List of nontheists (surnames A to B)

Atheists with surnames starting A and B, sortable by the field for which they are mainly known and nationality.
 	Name 	Dates 	Known as / for 	Who 	Reference
 	 	1954– 	Journalist 	British journalist, author and broadcaster. 	"Like most of the Godless (or Godfree), I have no desire to proselytise for atheism or to persuade people out of religions that may offer them comfort and companionship."Wicked untruths from the Church, David Aaronovitch, Times Online, 25 March 2008 (Accessed 26 March 2008)"What makes me think I "can reduce the function of religion to the provision of 'comfort and companionship'" instead of seeing it as a "public truth"? Being an atheist, I suppose. I see religion as a cultural and psychological construct, which fulfils certain almost universal needs and which, as a consequence, I am disinclined to condemn."Who wants to kill the elderly?, David Aaronovitch, Times Online, 31 March 2008 (Accessed 31 March 2008)
 	 	1924–2002 	Visual arts 	Indian political cartoonist, journalist, and author. 	"His strongest theme, as India sank faster into factional and religious politics, had remained adherence to the original vision of Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru for a wholly secular state: Abu was a rationalist and atheist."Michael McNay, 'Obituary: Abu Abraham', The Guardian, 7 December 2002, Pg. 26.
 	 	1871–1943 	Activist 	Italian anarchist activist who attempted to assassinate King Umberto I. 	"He was tried at the Rome Assizes on May 28 and 29, and on being convicted, was sentenced to imprisonment for life. He was certainly both an Anarchist and an atheist, but whether he had accomplices or acted solely on his own initiative is doubtful."Vizetelly, Ernest Alfred (1911), Barcelona Outrages - The Empress Elizabeth and Luccheni, The Anarchists: Their Faith and Their Record, Turnbull and Spears Printers, Edinburgh. Retrieved March 19, 2007.
 	1962– 	Activist 	South African anti-HIV/AIDS activist, founder of the Treatment Action Campaign. 	"Zackie Achmat was raised in a conservative Muslim family but when he was 14 years old he left home, burnt down his school and, for a brief while, sold his body for sex. A homosexual, an atheist and a militant anti-apartheid campaigner whose political ideas were forged on an intense reading of Marx, Lenin and Trotsky, he was diagnosed with the Aids virus in his late twenties and founded his country's first gay and lesbian rights movement. His father went to his grave hating him; his mother never got over the shame. But today, in the country worst hit by Aids, Zackie Achmat is a national hero." 	
 	 	1969–2007 	Atheist activist 	American freethought leader and activist. 	"In college, after reading material from American Atheists, he became, in his words, 'a pretty hard core atheist.'"Clark Adams: 1969-2007, American Humanist Association News Flash, May 24, 2007 (Accessed 14 April 2008)
 	 	1952–2001 	Author 	British radio and television writer and novelist, author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. 	"I am a radical Atheist..." - Adams in an interview with American Atheists.atheists.org atheists.org.
 	 	1898–1984 	Television producer 	British (English) producer and administrator in the BBC, instrumental in setting up the BBC's television service. 	"She was a socialist, a romantic communist, and could charm with her charisma, spontaneity, and quick informed intelligence. She was a fervent atheist and advocate of humanism and common sense, accepting her stance without subjecting it to analysis."Sally Adams: 'Adams , Mary Grace Agnes (1898–1984)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 oxforddnb.com oxforddnb.com (accessed 29 April 2008).
 	 	1939– 	Journalist and broadcaster 	Australian broadcaster, writer, film-maker, left-wing radical thinker and iconoclast. He was the Australian Humanist of the Year in 1987. 	"I've spent a life-time attacking religious beliefs and have not wavered from a view of the universe that many would regard as bleak. Namely, that it is a meaningless place devoid of deity"In a letter by Adams dated 10 August 1993:theabsolute.net.
 	Adithya 	1974– 	Actor 	Indian actor in Tamil and Malayalam films. 	"Am I glad I am an atheist for I am convinced that were I to be a believer in the cosmic watchdog then I would surely be reserved a suite in hotel hell. The good part is that I will not be alone. All my close circle of friends will be there to keep me company, males and females alike. Hell, come to think of it the best of everybody will be around – It's going to be one big party.'Thank god I'm an atheist!', The Big Bang (Adithya's blog), 9 April 2007 (accessed 12 August 2007).
