Best atheism & thinking Quotes | Short & Famous Sayings Page 2

“This issue is whether or not our government should be infusing religion into the public schools. Our churches are very strong in this nation and I think that's great and everybody should have the ability to worship as he or she sees fit. I choose to worship not believing in God and government should not thrust a religious idea down my throat.”

“I think the Constitution has been upheld. I think they made the right decision.”

Thinking Has Beens Made Decision Atheism Constitution Positive Atheism Right Decision

Author:Michael Newdow

“I feel like I am not an American in the eyes of my government because of their religious beliefs. I think that is un-American.”

Thinking Feels Government Eye Belief Religious Atheism Positive Atheism Religious Belief

Author:Michael Newdow

“Most people I know I think agree and even many theists agree with this. We don't want government involved. When atheists become the majority in this country, I don't think the theists are going to be glad to have "one nation under no God" inserted in the Pledge of Allegiance.”

People Thinking Knows Want Country Government Nations Atheism Involved Agree Majority Atheist Positive Atheism Glad Pledge Allegiance Theist Pledge Of Allegiance

Author:Michael Newdow

“Creeds like pacifism or anarchism, which seem on the surface to imply a complete renunciation of power, rather encourage this habit of mind. For if you have embraced a creed which appears to be free from the ordinary dirtiness of politics ... the more you are in the right (and) everybody else should be bullied into thinking otherwise.”

Ifs Thinking Should Mind Seems Atheism Habit Ordinary Positive Atheism Surface Creeds Anarchism Bullied Renunciation Pacifism Habits Of Mind Dirtiness

Book:All Art Is Propaganda: Critical Essays

Source: All Art Is Propaganda: Critical Essays

“I think evolution should be taught as an accepted principle. I say that also as the daughter of a school teacher, a science teacher, who has instilled in me a respect for science. I think it should be taught in our schools. I won't ever deny that I see the hand of God in this beautiful creation that is earth. But - that is not a part of state policy or a local curriculum in a school district. Science should be taught in science class.”

“I think I stand where that man stands.”

Thinking Men Atheism Positive Atheism

Author:Abraham Lincoln

“In a better world, science teachers would teach creationism along with evolution as an exercise in critical thinking.”

Thinking World Teach Teacher Atheism Evolution Exercise Critical Positive Atheism Critical Thinking Creationism Science Teacher

Author:Katha Pollitt

“I do not expect that the mere fact that I was once an evangelical apologist and now see things differently should itself count as evidence that I must be right. That would be the genetic fallacy. It would be just as erroneous to think that John Rankin must be right in having embraced evangelical Christianity since he had once been an agnostic Unitarian and repudiated it for the Christian faith.”

Thinking Should Facts Would Be Christian Christianity Atheism Evidence Mere Positive Atheism Agnostic Christian Faith Evangelical Fallacy Unitarian

Author:Robert M. Price

“But if they did really refer to some kind of a "personal relationship," it would in effect be a case of channeling. I suspect this is why fundamentalists who condemn New Age channelers do not dismiss it as a fraud..., but instead think that Ramtha and the others are channeling demons. If they said it was sheer delusion, they know where the other four fingers would wind up pointing!”

Ifs Thinking Knows Kind Said Age Cases Four Atheism Effects Wind Fingers Positive Atheism Demon Delusion Suspects Fraud Sheer They Said New Age Pointing Channeling Personal Relationships

Author:Robert M. Price

“I can't think of any decision where the entire Congress immediately rushes to condemn a decision by the court. It's getting to be election time and this gives everyone in Congress a chance to prove they are patriotic.”

Thinking Giving I Can Chance Decision Atheism Prove Election Court Congress Positive Atheism Patriotic Election Time

Author:Stephen Reinhardt

“I think it's a bit excessive.”

Thinking Bits Atheism Positive Atheism

Author:Stephen Reinhardt

“I despise those shallow religious comics. Dennis the Menace, for instance, is the most shallow. When they show him praying - I just can't stand that sort of thing, talking to God about some cutesy thing that he'd done during the day. I don't think Hank Ketcham has any deep knowledge of things like that.”

Thinking Done Shows Religious Talking Atheism Praying Positive Atheism Instance Despise Shallow Menace Talking To God

Author:Charles M. Schulz

“I think what bothers me so much of the time, is they take the data and theory and distort it. They must know they're distorting.”

Thinking Knows Atheism Theory Positive Atheism Data Bother

Author:Eugenie Scott

“I can think of no greater disaster to this country than to have the voters of it divide upon religious lines.”

