Changes

==Atheism quotes relating to science==

==Atheism quotes relating to science==

{{further|Atheism and the suppression of science}}

{{further|Atheism and the suppression of science}}

* "Opposition to godliness is Atheism in profession and idolatry in practice.  Atheism is so senseless and odious to mankind that it never had many professors." - Sir [[Isaac Newton]]<ref>Newton, Isaac.  ''A Short Scheme of the True Religion''.  Unpublished writing quoted in Brewster, David (1855).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=-RY6AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA347&dq=%22david+brewster%22+%22short+scheme%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=u3zlVL3pN5bqoATx84HgCg&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22david%20brewster%22%20%22short%20scheme%22&f=false ''Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton''] (Edinburgh, UK:  Thomas Constable), vol. 2, p. 347.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on February 19, 2015.</ref>

* "Opposition to godliness is Atheism in profession and idolatry in practice.  Atheism is so senseless and odious to mankind that it never had many professors." - Sir [[Isaac Newton]]<ref>Newton, Isaac.  ''A Short Scheme of the True Religion''.  Unpublished writing quoted in Brewster, David (1855).  [https://books.google.com/books?id=-RY6AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA347&dq=%22david+brewster%22+%22short+scheme%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=u3zlVL3pN5bqoATx84HgCg&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22david%20brewster%22%20%22short%20scheme%22&f=false ''Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton''] (Edinburgh, UK:  Thomas Constable), vol. 2, p. 347.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on February 19, 2015.</ref>

[[File:John Lennox.jpg|right|thumb|170px|[[John Lennox]] ]]

[[File:John Lennox.jpg|right|thumb|170px|[[John Lennox]] ]]

* "Some atheists are quite explicit that their atheism comes first. One of the most famous is Richard Lewontin, a professor of genetics, who said it wasn't science that compelled him to accept a materialistic explanation of the universe. It was an ''a priori'' materialism." - [[John Lennox]]<ref name="Lennox">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOkd4LNe-_A "John Lennox - Same evidence, different conclusions"] (May 23, 2010).  YouTube video, 2:31, posted by ScottyVor.  Retrieved on February 19, 2015.  "Some atheists are quite explicit that their atheism comes first. One of the most famous is Richard Lewontin, a profesor of genetics, who said it wasn't science that compelled him to accept a materialistic explanation of the universe. It was an ''a priori'' materialism. You start with that materialism, and he said that materialism is absolute."  See [[John Lennox]].</ref>

* "Some atheists are quite explicit that their atheism comes first. One of the most famous is Richard Lewontin, a professor of genetics, who said it wasn't science that compelled him to accept a materialistic explanation of the universe. It was an ''a priori'' materialism." - [[John Lennox]]<ref name="Lennox">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOkd4LNe-_A "John Lennox - Same evidence, different conclusions"] (May 23, 2010).  YouTube video, 2:31, posted by ScottyVor.  Retrieved on February 19, 2015.  "Some atheists are quite explicit that their atheism comes first. One of the most famous is Richard Lewontin, a profesor of genetics, who said it wasn't science that compelled him to accept a materialistic explanation of the universe. It was an ''a priori'' materialism. You start with that materialism, and he said that materialism is absolute."  See [[John Lennox]].</ref>

* "Worldwide, the march of religion can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears [[Decline of the atheist movement|exhausted and lacking in confidence]]... Secularism's greatest triumphs owe less to science than to popular social movements like nationalism, socialism and 1960s anarchist-liberalism. Ironically, secularism's [[decline of atheism|demographic deficit]] means that it will probably only succeed in the twenty-first century if it can create a secular form of 'religious' enthusiasm."<ref>Kaufmann, Eric (Autumn 2007).  [http://www.sneps.net/uploadsepk/JQR%20Demography.pdf "Shall the religious inherit the earth?"]  ''The Jewish Quarterly''.  Retrieved from Sneps.net on October 24, 2014.</ref> - Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]], Birbeck College, University of London, UK

* "Worldwide, the march of religion can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears [[Decline of the atheist movement|exhausted and lacking in confidence]]... Secularism's greatest triumphs owe less to science than to popular social movements like nationalism, socialism and 1960s anarchist-liberalism. Ironically, secularism's [[decline of atheism|demographic deficit]] means that it will probably only succeed in the twenty-first century if it can create a secular form of 'religious' enthusiasm."<ref>Kaufmann, Eric (Autumn 2007).  [http://www.sneps.net/uploadsepk/JQR%20Demography.pdf "Shall the religious inherit the earth?"]  ''The Jewish Quarterly''.  Retrieved from Sneps.net on October 24, 2014.</ref> - Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]], Birbeck College, University of London, UK

* A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion. - Sir [[Francis Bacon]] <ref name=essays>Bacon, Francis (1625). [http://archive.org/details/ldpd_7914458_000 ''The Essays or Counsels Civil and Moral of Francis Bacon''].  1884 edition, (London:  George Routledge and Sons), p. 106.  Retrieved from Internet Archive on February 19, 2015.</ref>

* A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion. - Sir [[Francis Bacon]] <ref name=essays>Bacon, Francis (1625). [https://archive.org/details/ldpd_7914458_000 ''The Essays or Counsels Civil and Moral of Francis Bacon''].  1884 edition, (London:  George Routledge and Sons), p. 106.  Retrieved from Internet Archive on February 19, 2015.</ref>

* God never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. - Sir [[Francis Bacon]] <ref name=essays/>

* God never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. - Sir [[Francis Bacon]] <ref name=essays/>

*"The Scripture saith, The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God; it is not said, The fool hath thought in his heart; so as he rather saith it, by rote to himself, as that he would have, than that he can thoroughly believe it, or be persuaded of it....It appeareth in nothing more, that atheism is rather in the lip, than in the heart of man." - Sir Francis Bacon, his essay ''Of Atheism''<ref>Ibid, p. 107.</ref>

*"The Scripture saith, The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God; it is not said, The fool hath thought in his heart; so as he rather saith it, by rote to himself, as that he would have, than that he can thoroughly believe it, or be persuaded of it....It appeareth in nothing more, that atheism is rather in the lip, than in the heart of man." - Sir Francis Bacon, his essay ''Of Atheism''<ref>Ibid, p. 107.</ref>

* "I do not share the crusading spirit of the professional atheist whose fervor is mostly due to a painful act of liberation from the fetters of religious indoctrination received in youth. I prefer an attitude of humility corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual understanding of nature and of our own being." - [[Albert Einstein]]<ref name="Isaacson390">Isaacson, Walter (2008). [http://books.google.com/books?id=cdxWNE7NY6QC&pg=PT390 ''Einstein: His Life and Universe''] (New York: Simon and Schuster), p. 390.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on February 19, 2015.</ref>

* "I do not share the crusading spirit of the professional atheist whose fervor is mostly due to a painful act of liberation from the fetters of religious indoctrination received in youth. I prefer an attitude of humility corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual understanding of nature and of our own being." - [[Albert Einstein]]<ref name="Isaacson390">Isaacson, Walter (2008). [https://books.google.com/books?id=cdxWNE7NY6QC&pg=PT390 ''Einstein: His Life and Universe''] (New York: Simon and Schuster), p. 390.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on February 19, 2015.</ref>

* "There are no reliable connections - whether in [[logic]] or [[history]] - between atheism, science and liberal values." - Atheist [[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]]<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2015/06/16/4255799.htm Evangelical Atheism and Its Discontents] by John Gray, ''Australian Broadcasting Corporation'', 16 Jun 2015</ref>

* "There are no reliable connections - whether in [[logic]] or [[history]] - between atheism, science and liberal values." - Atheist [[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]]<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2015/06/16/4255799.htm Evangelical Atheism and Its Discontents] by John Gray, ''Australian Broadcasting Corporation'', 16 Jun 2015</ref>

* "Imperious, choleric, irascible, extreme in everything, with a dissolute imagination the like of which has never been seen, atheistic to the point of fanaticism, there you have me in a nutshell, and kill me again or take me as I am, for I shall not change.” - [[Marquis de Sade]]<ref>[http://thinkexist.com/quotation/imperious-choleric-irascible-extreme_in/346903.html Marquis de Sade quotes]</ref>

* "Imperious, choleric, irascible, extreme in everything, with a dissolute imagination the like of which has never been seen, atheistic to the point of fanaticism, there you have me in a nutshell, and kill me again or take me as I am, for I shall not change.” - [[Marquis de Sade]]<ref>[http://thinkexist.com/quotation/imperious-choleric-irascible-extreme_in/346903.html Marquis de Sade quotes]</ref>

* "[Y]ou are perhaps too intelligent to believe in God.  I am not like you." - [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] <ref>Imbert de Saint-Amand, Baron Arthur Léon (1890).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=_-7uAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA222&dq=%22wife+of+the+first+consul%22+too+intelligent&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FCvwVIzWEMzaoASkgoKwDw&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22wife%20of%20the%20first%20consul%22%20too%20intelligent&f=false ''The Wife of the First Consul''] (New York:  Charles Scribner's Sons), p. 222; translation of ''La femme du premier Consul'' (1884), new 1886 ed. (Paris:  E. Dentu) translated by Thomas Sergeant Perry.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on February 27, 2015.</ref>