 	 	1914–2001 	Musician 	American musician, widely acknowledged as one of the world's most skilled harmonica players. 	"I was among friends and family who packed a chapel at Golders Green crematorium on Friday to hear more than two hours of tributes to Larry Adler. In accordance with Larry's wishes - he was an inveterate atheist who refused to recognise the supernatural in any shape or form - there were no religious observances."Richard Ingrams, 'Larry Adler: brilliant musician, formidable campaigner', The Observer, 12 August 2001, Observer News Pages, Pg. 24.
 	 	1963– 	Television writer 	British television writer and director, best known for his work on several 'cult' fantasy-based programmes including Ultraviolet and Doctor Who. 	Interviewer: "Has researching subjects such as exorcism and possession forced you to challenge your belief system?" Ahearne: "No I'm a devout atheist and endlessly fascinated with the issue of faith in the impossible. It's true I bought a cross when we were shooting in Rome and I'm still wearing it. And it's true some of the actors had unnerving stories to tell during the shoot. My unfaith remains unshaken however. I need big miracles to make me believe. So far I've just been teased by the paranormal."Interview with writer, Joe Ahearne, BBC Press Office, 31 October 2008 (accessed 28 November 2008).
 	 	1886–1963 	Politician 	British (English) anarchist communist and a prominent member of the Anti-Parliamentary Communist Federation. 	"The defendant, in the witness-box, declared that the meeting was quite orderly, and there were cries of "Shame" when he was arrested. He denied the charges. Aldred said he was an Atheist and a Socialist."'Hyde Park Speech Prosecution. Evidence For The Defence', The Times, Wednesday, Mar 04, 1925; pg. 5; Issue 43901; col G.
70px 	 	1969– 	Activist 	Dutch feminist and politician, a prominent critic of Islam, whose screenplay for the movie Submission led to death threats. 	"Too much reason can reform a faith away, which would be fine with Hirsi Ali, who regards herself as an atheist."
 	 	1947– 	Politician 	Indian Marxist politician and President of the All India Democratic Women's Association. 	"There are religions that have very rigid rules and there are others that don't. Religion is something that I, as a person, am not interested in. I have always been an atheist. My parents were atheists. It doesn't bother me if somebody is religious. My problem is when religion is used to institutionalise other things."The Rediff Interview/ Subhasini Ali, 8 August 2001 (accessed 21 April 2008).
 	 	1943– 	Author 	British-Pakistani historian, novelist, filmmaker, political campaigner and commentator. 	"It is well known that I am not a religious person, I grew up and remain an atheist [...]".Tariq Ali, Interview: Tariq Ali, Socialist Review November 2006 (accessed 22 April 2008).
 	 	1964– 	Journalist 	American advice columnist known as the Advice Goddess, author of Ask the Advice Goddess, published in more than 100 newspapers within North America. 	"Come on, somebody tell me I can't possibly have morals because I'm an atheist."Amy Alkon/Advice Goddess Blog, Awww, How Sweet!, 25 May 2008 (accessed 9 June 2008).
 	 	1936–2005 	Comedian 	Irish comedian, popular on United Kingdom and Australian television in the 1960s, 1970s and also in the 1990s. 	"Allen had little time for those who unquestioningly accept the tenets of any creed or system of thought. He applied this stricture equally to himself, and used humour to undermine even his own scepticism ("I'm an atheist, thank God"). [...] "His baffled humanity," wrote Charles Spencer, the theatre critic of The Daily Telegraph, in 1993, "his perplexity in the face of life's mysteries and irritations, are the qualities that make him such a fine and sometimes moving comedian. He's a blaspheming atheist on the side of the angels."Obituary of Dave Allen, Daily Telegraph, 12 March 2005, Pg. 029.
 	 	1953– 	Comedian 	British comedian, actor, singer and writer, father of Lilly Allen. 	"One of the many reasons Allen made the documentary was to explore his own atheism. Unlike most non-believers, he claims, in all seriousness, to have once seen God. It was at Glastonbury during the 1980s, and (as is the case with most of the splendid anecdotes that litter his conversation), it involved enough mind-altering substances to stun a baby elephant. [...] Like any considered atheist, particularly one who will burn in Hell, he lives according to a moral code that refuses to romanticise things like love, or devotion."Guy Adams, Serious documentary maker? Is Keith Allen having a laugh?, The Independent 21 June 2007 (accessed 25 April 2008).
 	 	1953– 	Politician 	British Labour politician and Member Member of Parliament for Nottingham North, and a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association and an honorary associate of the National Secular Society. 	"That point was made in the excellent speech by the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen), who is a convinced atheist — perhaps a member of the National Secular Society; I do not know."Edward Leigh, Gainsborough MP, House of Commons Hansard, 21 June 2005: Column 728 (accessed 24 April 2008).