Thinking I Can Country Religious Lines Greater Atheism Positive Atheism Disaster Voters Divides

Author:Al Smith

“When I first heard from the lips of Lucretia Mott that I had the same right to think for myself that Luther, Calvin, and John Knox had, and the same right to be guided by my own convictions, and would no doubt live a higher, happier life than if guided by theirs, it was like suddenly coming into the rays of the noon-day sun, after wandering with a rushlight in the caves the earth.”

Ifs Thinking Firsts Earth My Own Sun Doubt Heard Atheism Higher Lips Conviction Wander No Doubt Rays Caves Luther Noon Happier Life

Book:History of woman suffrage

Source: History of woman suffrage

“That's true that I'm "not religious as that term is conventionally understood," though I've never been an atheist. Atheism is an active faith; it says, "I believe there is no God." But I don't know what I believe. I was brought up a Lutheran in Jamestown, North Dakota. I have trouble with faith. I'm not proud of this. I don't think it makes me an intellectual. I would believe if I could, and I may be able to before it's over. I would welcome that.”

“Hmmm, completely a-religious - atheist. I find that people seem to think religion brings morals and appreciation of nature. I actually think it detracts from both.”

People Thinking Seems Religious Moral Atheism Atheist Appreciation Positive Atheism Hmmm

Author:Linus Torvalds

“And not only did this great consolidated ecclesiasticism assume to lord it over men's earthly treasures, but they lorded it over men's minds, prescribing what men should think and read and write.”

Thinking Men Should Writing Mind Lord Atheism Assuming Positive Atheism Treasure Prescribing

Author:George W Truett

“As I have already said, the belief that one's own view of reality is the only reality is the most dangerous or all delusions. It becomes still more dangerous if it is coupled with the missionary zeal to enlighten the rest of the world, whether the rest of the world wishes to be enlightened or not. To refuse to embrace wholeheartedly a particular definition of reality, to dare to see the world differently can become a "think crime" in a truly Orwellian sense as we get steadily closer to 1984.”

Source: How real is real?: Confusion, disinformation, communication

“Even though their arguments did not invoke religion, I think we all know what's behind these arguments. They're trying to protect religious beliefs from contradiction by science. They used to do it by prohibiting teachers from teaching evolution at all; then they wanted to teach intelligent design as an alternative theory; now they want the supposed "weaknesses" in evolution pointed out. But it's all the same program - it's all an attempt to let religious ideas determine what is taught in science courses.”

“I don't think atheism means one does not believe in a spiritual life. I think it means one does not follow the tenets of the established religions.”

Thinking Believe Mean Doe Spiritual Atheism Spiritual Life

Author:Amanda Donohoe

“We are a people of many races, many faiths, creeds, and religions. I do not think that the men who made the Constitution forbade the establishment of a State church because they were opposed to religion. They knew that the introduction of religious differences into American life would undermine the democratic foundations of this country. What holds for adults holds even more for children, sensitive and conscious of differences. I certainly hope that the Board of Education will think very, very seriously before it introduces this division and antagonism in our public schools.”

“I wrote The Philosophy of Disenchantment, which is, I think, the gloomiest and worst book ever published. Out of sheer laziness, I then produced a history of atheism, The Anatomy of Negation, which has been honored by international dislike. Need I state that of all my children it is the one that I prefer?”

Thinking Needs Children Has Beens Book States Philosophy Atheism Worst International My Children Dislike Laziness Sheer Honored Anatomy Negation Disenchantment

Author:Edgar Saltus

“Reverence for the Supreme Being, based upon His supposed resemblance to man. The pig is taught by sermons and epistles / To think the God of Swine has snout and bristles.”

Thinking Men Atheism Taught Positive Atheism Supreme Reverence Pigs Sermons Resemblance Supreme Being Swine

Book:The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World

Source: The Devil's Dictionary: The Devil World

“The moment you introduce a despotism in the world of thought, you succeed in making hypocrites - and you get in such a position that you never know what your neighbor thinks.”

Thinking Knows World Moments Atheism Position Succeed Positive Atheism Neighbor Introducing Hypocrite Despotism

Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll

Source: The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll

“The mechanic, when a wheel refuses to turn, never thinks of dropping on his knees and asking the assistance of some divine power. He knows there is a reason. He knows that something is too large or too small; that there is something wrong with his machine; and he goes to work and he makes it larger or smaller, here or there, until the wheel will turn.”

Thinking Knows Reason Turns Atheism Divine Machines Asking Refuse Positive Atheism Knees Wheels Assistance Mechanic Dropping Divine Power

Book:The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll

Source: The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll

“We should always keep an open mind about any new phenomenon in nature. To merely say that's impossible, therefore it doesn't exist, is to commit a serious error. A much better approach would be to say That's quite unlikely, but show me the evidence you have that says that it may be so. It would be the height of arrogance to think that man knows everything possible about the Universe or the Earth. There are many things yet to be discovered, and that is why we have scientific research (or any kind of research). That should be the rationalist's approach to parapsychology and the occult.”

“Define self-awareness and tell me what it is about it that requires something more than a material explanation. I do not accept the burden of explaining all phenomena, real or imagined. If you think more than matter is required for this thing you call self-awareness, which you have not defined, then you have the burden of showing why.”

Ifs Thinking Real Self Matter Accepting Atheism Awareness Materials Self Awareness Burden Positive Atheism Defined Explanation Explaining

Author:Victor J. Stenger

“The truth is that family values, as used by the American Family Association, Dan Quayle, and the southern Baptists, has nothing to do with either family or values, nor does it really have anything to do with homosexuals, abortionists, or pornographers. Those groups actually only serve as windmills to tilt at. The true agenda is power - power over the intellectually weak, emotionally immature, and ethically deficient Americans who are incapable of critical thinking and independent decision-making, and who are easily manipulated by the basest of human emotions - fear and the desire for revenge.”

“I don't think there's a problem. First of all, I don't think music turns people into social liabilities. Because you hear a lyric - there's no medical proof that a person hearing a lyric is going to act out the lyric. There's also no medical proof that if you hear any collection of vowels and consonants, that the hearing of that collection is going to send you to Hell.”

People Ifs Thinking Firsts Persons Problem Turns Social Hell Atheism Hearing Positive Atheism Proof Medical Collections Liability Vowels Consonants

Author:Frank Zappa

“I think you should leave it up to the parent, because not all parents want to keep their children totally ignorant.”

Thinking Want Should Children Parent Atheism Positive Atheism Ignorant

Author:Frank Zappa

“Our [Virginia's] act for freedom of religion is extremely applauded. The Ambassadors and ministers of the several nations of Europe resident at this court have asked me copies of it to send to their sovereigns, and it is inserted at full length in several books now in the press; among others, in the new Encyclopédie. I think it will produce considerable good even in those countries where ignorance, superstition, poverty and oppression of body and mind in every form, are so firmly settled on the mass of the people, that their redemption from them can never be hoped.”

Source: Memoir, Correspondence, and Miscellanies, from the Papers of Thomas Jefferson

“Of publishing a book on religion, my dear sir, I never had an idea. I should as soon think of writing for the reformation of Bedlam, as of the world of religious sects. Of these there must be, at least, ten thousand, every individual of every one of which believes all wrong but his own.”

Thinking World Should Writing Believe Book Ideas Individual Religious Atheism Thousand Ten Dear Positive Atheism Publishing Reformation Sects Religious Sects

Book:Jefferson: Magnificent Populist

Source: Jefferson: Magnificent Populist

“Mr. Lincoln's maxim and philosophy were: 'What is to be, will be, and no prayers of ours can arrest the decree.' He never joined any Church. He was a religious man always, I think, but was not a technical Christian.”

Thinking Men Philosophy Christian Church Religious Prayer Atheism Positive Atheism Maxims Decree

Author:Mary Todd Lincoln

“I have received your letter of the 6th, with the eloquent discourse delivered at the consecration of the Jewish Synagogue. Having ever regarded the freedom of religious opinions and worship as equally belonging to every sect, and the secure enjoyment of it as the best human provision for bringing all either into the same way of thinking, or into that mutual charity which is the only substitute, I observe with pleasure the view you give of the spirit in which your sect partake of the blessings offered by our Government and laws.”

Source: 1816-1828

“The majority, being satisfied with the ways of mankind as they now are (for it is they who make them what they are), cannot comprehend why those ways should not be good enough for everybody; and what is more, spontaneity forms no part of the ideal of the majority of moral and social reformers, but is rather looked on with jealousy, as a troublesome and perhaps rebellious obstruction to the general acceptance of what these reformers, in their own judgment, think would be best for mankind.”

Source: J. S. Mill: 'On Liberty' and Other Writings

“I don't think God is an explanation at all. It's simply redescribing the problem. We are trying to understand how we have got a complicated world, and we have an explanation in terms of a slightly simpler world, and we explain that in terms of a slightly simpler world and it all hangs together down to an ultimately simple world. Now, God is not an explanation of that kind. God himself cannot be simple if he has power to do all the things he is supposed to do.”

Ifs Thinking World Trying Kind Problem Together Term Simple Atheism Complicated Positive Atheism Explanation Complicated World

Author:Richard Dawkins

“If people think God is interesting, the onus is on them to show that there is anything there to talk about. Otherwise they should just shut up about it.”

People Ifs Thinking Should Shows Interesting Atheism Positive Atheism Shut Up

Author:Richard Dawkins

“I had always been scrupulously careful to avoid the smallest suggestion of infant indoctrination, which I think is ultimately responsible for much of the evil in the world. Others, less close to her, showed no such scruples, which upset me, as I very much wanted her, as I want all children, to make up her own mind freely when she became old enough to do so. I would encourage her to think, without telling her what to think.”

