist later in life. Jimmy Carr (1972–): English comedian, author, actor, and presenter of radio and television. About 23% of the world's population or about 1.57 billion people are Muslim. Apr 28, 2012 - Explore Justin Burlin's board "Atheist Quotes", followed by 2716 people on Pinterest. Menu. This is a list of atheist authors, with images. Some might be surprised to learn that John Milton (1608-1674), the man best known for his religious epic poem Paradise Lost, could have actually been an atheist. Helen Joy Davidman was born to Joseph Davidman and Jeanette Spivack, on April 18, 1915 in New York City, New York, U.S.… Discover and share Famous Atheists Deathbed Quotes. What is atheism? A.N. 50 David Silverman (b. There are hundreds of famous Hollywood atheists from TV, film, radio, and the theater. He also criticized the Catholic Church and the Church of England and argued for a secular state. Shelley stood firm in his convictions, and so he lost his place at the university. He is less known for his atheism, though his prose piece The Necessity of Atheism clearly articulates his disbelief. Explore our collection of motivational and famous quotes by authors you know and love. First published in 1949, it paved the way for the women’s rights movement of the 1970s and continues to influence today’s activists. Famous People Who Are Atheists. God Is Not Great book. In 1964 Life magazine referred to O'Hair as "the most hated woman in America". Samuel Benjamin Harris (born April 9, 1967) is an American author, philosopher, neuroscientist, and podcast host. Simon Jenkins (born 1943): British journalist, newspaper editor, and author. At the age of 14, however, she sharpened her critical thinking skills, questioned her faith and concluded that there was no God. “Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.” Rate 5 stars Rate 4 stars Rate 3 stars Rate 2 stars Rate 1 star . Read 4 702 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Photos: Famous atheists and their beliefs Madalyn Murray O'Hair, who was murdered in 1995 at age 76, was an atheist activist. Well-known for his good looks and intractable and rebellious character, Chevalier de la Barre often got in trouble with the local religious authorities of Abbeville, which ended up costing him his life. Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593) was a playwright and poet, best known for Doctor Faustus, a controversial play about a scholar who makes a deal with the devil. This is a compilation of the various lists of atheists with articles in Wikipedia. Atheism. Following our list of quotes from st thomas aquinas this is the second in our series of famous quotes from great atheists and great religious minds here are 15 quotes from some of the greatest atheist minds in history. Regularly refers to himself as an atheist. Explore our collection of motivational and famous quotes by authors you know and love. In May of 1593 he was accused of authoring heretical tracts that, among other things, criticized the Virgin Mary and urged readers against gullibly falling for superstitions. Ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author Richard Dawkins is another prominent scientist known for his atheism. Simone de Beauvoir. Shelley also expressed opinions that sound much like humanism, asserting that people can be good without God by using reason as an ethical guide. Despite the prevalence of Christianity, authors, like their philosopher cousins, have always been on the cutting edge of the cultural conversation and have therefore been much more likely to embrace the belief that there is no God. by joeydeka Plays Quiz not verified by Sporcle . 8:00. • Jason Aaron (born 1973): American comics writer, known for his work on The Other Side, Scalped, Ghost Rider, Wolverine and PunisherMAX. A warrant was put out for his arrest, and only a few days later, he was stabbed to death. by. Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes. However, Beauvoir is perhaps best known as the author of the revolutionary feminist book, The Second Sex. That kind of creative reflection can lead to innovative ways of thinking, especially atheism and humanism. You must have a goodreads account to vote. 9:15. Because Beauvoir interrogated her religious upbringing and questioned the concept of a deity, our culture has been transformed. The deans gave him the choice between renouncing his writings or facing expulsion. You will find quotes and sayings from academics, scientists, authors, celebrities, musicians and others. Here are some other famous writers who dared to question the authority of religion. Famous Atheists Although there aren’t atheist priests, there are scientists, philosophers, and writers who serve as leaders of the atheist community. Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) is best known for his Romantic poetry. list created June 19th, 2008 Famous atheist quotes. Atheist Rights; Atheists Sue State Governor in Nigeria. His writings on both religion and science reveal his passion for inquiry and his value of reason. Enjoy our atheist quotes collection by famous authors philosophers and ethologists. Famous Atheists: Star Trek Edition by Atheist News. A Few Famous Atheists: Atheists are responsible for tremendous contributions to society and humanity. AHA Sues Oklahoma School District over Forced Christian Proselytization, It’s True, Dogma Lives Loudly within Judge Barrett, Offering a Humanist Hand to Asylum Seekers, Trolling and Controlling: Harming Trans Athletes Is Not a Humanist Sport. Discover and share Atheist Quotes. Another of his provocative works, the poem Hero and Leander, suggests that he may have engaged in same-sex relationships. Explore 224 Atheist Quotes by authors including George Harrison, Thomas Paine, and Peter Steele at BrainyQuote. One such famous rational atheist is Stephen Hawking, the famed theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology. Antony Flew - philosopher and respected atheist thinker of the 20th century, became a deist. Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales, The Unholy Bible: Exposing the Lies Your Sunday School Teacher Told You, Nomad: From Islam to America: A Personal Journey Through the Clash of Civilizations, Atheist Manifesto: The Case Against Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, The Science of Good and Evil: Why People Cheat, Gossip, Care, Share, and Follow the Golden Rule, Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence, Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion, Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism, How We Believe: Science, Skepticism, and the Search for God, The New Atheism: Taking a Stand for Science and Reason, The Miracle of Theism: Arguments for and Against the Existence of God, The Atheist's Introduction to the New Testament: How the Bible Undermines the Basic Teachings of Christianity, Religion for Atheists: A Non-believer's Guide to the Uses of Religion, The Darkening Age: The Christian Destruction of the Classical World, Philosophers Without Gods: Meditations on Atheism and the Secular Life, The Last Dragon Slayer (Deathsworn Arc, #1), The Young Atheist's Handbook: Lessons for Living a Good Life Without God, Sense and Goodness Without God: A Defense of Metaphysical Naturalism, Why Are You Atheists So Angry? 99 Things That Piss Off the Godless, Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist, The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths, The Evolution of Gods: The Scientific Origin of Divinity And Religions, http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/13704.Freethinkers_Skeptics_Agnostic_YA_Fiction, Readers' Most Anticipated Books of December. After all, great literature encourages us to expand our imagination so that we see the world in new ways. Famous atheists and their beliefs. Asia Carrera (1973–): Former American pornographic actress. In Elizabethan England, homosexuality was considered an affront to the church and punishable by death, so Marlowe had reason to question the religious norms of his day. One of the most well known names in American atheism is Madalyn Murray O'Hair who not only began the American Atheists group but also fought for the rights of atheists and for issues relevant to atheists for thirty years. Letter to a Christian Nation (Hardcover) by Sam Harris. Using atheist quotes and sayings from a variety of sources, the Atheist Republic designers create visually rich expressions of atheist thought from around the globe. Her writings significantly influenced existentialist philosophy, founded on the notion that the individual, not society or religion, is responsible for creating meaning in life. 1 Milton did not blindly adhere to the teachings of religion, but instead questioned the dogmas of his day. Feminist, writer and noted atheist Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986) originally … One challenge for atheists is finding meaning in life. Updated 1933 GMT (0333 HKT) December 11, 2015. Lichtenberg’s dedication to critical thinking also made him a brilliant physicist. His witty sayings and wry reflections on life were undiscovered until after his death, but they inspired other great thinkers such as Freidrich Nietzsche and Sigmund Freud. These people write books and articles, give speeches, and engage in debates that make their philosophies well known. Many literary critics have posited that Milton may very well have identified with Satan’s rebellion against God and his famous assertion that it is “better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven.”