We are a worldwide social network of freethinkers, atheists, agnostics and secular humanists.
I have been a quote collector and quote monger for at least as long as I have been an atheist, and likely much longer. There is a fascination in me of those who are sufficiently skilled in language that they structure words into concepts and ideas and proposed actions which grab my attention and interest, whether it is John F. Kennedy's unabashed statement: "We choose to go to the moon and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard," Robert A. Heinlein's blunt expression: "If you've got the truth, you can demonstrate it. Talking doesn't prove it. SHOW people," or Captain Kirk's subtle yet important tactical observation, having encountered and been challenged by the dauntingly huge First Federation vessel: "Not chess, Mr. Spock ... Poker!"
Certainly, atheism has had its share of skilled spokespeople, whose words have inspired and driven us, whether it was Madalyn Murray O'Hair, saying: "An Atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church," or Sam Harris, who noted that: "The only problem with Islamic fundamentalism are the fundamentals of Islam," or Aron Ra's far more succinct: "If you can't SHOW it, you don't KNOW it."
Consciously or unconsciously, I suspect all of us have learned and grown from such words and many others, becoming stronger and more mature, not just in our atheism but in ourselves, having heard such words as these, and that is the point of this group: not to just deal in quotes which praise and promote atheism but which advance the cause of knowledge, self-understanding and self-ownership. Each of us have likely heard someone say something and think, "Wow!" and resonated to the significance of what they heard.
That's what I want to do here: share, learn, and grow, not just from THEIR words, but our own.
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One suggestion for the main comment area of the group: Please keep your quotes to under 20 lines or 200 words. That way, one entry won't dominate a given page of the comment area. If you have a longer quote or speech which you think is significant, create a separate post in the group.
Please enjoy!
Started by Loren Miller. Last reply by Mrs.B Jun 11. 2 Replies 1 Like
Since there has been such interest in the comments Liz Cheney made during the first public hearing held by the House Select January 6th Committee, I thought I would post it here for those of you who…Continue
Tags: Trump, hearing, insurrection, "Donalld, committee
Started by Loren Miller. Last reply by Andy Stout May 4. 5 Replies 3 Likes
Lately I have noted an increase in rants, diatribes, and otherwise potent and declamatory statements by Democrats, in the defense of the LGBTQ+ community, responding to overblown claims about…Continue
Tags: LGBTQ+, Critical Race Theory, sexualizing, grooming, Mallory McMorrow
Started by Loren Miller. Last reply by Mrs.B Apr 22. 5 Replies 3 Likes
Besides being a brilliant comedian and practiced public ranter, George Carlin was a adept student of humans and humanity – likely among the reasons why he was so accomplished at those first two…Continue
Tags: humanity, human, well-being, George Carlin
Started by Loren Miller. Last reply by Andy Stout Mar 28. 8 Replies 4 Likes
To be honest, I have NO idea who Brandi Carlile is (though I suppose I could Google her), but the following brief story of her illness, coma, and recovery are pretty striking. As my friends from…Continue
Tags: Jesus, coma, Baptist, Catholic, meningitis
Nice Comment
I doubt the average American Christian knows of that quote by Jefferson because they always argue that the founding fathers were all Christian. Thanks Loren
The Christian god is a three headed monster; cruel, vengeful and capricious. If one wishes to know more of this raging, three headed beast-like god, one only needs to look at the caliber of people who say they serve him. They are always of two classes: fools and hypocrites.
-- Thomas Jefferson
Actually, Richard Dawkins documented several more such "heads," and Dan Barker substantiated them, using nothing more than the bible! Regardless, Jefferson is on point here.
I despise those songs along with many, & making different words to the same melody will still bring the same reaction to the sound we're used to. No thanks.
Joan, I have exactly ZERO use for any of those songs. The Hallelujah Chorus is a screed on the overwhelming power of a god who can't be bothered to show itself. "Amazing Grace" falls on one word: "WRETCH." I am not a wretch, and neither are you, nor any of those here. As for "Onward Christian Soldiers," the less said the better. Treating us as an enemy to fight against does evangelicals no favors. I'll take Steve Martin's humor over ALL OF THAT, and I mean every day of the week!
I have made up my mind that if there is a God, he will be merciful to the merciful.
Upon that rock I stand. –
That he will not torture the forgiving. –
Upon that rock I stand. –
That every man should be true to himself, and that there is no world, no star, in which honesty is a crime.
Upon that rock I stand.
The honest man, the good woman, the happy child, have nothing to fear, either in this world or the world to come.
Upon that rock I stand.
-- Robert G. Ingersoll
Seems to me that the "rock" which Ingersoll speaks of is far better than the one Jesus proposed to found his church on!
"With a little help from my friends" comes immediately to my mind, Joan, but Loren and many others here know far more lyrics than I do.
Tell Henny Youngman we make our own celebrations and honor our own heroes. I just wish we had some songs that inspire and invigorate our lives as do Christians, i.e. Hallelujah, Amazing Grace, and Onward Christian Soldiers.
Perhaps we can borrow the melodies and write new lyrics. I'm not good at such activities.
Beautiful and true!
Look not above, there is no answer there;
Pray not, for no one listens to your prayer;
Near is as near to God as any Far,
And Here is just the same deceit as There.
-- Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Seems as though ol' Omar had a pretty good handle on Allah ... or Yahweh, or any of those would-be gods!
I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up - they have no holidays.
-- Henny Youngman
Take their god ... PLEASE! Ba-dum, tzzz!
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