Thinking World Want Mind Children Enough Wanted Evil Atheism Responsible Careful Positive Atheism Upset Smallest Suggestions Infant Indoctrination Scruples

Book:A Devil's Chaplain

Source: A Devil's Chaplain

“What shall we do my darling, when trial grows more, and more, when the dim, lone light expires, and it's dark, so very dark, and we wander, and know not where, and cannot get out of the forest - whose is the hand to help us, and to lead, and forever guide us? ... Where do you think I've strayed and from what new errand returned. I have come from to and fro, and walking up and down the same place that Satan hailed from when God asked where he'd been.”

Thinking Knows Helping Hands Light Grows Dark Forever Atheism Walking Positive Atheism Guides Trials Forests Wander Satan Up And Down Darling Lone Errands

Book:Selected Letters

Source: Selected Letters

“The minister today preached about death and judgment, and what would become of those who behaved improperly - and somehow it scared me. He preached such an awful sermon I didn't think I should ever see you again until the Judgment Day. The subject of perdition seemed to please him somehow.”

Thinking Should Today Atheism Subjects Please Judgment Scared Positive Atheism Awful Ministers Sermons You Again Perdition Judgment Day

Author:Emily Dickinson

“Does not Eternity appear dreadful to you. I often get to thinking of it and it seems so dark to me that I almost wish there was no Eternity. To think that we must forever live and never cease to be. It seems as if Death would be a relief to so endless a state of existence.”

Ifs Thinking Doe States Seems Would Be Wish Dark Existence Forever Atheism Eternity Positive Atheism Endless Cease Relief

Author:Emily Dickinson

“One must be oneself very little of a philosopher not to feel that the finest privilege of our reason consists in not believing in anything by the impulsion of a blind and mechanical instinct, and that it is to dishonour reason to put it in bonds as the Chaldeans did. Man is born to think for himself.”

Thinking Men Feels Believe Littles Reason Born Atheism Blind Instinct Privilege Oneself Philosopher Positive Atheism Finest Dishonour

Author:Denis Diderot

“We are a free people; and now you have planted in our country the title deeds of our future slavery. You are neither god nor demon; who are you, then, to make slaves? Orou! You understand the language of these men, tell us all, as you have told me, what they have written on this sheet of metal: This country is ours. This country yours? And why? Because you have walked thereon? If a Tahitian landed one day on your shores, and scratched on one of your rocks or on the bark of your trees: This country belongs to the people of Tahiti - what would you think?”

People Ifs Thinking Men Country Language Written Tree Atheism Rocks One Day Slavery Slave Deeds Positive Atheism Our Country Titles Demon Shore Our Future Metals Sheets Bark Tahiti

Author:Denis Diderot

“Imagine, capitalist America also divides the anarchists into two categories, philosophic and criminal. The first are accepted in highest circles; one of them is even high in the councils of the Wilson Administration. The second category, to which we have the honor of belonging, is persecuted and often imprisoned. Yours also seems to be a distinction without a difference. Don't you think so?”

“And to think of this great country in danger of being dominated by people ignorant enough to take a few ancient Babylonian legends as the canons of modern culture. Our scientific men are paying for their failure to speak out earlier. There is no use now talking evolution to these people. Their ears are stuffed with Genesis.”

“Although I went to college as a youth, I never considered it necessary to steep oneself in academic learning, in order to learn how to think. I welcome a fair and square, open and above-board fight on any subject, including this, but I despise a man who sneaks around under a cloak or cover of any society or clique to strike his blows.”

Thinking Men Order Fighting Atheism Subjects Youth College Fairs Including Oneself Blow Positive Atheism Strikes Welcome Boards Squares Despise Academic Cloaks Sneak Steep Clique

Author:Luther Burbank

“I credit that eight years of grammar school with nourishing me in a direction where I could trust myself and trust my instincts. They gave me the tools to reject my faith. They taught me to question and think for myself and to believe in my instincts to such an extent that I just said, "This is a wonderful fairy tale they have going here, but it's not for me."”

Thinking Years Believe Said School Wonderful Atheism Taught Tools Instinct Eight Credit Positive Atheism Tales Fairy Rejects Fairy Tale Grammar Grammar School Trust Myself

Author:George Carlin

“The two big mistakes were the belief in a sky god - that there's a man in the sky with 10 things he doesn't want you to do and you'll burn for a long time if you do them - and private property, which I think is at the core of our failure as a species. That's the source of my indignations, my dissatisfactions, however it comes out on the stage. I feel betrayed by the people I'm part of, these creatures, these magnificent creatures.”

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