* "[Y]ou are perhaps too intelligent to believe in God.  I am not like you." - [[Napoleon Bonaparte]] <ref>Imbert de Saint-Amand, Baron Arthur Léon (1890).  [https://books.google.com/books?id=_-7uAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA222&dq=%22wife+of+the+first+consul%22+too+intelligent&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FCvwVIzWEMzaoASkgoKwDw&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22wife%20of%20the%20first%20consul%22%20too%20intelligent&f=false ''The Wife of the First Consul''] (New York:  Charles Scribner's Sons), p. 222; translation of ''La femme du premier Consul'' (1884), new 1886 ed. (Paris:  E. Dentu) translated by Thomas Sergeant Perry.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on February 27, 2015.</ref>

* "Among the repulsions of atheism for me has been its drastic un-interestingness as an intellectual position. Where was the ingenuity, the ambiguity, the humanity...of saying that the universe just happened to happen and that when we're dead we're dead?" - [[John Updike]] <ref>Updike, John (1989).  ''Self-Consciousness: Memoirs'' (New York, NY:  Knopf), ch. 4.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and inspiration]]

* "Among the repulsions of atheism for me has been its drastic un-interestingness as an intellectual position. Where was the ingenuity, the ambiguity, the humanity...of saying that the universe just happened to happen and that when we're dead we're dead?" - [[John Updike]] <ref>Updike, John (1989).  ''Self-Consciousness: Memoirs'' (New York, NY:  Knopf), ch. 4.</ref> See also: [[Atheism and inspiration]]

* "If God does not exist, then everything is permissible." -  Ivan Karamazov in the novel ''The Brothers Karamazov'' by [[Fyodor Dostoyevsky]]<ref>Dostoyevsky, Fyodor (1880).  ''The Brothers Karamazov'', Book XI, ch. 4.</ref>

* "If God does not exist, then everything is permissible." -  Ivan Karamazov in the novel ''The Brothers Karamazov'' by [[Fyodor Dostoyevsky]]<ref>Dostoyevsky, Fyodor (1880).  ''The Brothers Karamazov'', Book XI, ch. 4.</ref>

* "Atheism is indeed the most daring of all dogmas,...[f]or it is the assertion of a universal negative...." - [[G.K. Chesterton]]<ref>Chesterton, Gilbert Keith (1902).  [http://archive.org/stream/twelvetypes02chesgoog#page/n112/mode/2up ''Twelve Types''] (London: Arthur L. Humphreys), p. 95.  Retrieved on February 25, 2015 from Internet Archive.  Original quote:  "Atheism is indeed the most daring of all dogmas, more daring than a vision of a palpable day of judgment.  For it is the assertion of a universal negative; for a man to say that there is no God in the universe is like saying that there are no insects in any of the stars."</ref>  

* "Atheism is indeed the most daring of all dogmas,...[f]or it is the assertion of a universal negative...." - [[G.K. Chesterton]]<ref>Chesterton, Gilbert Keith (1902).  [https://archive.org/stream/twelvetypes02chesgoog#page/n112/mode/2up ''Twelve Types''] (London: Arthur L. Humphreys), p. 95.  Retrieved on February 25, 2015 from Internet Archive.  Original quote:  "Atheism is indeed the most daring of all dogmas, more daring than a vision of a palpable day of judgment.  For it is the assertion of a universal negative; for a man to say that there is no God in the universe is like saying that there are no insects in any of the stars."</ref>  

* "The absence of a debate with the foremost [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."  - Dr. [[Daniel Came]], a member of the Faculty of [[Philosophy]] at [[Oxford University]] writing to [[New Atheism|new atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] concerning his refusal to debate Dr. [[William Lane Craig]]<ref>Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011).  [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html "Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God"]. The Daily Telegraph website.  Retrieved July 25, 2014.  See [[Daily Telegraph]].</ref>

* "The absence of a debate with the foremost [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."  - Dr. [[Daniel Came]], a member of the Faculty of [[Philosophy]] at [[Oxford University]] writing to [[New Atheism|new atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] concerning his refusal to debate Dr. [[William Lane Craig]]<ref>Ross, Tim (May 14, 2011).  [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html "Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God"]. The Daily Telegraph website.  Retrieved July 25, 2014.  See [[Daily Telegraph]].</ref>

*"The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the [[Communism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.” - "Investigating atheism: Marxism". University of Cambridge (2008)<ref name="Marxism-Leninism">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130728215151/http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title=Investigating atheism: Marxism|publisher = University of Cambridge|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate=July 17, 2014}}  See [[University of Cambridge]].</ref>

*"The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the [[Communism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.” - "Investigating atheism: Marxism". University of Cambridge (2008)<ref name="Marxism-Leninism">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20130728215151/http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title=Investigating atheism: Marxism|publisher = University of Cambridge|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate=July 17, 2014}}  See [[University of Cambridge]].</ref>

[[Image:Jhcfju6.jpg|right|thumb|170px|The [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[C. S. Lewis]], photographed in 1947.]]

[[Image:Jhcfju6.jpg|right|thumb|170px|The [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[C. S. Lewis]], photographed in 1947.]]

* "'[N]o one can be an unbeliever nowadays.  The [[Christian apologetics|Christian Apologists]] have left one nothing to disbelieve.'" - Hector Hugh Munro (better known by the pen name Saki)<ref>Saki (1913).  [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/555/555-h/555-h.htm ''The Unbearable Bassington''] (London:  John Lane), 6th ed., ch. 13.</ref>

* "'[N]o one can be an unbeliever nowadays.  The [[Christian apologetics|Christian Apologists]] have left one nothing to disbelieve.'" - Hector Hugh Munro (better known by the pen name Saki)<ref>Saki (1913).  [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/555/555-h/555-h.htm ''The Unbearable Bassington''] (London:  John Lane), 6th ed., ch. 13.</ref>

* "Even the most ferocious projects of coercive secularization have thus far failed to produce the new godless man dreamed of by [[Enlightenment]] thinkers since the eighteenth century". - [[Peter L. Berger]]<ref>[http://www.the-american-interest.com/2015/05/13/desecularization/ Desecularization] by Peter L. Berger, ''American Interest'', May 13, 2015</ref>

* "Even the most ferocious projects of coercive secularization have thus far failed to produce the new godless man dreamed of by [[Enlightenment]] thinkers since the eighteenth century". - [[Peter L. Berger]]<ref>[http://www.the-american-interest.com/2015/05/13/desecularization/ Desecularization] by Peter L. Berger, ''American Interest'', May 13, 2015</ref>

* The [[New Atheism|new atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] declared: "Christianity may actually be our best defence against aberrant forms of religion that threaten the world".<ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/01/12/professional-atheist-dawkins-says-christianity-bulwark-against-something-worse/ Professional Atheist Dawkins Says Christianity ‘Bulwark Against Something Worse’], by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D,  ''Breitbart News Network'', Jan 12, 2016

* The [[New Atheism|new atheist]] [[Richard Dawkins]] declared: "Christianity may actually be our best defence against aberrant forms of religion that threaten the world".<ref>[https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2016/01/12/professional-atheist-dawkins-says-christianity-bulwark-against-something-worse/ Professional Atheist Dawkins Says Christianity ‘Bulwark Against Something Worse’], by Thomas D. Williams, Ph.D,  ''Breitbart News Network'', Jan 12, 2016

*[http://www.christiantoday.com/article/richard.dawkins.says.christianity.is.worlds.best.defence.against.radical.islam/76416.htm Richard Dawkins says Christianity is world's best defence against radical Islam], Christianity Today,  January 2016</ref>  

*[http://www.christiantoday.com/article/richard.dawkins.says.christianity.is.worlds.best.defence.against.radical.islam/76416.htm Richard Dawkins says Christianity is world's best defence against radical Islam], Christianity Today,  January 2016</ref>  

* "Atheism is a bleak worthless ideology. It robs the brain of reason, the conscience of moral guidance, the mind of tranquility and the soul of hope." - Nana Yiadom, March 11, 2011<ref>Yiadom, Nana (March 11, 2011).  [http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/religion/artikel.php?ID=204862 "The 'no God' religion"].  GhanaWeb.  Retrieved on February 26, 2015.</ref>

* "Atheism is a bleak worthless ideology. It robs the brain of reason, the conscience of moral guidance, the mind of tranquility and the soul of hope." - Nana Yiadom, March 11, 2011<ref>Yiadom, Nana (March 11, 2011).  [http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/religion/artikel.php?ID=204862 "The 'no God' religion"].  GhanaWeb.  Retrieved on February 26, 2015.</ref>

* "Atheism, the Result of Ignorance and Pride; of strong Senses, and feeble Reason; of Good ''Eating'' and Ill ''Living!''  Atheism, the Plague of ''Society'', the Corrupter of ''Manners'', and the Underminer of ''Property!''" - Jeremy Collier<ref>Collier, Jeremy (1700).  "The office of a chaplain enqir'd into, &c.".  [http://books.google.com/books?id=3Lk8AAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:o8tdQXxW370C&source=gbs_navlinks_s ''Essays upon Several Moral Subjects''] (London:  Richard Sare and H. Hindmarsh), 4th ed., part I, p. 183.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on February 26, 2015.</ref>

