Irreligious Quotes

“When the clergy addressed General Washington on his departure from the government, it was observed in their consultation that he had never on any occasion said a word to the public which showed a belief in the Christian religion and they thought they should so pen their address as to force him at length to declare publicly whether he was a Christian or not. They did so. However [Dr. Rush] observed the old fox was too cunning for them. He answered every article of their address particularly except that, which he passed over without notice... I know that Gouverneur Morris, who pretended to be in his secrets & believed himself to be so, has often told me that General Washington believed no more of that system than he himself did.

{The Anas, February 1, 1800, written shortly after the death of first US president George Washington}”
― Thomas Jefferson, The Complete Anas of Thomas Jefferson

“If therefore my work is negative, irreligious, atheistic, let it be remembered that atheism — at least in the sense of this work — is the secret of religion itself; that religion itself, not indeed on the surface, but fundamentally, not in intention or according to its own supposition, but in its heart, in its essence, believes in nothing else than the truth and divinity of human nature.”
― Ludwig Feuerbach, Essence of Christianity

“One increasingly hears rumors of a reconciliation between science and religion. In major news magazines as well as at academic conferences, the claim is made that that belief in the success of science in describing the workings of the world is no longer thought to be in conflict with faith in God. I would like to argue against this trend, in favor of a more old-fashioned point of view that is still more characteristic of most scientists, who tend to disbelieve in any religious component to the workings of the universe.”
― Sean Carroll

“I am not religious in any sense; in fact, I consider myself an atheist.”
― Subrahmanijan Chandrasekhar

“I maintain that what is taken for a naturally inspired horror of death is merely the fruit of the absurd fears which we, starting in childhood, develop regarding this total annihilation, fears initiated by the religious notions our elders stupidly cram into our young heads. Once cured of these fears and reassured concerning our fate, not only do we cease to behold death with alarm and repugnance, but it becomes easy to prove that death is in reality nothing more nor less than a voluptuous pleasure.”
― Marquis de Sade, Juliette

“Don’t mention me about your religion! Show me your heart! If you have the heart of an innocent child, you have the best religion, even if you are a nonbeliever!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

“Oh! quand j'aurais une langue de fer,
Toujours parlant jene pourrais suffire,
Mon cher lecteur, à te nombrer et dire
Combien de saints on rencontre en enfer.”
― Voltaire, La Pucelle; Or, the Maid of Orléans: A Poem, in XXI Cantos. Volume 1 of 2.

“Видеть своё бессмертие в обмене веществ так же странно, как пророчить блестящую будущность футляру после того, как разбилась и стала негодною дорогая скрипка.”
― Anton Chekhov, Палата № 6

“It is wiser and spiritually healthier for humanity to first transition to irreligiousness rather than directly transitioning to godlessness in the evolution of faith!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan