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I use the chart Sam Harris has on his web site. If you think there is a 67% to 35% chance there is a god than you are an agnostic. If You think there is a 35% to 0% chance there is a god than you are an atheist. I lump the two together as non-religious and would use that as my pool of candidates for the greatest atheist/non-religious individual. I break it down to categories among those non religious as there are too many great atheist to pick just one.
1- Political non-religious would have to be Abe Lincoln with Jefferson close behind.
2- Science would be Albert Einstein
3- Fictional would be House followed by Sherlock Holmes.
4- Modern intellectuals would be between Sam Harris, and Chris Hitchens, and Richard Dawkins.
I use the chart Sam Harris has on his web site. If you think there is a 67% to 35% chance there is a god than you are an agnostic. If You think there is a 35% to 0% chance there is a god than you are an atheist. I lump the two together as non-religious and would use that as my pool of candidates for the greatest atheist/non-religious individual. I break it down to categories among those non religious as there are too many great atheist to pick just one.
1- Political non-religious would have to be Abe Lincoln with Jefferson close behind.
2- Science would be Albert Einstein
3- Fictional would be House followed by Sherlock Holmes.
4- Modern intellectuals would be between Sam Harris, and Chris Hitchens, and Richard Dawkins.
I don't believe Einstein was an atheist, in fact show me any quote where he said, "I am an atheist"
I cannot believe you have not put Frederick Neitzke? arguably the greatest atheist. This was the most brilliant Atheist, he was a visionary, he was a true atheist, Neitzke would make Richard Dawkins look like a liberal Christian.
I am hard pressed to see how anyone could consider themselves to be an atheist without reading any of his books.
I don't believe Einstein was an atheist, in fact show me any quote where he said, "I am an atheist"
I cannot believe you have not put Frederick Neitzke? arguably the greatest atheist. This was the most brilliant Atheist, he was a visionary, he was a true atheist, Neitzke would make Richard Dawkins look like a liberal Christian.
I am hard pressed to see how anyone could consider themselves to be an atheist without reading any of his books.
Here is one of many.
“It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it.”
Albert Einstein, in a letter March 24, 1954
Here is one of many.
“It was, of course, a lie what you read about my religious convictions, a lie which is being systematically repeated. I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it.”
Albert Einstein, in a letter March 24, 1954
I never said Einstein was a Christian, there are Deist and Theist. I have never read anywhere where he said, he is an atheist in fact I read when the atheist tried to claim him he emphatically rejected any such claim. but that's me, was a long time ago
I don't believe Einstein was an atheist, in fact show me any quote where he said, "I am an atheist"
Quote:
I am a deeply religious nonbeliever. This is a somewhat new kind of religion.
I have never imputed to Nature a purpose or a goal, or anything that could be understood as anthropomorphic. What I see in Nature is a magnificent structure that we can comprehend only very imperfectly, and that must fill a thinking person with a feeling of humility. This is a genuinely religious feeling that has nothing to do with mysticism.
The idea of a personal God is quite alien to me and seems even naive.
Einstein was as much a theist as Dawkins is. They are awed by the beauty and complexity of nature, without believing in any sort of god.
Jefferson? Have you seen what is written on his tomb. Are you sure you are an atheist?
You don’t have to read between the lines here. These are quotes from Jefferson himself.
-Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity.
-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782
-But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782
-What is it men cannot be made to believe!
Thomas Jefferson to Richard Henry Lee, April 22, 1786
- Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear.
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787
You don’t have to read between the lines here. These are quotes from Jefferson himself.
-Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity.
-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782
-But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782
-What is it men cannot be made to believe!
Thomas Jefferson to Richard Henry Lee, April 22, 1786
- Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear.
-Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, August 10, 1787
Hate to tell you this. I have said, the same things about Christianity, even worse. Does that mean I am an atheist too? I love how you guys read between the lines and connect the dots much like you do with evolution. In the end its all theory, speculation and presupposition. Show me where Thomas Jefferson says, he is an atheist. Until then I would not claim him.
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Have you seen what is written on his tomb. Are you sure you are an atheist?