* "Atheism, the Result of Ignorance and Pride; of strong Senses, and feeble Reason; of Good ''Eating'' and Ill ''Living!''  Atheism, the Plague of ''Society'', the Corrupter of ''Manners'', and the Underminer of ''Property!''" - Jeremy Collier<ref>Collier, Jeremy (1700).  "The office of a chaplain enqir'd into, &c.".  [https://books.google.com/books?id=3Lk8AAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:o8tdQXxW370C&source=gbs_navlinks_s ''Essays upon Several Moral Subjects''] (London:  Richard Sare and H. Hindmarsh), 4th ed., part I, p. 183.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on February 26, 2015.</ref>

* "The irony of intolerant atheists is remarkable. They proudly declare their open-mindedness, and in the same breath they work feverishly to extinguish by force any mention of God, any support to theism, in civic life. Are you puzzled by this? Don't be. Censorship is in atheism's marrow... Moreover, atheism cannot withstand reasoned examination. The assertion that everything came from nothing, without reason and without moral law, isn't defensible in rational discourse, so silent assent is necessary to hold sway over culture."  - Michael Egnor <ref>Egnor, Michael (March 29, 2014).  [http://www.evolutionnews.org/2014/03/censorship_is_a083761.html#sthash.gWd3Cxdw.dpuf "Censorship is atheism's immune system"].  Evolution News and Views.  Retrieved on February 26, 2015.</ref>

* "The irony of intolerant atheists is remarkable. They proudly declare their open-mindedness, and in the same breath they work feverishly to extinguish by force any mention of God, any support to theism, in civic life. Are you puzzled by this? Don't be. Censorship is in atheism's marrow... Moreover, atheism cannot withstand reasoned examination. The assertion that everything came from nothing, without reason and without moral law, isn't defensible in rational discourse, so silent assent is necessary to hold sway over culture."  - Michael Egnor <ref>Egnor, Michael (March 29, 2014).  [http://www.evolutionnews.org/2014/03/censorship_is_a083761.html#sthash.gWd3Cxdw.dpuf "Censorship is atheism's immune system"].  Evolution News and Views.  Retrieved on February 26, 2015.</ref>

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/15-christian-quotes-about-atheism-or-atheists/#ixzz4dSQjz97y<ref name="whatchristianswanttoknow.com"/>

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/15-christian-quotes-about-atheism-or-atheists/#ixzz4dSQjz97y<ref name="whatchristianswanttoknow.com"/>

* "An irreligious man, a speculative or practical atheist, is as a sovereign who voluntarily takes off his crown and declares himself unworthy to reign. - John Stuart Blackie<ref>Blackie, John Stuart (1871).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=RDwXAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA91&dq=an+irreligious+man,+a+speculative+or+practical+atheist ''Four Phases of Morals:  Socrates, Aristotle, Christianity, Utilitarianism''] (New York:  Charles Scribner's Sons), 1892 edition, p. 91.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on February 26, 2015.</ref>

* "An irreligious man, a speculative or practical atheist, is as a sovereign who voluntarily takes off his crown and declares himself unworthy to reign. - John Stuart Blackie<ref>Blackie, John Stuart (1871).  [https://books.google.com/books?id=RDwXAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA91&dq=an+irreligious+man,+a+speculative+or+practical+atheist ''Four Phases of Morals:  Socrates, Aristotle, Christianity, Utilitarianism''] (New York:  Charles Scribner's Sons), 1892 edition, p. 91.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on February 26, 2015.</ref>

*“If mainstream freethought and [[Secular humanism|humanism]] continue to reflect the narrow cultural interests of white elites who have disposable income to go to conferences then the secular movement is destined to remain marginal and insular.” - Atheist Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson<ref>Werleman, C. J. (October 4, 2014). [http://www.salon.com/2014/10/04/atheisms_white_male_problem_a_movement_needs_a_moral_cause_beyond_glamorizing_disbelief/ "Atheism’s white male problem: A movement needs a moral cause beyond glamorizing disbelief"].  Salon.com.  Retrieved on February 26, 2015.</ref>

*“If mainstream freethought and [[Secular humanism|humanism]] continue to reflect the narrow cultural interests of white elites who have disposable income to go to conferences then the secular movement is destined to remain marginal and insular.” - Atheist Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson<ref>Werleman, C. J. (October 4, 2014). [http://www.salon.com/2014/10/04/atheisms_white_male_problem_a_movement_needs_a_moral_cause_beyond_glamorizing_disbelief/ "Atheism’s white male problem: A movement needs a moral cause beyond glamorizing disbelief"].  Salon.com.  Retrieved on February 26, 2015.</ref>

* "No man will say, ''There is no God'' till he is so hardened in sin that it has become his interest that there should be none to call him to account." - Matthew Henry <ref>Henry, Matthew (1706).  [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc3.Ps.xv.html ''Commentary on the Whole Bible''], vol. 3, Psalms, ch. 15.  Retrieved from Christian Classics Ethereal Library website on May 26, 2015.</ref>

* "No man will say, ''There is no God'' till he is so hardened in sin that it has become his interest that there should be none to call him to account." - Matthew Henry <ref>Henry, Matthew (1706).  [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc3.Ps.xv.html ''Commentary on the Whole Bible''], vol. 3, Psalms, ch. 15.  Retrieved from Christian Classics Ethereal Library website on May 26, 2015.</ref>

* "Atheists put on false courage and alacrity in the midst of their darkness and apprehensions, like children who, when they fear to go in the dark, will sing for fear." - [[Alexander Pope]]<ref>Pope, Alexander (1727).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=cs4eAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA383&lpg=PA383&dq=atheists+and+%22alexander+pope%22+and+%22false+courage%22&source=web&ots=Fx7SL7Z7UB&sig=mYdRm6hkdBkmsF_uJW9mPv3JRhE "Thoughts on various subjects"].  ''The Works of Alexander Pope'' (London: Richard Priestly, 1822), vol. 6, p. 383.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 26, 2015</ref>

* "Atheists put on false courage and alacrity in the midst of their darkness and apprehensions, like children who, when they fear to go in the dark, will sing for fear." - [[Alexander Pope]]<ref>Pope, Alexander (1727).  [https://books.google.com/books?id=cs4eAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA383&lpg=PA383&dq=atheists+and+%22alexander+pope%22+and+%22false+courage%22&source=web&ots=Fx7SL7Z7UB&sig=mYdRm6hkdBkmsF_uJW9mPv3JRhE "Thoughts on various subjects"].  ''The Works of Alexander Pope'' (London: Richard Priestly, 1822), vol. 6, p. 383.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 26, 2015</ref>

* "An atheist’s most embarrassing moment is when he feels profoundly thankful for something, but can’t think of anybody to thank for it" - [[Mary Anne Vincent]] <ref>in ''Central Concepts'' (poss. Cincinnati, OH:  poss. Central Optical Company, 1958 or bef.) quoted by [http://books.google.com/books?id=04YXAQAAMAAJ&dq=editions%3AFQRgwHCDRpsC&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=central+concepts ''Philosophical Research Society Journal''], vol. 18-19, p. 80.</ref>

* "An atheist’s most embarrassing moment is when he feels profoundly thankful for something, but can’t think of anybody to thank for it" - [[Mary Anne Vincent]] <ref>in ''Central Concepts'' (poss. Cincinnati, OH:  poss. Central Optical Company, 1958 or bef.) quoted by [https://books.google.com/books?id=04YXAQAAMAAJ&dq=editions%3AFQRgwHCDRpsC&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=central+concepts ''Philosophical Research Society Journal''], vol. 18-19, p. 80.</ref>

* If there were no God there would be no atheists. - [[G. K. Chesterton]] (1874 - 1936) <ref>Chesterton, G. K. (1922).  [http://catholicpamphlets.net/pamphlets/WHERE%20ALL%20ROADS%20LEAD.pdf "Where all roads lead"].  ''Blackfriar's Magazine''.  Retrieved from CatholicPamphlets.net on May 26, 2015.</ref>

* If there were no God there would be no atheists. - [[G. K. Chesterton]] (1874 - 1936) <ref>Chesterton, G. K. (1922).  [http://catholicpamphlets.net/pamphlets/WHERE%20ALL%20ROADS%20LEAD.pdf "Where all roads lead"].  ''Blackfriar's Magazine''.  Retrieved from CatholicPamphlets.net on May 26, 2015.</ref>

[[Image:Hgdctuy6.jpg|right|thumbnail|155px|[[George Orwell]] ]]

[[Image:Hgdctuy6.jpg|right|thumbnail|155px|[[George Orwell]] ]]

*"Nobody talks so constantly about God as those who insist there is no God." [[Heywood Broun]]<ref>Broun, Heywood (1941).  [http://books.google.com/books?ei=ViBlVf_0HoW7ogS2uIDQCg&id=IRWxAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22collected+edition+of+heywood+broun%22&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=%22Nobody+talks+so+constantly+about+God+as+those+who+insist+that+there+is+no+God%22 ''Collected Edition of Heywood Broun''] (New York:  Harcourt, Brace), p. 26.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 26, 2015.</ref>

*"Nobody talks so constantly about God as those who insist there is no God." [[Heywood Broun]]<ref>Broun, Heywood (1941).  [https://books.google.com/books?ei=ViBlVf_0HoW7ogS2uIDQCg&id=IRWxAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22collected+edition+of+heywood+broun%22&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=%22Nobody+talks+so+constantly+about+God+as+those+who+insist+that+there+is+no+God%22 ''Collected Edition of Heywood Broun''] (New York:  Harcourt, Brace), p. 26.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 26, 2015.</ref>