 	1935– 	Comedian and film director	American film director, writer, actor, comedian, playwright and jazz musician, winner of numerous awards and one of the most respected living American directors. 	"Not only is there no God, but try getting a plumber on weekends.""If it turns out that there is a God, I don't think that he's evil. But the worst that you can say about him is that basically he's an underachiever."
"To you, I'm an atheist; to God, I'm the Loyal Opposition." 	
 	 	1982– 	Director 	English playwright, actor and director. Founder of The Yellowchair Performance Experience 	Directed Gospel, "Seven five minute atheist plays on the themes of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John."http://www.arts-archive.co.uk/index.php?pg=12&action=performance&pid=L0505635539&arch=Y Also wrote Worship, based on Jet de Sang by French atheist Antonin Artaud.http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsA/allison-hugh.html
 	 	1908–1973 	Politician 	Chilean Marxist politician, President of Chile from November 1970 until his death during the coup d'état of September 11, 1973. 	"The inauguration was, however, followed by an ecumenical service in the cathedral, since, as the new President, an atheist and freemason, has already explained, many of those who voted for his "Popular Unity" programme are sincere Roman Catholics." Richard Wigg, '75 states witness Allende pledge to democracy', The Times, 4 November 1970; pg. 9; Issue 58014; col E.
 	 	1936–2008 	Politician 	Spanish duchess, holder of the ducal title Medina-Sidonia, known as the "Red Duchess". 	"The dictator Francisco Franco jailed her for championing workers, who nicknamed her the "Red Duchess". She challenged Spain's official history, arguing that Columbus didn't discover America. She was an atheist, a republican and reckoned her 13th-century ancestor Guzman el Bueno, ennobled for fighting the Moors, was a north African whose grandmother was black." Elizabeth Nash, 'Red Duchess a rebel to the last as she snubs family and leaves all to wife', The Independent (London), 2 May 2008, World News, Pg. 26.
 	 	1925–2006 	Film director 	American film director, recognised in 2006 with an Academy Honorary Award. 	"Still, it's worth noting that by the age of 20 this whistle-blower had resisted two of the most powerful institutions - church and army, both. He is an atheist, "And I have been against all of these wars ever since.""Suzie Mackenzie interviewing Altman, 'Still up to mischief', The Guardian, 1 May 2004, Pg. 30.
 	1912–2001	Author 	Brazilian author. 	Amado is described as an "ateu convicto", or "convinced atheist". 	
 	 	1909–1998 	Author 	British (English) writer of spy novels, influential for introducing a new realism to the genre. Awards: OBE. 	"Once, filming in Italy with the American director John Huston and a US army crew, Ambler and his colleagues were shelled so fiercely that his unconscious 'played a nasty trick on him' (Ambler, Here Lies, 208). A confirmed atheist, he heard himself saying, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' "Michael Barber: 'Ambler, Eric Clifford (1909–1998)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edition, January 2007 oxforddnb.com (accessed 29 April 2008).
 	 	1922–1995 	Author 	British (English) novelist, poet, critic and teacher, most famous for his novels Lucky Jim and the Booker Prize-winning The Old Devils. 	"His son Martin, who led the ceremony, said: "His relationship with the Christian God was not entirely frictionless. In 1962 (the Russian poet) Yevtushenko asked him 'Are you an atheist?'. He replied: 'Well, yes - but it's more that I hate Him'.""John Ezard, 'Secular send-off for an 'old devil' who did not wans too much fuss over his funeral', The Guardian (London), 23 October 1996, Pg. 8.
 	 	1914–2008 	Activist 	Indian social activist, known for his work with lepers. 	"From 1990 he went to live by the Narmada, the most threatened river, building another ashram from scratch on stony, empty ground. Each day, until he grew too frail and the slippery banks too hazardous, he would walk to the river to watch it flow. Atheist though he was, he saw the Narmada as a goddess whose beauty should be decorated only with micro-dams on a human scale. And certainly he did not want his ashes to float there after his death. He insisted on burial, where his body—becoming what he had once been most disgusted and afraid of—might go on being useful and productive, inside the earth."Obituary: Baba Amte, The Economist, 28 February 2008 (accessed 21 August 2008)
 	 	1893–1962 	Philosopher 	Australian philosopher, founder of the empirical philosophy known as 'Sydney realism'. 	"This degree of radicalism Sydney could endure. But what of a man who had signed up as a communist immediately on his arrival, who was unashamedly an atheist, a realist where philosophers were expected to be idealists, who freely mixed with students when he was expected to meet them only in classes or, very occasionally, in their studies? Trouble was bound to loom ahead." John Passmore: 'Anderson, John (1893–1962)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 oxforddnb.com (accessed 29 April 2008).
