Lists of atheists

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 84.167.140.33 (talk) at 20:31, 14 September 2006 (although this was not always obvious as he deliberately promoted conflicting political views he was an atheist). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The people in this list have been included because they are or were atheists, that is, they do not or did not believe in God or gods, and this disbelief can be asserted because they themselves have expressed it openly (on the record), or in their works, personal correspondence, diaries, etc. Presumed atheists are not included here.

Given the different possible qualifications of the word atheist and its varied uses through time, some people listed here could also be called agnostics or non-theists rather than simply atheists. However, out of respect for a person's choice of self-identity, those people who have never identified themselves by the term atheist, but who have specifically chosen another term to describe their position on God's existence (such as agnostic) are not included here. People who have merely expressed criticism or skepticism of religion, but who have not expressed disbelief in God, are likewise not included.

The list has two sections. The first one is for atheists who are or were notable defenders of atheism. In short, these people are or were important for other atheists, since they contribute(d) to the popularization, understanding, and acceptance of atheism in society, either through their writing or through their activism.

The other section is for famous people who just happen/happened to be atheists, and whose unbelief is/was relevant in their life, but who do not/did not actively fight for its cause.

There might not be a consensus on whether a given person belongs in the second section, since obviously there is no way of listing all famous people who just happen to be atheists (there is no point, either). Many of these profess their atheism as just a peripheral issue in their lives, or simply keep quiet about it, and they will not be listed here.

Influential or notable outspoken atheists, by primary occupation

Activists and educators

Entertainment

Literature and art

Philosophy

Politics and law

Science and medicine

Classical

  • Anaxagoras (500?–428? BCE): Greek philosopher, freethinker, regarded the conventional gods as mythic abstractions endowed with anthropomorphic attributes.
  • Brihaspati: Traditionally taken to be the founder of the Lokayata philosophical school in India, along with Carvaka.
  • Carvaka: Materialist philosopher in ancient India.
  • Democritus (460?–357 BCE): Greek philosopher, father of materialism, viewed everything as matter composed of indestructible particles ("atoms").
  • Diagoras (called Diagoras the Atheist of Melos) (5th cent. BCE): Greek poet and sophist.
  • Epicurus (341–270 BCE): Greek materialist philosopher.
  • Lucretius (96?–55 BCE): Roman philosopher and poet, Epicurean atomist, wrote On the Nature of Things.
  • Protagoras (481?–411 BCE): Greek philosopher.
  • Lucius Annaeus Seneca "the Younger" (4 BCE–65 CE): Roman stoic philosopher, writer and politician.

Other atheists by primary occupation

Business

Entertainment

Literature and art

Politics and law

Science and medicine

[61], [62], [63]