* “He was an embittered atheist, the sort of atheist who does not so much disbelieve in God as personally dislike Him.” - [[George Orwell]], ''Down and Out in Paris and London''<ref>Orwell, George (1933).  [http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks01/0100171.txt ''Down and Out in Paris and London''] (London:  Victor Gollancz), ch. 30.  Caution:  Copyrighted in the United States.  For fair educational use only.</ref>

* “He was an embittered atheist, the sort of atheist who does not so much disbelieve in God as personally dislike Him.” - [[George Orwell]], ''Down and Out in Paris and London''<ref>Orwell, George (1933).  [http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks01/0100171.txt ''Down and Out in Paris and London''] (London:  Victor Gollancz), ch. 30.  Caution:  Copyrighted in the United States.  For fair educational use only.</ref>

* "God exist whether or not men may choose to believe in Him. The reason why many people do not believe in God is not so much that it is intellectually impossible to believe in God, but because belief in God forces that thoughtful person to face the fact that he is accountable to such a God." - Robert A. Laidlaw<ref>Laidlaw, Robert A. (1970).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=-2y2YvVGqXEC ''The Reason Why''] (Sword of the Lord Publishers).  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 26, 2015.</ref>

* "God exist whether or not men may choose to believe in Him. The reason why many people do not believe in God is not so much that it is intellectually impossible to believe in God, but because belief in God forces that thoughtful person to face the fact that he is accountable to such a God." - Robert A. Laidlaw<ref>Laidlaw, Robert A. (1970).  [https://books.google.com/books?id=-2y2YvVGqXEC ''The Reason Why''] (Sword of the Lord Publishers).  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 26, 2015.</ref>

* "'It's an interesting view of atheism, as a sort of ''crutch'' for those who can't bear the reality of God.'" - [[Tom Stoppard]]<ref>Stoppard, Tom (1972).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=zchFNHt4JfwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=jumpers+1974&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5jJlVdruK4urogTT74DwAg&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=crutch&f=false ''Jumpers''] (New York:  Grove Press), p. 69.  Retrieved from Googlebooks on May 26, 2015.</ref>  

* "'It's an interesting view of atheism, as a sort of ''crutch'' for those who can't bear the reality of God.'" - [[Tom Stoppard]]<ref>Stoppard, Tom (1972).  [https://books.google.com/books?id=zchFNHt4JfwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=jumpers+1974&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5jJlVdruK4urogTT74DwAg&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=crutch&f=false ''Jumpers''] (New York:  Grove Press), p. 69.  Retrieved from Googlebooks on May 26, 2015.</ref>  

   

   

*"I gave in, and admitted that God was God." - [[Ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[C.S. Lewis]], On relinquishing atheism at age 31 in 1929<ref>Lewis, C. S. (1955).  ''Surprised by Joy:  The Shape of my Early Life'' (New York:  Harcourt, Brace).  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 26, 2015.</ref>

*"I gave in, and admitted that God was God." - [[Ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[C.S. Lewis]], On relinquishing atheism at age 31 in 1929<ref>Lewis, C. S. (1955).  ''Surprised by Joy:  The Shape of my Early Life'' (New York:  Harcourt, Brace).  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 26, 2015.</ref>

* In his essay rebutting a work of atheist [[Jeffery Jay Lowder]] [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[JP Holding]] wrote the following:  "...I find that there is no such thing as "reasonable nonbelief." The litany of excuses, wild speculations, and other absurdities ground out by skeptics and critics doesn't deserve the adjective "reasonable"."<ref>Holding, J. P. (June 2009).  [http://www.tektonics.org/lp/lowdstrob.html "Jeff Lowder and the case for Christ"].  Tekton Apologetics website.  Retrieved on May 26, 2015.</ref>

* In his essay rebutting a work of atheist [[Jeffery Jay Lowder]] [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[JP Holding]] wrote the following:  "...I find that there is no such thing as "reasonable nonbelief." The litany of excuses, wild speculations, and other absurdities ground out by skeptics and critics doesn't deserve the adjective "reasonable"."<ref>Holding, J. P. (June 2009).  [http://www.tektonics.org/lp/lowdstrob.html "Jeff Lowder and the case for Christ"].  Tekton Apologetics website.  Retrieved on May 26, 2015.</ref>

* "An Atheist is a man who believes himself an accident." — [[Francis Thompson]]<ref>Thompson, Francis (1888 or aft.). [http://books.google.com/books?id=5pg-AAAAYAAJ "Paganism: Old and new [revised&#93;"].  ''A Renegade Poet: And Other Essays'' (Boston, MA:  Ball Publishing), p. 47.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 26, 2015.</ref>

* "An Atheist is a man who believes himself an accident." — [[Francis Thompson]]<ref>Thompson, Francis (1888 or aft.). [https://books.google.com/books?id=5pg-AAAAYAAJ "Paganism: Old and new [revised&#93;"].  ''A Renegade Poet: And Other Essays'' (Boston, MA:  Ball Publishing), p. 47.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 26, 2015.</ref>

[[Image:Joseph-addison-3-sized.jpg‎|right|thumbnail|180px|[[Joseph Addison]]]]

[[Image:Joseph-addison-3-sized.jpg‎|right|thumbnail|180px|[[Joseph Addison]]]]

* "[S]upposing all the great points of atheism, as the casual or eternal formation of the world, the materiality of a thinking substance, the mortality of the soul, the fortuitous organization of the body, the motions and gravitation of matter, with the like particulars, were laid together and formed into a kind of creed, according to the opinions of the most celebrated atheists; I say, supposing such a creed as this were formed and imposed upon any one people in the world, whether it would not require an infinitely greater measure of faith, than any set of articles [of faith] which they so violently oppose?" - [[Joseph Addison]], ''The Spectator'', October 2, 1711.<ref>Addison, Joseph (October 2, 1711).  [http://archive.org/stream/harrisonsbritish04harruoft#page/360/mode/2up "No. 185. Tuesday, October 2"].  ''The Spectator'', vol. 3, no. 185.  Reprinted in ''Harrison's British Classics'' (London:  Harrison, 1786), vol. IV, pp. 359-60. [Volume IV spans March 1, 1710-March 8, 1711, vol. 1-4, nos. 1-321. For the early part of the 18th century, the year changed on April 1 not January 1]</ref>

* "[S]upposing all the great points of atheism, as the casual or eternal formation of the world, the materiality of a thinking substance, the mortality of the soul, the fortuitous organization of the body, the motions and gravitation of matter, with the like particulars, were laid together and formed into a kind of creed, according to the opinions of the most celebrated atheists; I say, supposing such a creed as this were formed and imposed upon any one people in the world, whether it would not require an infinitely greater measure of faith, than any set of articles [of faith] which they so violently oppose?" - [[Joseph Addison]], ''The Spectator'', October 2, 1711.<ref>Addison, Joseph (October 2, 1711).  [https://archive.org/stream/harrisonsbritish04harruoft#page/360/mode/2up "No. 185. Tuesday, October 2"].  ''The Spectator'', vol. 3, no. 185.  Reprinted in ''Harrison's British Classics'' (London:  Harrison, 1786), vol. IV, pp. 359-60. [Volume IV spans March 1, 1710-March 8, 1711, vol. 1-4, nos. 1-321. For the early part of the 18th century, the year changed on April 1 not January 1]</ref>

* "It is hard to see how a great man can be an atheist. Without the sustaining influence of faith in a divine power we could have little faith in ourselves. We need to feel that behind us is intelligence and love. Doubters do not achieve; skeptics do not contribute; cynics do not create. Faith is the great motive power, and no man realizes his full possibilities unless he has the deep conviction that life is eternally important, and that his work, well done, is a part of an unending plan." -  [[Calvin Coolidge]], speech, Jul. 25, 1924 <ref>[[Calvin Coolidge]], (July 25, 1924).  [http://archive.org/stream/foundationsofrep00unit#page/66/mode/2up "What it means to be a Boy Scout"].  ''Foundations of the Republic'' (Freeport, NY:  Books for Libraries Press), p. 68.  Retrieved on May 27, 2015 from Internet Archive.  Quote found by www.notable-quotes.com</ref>

* "It is hard to see how a great man can be an atheist. Without the sustaining influence of faith in a divine power we could have little faith in ourselves. We need to feel that behind us is intelligence and love. Doubters do not achieve; skeptics do not contribute; cynics do not create. Faith is the great motive power, and no man realizes his full possibilities unless he has the deep conviction that life is eternally important, and that his work, well done, is a part of an unending plan." -  [[Calvin Coolidge]], speech, Jul. 25, 1924 <ref>[[Calvin Coolidge]], (July 25, 1924).  [https://archive.org/stream/foundationsofrep00unit#page/66/mode/2up "What it means to be a Boy Scout"].  ''Foundations of the Republic'' (Freeport, NY:  Books for Libraries Press), p. 68.  Retrieved on May 27, 2015 from Internet Archive.  Quote found by www.notable-quotes.com</ref>