 	 	1877–1919 	Politician 	British (Scottish) socialist politician, a founder member of the Union of Democratic Control. 	"His mother was an intelligent and widely read woman of strong, radical, Presbyterian views who encouraged William to read extensively and passed on a love of literature which stayed with him long after he was converted to free-thinking atheism." Joseph Melling, 'Anderson, William Crawford (1877–1919), Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 (accessed 2 May 2008).
 	 	1958– 	Journalist 	American nonfiction writer and science journalist for The New York Times; 1991 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting. 	"I may be an atheist, and I may be impressed that, through the stepwise rigor of science, its Spockian eyebrow of doubt always cocked, we have learned so much about the universe. Yet I recognize that, from there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere. [...] I recognize that science doesn't have all the answers and doesn't pretend to, and that's one of the things I love about it. But it has a pretty good notion of what's probable or possible, and virgin births and carpenter rebirths just aren't on the list. Is there a divine intelligence, separate from the universe but somehow in charge of the universe, either in its inception or in twiddling its parameters? No evidence. [...] I don't believe in life after death, but I'd like to believe in life before death. I'd like to think that one of these days we'll leave superstition and delusional thinking and Jerry Falwell behind. Scientists would like that, too. But for now, they like their grants even more."
My God Problemsecularhumanism.org
 	 	1941– 	Politician 	Spanish politician and a former teacher, Mayor of Córdoba 1979–1988, then General Secretary of the Communist Party of Spain 1988–1998. 	"Señor Julio Anguita, the mayor, who is a self-confessed atheist indifferent to both religions, has invoked Spain's 1978 constitution which separates church and state [...]". Richard Wigg, 'Córdoba mayor upsets the bishop', The Times, 9 January 1981; pg. 4; Issue 60821; col E.
 	 	1939– 	Lawyer 	Argentinian lawyer, a member of the Argentine Supreme Court of Justice, the first woman to be nominated for the Court by a democratic government in Argentina. 	Interviewer: "In interviews you have described yourself as "more left than right" and "a militant atheist" in a country that is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic, and where the political left continues to be a minority. Don't you think that most of the public might take your statements as a sign that you might be biased on certain issues?"
Argibay: "On the contrary -- if one reads my declarations correctly. I believe that saying up front who one is or what one thinks is an indication of honesty, which is the first step towards impartiality. My beliefs, or lack thereof, should not interfere in the judicial decisions I take."Diana Cariboni, 'Single Woman, Atheist, Heads to Seat on High Court', IPS News, 21 January 2004.
 	1971– 	Sportsperson 	American cyclist, winner of the Tour de France seven consecutive times. 	"If there was a god, I'd still have both nuts." (Armstrong lost one testicle due to cancer.)Lance Armstrong, quoted by ET Magazine in 2004. 	
 	 	1920–1992 	Author 	Russian-born American author and professor of biochemistry, a highly prolific and successful writer of science fiction and popular science books. Widely considered a master of the science-fiction genre, he was considered one of the "Big Three" science-fiction writers during his lifetime. 	"I am an atheist, out and out. It took me a long time to say it... I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect he doesn't that I don't want to waste my time."Isaac Asimov in "Free Inquiry", Spring 1982, vol.2 no.2, p. 9 (See Wikiquote.)
 	 	1917– 	Author 	British literary editor, novelist and memoirist who worked with some of the most important writers of the 20th century. 	"Last week, looking through a book about 15th-century painting in Italy, I began to wonder why I loved these paintings so much. Almost all of them are illustrations of religious subjects, and I have been an atheist almost since the day I was confirmed in the Christian faith by the Bishop of Norwich in 1931. To describe the atheism first: it originated in a certainty that I was going to start breaking the rules as laid down by the god I'd been taught about, followed by a suspicion that if his rules were so easy to break he couldn't be all that he was cracked up to be. Then came its firmer base: the observation that many of the most hideous things done to each other by human beings have been done in his name. It can be argued that this is our fault, not God's. But the god we Europeans are supposed to believe in a) created us as well as everything else that is; b) is omnipotent; c) is Love. In which case, one must assume from the evidence rammed down our throats for century after century that he is liable to fits of serious derangement during which he is Not Himself."Diana Athill, 'I'm a believer - but only in a good story', The Guardian, 21 January 2004, Features Pages, Pg. 5.
70px 	 	1940– 	Scientist 	British (English) chemist, Professor of chemistry at Lincoln College, Oxford in England. 	When asked by Rod Liddle in the documentary The Trouble with Atheism "Give me your views on the existence, or otherwise, of God", Peter Atkins replied "Well it's fairly straightforward: there isn't one. And there's no evidence for one, no reason to believe that there is one, and so I don't believe that there is one. And I think that it is rather foolish that people do think that there is one."
 	 	1952– 	Social scientist 	American anthropologist. 	"I find it fascinating that among the brilliant scientists and philosophers at the conference, there was no convincing evidence presented that they know how to deal with the basic irrationality of human life and society other than to insist against all reason and evidence that things ought to be rational and evidence based. It makes me embarrassed to be a scientist and atheist."Atran criticising other speakers in an Edge discussion following the Beyond Belief conference in 2006 (accessed 13 August 208).
 	 	1926– 	British natural history programmes 	British broadcaster and naturalist. 	"It never really occurred to me to believe in God - and I had nothing to rebel against, my parents told me nothing whatsoever.
But I do remember looking at my headmaster delivering a sermon, a classicist, extremely clever... and thinking, he can't really believe all that, can he? How incredible!", BBC news, 27 January 2009 (Accessed 13 April 2009)
 	1883–1967	Politician 	British politician, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, under whose government the National Health Service and Welfare State were established. Honours: 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC. 	"[...] then in 1896 at the age of thirteen went on, like all the boys in the family, to Haileybury College. Here he confirmed an unobtrusive atheism—he became disenchanted with church attendance and religious observance—and played rugby and cricket with the handicap of his small stature and lack of any real skill, but enjoyed the rifle corps."R. C. Whiting, 'Attlee, Clement Richard, first Earl Attlee (1883–1967)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edition, January 2008 (accessed 2 May 2008). 	
 	 	1884–1966 	Politician 	French politician who served as the first President of the Fourth Republic from 1947 to 1954. 	"When John XXIII was later “elevated” to the College of Cardinals, he insisted upon receiving the red hat from the atheist and notoriously anti-clerical socialist Vincent Auriol, President of the country of France, whom he had described as "an honest socialist."http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:g2x7dLIy4ZwJ:www.mostholyfamilymonastery.com/13_JohnXXIII.pdf+%22Vincent+Auriol%22+atheist&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=au The Scandals and Heresies of John XXIII
 	 	1943– 	Politician 	American author of Away With All Gods! (2008) and Chairman of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA. 	Part Four of Away With All Gods! contains a section called "God Does Not Exist — And There Is No Good Reason to Believe In God". Table of Contents from the publisher, Insight Books (accessed 13 August 2008).
 	 	1958– 	Philosopher 	Mexican-American professor of Religious Studies at Iowa State University and author of several books about religion. 	"I was a child evangelist and preacher, and I used to go around a lot of churches in Arizona specifically [...] it was coming along sort of in stages [...] slowly through high school, and so by the first year of college, I pretty much had realised that I am an atheist." [...] "Well I always say, reading the Bible [made me an atheist]. The more I read the Bible and I tried to use the Bible to convert other people to Christianity, I realised, well I have to learn the arguments of the other religions I'm trying to convert. And the more I tried to learn the arguments and compare them to mine, the more I realised, I could make the arguments for their side just as well. Then it went into, you know, how do I know that anything I believe is true? And eventually I realised I have no evidence for any religion being true, and at that point, I was an atheist."From a Freethought Radio podcast: Fighting Words: The Origins of Religious Violence (mp3), 2 June 2007 (accessed 25 April 2008).
 	 	1849–1898 	Politician 	British (English) Marxist activist and partner of Karl Marx's daughter Eleanor. 	"His failed marriage aside, he was on a climbing path of conventional success and acclaim, which he left in 1879 when he abandoned his application for the chair of comparative anatomy because the post required its holder to profess Christianity. In July 1879 he made a public pronouncement that he had been an atheist for two or three years. In June 1881 he lost his lectureship, largely because of his atheism."C. A. Creffield: 'Aveling, Edward Bibbens (1849–1898)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 oxforddnb.com (accessed 29 April 2008).
 	1923– 	Politician 	German-born Israeli journalist, left-wing peace activist, and former Knesset member. 	"Well, I myself am a 100% atheist. And I am increasingly worried that the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, which dominates our entire life, is assuming a more and more religious character."Uri Avnery, A War of Religions? God Forbid!, Ramallah Online 19 February 2007(?) (accessed 28 April 2008). 	
 	1912–2004	Scientist 	American Nobel Prize winning biochemist, noted for his work on the release and reuptake of catecholamine neurotransmitters and major contributions to the understanding of the pineal gland and how it is regulated during the sleep-wake cycle. 	"Although he became an atheist early in life and resented the strict upbringing of his parents’ religion, he identified with Jewish culture and joined several international fights against anti-Semitism." Craver, Carl F: "Axelrod, Julius", Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography Vol. 19 p. 122. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008. 	
