Ever since Plato most philosophers have considered it part of their business to produce ‘proofs’ of immortality and the existence of God. They have found fault with the proofs of their predecessors – Saint Thomas rejected Saint Anselm’s proofs, and Kant rejected Descartes – but they have supplied new ones of their own. In order to make their proofs seem valid, they have had to falsify logic, to make mathematics mystical, and to pretend that deepseated prejudices were heaven-sent intuitions. Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy
If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is an intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time. Bertrand Russell
The attack on evolution in this country at least and I think elsewhere is based on a fundamental fear of science. A fear that science is immoral because it doesn’t explicitly mention God. Professor Lawrence Krauss
It doesn’t seem to me that this fantastically marvellous universe, this tremendous range of time and space and different kinds of animals, and all the different planets, and all these atoms with all their motions, and so on, all this complicated thing can merely be a stage so that God can watch human beings struggle for good and evil – which is the view that religion has. The stage is too big for the drama. Richard Feynman, cited James Gleick ‘Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman’, 1992
God was invented to explain mystery. God is always invented to explain those things that you do not understand. Richard Feynman
To surrender to ignorance and call it God has always been premature, and it remains premature today. Isaac Asimov
God is an ever-receding pocket of scientific ignorance. Neil deGrasse Tyson
Gravity explains the motions of planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion. God governs all things and knows all that is or can be done. Isaac Newton
God is only a word dreamed up to explain the world. Gustave Flaubert
The cry of the Little Peoples goes up to God in vain,
For the world is given over to the cruel sons of Cain. Richard Le Gallienne, The Cry of the Little Peoples, 1899
God is male ... If you travel back in time you’ll find a very different world. Professor Bettany Hughes, Divine Women I: When God Was a Girl, BBC 2012
Women are central to our relationship with the Divine. ibid.
Calvin: This whole Santa Claus thing just doesn’t make sense. Why all the secrecy? Why all the mystery? If the guy exists why doesn’t he ever show himself and prove it? And if he doesn’t exist what’s the meaning of all this?
Hobbes: I dunno. Isn’t this a religious holiday?
Calvin: Yeah, but actually, I’ve got the same questions about God. Bill Watterson
The fear of some divine and supreme powers keeps men in obedience. Robert Burton
What kind of God does that – kills innocent children? Penn & Teller, Bullshit s2e6: The Bible: Fact or Fiction? Showtime 2004
They spread the idea of a God who represented freedom, freedom for people to keep the fruits of their own labour. This was a message that was so powerful that it brought people together and gave them a new kind of identity. Carol Meyers, Duke University
Where is He? What has He done for us? Why does He let this happen to us? The Ten Commandments 2006 ABC mini-series starring Dougray Scott & Naveen Andrews & Omar Sharif & Linus Roache & Paul Rhys, director Robert Dornhelm, music Randy Edelman, bloke
What is He a God of? ibid. Moses
If this is what He wanted, you’d think He’d make the going a little easier. ibid.
He does what He wants – I’m learning that. ibid.
I am who I am? What does that mean? ibid. Moses
Will we have to keep fighting and winning to show we are worthy of you? ibid.
You want to take everything from me, is that it? ibid. Moses to God
This God is too fond of rules. ibid. bloke
Who will stand with God? ibid. Moses
Although God did not permit Moses to enter the promised land He allowed him to see it before he died. ibid. commentary
Human Beings have been around about a hundred thousand years. And for ninety-eight thousand years the mankind God in Heaven has sat around with his arms folded watching human beings die mostly of their teeth ... Two thousand years ago it decides for intervention. Why I am No Longer a Christian
There’s not a mention of antibiotics ... E=MC2 would have done. ibid.
Your God has not yet proved himself to be more just or merciful than his predecessors. Agora 2009 starring Rachel Weisz & Max Minghella & Oscar Isaac & Sami Samir & Michael Lonsdale & Rupert Evans et al, director Alejandro Amenabar, Hypatia to the Christians
So God, does He really exist? I mean, who knows? I don’t know. I mean personally I don’t even believe in organised religion. Father Ted s1e1: Good Luck, Father Ted, Dougal’s television interview, Channel 4 1995
I asked Him to intervene in some way. But this is a bit much. Father Ted s1e2: Entertaining Father Stone, Ted to Dougal after Father Stone is struck by lightning on Crazy Golf course
All women are closer to God than we’ll ever be. ibid. Ted to Dougal
You had better watch out. I am God. David Koresh, advice to member
We’ll all find out soon enough. Boardwalk Empire s2e12: To the Lost, Nucky to Margaret, of God, HBO 2011
What kind of God has this shit? The Sopranos s4e10: The Strong, Silent Type starring James Gandolfini & Lorriane Bracco & Edie Falco & Michael Imperioli & Dominic Chianese & Steven van Zandt & Tony Sirico & Robert Iler et al, Tony, HBO 2002