References

  1. ^ Online reprint of essay by Emma Goldman, The Philosophy of Atheism, advocating atheism.
  2. ^ Listing of Ellen Johnson as president of American Atheists; from official website.
  3. ^ Adherents.com article: The Religious Affiliation of Michael Newdow [1].
  4. ^ See Periyar Ramasami.
  5. ^ American Atheist's profile of O'Hair and her family as atheism advocates [2].
  6. ^ a b c d 2,000 Years of Disbelief: Famous People with the Courage to Doubt, James A. Haught, 1996, Prometheus Books, ISBN 1-57392-067-3
  7. ^ "Savarkar was an atheist. When he was the Hindu Mahasabha president he used to give lectures on why there is no god."; quote from an interview with historian, Bipan Chandra [3].
  8. ^ Atheist essay by Sina, Rational Spirituality.
  9. ^ Listing of smoker's Freethoughts: Atheism, Humanism, Secularism. Selected Egotistically from the 'Freethinker' at Amazon.com[4].
  10. ^ This is a clash of civilisations - between reason and superstition
  11. ^ In a letter by Adams dated 10 August 1993: "I've spent a life-time attacking religious beliefs and have not wavered from a view of the universe that many would regard as bleak. Namely, that it is a meaningless place devoid of deity [sic]"[5].
  12. ^ Adherents.com article: The Religious Affiliation of Ingmar Bergman [6].
  13. ^ Multiple quotes from Carlin substantiating his atheist views[7].
  14. ^ Interview with Penn Jillete in which Carolla declared "...I'm an atheist"[8].
  15. ^ Appearance on ABC's "Politically Incorrect" (March 9, 1998) "I was born Jewish, but I am an atheist. I don't believe in God."[9]
  16. ^ Speaking to Sacramento’s Outword Magazine, Griffin said: "...I think I’m getting more atheist because of the way the country is getting more into bible-thumping." See Quotelines, by Rex Wockner at Windy City Times (Accessed 29 August 2006).
  17. ^ States he is an atheist in his Animals live DVD.
  18. ^ Hanna quoted as saying: "I don't believe in God, but I believe God invented four-tracks"[10].
  19. ^ Hepburn stated "I'm an atheist, and that's it. I believe there's nothing we can know except that we should be kind to each other and do what we can for people" in the October 1991 issue of Ladies' Home Journal[11]
  20. ^ Seattle times article confirming that Leykis hosts a radio segment called Ask the Atheist [12].
  21. ^ Interview with Penn in which he mentions his and Teller's atheism[13].
  22. ^ "Although Roddenberry's family were churchgoers, he became an atheist when a teenager." Gene Roddenberry (1921-1991) at the website of the British Humanist Association (Accessed 29 August 2006).
  23. ^ Interview with Sweeney discussing her atheism[14].
  24. ^ Interview with Adams by American Atheists[15].
  25. ^ Multiple quotes from Bierce substantiating his atheist views[16].
  26. ^ Multiple quotes from Bakunin substantiating his atheist views[17].
  27. ^ American Atheists article on Fisher [18].
  28. ^ Author of An Atheist Manifesto
  29. ^ Slate.com article by Hitchens, Bush's Secularist Triumph, with atheist declaration.
  30. ^ Joshi's book: God's Defenders: What They Believe and Why They Are Wrong at amazon.com.
  31. ^ Kennedy's book: All in the Mind: A Farewell to God at amazon.com.
  32. ^ Levi quoted as saying "There is Auschwitz, and so there cannot be God." Interview with Marlboro Press (1989)[19].
  33. ^ Multiple quotes from McCabe substantiating his atheist view [20].
  34. ^ Mencken quoted as saying "Theology: An effort to explain the unknowable by putting it into terms of the not worth knowing" [21].
  35. ^ Wrote Moi Testament a refutation of religion. Extracts published as Superstition In All Ages.
  36. ^ Salon magazine 28 April 1999 [22]
  37. ^ In conversation with Archbishop Rowan Williams [23].
  38. ^ Interview on Larry King Live, 26 June 2004. See clip.
  39. ^ Interview with Rushdie by Gigi Marzullo; Sottovoce, RAIUNO, March 31 2006.
  40. ^ Listing of Shelley's The Necessity of Atheism at Amazon.com [24].
  41. ^ Listing of Smith as a founder of Freethinkers New York.
  42. ^ Quoted as saying "The heavens declare the glory of Kepler and Newton."[25].
  43. ^ Die fröhliche Wissenschaft, aphorisms 108 and 125 [26]).
  44. ^ Atheist premier attacks lack of Christianity in EU constitution, by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, The Telegraph, 4 June 2003.
  45. ^ Richard BRANSON: Losing My Virginity, p.239: "I do not believe in God, but as I sat there in the damaged [balloon] capsule, hopelessly vulnerable to the slightest shift in weather or mechanical fault, I could not believe my eyes."
  46. ^ Roger LOWERSTEIN: Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist, Doubleday, 1995, p.13: "He did not subscribe to his family's religion. Even at a young age he was too mathematical, too logical, to make the leap of faith. He adopted his father's ethical underpinnings, but not his belief in an unseen divinity."
  47. ^ Ira D. Cardiff: What Great Men Think of Religion, 1945: "I don't believe in God. My god is patriotism. Teach a man to be a good citizen and you have solved the problem of life."
  48. ^ "I am not saying [[[Jerry Falwell]]] don't believe in God. I am just saying I don't believe in God. That puts me at odds with him." Larry King Live, January 10, 1996
  49. ^ Steve Kroft: Are you a religious man? Soros: No. Kroft: Do you believe in God? Soros: No. 60 Minutes, broadcast December 20, 1998.
  50. ^ "28.Do you have a religion and if so what is it? I am an Atheist. I know the film's really Christian and everything but it doesn’t really affect me. Oh and you know I’m related to Charles Darwin." [27]
  51. ^ The Guardian describes as 'a devout atheist - Stravinsky later described him rather disapprovingly as having a mind 'closed to any religious or metaphysical idea"' [28]
  52. ^ "Former Minnesota Vikings running back Robert Smith, an atheist, says he has no objection to making religious counseling and services available to interested players." Going long for Jesus, by Tom Krattenmaker at Salon.com (Accessed 29 August 2006).
  53. ^ "[Warraq's book Why I Am Not a Muslim] presents a strident historical, moral, and philosophical indictment of Islam and advocates not just a firm separation of mosque and state but outright atheism." Holy War, by Chris Mooney at The American Prospect online (Accessed 29 August 2006).
  54. ^ Labour Party at prayer salutes Cook the atheist, by Magnus Linklater, The Times, 13 August 2005.
  55. ^ "PERSECUTION WATCH: Belarus". vineyardfederalway.org. Retrieved 2006-09-01.
  56. ^ John Pollard (1998). "Mussolini's Rival's: The Limits of the Personality Cult in Fascist Italy," New Perspective 4(2). http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~semp/facistitaly.htm
  57. ^ Manhattan, Avro (1949). "Chapter 9: Italy, the Vatican and Fascism". The Vatican in World Politics. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  58. ^ Gaudens Megaro: Mussolini in the Making, 1967
  59. ^ Nobel Biography[29].
  60. ^ Reported lecture [30]
  61. ^ self-proclaimed [31]
  62. ^ World Bank [32]
  63. ^ press meeting [33]

See also