 	 	1910–1989 	Philosopher 	British philosopher and advocate of logical positivism, Grote Professor of the Philosophy of Mind and Logic at University College London, Wykeham Professor of Logic at the University of Oxford, and a president of the Aristotelian Society. 	"Conversely, an absolute denial of God's existence is equally meaningless, since verification is impossible. However, despite this assertion, Ayer may be considered a practical atheist: one who sees no reason to worship an invisible deity."2000 Years of Disbelief: Famous People with the Courage to Doubt, by James A. Haught, Prometheus Books, 1996, p. 276."I was thoroughly irritated when Freddie Ayer, the philosopher who was at Christ Church with me, presented me with a book inscribed: 'To my fellow atheist'."Lord Dacre, 'I liked the elegant, frivolous life...', Daily Telegraph, 28 January 2003, Pg. 17.
 	 	1960– 	Visual arts 	Italian-born, London-based performance artist who uses his own body in his art. 	"But while the power of Franko B's medium is unquestionable, the multi-dimensional interpretations open to onlookers mean that he is prey to negative readings. He protests: "Blood is one of the fluids inside me that gives me life, and in a way when I'm performing I feel I'm giving life. I grew up Catholic, and while I am an atheist, religion is a major influence on my work - I love churches, I love paintings of the Crucifixion. Whatever I do, I believe in it 100 per cent."" Rachel Halliburton, 'It's a Bleeding Liberty', The Independent (London), 26 April 2000, Features: Arts, Pg. 11.
 	1951– 	Politician 	Chilean politician, the current President of Chile and the first woman to hold this position in the country's history. 	"A paediatrician turned politician, Ms Bachelet is an atheist single mother with three children by two different partners - which makes her an odd choice in a macho and profoundly Catholic country."Jen Ross, 'Single mother becomes Chile's first female president', The Independent (London), 16 January 2006, News, Pg. 25."Given this context, it is nothing short of extraordinary - even revolutionary - that the clear front-runner in the presidential vote being held on Sunday is Michelle Bachelet, a divorced mother of three who is an atheist and a member of the Socialist Party."Rafael Gumucio, 'Señora Presidente?', New York Times, 9 December 2005 (accessed 14 July 2008). 	
 	 	1909–1992 	Visual arts 	Irish-born figurative painter whose work is known for its bold, austere, and often grotesque or nightmarish imagery. 	"And a painter works with his human material, not with colours and paintbrushes. It's his thoughts that enter the painting. But I don't expect any certainty in life, I don't believe in anything, not in God, not in morality, not in social success ... I just believe in the present moment if it has genius - in the spinning roulette ball or in the emotions that I experience when what I transmit on to the canvas works. I am completely amoral and atheist, and if I hadn't painted, I would have been a thief or a criminal. My paintings are a lot less violent than me. Perhaps if my childhood had been happier, I would have painted bouquets of flowers."Francis Bacon interviewed by Francis Giacobetti, The Independent, 14 June 2003, Features, Pg. 8-14.
 	1958– 	Actor 	American film and theatre actor whose notable roles include Animal House, A Few Good Men, Stir of Echoes, JFK, Apollo 13, Mystic River and Footloose. 	"The rating furore that surrounded the film [Where the Truth Lies] is symptomatic, Bacon says, of a particularly repressive period for the arts in America. The film would not, he thinks, have been slammed with such a punitive rating ten years ago. "I think there is a puritanical wind that is blowing. I have never seen such a lack of separation between church and state in America," he says. "I don't believe in God, but if I did I would say that sex is a Godgiven right. Otherwise it's the end of our species." Bacon sounds weary, as if he's been fighting a lot of losing battles over the past couple of years. It can't have escaped his notice that this puritanism will have ramifications for the kind of films that are financed in future."Wendy Ide interviewing Bacon, 'The outsider wants in', The Times (London), 1 December 2005, Features, Pg. 20. 	
 	 	1964– 	Comedian 	English comedian, novelist and television presenter. 	"This project springs from Updike's understanding of God, his deep religious conviction that God is as present in cabbages, vaginas, golf and dentist's chairs as he is in churches. I don't believe in God, although I do sometimes when reading Updike. Make no mistake, we are living in the time of a master. He is up there with Dickens, with Austen - sod it, he's up there with Shakespeare. The only person I can think of with more talent is Ronaldinho. Now can I have that lunch invitation?"David Baddiel, 'Finding Updike's best lines is like trying to pick the best fish in the sea', The Times (London), 17 June 2006, Books, Pg. 3.
