Is there a God?
This is a question of long-standing. For some people it is
self-evident that must be a God. I am one such person, and this
webpage is a plea for people to examine the evidence. However, for
others such as Albert Einstein as pictured above, it is equally self-evident that there cannot be a God, or that
they simply don't know and don't want to make a decision for or against
this proposal. However, either one is a theist, or an atheist.
Either you believe in a God, or you do not. There is no middle
ground. To say, "I don't know," simply means you are not a theist.
Thus, an agnostic is one who doesn't know, but who is, from
the standpoint of belief, a functional atheist.
There have been many intelligent and prominent atheists and agnostics.
The following is one collection of "Sound-Bites Against Religion and
Christianity" that is found in the
Encyclopedia of World
Religions regarding the views of atheists and agnostics:
Atheists, agnostics, and others against religion have been very vocal in
speaking out against religion in general and against Christianity in
particular. Here is a selection of some of their sound-bites.
The divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity. John
Adams, U.S. President
This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion
in it. John Adams, U.S. President
Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in
horror. Francois Marie Arouet (“Voltaire”) French author and playwright
Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion
that has ever infected the world. Francois Marie Arouet (“Voltaire”)
French author and playwright
Nothing can be more contrary to religion and the clergy than reason and
common sense. Francois Marie Arouet (“Voltaire”) French author and
playwright
I am an atheist, out and out. It took me a long time to say it. I’ve
been an atheist for years and years, but somehow I felt it was
intellectually unrespectable to say that one is an atheist, because it
assumed knowledge that one didn’t have. Somehow it was better to say one
was a humanist or agnostic. I don’t have the evidence to prove that God
doesn’t exist, but I so strongly suspect that he doesn’t that I don’t
want to waste my time. Isaac Asimov, Russian-born American author
All religions have been made by men. Napoleon Bonaparte, French emperor
Religion is just mind control. George Carlin, comedian
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. Andrew Carnegie,
Scottish-born American industrialist and philanthropist
It may be that our role on this planet is not to worship God, but to
create him. Arthur C. Clarke, author
Religion is a byproduct of fear. For much of human history, it may have
been a necessary evil, but why was it more evil than necessary? Isn’t
killing people in the name of God a pretty good definition of insanity?
Arthur C. Clarke, author
If there is a God, he is a malign thug. Samuel Clemens (“Mark Twain”)
American author and humorist
I do not consider it an insult, but rather a compliment, to be called an
agnostic. I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure.
Clarence Darrow, American lawyer
I believe that religion is the belief in future life and in God. I don’t
believe in either. I don’t believe in God as I don’t believe in Mother
Goose. Clarence Darrow, American lawyer
The mystery of the beginning of all things is insoluble by us, and I for
one must be content to remain an agnostic. Charles Darwin, English
naturalist
I cannot believe in the immortality of the soul… No, all this talk of an
existence for us, as individuals, beyond the grave is wrong. It is born
of our tenacity of life—our desire to go on living—our dread of coming
to an end. Thomas Edison, American inventor
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 religion
then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so
far as our science can reveal it. Albert Einstein, German-born American
physicist
I do not believe in the immortality of the individual, and I consider
ethics to be an exclusively human concern with no superhuman authority
behind it. Albert Einstein, German-born American physicist
Neither in my private life nor in my writings, have I ever made a secret
of being an out-and-out unbeliever. Sigmund Freud, German-born
psychologist
Religion is comparable to a childhood neurosis. Sigmund Freud,
German-born psychologist
The first requisite for the happiness of the people is the abolition of
religion. Karl Marx
Religion…is the first enemy of the ability to think… Faith is the worst
curse of mankind, as the exact antithesis and enemy of thought. Ayn
Rand, novelist
I turned to speak to God,
About the world’s despair;
But to make bad matters worse,
I found God wasn’t there.
Robert Frost, American poet
All thinking men are atheists. Ernest Hemingway, American author
That it is wrong for a man to say he is certain of the objective truth
of a proposition unless he can provide evidence which logically
justifies that certainty. This is what agnosticism asserts and in my
opinion, is all that is essential to agnosticism. Thomas Henry Huxley,
English biologist
I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature. Thomas
Jefferson, U.S. President
Religions are all alike—founded upon fables and mythologies. Thomas
Jefferson, U.S. President
The wretchedness of religion is at once an expression and a protest
against real wretchedness. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed
creature, the feeling of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of
unspiritual conditions. It is the opium of the people. Karl Marx, German
economist and political philosopher
The Christian faith from the beginning, is sacrifice: the sacrifice of
all freedom, all pride, all self-confidence of spirit; it is at the same
time subjection, a self-derision, and self-mutilation. Freidrich
Nietzsche, German philosopher
All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or
Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify
and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit. Thomas Paine,
American revolutionary
Religion is based…mainly on fear…fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat,
fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no
wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand in hand. …My own view on
religion is that of Lucretius. I regard it as a disease born of fear and
as a source of untold misery to the human race. Bertrand Russell,
British philosopher
Fear is the parent of cruelty, therefore it is no wonder if religion and
cruelty have gone hand-in-hand. Bertrand Russell, British philosopher
The idea of God is the sole wrong for which I cannot forgive mankind.
Marquis de Sade, French libertine
My view is that if there is no evidence for it, then forget about it. An
agnostic is somebody who doesn’t believe in something until there is
evidence for it, so I’m agnostic. Carl Sagan, American astronomer and
author
At present there is not a single credible established religion in the
world. George Bernard Shaw, Irish-born English playwright
If God has spoken, why is the world not convinced? Percy Bysshe Shelley,
English poet
By the year 2000, we will, I hope, raise our children to believe in
human potential, not God. Gloria Steinem, women’s rights activist
I do not believe in the divinity of Christ, and there are many other of
the postulates of the orthodox creed to which I cannot subscribe.
William Howard Taft, U.S. President 1
You may be surprised to learn that some of these very prominent people
are atheists or agnostics. Perhaps you might think that most
people believe in God, and perhaps you are correct. However, after
you realize the scope, the length, the height and the depth of
Postmodernism's stranglehold on the Western World, you might wish to
reconsider the massive affects such people with no faith have on our
culture.
The 4 classic arguments for the existence of God are presented next. I
have specifically put these first as atheists and agnostics have no
respect for the Bible, and this evidence may give those holding a strong
view of doubt a opportunity to reconsider their position.