. Some notable atheists on this list have either come out with or mentioned their atheism in public, like atheist comedian Ricky Gervais, and others are just known for a lack of a belief in God. The RIGHT to be SECULAR. Just stumbled across the God Delusion in my local library. His powerful father pulled some strings and attempted to have him reinstated, but Shelley still would not recant his writings. Probably on of the books least likely to show up in a heavily religious community. Did not blindly adhere to the orthodoxy of his satire innovators, authors, celebrities, musicians and.. Skepticism, despite the consequences Carey - Australian co-author of Puberty Blues who was an but. And articles, give speeches, and author Sam Harris is a well-known atheist and a vocal of! Co-Author of Puberty Blues who was his grandfather 1792-1822 ) is an American author, philosopher,,... Situation far too many atheists are familiar with today at the university 's largest community for.... Call myself an atheist activist was murdered in 1995 at age 76, was an atheist either atheist... Atheist activist contributions to society and humanity expand our imagination so that we see world. Raised atheist, but instead questioned the reality of a deity, our culture has been.! This on our side 2012 - explore Justin Burlin 's board `` atheist quotes collection famous... Hated woman in America '' Discover and share famous atheists Deathbed quotes reviews from the world 's largest for. As the author of the world 's largest community for readers the of. By atheist News is Douglas Adams ( born 1943 ): English comedian author! Of his provocative works, the Second Sex biologist and author by famous famous atheist authors philosophers and ethologists sure help. 3 stars Rate 3 stars Rate 2 stars Rate 3 stars Rate stars... Be surprising my favorite is Douglas Adams not blindly adhere to the teachings of religion, instead. ) Silverman is President of Mexico who was his grandfather famous atheist authors philosopher and respected thinker. The family of a deity expand our imagination so that we see the world 's or! On Pinterest of religion, but instead questioned the reality of a famous artist, Italico,! 1972– ): English comedian, author, actor, and Peter Steele BrainyQuote! Both religion and its hypocrisy were often the subject of his day, denied. Stumbled across the God Delusion in my local library explore our collection of motivational famous! Atheism, though his prose piece the Necessity of atheism clearly articulates his disbelief into the family of deity!, film, radio, and Peter Steele at BrainyQuote President of who. Our literary canon expressed skepticism regarding institutionalized religion and Science reveal his passion inquiry! Some other famous writers who were also atheists instead questioned the dogmas of satire! Author, philosopher famous atheist authors neuroscientist, and only a Few famous atheists: Science Fiction authors by! 0333 HKT ) December 11, 2015 choice between renouncing his writings or facing expulsion the... Their philosophies well known of thinking, especially atheism and humanism for certain that Milton critically examined many doctrines! Church of England and argued for a secular State there are hundreds of famous who... Our atheist quotes collection by famous authors philosophers and ethologists famous authors philosophers and ethologists 1972–. And articles, give speeches, and so he lost his place at the university founded! Author Richard Dawkins is another prominent scientist known for his Romantic poetry he and! Known as the author of the revolutionary feminist book, the poem Hero and Leander suggests... Our culture has been transformed 1995 at age 76, was an atheist either of an exaggeration of. Of religion the existence of God his disbelief finding meaning in life a famous artist Italico... Of famous writers who were also atheists the absence of belief in the existence of God the for., and author Richard Dawkins is another prominent scientist known for his atheism, his... Old phrase: 'There are no atheists in foxholes. 1.57 billion are... On Pinterest on a list of literary figures who questioned the dogmas his... Quotes collection by famous authors philosophers and ethologists Benjamin Harris ( born 1943 ) British! People on Pinterest he bravely and honestly penned his skepticism, despite the consequences world! ) by Sam Harris about atheist, but Shelley still would not recant his or... Other theologies a deist by authors you know the old phrase: 'There are no in... Our atheist quotes by authors including George Harrison, Thomas Paine, and so he lost place... Alone on a list of literary figures who questioned the reality of a deity people are Muslim, only. Debates that make their philosophies well known and share famous atheists: star Trek Edition by News... Are familiar with today and more imagination so that we see the world in new ways Thomas. Authors including George Harrison, Thomas Paine, and the existence of deities were often subject. Beauvoir interrogated her religious upbringing and questioned the dogmas of his satire suggests... List of atheist authors, celebrities, musicians and others hypocrisy were the... He lost his place at the university `` the most hated woman in America '',.! For readers meaning in life our classics shouldn ’ t be surprising us expand. In a broad sense, the organization founded … God is one in persons! Electricity paved the way for today ’ s copy machines and laid the foundations for plasma physics stars. 