 	1968– 	Philosopher 	British (English) writer specialising in philosophy, author of Atheism: A Very Short Introduction. 	"The reverend Dr Tom Ambrose was sacked yesterday by his bishop for being "arrogant, aggressive, rude, bullying, high-handed, disorganised and at times petty", as a Church of England tribunal put it. Twice, he even spat at parishioners. You might expect that, as an atheist, I might rub my hands over this clerical outrage."Julian Baggini, Thought for the day - BBC Radio Bristol, blog entry, 11 April 2008 (accessed 22 April 2008). 	
 	 	1978– 	Author 	Moroccan-Dutch writer. 	"In interviews he calls himself an atheist, but "so far I have been left alone by the beardmonkeys [referring to Muslims]. Perhaps I have to make myself heard just a little bit better, I should be more explicit in my aversion to Islam and religion in general."" "In interviews noemt hij zichzelf atheïst, maar tot nog toe ‘ben ik ongemoeid gelaten door de baardapen. Misschien moet ik een hardere toon aanslaan en wat explicieter zijn in mijn afkeer van de islam en religies in het algemeen.'"
 	1935– 	Musician 	British (English) socialist folk singer, awarded an MBE for services to folk music in 2000. 	"I think of myself as a militant atheist and I never knew quite where Tony [Benn] was coming from on the religion side."The Writing on the Wall: An Interview with Roy Bailey (accessed 14 April 2008). 	
 	 	1881–1968 	Scientist 	British geologist, director of the British Geological Survey and Fellow of the Royal Society. 	"In religious matters he was an atheist."A.G. MacGregor: "Bailey, Edward Battersby", Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography Vol. 1 p. 393. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008.
 	 	1933– 	Journalist 	British (English) television presenter and journalist. Awarded a CBE. 	"What has stayed with me is the need for and love of ritual, the language of the authorised version of the Bible, the liturgy of the Anglican services, the beauty of its places of worship, the music and painting created to celebrate Christianity's central mystery. I think I remain to this day an unbelieving Anglican. None of this is rational, or particularly logical. It is how religion happens: a heap of childhood influence, a questing mind as the search begins, a failure to find new or surprising answers, a sound respect for the minds that once shaped doctrine and then the settling for a quiet and untroubled agnosticism. It is merely a timid temperament that inhibits me from declaring a bold, defiant atheism. Mine has been an outlook evolved from its time, growing from a particular period of history of absolutes and certainties. Everything shifted for devoutly held faith when schools began teaching comparative religion. From then on, the game was up. If each religion, it was now taught, has its own legitimacy, its own beliefs and concept of the divine, what is to say whether one is any better than another?"Joan Bakewell, 'Portrait: Just 70', The Guardian (London), 20 February 2004, G2: Guardian Features Pages, Pg. 7.
 	1814–1876	Philosopher 	Russian philosopher, writer and anarchist. 	"God, or rather the fiction of God, is thus the sanction and the intellectual and moral cause of all the slavery on earth, and the liberty of men will not be complete, unless it will have completely annihilated the inauspicious fiction of a heavenly master."
"We are materialists and atheists, and we glory in the fact."Both quotes from James A Haught, ed, 2000 Years of Disbelief. See also other Bakunin quotes at Positive Atheism's Big List of Quotations. 	
 	1954– 	Author 	British (Scottish) author, writing mainstream fiction as Iain Banks and science fiction as Iain M. Banks. 	"I'm an evangelical atheist so I'm not into supernatural effects - I hated The Exorcist - but John Carpenter's remake of The Thing is different."'I was a brain-eating zombie... As the scary season descends [...] famous horror experts choose their most terrifying screen experiences', Daily Telegraph, 30 October 2004, Arts Pg. 04. 	
 	1969– 	Actor 	Spanish actor and former rugby player best known for his role in Jamón, Jamón and No Country For Old Men. 	"In a final act of deflection, he explained away all this Oscar business by blaming [Cuban writer Reinaldo] Arenas: "I don't believe in God," he said. "But I do believe in guardian angels. He chose me for his movie."Kristin Hohenadel, '"Don't Call Me Actor," says a Nominee for Best, Um...', The New York Times, 4 March 2001, Section 2A; Column 1; Arts and Leisure Desk; Pg. 3. 	
 	1949– 	Atheist activist 	American activist, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation and author of Losing Faith In Faith: From Preacher To Atheist. 	"Following five years of reading, Dan gradually outgrew his religious beliefs. "If I had limited myself to Christian authors, I'd still be a Christian today," Dan says. "I just lost faith in faith." He announced his atheism publicly in January, 1984."Minister Turned Atheist, Barker's Freedom From Religion Foundation biography page. 	
