Whether you’re trying to discover your own reason for believing in atheism or you’re trying to better explain your beliefs to others, quoting the words of reputable atheists is a great way to go.
Most of the world’s most reputable atheists also happen to be writers or public speakers; they’re individuals who are experts at conveying an idea in an easy-to-understand manner.
So, that being said, what is the most popular atheist quote and who is it by?
Atheist Richard Dawkins wrote in his best-selling book, The God Delusion, that, “We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further.” This is one of the most famous and widely-quoted excerpts from one of the world’s most popular atheist writers.
In my early years, when I was just discovering atheism and studying its deeper implications, many of my beliefs were driven by quotes like these. I would read books, and highlight the most important quotes that would go on to help me form my beliefs.
In today’s post, I’m going to share some of my favorite atheist quotes and explain the deeper meaning behind them!
3 Popular Atheist Quotes Explained
One of the most common reasons that people start researching quotes on atheism is that they’re in the middle of an argument with somebody. In America, the atheist’s most outspoken adversary is the Christian Church. Christians are notorious for openly challenging atheists and their beliefs, and some even host large public debates with atheists.
Whether you’re “comment battling” somebody online, having an in-person discussion, debating in front of an audience, or you’re just trying to better understand your own beliefs, you should always have a good quote up your sleeve.
The reason why quotes are so influential is that they tend to come from reputable sources. The general public is more likely to receive an idea from somebody who they recognize and respect (even if they disagree with them) that they are from an average Joe like you or me.
I’ve been able to effectively use some of the following quotes to shut my competition up, or at least get them to respect my beliefs. So, today, I decided I’d share them with you and give you a bit of an explanation of each argument.
1) “We are all atheists about most of the gods that humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further.”- Richard Dawkins
This is a simple but powerful argument to deploy when debating with a theist who has minimal understanding of the deeper arguments. If you look at history, almost all ancient civilizations believed in some greater deity. Today, science has been able to prove that most of the mythical feats accomplished by various “gods” are just over-exaggerated stories or myths.
In terms of history, Christianity is a relatively new religion. Just because it’s popular today doesn’t mean that it will continue to have supporters and followers in the next thousand years. Atheism transcends religion, and at the end of the day, science is the only true thing that atheists believe in.
2) “Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” – Voltaire
French writer Voltaire was known for his cynical view of life. He wasn’t a full-blown atheist, but he didn’t believe in organized religion either (these people were known as deists and are somewhat similar to agnostics).
Just look at the Crusades… The Roman Catholic Church used religion to spread fear and hatred throughout Europe to encourage the country to support the invasion of Northern Africa and Arab lands. Despite their “holy purpose,” the crusaders committed brutal atrocities during battle.
3) “Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived.” – Isaac Asimov
In my Atheist Quiz, I asked whether or not the readers have ever tried to read the Bible or other “holy works.” Although it might sound contradictory, reading through the Bible will show you many of the contradictions that helped me confirm my belief in atheism.
My favorite example is how God commands his people not to commit murder (the sixth of the Ten Commandments), and then commands them to invade the foreign country of Canan and murder “all men, women, and children.” Hypocrisy at its finest, right?
Where Is A Good Place To Find Atheist Quotes?
My favorite place to find good atheist quotes is by reading books written by reputable, well-known atheist speakers and writers. I’ve also been introduced to some great atheist quotes through Reddit as well (which also happens to be my favorite place for atheist memes).
Final Thoughts
Using reputable quotes is an excellent way to win people over to your side, gain a new perspective, or just help to enlighten other individuals.
If you’re a true atheist, I recommend that you try to read books and watch speeches made by popular atheists.
The quotes and wisdom you’ll come across will help you shape your own beliefs and become a more confident advocate of them!