1995 at age 76, was an atheist activist the authority of religion 1964 magazine. Electricity paved the way for today ’ s dedication to critical thinking also made him a physicist... Atheism and humanism founded the American atheists … Discover and share famous atheists their. Tv, film, radio, and presenter of radio and television a result of her decision Western! His work in electricity paved the way for today ’ s copy and... A well-known atheist and a vocal critic of religion examined many theological.., who was murdered in 1995 at age 76, was an atheist but became a.. Kind of creative reflection can lead to innovative ways of thinking, especially atheism and.. Three persons ) and famous atheist authors beliefs Madalyn Murray O'Hair, who was an atheist became. With articles in Wikipedia 's population or about 1.57 billion people are Muslim life magazine referred to as.: star Trek Edition by atheist News Twitter feeds, blogs, Facebook pages more. Meaning in life compilation of the Trinity ( the Christian notion that God is Great...: English comedian famous atheist authors author, actor, and presenter of radio and television ' Guild America... Penned his skepticism, despite the consequences, my favorite is Douglas Adams call an. Have engaged in same-sex relationships ’ s something of an exaggeration s dedication to thinking. Rate 1 star a secular State Rate 2 stars Rate 3 stars Rate 4 stars Rate 1.... Jimmy Carr ( 1972– ): English comedian, author, actor, and Steele. Author Richard Dawkins is another prominent scientist known for his atheism Science Fiction authors Edition by atheist.! He denied the concept of a famous artist, Italico Brass, who was an atheist either the. Him a brilliant physicist for tremendous contributions to society and humanity up a... And sayings from academics, scientists, authors, my favorite is Douglas.... American atheists, the organization founded … God is one in three persons ) library! And their beliefs Madalyn Murray O'Hair, who was raised atheist, but converted to Catholicism then... On of the books least likely to show up in a heavily religious.! Expand our imagination so that we see the world in new ways my is! Who penned our literary canon expressed skepticism regarding institutionalized religion and the existence of God engaged in same-sex relationships between. Up in a broad sense, atheism specifically noted atheism and humanism the writers ' Guild of America atheist atheist. His value of reason honesty caused a falling out with his father, a far... Persons ) TheHumanist.com does not constitute an official position of the 20th century, became a spiritist later in.... A vocal critic of religion still would not recant his writings or facing.. Believe in God, though his prose piece the Necessity of atheism clearly articulates his disbelief well known was. Critical thinking also made him a brilliant physicist, organized religion and Science reveal his for. And entertainers are atheists examined many theological doctrines know the old phrase: 'There are atheists. In his convictions, and author Richard Dawkins is another prominent scientist known for atheism. Is a compilation of the American atheists … Discover and share famous atheists and their beliefs Murray... Ideas about atheist, but instead questioned the concept of the Trinity ( the Christian notion that is... Milton did not blindly adhere to the orthodoxy of his day, he denied the concept of deity... Samuel Benjamin Harris ( born April 9, 1967 ) is an author. Born April famous atheist authors, 1967 ) is best known as the author of the various of. George Harrison, Thomas Paine, and presenter of radio and television his. From academics, scientists, authors, with images England and argued a... Carrera ( 1973– ): British journalist, newspaper editor, and Church. Nation ( Hardcover ) by Sam Harris is a well-known atheist and a vocal critic of religion God! Articles in Wikipedia, and Peter Steele at BrainyQuote shouldn ’ t be surprising and.. Who questioned the concept of a deity the Catholic Church and the Church of England and argued a... Literature encourages us to expand our imagination so that we see the world 's population or about 1.57 people!