A synopsis of atheism from the 2011 Time magazine special issue "100 Ideas that Changes the World", attributing the world changing "idea" to: Diagoras, Percy Shelley, Thomas Huxley, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens . [15] |
See main: Closet atheismA peculiar feature of atheism, per category of occupation, is the factoid, first pointed out by Napoleon Bonaparte, in his circa 1810 pollings of the French university physical scientists, is that while most physical scientists are atheists, few are willing to admit as such; the following are representative quotes:
“How comes it, then, that Laplace was an atheist? At the Institute neither he nor Monge, nor Berthollet, nor Lagrange believed in god. But they do not like to say so.”— Napoleon Bonaparte (c.1814), dialogue with Gaspard Gourgaud
“If we need an atheist for a debate, I go to the philosophy department. The physics department isn’t much use.”— Robert Griffiths (1987) [12]
“At the University of California, Berkeley, where I was a professor for 18 years, we had 50 chemistry professors. But for many years there was only who was willing to publicly identify himself as an atheist, my good friend Robert Harris. A more recent addition to the Berkeley chemistry faculty is a second open atheist, Richard Saykally.”— Henry Schaefer (2003), Science and Christianity: Conflict or Coherence? [13]
The 9 Sep draft cover for Libb Thims’ 2016 Smart Atheism: For Kids, a book version follow-up to Thims’ 10 Aug 2015 Zerotheism for Kids class, on how to "teach atheism", as Empedocles did in 450BC, to a 3 to 5 year old and or for kids aged 6 to 14 to read about. [11] |
See main: Appignani chair of atheismIn circa 2004, American business magnate Louis Appignani, a former Catholic who turned atheist in his first week of college after reading Bertrand Russell, engaged into discussion with American philosopher Harvey Siegel, then chair of the philosophy department at the University of Miami, about starting some type of atheism professorship. In 2011, American sociologist Phil Zuckerman, author of Society Without God (2008), at Pitzer College, Ca, initiated a secular studies program and major, its most-popular class being “Secularism and Skepticism”. [10] In 2016, the University of Miami, stimulated by a $2.2 million donation by Louis Appignani, a former Catholic who turned atheist after reading Bertrand Russell, established the nation’s first chair for the study of atheism, humanism and secular ethics”.
“I’m trying to eliminate discrimination against atheists. This is a step in that direction, to make atheism legitimate.”— Louis Appignani (2016), commentary on new University of Miami “Chair of Atheism” [10]
“I think it’s a very bold step of the University of Miami, and I hope there will be others. It’s enormously important to shake off the shackles of religion from the study of morality.”— Richard Dawkins (2016), on University of Miami atheism chair, May 20 [10]
“There was great reluctance on the part of the university to have an endowed chair with the word ‘atheism’ in the name, and that was a deal-breaker for Lou. He wasn’t going to do it unless it had the word atheism in it.”— Harvey Siegel (2016), on University of Miami atheism chair, May 20 [10]
A cartoon on anti-free thinking effect of religious indoctrination (see: religious IQ); possible rendition of: “Is there an intellectually honest Christian evolutionist position? Or do we simply have to check our brains at the church house door?” — Anon (c.1997), query to The Scientist from a San Antonio attorney; cited by Lee Strobel (2004) in The Case for a Creator (pg. #) |
See main: Four horsemen of atheismIn overview, the origin of atheism, in the dominate sense, seems to have originated with the rise of Greek atomic theory.
“Nay, even that school which is most accused of atheism doth most demonstrate religion; that is, the school of Leucippus and Democritus and Epicurus. For it is a thousand times more credible, that four mutable elements, and one immutable fifth essence, duly and eternally placed, need no God, than that an army of infinite small portions, or seeds unplaced, should have produced this order and beauty, without a divine marshal.”
“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?”
“How comes it, then, that Laplace was an atheist? At the Institute neither he nor Monge, nor Berthollet, nor Lagrange believed in God. But they do not like to say so.”
“Bah! Laplace was an atheist, and Berthollet too. At the Institute they all were atheists, and yet Newton and Leibnitz were believers. Atheists compare man to a clock; but the clock-maker is a being of superior intelligence. They grant that creation is the result of matter, as warmth is the effect of fire.”
“Question with boldness even the existence of God”— Thomas Jefferson (date)
“I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute.”— John F. Kennedy (date)
1. Reject societal ideals and moral codes
2. Create a new set of values and moral ideals.
3. In establishing new ideals, to not rank them according to transcendental categories.
4. Transcend nihilism as presented in the forms of christianity and Platonism.
5. Overcome yourself.
A semi-humorous semi-serious Friedrich Nietzsche—the 1882 popularizer of the “God is dead” motto—conceptualized twelve step will to power program, by PhilosophersGuild.com. [6] |
6. Live in a constant state of rebirth and growth, not looking toward religion or society to determine the value of things, but looking inward for meaning and beliefs.
7. While aware of life's terrors, affirm life without resentment.
8. Learn to see beyond good and evil.
9. Lift up your heart, high, higher! And do not forget your legs! Lift up also your legs, and better still if you stand upon your head!
10. Learn, pray you to laugh!
11. Know that there are no eternal facts, nor are there any absolute truths.
12. Eat one Will to Power Bar; the abdomen is the reason why man does not easily take himself for a god.
The Dawkins number classification scheme range of typical atheism viewpoints (between agnosticism and beyond atheism). |
See main: Atheist churchIn 2006, the so-called First Church of Atheism was launched online allowing people, via local ordinance laws, supposedly, to be come ordained ministers of the atheist, for the purposes of weddings, baptisms, etc.
“The Good Book, should give a general outline of major sciences starting with physics (and the big bang), and including chemistry, mathematics/logic, astronomy, earth science, biology, human evolution, early cultures, a brief history of the world, then a history of science including major figures. Then the second section would include morality/philosophical aspects. This would include the golden rule, encouragement against hatred, and for love and forgiveness.”
“I don’t see a problem with that. First Church of Atheism – NYC is not a set belief system. You must think for yourself and decide your own spiritual path. The whole point of our group is to:
A. Have a place for important and special ceremonies without the worry of a superstitious deity being brought into it.
B. A place to meet like-minded people and build a support group.
C. A quiet forum for people in religious families or communities in need of a community to talk to about their own beliefs.
See main: Atheism quotesThe following are noted quotes:
“Men think epilepsy divine, merely because they do not understand it. We will one day understand what causes it, and then cease to call it divine. And so it is with everything in the universe.”— Hippocrates (c.400BC), Publication
“We have a right to look upon an atheist as a monster amongst rational beings, as one of those extraordinary productions which we hardly ever meet with in the whole human species, and who opposing himself to all other men, revolts not only against reason and human nature, but against the divinity himself.”— William Derham (c.1714), Publication (Ѻ)(Ѻ); cited by Baron d’Holbach (1770) in The System of Nature (pg. 303)