Belief in God – Religion – There is no evidence that man was aboriginally endowed with the ennobling belief in the existence of an Omnipotent God. On the contrary there is ample evidence, derived not from hasty travellers, but from men who have long resided with savages, that numerous races have existed, and still exist, who have no idea of one or more gods, and who have no words in their languages to express such an idea. The question is of course wholly distinct from that higher one, whether there exists a Creator and Ruler of the universe; and this has been answered in the affirmative by some of the highest intellects that have ever existed.
The belief in God has often been advanced as not only the greatest, but the most complete of all the distinctions between man and the lower animals. It is however impossible, as we have seen, to maintain that this belief is innate or instinctive in man. On the other hand a belief in all-pervading spiritual agencies seems to be universal; and apparently follows from a considerable advance in man's reason, and from a still greater advance in his faculties of imagination, curiosity and wonder. I am aware that the assumed instinctive belief in God has been used by many persons as an argument for His existence. But this is a rash argument, as we should thus be compelled to believe in the existence of many cruel and malignant spirits, only a little more powerful than man; for the belief in them is far more general than in a beneficent Deity. The idea of a universal and beneficent Creator does not seem to arise in the mind of man, until he has been elevated by long-continued culture. Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man
The fact of religious experience ... Religion serves current needs and wants ... God is in fact the answer to the problem. Denish D’Souza v Christopher Hitchens: The God Debate
Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things that takes religion. Professor Steven Weinberg
Science is eating the lunch of Religion. Steven Weinberg, interview Richard Dawkins
They felt that science would be a corrosive to religious belief and they were worried about it. Damn it, I think they were right. Steven Weinberg
I count religion but a childish toy,
And hold there is no sin but ignorance. Christopher Marlowe, The Jew of Malta
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. Voltaire
So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom, those who wish to tyrannize will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent, and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods, religious or otherwise, to put shackles on sleeping men. Voltaire
Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy; the mad daughter of a wise mother. Voltaire
All good moral philosophy is but an handmaid to religion. Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, The Advancement of Learning
Living by a total falsehood, as I think they are living with their religious views. I can’t help admiring them. But despairing for them. Francis Bacon, cited The Art of Francis Bacon
They are for religion when in rags and contempt; but I am for him when he walks in his golden slippers, in the sunshine, and the applause. John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress
People seem to hunger for some tangible religious experience, and wherever there is such profound want there is the opportunity for what may be called pious fraud. Money is rarely the primary motive, the usual impetus being to seemingly triumph over adversity, renew the faith of believers, and confound the doubters. Joe Nickell
Man is by constitution a religious animal; atheism is against not only our reason, but our instincts. Edmund Burke
Old religious factions are volcanoes burnt out. Edmund Burke
Religious persecution may shield itself under the guise of a mistaken and over-zealous piety. Edmund Burke
Politics and the pulpit are terms that have little agreement. Edmund Burke
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. 1st Amendment to Constitution
Showbiz and religion have more in common than you might think. Penn & Teller, Bullshit! s3e12: Signs from Heaven
The superstitious call it religious icons – we call it bullshit. ibid.
If every trace of any single religion were wiped out and nothing were passed on, it would never be created exactly that way again. There might be some other nonsense in its place, but not that exact nonsense. If all of science were wiped out, it would still be true and someone would find a way to figure it all out again. Penn Jillette, ‘God, No!: Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and Other Magical Tales’
Behaving morally because of a hope of reward or a fear of punishment is not morality. Morality is not bribery or threats. Religion is bribery and threats. Humans have morality. We don’t need religion. Penn Jillette
Long time men lay oppressed to slavish fear. Religion’s tyranny did domineer. Lucretius, Ode to Epicurus
So much wrong could religion induce. Lucretius
After coming into contact with a religious man I always feel I must wash my hands. Friedrich Nietzsche
Let’s face it, any fool can get religion, but it’s a lot more fun getting bevvied, innit. Rab C Nesbitt s8e6: Bug, Rab, 1999
Truth, in matters of religion, is simply the opinion that has survived. Oscar Wilde
Religions die when they are proven to be true. Science is the record of dead religions. Oscar Wilde
The true meaning of religion is thus not simply morality, but morality touched with emotion. Matthew Arnold, Literature and Dogma, 1873
And then how I shall lie through centuries,
And hear the blessed mutter of the mass,
And see God made and eaten all day long,
And feel the steady candle-flame, and taste
Good strong thick stupefying incense-smoke! Robert Browning, The Bishop Orders His Tomb, 1845
A man can have but one life and one death,
One heaven, one hell. Robert Browning, In a Balcony
Religion blushing veils her sacred fires,
And unawares Morality expires. Alexander Pope, The Dunciad, 1742
I will have nothing to do with your immortality; we are miserable enough in this life, without the absurdity of speculating upon another. Lord Byron, letter to Francis Hodgson 3 September 1811
’Tis wonderful what fable will not do!
’Tis said it makes reality more bearable:
But what’s reality? Who has its clue?
Philosophy? No; she too much rejects.
Religion? Yes; but which of all her sects? Lord Byron, Don Juan
Generally speaking, the errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy only ridiculous. David Hume
We soon learn that there is nothing mysterious or supernatural in the case, but that all proceeds from the usual propensity of mankind towards the marvellous, and that, though this inclination may at intervals receive a check from sense and learning, it can never be thoroughly extirpated from human nature. David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
The Christian religion not only was at first attended with miracles, but even at this day cannot be believed by any reasonable person without one. Mere reason is insufficient to convince us of its veracity: and whoever is moved by faith to assent to it, is conscious of a continued miracle in his own person, which subverts all the principles of his understanding, and give him a determination to believe what is most contrary to custom and experience. ibid.
It is only be dispelling the clouds and phantoms of religion that we shall discover truth, reason and morality. Baron d’Holbach
Nothing can be more contrary to religion and the clergy than reason and common sense. Baron d’Holbach
All religions begin with a revolt against morality, and perish when morality conquers them. George Bernard Shaw