* "Now, nothing can be brought from potentiality to actual existence except through something actually existing...." <ref>Aquinas, St. Thomas (1274). [http://books.google.com/books?id=lBDvN1hVDY0C&pg=PA361&lpg=PA361&dq=%22potentiality+to+actual+existence%22&source=bl&ots=X-LC0nPgds&sig=sSY0lcKnFt9LTLuGOERsi-WmMAM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8c5mVaikDcfgoAS1rIO4Cg&ved=0CDAQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22potentiality%20to%20actual%20existence%22&f=false "Treatise on God, Q. 2: The existence of God, Art. 3: Whether God Exists?, Ans."].  ''Summa Theologica'' (Italy).  Reprinted in Thatcher, Oliver J., ed. (1907).  ''The Library of Original Sources'' (Milwaukee, WI:  University Research Extension Co.), Vol IV., p. 361, translator unknown.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on May 28, 2015.</ref> - [[St. Thomas Aquinas]]

* "Now, nothing can be brought from potentiality to actual existence except through something actually existing...." <ref>Aquinas, St. Thomas (1274). [https://books.google.com/books?id=lBDvN1hVDY0C&pg=PA361&lpg=PA361&dq=%22potentiality+to+actual+existence%22&source=bl&ots=X-LC0nPgds&sig=sSY0lcKnFt9LTLuGOERsi-WmMAM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8c5mVaikDcfgoAS1rIO4Cg&ved=0CDAQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22potentiality%20to%20actual%20existence%22&f=false "Treatise on God, Q. 2: The existence of God, Art. 3: Whether God Exists?, Ans."].  ''Summa Theologica'' (Italy).  Reprinted in Thatcher, Oliver J., ed. (1907).  ''The Library of Original Sources'' (Milwaukee, WI:  University Research Extension Co.), Vol IV., p. 361, translator unknown.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on May 28, 2015.</ref> - [[St. Thomas Aquinas]]

* "He complained in no way of the evil reputation under which he lived, indeed, all over the world, and he assured me that he himself was of all living beings the most interested in the destruction of ''Superstition'', and he avowed to me that he had been afraid, relatively as to his proper power, once only, and that was on the day when he had heard a preacher, more subtle than the rest of the human herd, cry in his pulpit: "My dear brethren, do not ever forget, when you hear the progress of lights praised, that the loveliest trick of the [[Devil]] is to persuade you that he does not exist!" -  Charles Baudelaire's short story, "The Generous Gambler" written in 1864 <ref>Baudelaire, Charles [http://archive.org/stream/englishreview111918londuoft#page/354/mode/2up/search/complained "The Generous Gambler"], translated by Arthur Symons. ''The English Review'' (London:  Austin Harrison, ed., November 1918), p. 355.  Translation of "Le Joueur Généreux" (1864). ''Petits Poèmes en Prose'', no. 29. Faithless translation:  1869 edition of original reads:  "''quand vous entendre vanter le progrès des lumières que la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!''"; translation reads "that they don't exist" rather than "he does not exist".  In subsequent republications of the translation, the error is corrected.</ref>

* "He complained in no way of the evil reputation under which he lived, indeed, all over the world, and he assured me that he himself was of all living beings the most interested in the destruction of ''Superstition'', and he avowed to me that he had been afraid, relatively as to his proper power, once only, and that was on the day when he had heard a preacher, more subtle than the rest of the human herd, cry in his pulpit: "My dear brethren, do not ever forget, when you hear the progress of lights praised, that the loveliest trick of the [[Devil]] is to persuade you that he does not exist!" -  Charles Baudelaire's short story, "The Generous Gambler" written in 1864 <ref>Baudelaire, Charles [https://archive.org/stream/englishreview111918londuoft#page/354/mode/2up/search/complained "The Generous Gambler"], translated by Arthur Symons. ''The English Review'' (London:  Austin Harrison, ed., November 1918), p. 355.  Translation of "Le Joueur Généreux" (1864). ''Petits Poèmes en Prose'', no. 29. Faithless translation:  1869 edition of original reads:  "''quand vous entendre vanter le progrès des lumières que la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!''"; translation reads "that they don't exist" rather than "he does not exist".  In subsequent republications of the translation, the error is corrected.</ref>

* "Christianity founds hospitals, and atheists are cured in them, never knowing they owe their cure to Christ." - William Temple<ref>Temple, William, Archbishop of York (1939).  ''Readings in St. John's Gospel'' (London:  MacMillan) [comment. on John 5:10-18].</ref>

* "Christianity founds hospitals, and atheists are cured in them, never knowing they owe their cure to Christ." - William Temple<ref>Temple, William, Archbishop of York (1939).  ''Readings in St. John's Gospel'' (London:  MacMillan) [comment. on John 5:10-18].</ref>

[[File:Vox Day.jpg|thumbnail|right|130px|[[Vox Day]] ]]  

[[File:Vox Day.jpg|thumbnail|right|130px|[[Vox Day]] ]]  

* "Atheism is a disease of the mind caused by eating underdone philosophy" - Austin O'Malley<ref>O'Malley, Austin, Dr. (1915). [http://books.google.com/books?id=IbsXAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA8&dq=%22eating+underdone+philosophy%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1TpnVZfeLNHYoASKhYDgBQ&ved=0CCMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22eating%20underdone%20philosophy%22&f=false ''Keystones of Thought''] (New York: Devin-Adair), p. 8.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on May 28, 2015.</ref>

* "Atheism is a disease of the mind caused by eating underdone philosophy" - Austin O'Malley<ref>O'Malley, Austin, Dr. (1915). [https://books.google.com/books?id=IbsXAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA8&dq=%22eating+underdone+philosophy%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1TpnVZfeLNHYoASKhYDgBQ&ved=0CCMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22eating%20underdone%20philosophy%22&f=false ''Keystones of Thought''] (New York: Devin-Adair), p. 8.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on May 28, 2015.</ref>

* "Still, even the most admirable of atheists is nothing more than a moral [[parasite]], living his life based on borrowed ethics. This is why, when pressed, the atheist will often attempt to hide his lack of conviction in his own beliefs behind some poorly formulated utilitarianism, or argue that he acts out of altruistic self-interest. But this is only post-facto rationalization, not reason or rational behavior." - [[Vox Day]]<ref>Day, Vox (November 17, 2003).  [http://www.wnd.com/2003/11/21820/ "The irrational atheist"].  WorldNetDaily website.  Retrieved on May 28, 2015.</ref>       

* "Still, even the most admirable of atheists is nothing more than a moral [[parasite]], living his life based on borrowed ethics. This is why, when pressed, the atheist will often attempt to hide his lack of conviction in his own beliefs behind some poorly formulated utilitarianism, or argue that he acts out of altruistic self-interest. But this is only post-facto rationalization, not reason or rational behavior." - [[Vox Day]]<ref>Day, Vox (November 17, 2003).  [http://www.wnd.com/2003/11/21820/ "The irrational atheist"].  WorldNetDaily website.  Retrieved on May 28, 2015.</ref>       

*"These days, barely a week passes without the emergence of yet more evidence that atheists are the most irritating people on Earth." - the atheist Brendan O'Neill, ''The Telegraph'', "How Atheists Became the Most Colossally Smug and Annoying People on the Planet",  August 14, 2013 <ref>O'Neill, Brendan (August 14, 2013).  [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100230985/how-atheists-became-the-most-colossally-smug-and-annoying-people-on-the-planet/ "How atheists became the most colossally smug and annoying people on the planet"].  The Telegraph website/Brendan O'Neill [blog].  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.  [atheist author]</ref>

*"These days, barely a week passes without the emergence of yet more evidence that atheists are the most irritating people on Earth." - the atheist Brendan O'Neill, ''The Telegraph'', "How Atheists Became the Most Colossally Smug and Annoying People on the Planet",  August 14, 2013 <ref>O'Neill, Brendan (August 14, 2013).  [http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100230985/how-atheists-became-the-most-colossally-smug-and-annoying-people-on-the-planet/ "How atheists became the most colossally smug and annoying people on the planet"].  The Telegraph website/Brendan O'Neill [blog].  Retrieved on October 3, 2014.  [atheist author]</ref>

*"As a black atheist, I encounter just as much racism amongst other atheists as anywhere else." - Ijeoma Oluo, ''The Guardian'', October 24, 2015<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/24/atheism-does-not-make-me-superior-to-believers-its-a-leap-of-faith-too My atheism does not make me superior to believers. It's a leap of faith too] by  Ijeoma Oluo, ''The Guardian'', October 24, 2015</ref>  See also: [[Western atheism and race]]

*"As a black atheist, I encounter just as much racism amongst other atheists as anywhere else." - Ijeoma Oluo, ''The Guardian'', October 24, 2015<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/24/atheism-does-not-make-me-superior-to-believers-its-a-leap-of-faith-too My atheism does not make me superior to believers. It's a leap of faith too] by  Ijeoma Oluo, ''The Guardian'', October 24, 2015</ref>  See also: [[Western atheism and race]]

* "One of the things that made me suffer no regret when I was called away from the cramped intellectual jail of atheism into a wider and more wonderful world, was my growing conviction that my fellow atheists were shallow, men without insight into real human nature." - ex-atheist and science fiction writer John C. Wright<ref>Wright, John C., quoted in Day, Vox (February 20, 2014).  [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2014/02/backfire.html "Backfire"].  Vox Populi [blog].  Retrieved on May 28, 2015.  See [[Vox Day]].</ref>

* "One of the things that made me suffer no regret when I was called away from the cramped intellectual jail of atheism into a wider and more wonderful world, was my growing conviction that my fellow atheists were shallow, men without insight into real human nature." - ex-atheist and science fiction writer John C. Wright<ref>Wright, John C., quoted in Day, Vox (February 20, 2014).  [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2014/02/backfire.html "Backfire"].  Vox Populi [blog].  Retrieved on May 28, 2015.  See [[Vox Day]].</ref>

*"Atheism is in [[Global atheism|decline worldwide]], with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass." - Michael W. Chapman, ''CNS News'', July 24, 2013<ref>Chapman, Michael W. (July 24, 2013). [http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 "Global study: atheists in decline, only 1.8% of world population by 2020"]. Cnsnews.com.  Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>

*"Atheism is in [[Global atheism|decline worldwide]], with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020, according to a new report by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass." - Michael W. Chapman, ''CNS News'', July 24, 2013<ref>Chapman, Michael W. (July 24, 2013). [https://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 "Global study: atheists in decline, only 1.8% of world population by 2020"]. Cnsnews.com.  Retrieved on July 27, 2014.</ref>

Thomas Raffles (1788-1863) declared:

Thomas Raffles (1788-1863) declared:

{{cquote|We left the [Alps] glacier, and ascending again to the ''hospice'' of Montanvert [the glacier], I sat down upon a block of granite, to take a parting view of the scene.  How poor is language as the expression of one's feelings, at such moments.  The heart is full with thoughts and emotions, that the tongue cannot utter or the pen record.  My mind passed from these sublimest scenes of the ''material'' to the ''immaterial'' world—I seemed, at once, to feel all the littleness and all the greatness of my nature.  How insignificant a creature I appeared amid these gigantic forms—yet I exulted in a conscious being that should survive and surmount them all—that could, even now, commune with Him who bade these billows stiffen, and these summits rise—and say, as the eye embraced the mighty whole, 'My Father made them all'.(* Yet, amid these scenes—surrounded by the sublimest demonstrations of the eternal power and Godhead of the Almighty, a wretch [probably [[Percy Bysshe Shelley]]] has had the hardihood to avow and record his atheism, having written over against his name in the album [kept for visitors] at Montanvert, "''an atheist.''"  It seems as if emotions of shame touched him at the time, for he has written it in Greek.  It caught the eye of a divine who succeeded him, and he very properly wrote underneath it, in the same language, &#x27;''If an atheist, a fool''(**)—''if not, a liar.''&#x27; (** Psalm xiv 1.))<ref>Raffles, Thomas (1818).  [http://archive.org/stream/lettersduringat00raffgoog#page/n6/mode/2up ''Letters, During a Tour through Some Parts of France, Savoy, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, in the Summer of 1817''] (New York:  Kirk and Merckin), p. 199-200.  Retrieved from Internet Archive on May 28, 2015.  Shelley reference:  [http://books.google.com/books?id=DWJIAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA702&lpg=PA702&dq=raffles+a+wretch+has+the+hardihood&source=bl&ots=sqEUP6azUR&sig=oh0L7ciSfPrGpej085uG_SWu6hE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=LExnVbeJIYLVoAST44HQCw&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=raffles%20a%20wretch%20has%20the%20hardihood&f=false "Literary Gossip"] (June 1, 1878).  ''The Athenaeum'', no. 2640, p. 702.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 28, 2015.</ref>}}

{{cquote|We left the [Alps] glacier, and ascending again to the ''hospice'' of Montanvert [the glacier], I sat down upon a block of granite, to take a parting view of the scene.  How poor is language as the expression of one's feelings, at such moments.  The heart is full with thoughts and emotions, that the tongue cannot utter or the pen record.  My mind passed from these sublimest scenes of the ''material'' to the ''immaterial'' world—I seemed, at once, to feel all the littleness and all the greatness of my nature.  How insignificant a creature I appeared amid these gigantic forms—yet I exulted in a conscious being that should survive and surmount them all—that could, even now, commune with Him who bade these billows stiffen, and these summits rise—and say, as the eye embraced the mighty whole, 'My Father made them all'.(* Yet, amid these scenes—surrounded by the sublimest demonstrations of the eternal power and Godhead of the Almighty, a wretch [probably [[Percy Bysshe Shelley]]] has had the hardihood to avow and record his atheism, having written over against his name in the album [kept for visitors] at Montanvert, "''an atheist.''"  It seems as if emotions of shame touched him at the time, for he has written it in Greek.  It caught the eye of a divine who succeeded him, and he very properly wrote underneath it, in the same language, &#x27;''If an atheist, a fool''(**)—''if not, a liar.''&#x27; (** Psalm xiv 1.))<ref>Raffles, Thomas (1818).  [https://archive.org/stream/lettersduringat00raffgoog#page/n6/mode/2up ''Letters, During a Tour through Some Parts of France, Savoy, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, in the Summer of 1817''] (New York:  Kirk and Merckin), p. 199-200.  Retrieved from Internet Archive on May 28, 2015.  Shelley reference:  [https://books.google.com/books?id=DWJIAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA702&lpg=PA702&dq=raffles+a+wretch+has+the+hardihood&source=bl&ots=sqEUP6azUR&sig=oh0L7ciSfPrGpej085uG_SWu6hE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=LExnVbeJIYLVoAST44HQCw&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=raffles%20a%20wretch%20has%20the%20hardihood&f=false "Literary Gossip"] (June 1, 1878).  ''The Athenaeum'', no. 2640, p. 702.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 28, 2015.</ref>}}

Robert Glynn wrote:

Robert Glynn wrote:

:Shines thro' the gloom to chear their sinking Souls:

:Shines thro' the gloom to chear their sinking Souls:

:In agonies of grief they curse the hour

:In agonies of grief they curse the hour

"When first they left Religion's onward way."<ref>Glynn, Robert (1760).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=x8FYAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA2&lpg=PA2&dq=robert+glynn+the+day+of+judgment&source=bl&ots=eeeuyd2qKE&sig=-wiDjHuDtiMeQRfpGSq0UG9ThiM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rStoVeTNAdTToATH7IO4Cg&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=robert%20glynn%20the%20day%20of%20judgment&f=false ''The Day of Judgment:  A Poetical Essay''], 4th ed. (Cambridge:  J. Bentham), p. 10.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on May 29, 2015.</ref>}}

"When first they left Religion's onward way."<ref>Glynn, Robert (1760).  [https://books.google.com/books?id=x8FYAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA2&lpg=PA2&dq=robert+glynn+the+day+of+judgment&source=bl&ots=eeeuyd2qKE&sig=-wiDjHuDtiMeQRfpGSq0UG9ThiM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rStoVeTNAdTToATH7IO4Cg&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=robert%20glynn%20the%20day%20of%20judgment&f=false ''The Day of Judgment:  A Poetical Essay''], 4th ed. (Cambridge:  J. Bentham), p. 10.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive on May 29, 2015.</ref>}}

Yet they do not punish him, because they are persuaded that no man can choose to believe by a mere act of the will. They do not compel him by threats to dissemble his views, nor do they tolerate in the matter any deceit or lying, which they detest as next door to deliberate malice. The man may not argue with common people in behalf of his opinion; but in the presence of priests and other important persons, they not only permit but encourage it. For they are confident that in the end his madness will yield to reason." <ref>More, Thomas (1518).  ''Utopia'', ch. "Of the religions of the Utopians".  See [[Thomas More]].</ref>}}

Yet they do not punish him, because they are persuaded that no man can choose to believe by a mere act of the will. They do not compel him by threats to dissemble his views, nor do they tolerate in the matter any deceit or lying, which they detest as next door to deliberate malice. The man may not argue with common people in behalf of his opinion; but in the presence of priests and other important persons, they not only permit but encourage it. For they are confident that in the end his madness will yield to reason." <ref>More, Thomas (1518).  ''Utopia'', ch. "Of the religions of the Utopians".  See [[Thomas More]].</ref>}}

* "[T]hose are not at all to be tolerated who deny the being of God. Promises, covenants, and oaths, which are the bonds of human society, can have no hold upon an atheist. The taking away of God, though but even in thought, dissolves all; besides also, those that by their atheism undermine and destroy all religion, can have no pretence of religion whereupon to challenge the privilege of a toleration. As for other practical opinions, though not absolutely free from all error, yet if they do not tend to establish domination over others, or civil impunity to the church in which they are taught, there can be no reason why they should not be tolerated." - [[John Locke]]<ref>Locke, John (1689). [http://books.google.com/books?id=9dDvqXe_wxcC&pg=PA246&lpg=PA246&dq=As+for+other+practical+opinions,+though+not+absolutely+free+from+all+error,+yet+if+they+do+not+tend+to+establish+domination+over+others,+or+civil+impunity+to+the+church+in+which+they+are+taught,+there+can+be+no+reason+why+they+should+not+be+tolerated&source=web&ots=O2Ad23cDQj&sig=LsW9bFJ0HBPl6sS_Xv9NnsG_ntk "A letter concerning toleration"].  ''Two Treatises of Government: And a Letter Concerning Toleration'', Ian Shapiro, ed. (New Haven, CT:  Yale University Press, 2003).  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 29, 2015.</ref>

* "[T]hose are not at all to be tolerated who deny the being of God. Promises, covenants, and oaths, which are the bonds of human society, can have no hold upon an atheist. The taking away of God, though but even in thought, dissolves all; besides also, those that by their atheism undermine and destroy all religion, can have no pretence of religion whereupon to challenge the privilege of a toleration. As for other practical opinions, though not absolutely free from all error, yet if they do not tend to establish domination over others, or civil impunity to the church in which they are taught, there can be no reason why they should not be tolerated." - [[John Locke]]<ref>Locke, John (1689). [https://books.google.com/books?id=9dDvqXe_wxcC&pg=PA246&lpg=PA246&dq=As+for+other+practical+opinions,+though+not+absolutely+free+from+all+error,+yet+if+they+do+not+tend+to+establish+domination+over+others,+or+civil+impunity+to+the+church+in+which+they+are+taught,+there+can+be+no+reason+why+they+should+not+be+tolerated&source=web&ots=O2Ad23cDQj&sig=LsW9bFJ0HBPl6sS_Xv9NnsG_ntk "A letter concerning toleration"].  ''Two Treatises of Government: And a Letter Concerning Toleration'', Ian Shapiro, ed. (New Haven, CT:  Yale University Press, 2003).  Retrieved from GoogleBooks on May 29, 2015.</ref>

* "Can any thing in this world be more foolish than to think that all this rare fabric of heaven and earth can come by chance, when all the skill of art is not able to make an oyster?  To see rare effects and no cause; an excellent government and no prince; a motion without an immoveable; a circle without a centre; a time without eternity; a second, without a first...these things are so against philosophy and natural reason, that he must needs be a beast in his understanding that does not assent to them...the thing framed, says that nothing framed it...and that which is made is, [while] that which made it is not. [T]his folly is...infinite." - [[Jeremy Taylor]]<ref>Taylor, Jeremy (1653). [http://archive.org/stream/worksofjeremytay02tayl#page/n7/mode/2up "Sermon Group VIII: Apples of Sodom; or, the Fruits of Sin, part II (Sermon XX)"].  ''Twenty-five Sermons for the Winter Half-Year, Preached at Golden Grove''.  Reprinted in ''The Works of Jeremy Taylor, D. D.'', ed. Rev. T. S. Hughes, B. D. (London: A. J. Valpy, 1831), vol. II, p. 30.  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>

* "Can any thing in this world be more foolish than to think that all this rare fabric of heaven and earth can come by chance, when all the skill of art is not able to make an oyster?  To see rare effects and no cause; an excellent government and no prince; a motion without an immoveable; a circle without a centre; a time without eternity; a second, without a first...these things are so against philosophy and natural reason, that he must needs be a beast in his understanding that does not assent to them...the thing framed, says that nothing framed it...and that which is made is, [while] that which made it is not. [T]his folly is...infinite." - [[Jeremy Taylor]]<ref>Taylor, Jeremy (1653). [https://archive.org/stream/worksofjeremytay02tayl#page/n7/mode/2up "Sermon Group VIII: Apples of Sodom; or, the Fruits of Sin, part II (Sermon XX)"].  ''Twenty-five Sermons for the Winter Half-Year, Preached at Golden Grove''.  Reprinted in ''The Works of Jeremy Taylor, D. D.'', ed. Rev. T. S. Hughes, B. D. (London: A. J. Valpy, 1831), vol. II, p. 30.  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>

* "All that [[Lenin]] learned about business from the tales of his comrades who occasionally sat in business offices was that it required a lot of scribbling, recording, and ciphering. Thus, he declares that accounting and control are the chief things necessary for the organizing and correct functioning of society. . . . Here we have the philosophy of the filing clerk in its full glory." - [[Ludwig von Mises]]<ref>von Mises, Ludwig (1978).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=IC0-QNYVnjYC ''The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality''] (Auburn, AL:  Ludwig von Mises Institute), ch. 1, sect. 7, pp. 24-5.  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>

* "All that [[Lenin]] learned about business from the tales of his comrades who occasionally sat in business offices was that it required a lot of scribbling, recording, and ciphering. Thus, he declares that accounting and control are the chief things necessary for the organizing and correct functioning of society. . . . Here we have the philosophy of the filing clerk in its full glory." - [[Ludwig von Mises]]<ref>von Mises, Ludwig (1978).  [https://books.google.com/books?id=IC0-QNYVnjYC ''The Anti-Capitalistic Mentality''] (Auburn, AL:  Ludwig von Mises Institute), ch. 1, sect. 7, pp. 24-5.  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>

* "[[Communism]] is what happens when [[atheism]] meets bureaucracy." - Vox Day<ref>Day, Vox (May 30, 2011).  [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2011/05/definitions.html "Definitions"].  Vox Populi [blog].  Retrieved on May 28, 2015.</ref>

* "[[Communism]] is what happens when [[atheism]] meets bureaucracy." - Vox Day<ref>Day, Vox (May 30, 2011).  [http://voxday.blogspot.com/2011/05/definitions.html "Definitions"].  Vox Populi [blog].  Retrieved on May 28, 2015.</ref>

{{cquote|American [[atheist movement]]s, though fancying themselves a lion, are more like the gimpy little zebra crossing the river full of crocs. In terms of both political gains and popular appeal, nonbelievers in the United States have little to show. They are encircled by cunning, swarming [religious] Revivalist adversaries who know how to play the atheist card. The gimpy zebra remark was a little goofing on this over-the-top chest-thumping that emerges from Movement Atheists. They wildly overestimate their numbers. They tend to overestimate the efficacy of their activism. They underestimate how disciplined and organized their adversaries in the religious right are, too. They fail to recognize that mocking religious people in public is entirely inimical to the goals they wish to achieve." - atheist <ref>Winston, Kimberly (September 14, 2012).  [http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2012-09/professor-jacques-berlinerblau-tells-atheists-stop-whining "Professor Jacques Berlinerblau tells atheists:  Stop whining!"]  Christian Century [website].  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>}}  

{{cquote|American [[atheist movement]]s, though fancying themselves a lion, are more like the gimpy little zebra crossing the river full of crocs. In terms of both political gains and popular appeal, nonbelievers in the United States have little to show. They are encircled by cunning, swarming [religious] Revivalist adversaries who know how to play the atheist card. The gimpy zebra remark was a little goofing on this over-the-top chest-thumping that emerges from Movement Atheists. They wildly overestimate their numbers. They tend to overestimate the efficacy of their activism. They underestimate how disciplined and organized their adversaries in the religious right are, too. They fail to recognize that mocking religious people in public is entirely inimical to the goals they wish to achieve." - atheist <ref>Winston, Kimberly (September 14, 2012).  [http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2012-09/professor-jacques-berlinerblau-tells-atheists-stop-whining "Professor Jacques Berlinerblau tells atheists:  Stop whining!"]  Christian Century [website].  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>}}  

* "Today secular faith is ebbing, and it is the apostles of unbelief who are left stranded on the beach." - atheist [[philosophy|philosopher]] [[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]], ''The Guardian'', March 14, 2008 <ref>Gray, John (March 14, 2008). [http://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/mar/15/society "The atheist delusion"].  ''The Guardian'' website.  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.  See [[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]].</ref>

* "Today secular faith is ebbing, and it is the apostles of unbelief who are left stranded on the beach." - atheist [[philosophy|philosopher]] [[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]], ''The Guardian'', March 14, 2008 <ref>Gray, John (March 14, 2008). [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/mar/15/society "The atheist delusion"].  ''The Guardian'' website.  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.  See [[John Gray (philosopher)|John Gray]].</ref>

[[File:Richard Dawkins at the Reason Rally.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Richard Dawkins]] ]]

[[File:Richard Dawkins at the Reason Rally.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Richard Dawkins]] ]]

*"As an Atheist for 40 years, I noticed that there is not just a wide variety of Atheist positions, but there exists an actual battle between certain [[Atheist factions]]." - An [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] at the website Atheism Analyzed<ref>Forty Year Atheist, The (2007).  [http://www.atheism-analyzed.net/The%20Reasoning%20Atheist.htm "The reasoning atheist"].  Atheism Analyzed: The Reality Approach.  Retrieved July 16, 2014</ref>  

*"As an Atheist for 40 years, I noticed that there is not just a wide variety of Atheist positions, but there exists an actual battle between certain [[Atheist factions]]." - An [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] at the website Atheism Analyzed<ref>Forty Year Atheist, The (2007).  [http://www.atheism-analyzed.net/The%20Reasoning%20Atheist.htm "The reasoning atheist"].  Atheism Analyzed: The Reality Approach.  Retrieved July 16, 2014</ref>  

*"[[Elevatorgate]]..has resulted in three weeks of infighting in the secular community. Some might observe that we indulge in these squabbles fairly frequently." - Jacques Rousseau <ref>Rousseau, Jacques (July 13, 2011). [http://dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2011-07-13-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-can-rip-my-soul "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can rip my soul"]. Daily Maverick [South Africa].  Retrieved July 16, 2014.</ref>  

*"[[Elevatorgate]]..has resulted in three weeks of infighting in the secular community. Some might observe that we indulge in these squabbles fairly frequently." - Jacques Rousseau <ref>Rousseau, Jacques (July 13, 2011). [http://dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2011-07-13-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-can-rip-my-soul "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can rip my soul"]. Daily Maverick [South Africa].  Retrieved July 16, 2014.</ref>  

*"Did anyone on [[Richard Dawkins|Dawkins]] AMA ask how he feels about singlehandedly destroying the atheist movement with the [[Elevatorgate|Dear Muslima]] yet?" - Atheist activist and blogger [[Jen McCreight]] post at Twitter on November 26, 2013<ref>McCreight, Jennifer (November 26, 2013).  [http://twitter.com/jennifurret/status/405391218273554433 "[Jennifer McCreight on Twitter about the Elevatorgate scandal&#93;"]  Twitter [public message service].  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>  

*"Did anyone on [[Richard Dawkins|Dawkins]] AMA ask how he feels about singlehandedly destroying the atheist movement with the [[Elevatorgate|Dear Muslima]] yet?" - Atheist activist and blogger [[Jen McCreight]] post at Twitter on November 26, 2013<ref>McCreight, Jennifer (November 26, 2013).  [https://twitter.com/jennifurret/status/405391218273554433 "[Jennifer McCreight on Twitter about the Elevatorgate scandal&#93;"]  Twitter [public message service].  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>  

* "I have never cared about the ‘evidence’ one way or the other, I know God exists, I just refuse to bow down to anyone." - atheist blogger.<ref>Catchpoole, David (September 13, 2012).  [http://creation.com/blogosphere-battlers "Thank you, ‘blogosphere battlers’—you’re making a difference"].  Creation.com [Creation Ministries International].  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>

* "I have never cared about the ‘evidence’ one way or the other, I know God exists, I just refuse to bow down to anyone." - atheist blogger.<ref>Catchpoole, David (September 13, 2012).  [http://creation.com/blogosphere-battlers "Thank you, ‘blogosphere battlers’—you’re making a difference"].  Creation.com [Creation Ministries International].  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>

* "It's that time of year again.  'T'is the season to be jolly—or, if you're an atheist activist, to throw a wet blanket over the holidays." - Robert Small<ref>Small, Robert (December 23, 2012).  [http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2012/12/self-righteous_atheists_are_misguided_killjoys.html "Self-righteous atheists are misguided killjoys"].  American Thinker website.  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>

* "It's that time of year again.  'T'is the season to be jolly—or, if you're an atheist activist, to throw a wet blanket over the holidays." - Robert Small<ref>Small, Robert (December 23, 2012).  [https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2012/12/self-righteous_atheists_are_misguided_killjoys.html "Self-righteous atheists are misguided killjoys"].  American Thinker website.  Retrieved on May 29, 2015.</ref>

Douglas Wilson declared:

Douglas Wilson declared:

{{cquote|Officials are untroubled by the clash between the city’s famously freewheeling capitalism and the Communist Party’s ideology, yet still see religion and its symbols as affronts to the party’s atheism...

{{cquote|Officials are untroubled by the clash between the city’s famously freewheeling capitalism and the Communist Party’s ideology, yet still see religion and its symbols as affronts to the party’s atheism...

Yang Fenggang of Purdue University, in Indiana, says the Christian church in China has grown by an average of 10% a year since 1980. He reckons that on current trends there will be 250m Christians by around 2030, making China’s Christian population the largest in the world. Mr. Yang says this speed of growth is similar to that seen in fourth-century Rome just before the conversion of [[Constantine]], which paved the way for Christianity to become the religion of his empire.<ref>Wenzhou (November 1, 2014).  [http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21629218-rapid-spread-christianity-forcing-official-rethink-religion-cracks "Cracks in the atheist edifice"].  ''The Economist'' website.  Retrieved on May 28, 2015.</ref>}}

Yang Fenggang of Purdue University, in Indiana, says the Christian church in China has grown by an average of 10% a year since 1980. He reckons that on current trends there will be 250m Christians by around 2030, making China’s Christian population the largest in the world. Mr. Yang says this speed of growth is similar to that seen in fourth-century Rome just before the conversion of [[Constantine]], which paved the way for Christianity to become the religion of his empire.<ref>Wenzhou (November 1, 2014).  [https://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21629218-rapid-spread-christianity-forcing-official-rethink-religion-cracks "Cracks in the atheist edifice"].  ''The Economist'' website.  Retrieved on May 28, 2015.</ref>}}

== Quote about European atheism/secularism ==

== Quote about European atheism/secularism ==

[[File:Edward Tabash 2013.jpg|thumbnail|right|190px|[[Eddie Tabash]]

[[File:Edward Tabash 2013.jpg|thumbnail|right|190px|[[Eddie Tabash]]

<small>(photo obtained from [http://www.flickr.com/photos/reuvenim/4426093513/ Wikimedia Commons], see [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en  license agreement])</small>]]

<small>(photo obtained from [https://www.flickr.com/photos/reuvenim/4426093513/ Wikimedia Commons], see [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en  license agreement])</small>]]

The American atheist activist [[Eddie Tabash]] said at the 2010 Michigan Atheists State Convention:

The American atheist activist [[Eddie Tabash]] said at the 2010 Michigan Atheists State Convention:

{{Cquote|In every generation there has been a promising beginning of a true vanguard movement that will finally achieve widespread public acceptance for nonbelief. Yet, in each generation there has been an ultimately disappointing failure to actually register the [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic alternative]] to supernatural claims in the public consciousness...

{{Cquote|In every generation there has been a promising beginning of a true vanguard movement that will finally achieve widespread public acceptance for nonbelief. Yet, in each generation there has been an ultimately disappointing failure to actually register the [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalistic alternative]] to supernatural claims in the public consciousness...

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans that ''the creation testifies the existence of God'', when he wrote the following:

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans that ''the creation testifies the existence of God'', when he wrote the following:

[[Image:Raphael.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|[[Plato]] declared atheism is a disease of the soul before it becomes an error of understanding.<ref name=Plato>Fleming, William (1858 or bef.).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=JCwoAAAAYAAJ ''The Vocabulary of Philosophy, Mental, Moral and Metaphysical''] (London and Glasgow:  Richard Griffin), 2nd ed., p. 54.  Retrieved from Googlebooks archive on May 26, 2015.</ref>]]

[[Image:Raphael.jpg|right|thumbnail|200px|[[Plato]] declared atheism is a disease of the soul before it becomes an error of understanding.<ref name=Plato>Fleming, William (1858 or bef.).  [https://books.google.com/books?id=JCwoAAAAYAAJ ''The Vocabulary of Philosophy, Mental, Moral and Metaphysical''] (London and Glasgow:  Richard Griffin), 2nd ed., p. 54.  Retrieved from Googlebooks archive on May 26, 2015.</ref>]]

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..." - [[Romans]] 1:19-20 (NKJV)

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..." - [[Romans]] 1:19-20 (NKJV)

* It is a fine observation of Plato in his ''Laws''—that ''atheism'' is a disease of the soul before it becomes an error of the understanding. - William Fleming.<ref name=Plato/> [see below]   

* It is a fine observation of Plato in his ''Laws''—that ''atheism'' is a disease of the soul before it becomes an error of the understanding. - William Fleming.<ref name=Plato/> [see below]   

   

   

* "[T]he habit of arguing in support of atheism, whether it be done from conviction or in pretence, is a wicked and an impious practice." - Marcus Tullius [[Cicero]] (106–43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher, and statesman<ref>Cicero (45 BC). [http://archive.org/stream/denaturadeorumac00ciceuoft#page/284/mode/2up ''De Natura Deorum''] [On the Nature of the Gods], book 2, sect. 67, translated by H. Rackham.  ''Cicero in Twenty-Eight Volumes; XIX: De Natura Deorum, Academica'' (Cambridge, MA:  Harvard University Press, 1933), p. 285.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive.</ref>

* "[T]he habit of arguing in support of atheism, whether it be done from conviction or in pretence, is a wicked and an impious practice." - Marcus Tullius [[Cicero]] (106–43 B.C.), Roman orator, philosopher, and statesman<ref>Cicero (45 BC). [https://archive.org/stream/denaturadeorumac00ciceuoft#page/284/mode/2up ''De Natura Deorum''] [On the Nature of the Gods], book 2, sect. 67, translated by H. Rackham.  ''Cicero in Twenty-Eight Volumes; XIX: De Natura Deorum, Academica'' (Cambridge, MA:  Harvard University Press, 1933), p. 285.  Retrieved from GoogleBooks archive.</ref>

[[Plato]] wrote in ''Laws'', book X:

[[Plato]] wrote in ''Laws'', book X:

==Humorous quotes about atheism ==

==Humorous quotes about atheism ==

* "I once wanted to become an atheist but I gave up . . . they have no holidays." - [[Henny Youngman]]<ref>Youngman, Henny (1980 or bef.).  [http://books.google.com/books?id=GZcjAQAAMAAJ&q=%22become+an+atheist+but+I+gave+up%22&dq=%22become+an+atheist+but+I+gave+up%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WHppVZT7I4W2oQT-nYKoAw&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBw Earliest attestation].  Retrieved from GoogleBooks.</ref>

* "I once wanted to become an atheist but I gave up . . . they have no holidays." - [[Henny Youngman]]<ref>Youngman, Henny (1980 or bef.).  [https://books.google.com/books?id=GZcjAQAAMAAJ&q=%22become+an+atheist+but+I+gave+up%22&dq=%22become+an+atheist+but+I+gave+up%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=WHppVZT7I4W2oQT-nYKoAw&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBw Earliest attestation].  Retrieved from GoogleBooks.</ref>

* "How to trap an atheist: Serve him a fine meal, then ask him if he believes there is a cook." — Source Unknown

* "How to trap an atheist: Serve him a fine meal, then ask him if he believes there is a cook." — Source Unknown