 	 	1942– 	Philosopher 	British (English) philosopher, translator and historian of ancient philosophy, and brother of the novelist Julian Barnes. 	""I don't believe in God," [Julian] Barnes says in the book's opening line, "but I miss Him." It's a statement Barnes's brother, Jonathan, a philosopher and confirmed atheist, dismisses as "soppy." Jonathan provides a sanguine counterpoint to Julian's perpetual fretting, or what he calls "pit-gazing." Jonathan is resigned to the fact that one day he will cease to exist. Julian keeps looking for a loophole. He wouldn't mind dying, he admits, "as long as I didn't end up being dead afterwards.""Review of Nothing To Be Frightened Of by Julian Barnes, Ottawa Citizen, 6 July 2008, Pg. B2.
 	1706–1775	Businessperson 	British (English) typesetter, printing innovator and typefounder, designer of the typeface that bears his name. 	Baskerville left directions that his body be buried "in a Conical Building in my own premises Hearetofore used as a mill which I have lately Raised Higher and painted and in a vault which I have prepared for It. This Doubtless to many may appear a Whim perhaps It is so—But it is a whim for many years Resolve'd upon, as I have a Hearty Contempt for all Superstition the Farce of a Consecrated Ground the Irish Barbarism of Sure and Certain Hopes &c I also consider Revelation as it is call'd Exclusive of the Scraps of Morality casually Intermixt with It to be the most Impudent Abuse of Common Sense which Ever was Invented to Befool Mankind."
He also wrote the text for his epitaph: "Stranger—Beneath this Cone in Uncons[e]crated Ground / A Friend to the Liberties of mankind Directed his Body to be Inhum'd / May the Example Contribute to Emancipate thy mind / From the Idle Fears of Superstition / And the wicked arts of priesthood."Both quoted in James Mosley, 'Baskerville, John (1706–1775)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 (accessed 7 May 2008).
"Baskerville, designer of the type that bears his name and one of Birmingham's best known citizens, was an atheist and anticleric whose will contained a vitriolic attack on the Church."'Printer's Reburial Demanded', The Times 9 March 1963; pg. 6; Issue 55645; col A. 	
 	 	1939– 	Scientist 	British (English) biologist and science writer, Emeritus Professor of ethology at Cambridge University, president of the Zoological Society of London, and Fellow of the Royal Society. 	"A confirmed agnostic, he [Bateson] was converted to atheism after attending a dinner where he tried to converse with a woman who was a creationist. "For many years what had been good enough for Darwin was good enough for me. Not long after that dreadful dinner, Richard Dawkins wrote to me to ask whether I would publicly affirm my atheism. I could see no reason why not.""Lewis Smith, 'Science has second thoughts about life', The Times (London), 1 January 2008, Pg. 24.
 	1861–1926	Scientist 	British geneticist, a Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, where he eventually became Master. He was the first person to use the term genetics to describe the study of heredity and biological inheritance, and the chief populariser of the ideas of Gregor Mendel following their rediscovery.	"William Bateson was a very militant atheist and a very bitter man, I fancy. Knowing that I was interested in biology, they invited me when I was still a school girl to go down and see the experimental garden. I remarked to him what I thought then, and still think, that doing research must be the most wonderful thing in the world and he snapped at me that it wasn’t wonderful at all, it was tedious, disheartening, annoying and anyhow you didn’t need an experimental garden to do research."Interview with Dr. Cecilia Gaposchkin by Owen Gingerich, March 5, 1968. 	
 	1809–1882	Philosopher 	German philosopher, theologian and historian, the first propounder of the Jesus myth hypothesis. 	"Feuerbach's book received criticism from two quarters: expectedly from Christian theologians but surprisingly, from the atheists Max Stirner and Bruno Bauer."Van A. Harvey, Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2007 (accessed 22 May 2008). 	
 	 	1922–2006 	Politician 	American industrialist, investor, newspaper publisher, philanthropist, philosopher, college professor, world traveler, and civic leader, a self-identified "liberal Republican" politician and a champion of civil rights. 	"He had many friends across a wide spectrum of economic, social and religious backgrounds, all of whom he respected and honored. While Carolyn [his wife] was a devoted Presbyterian, he was a 'nontheist'."Obituary: 'Charles T. Beaird, Ph.D.', Shreveport Times, 20 April 2006 (accessed 19 August 2008).
 	1908–1986	Philosopher 	French author and existentialist philosopher, author of novels and monographs on philosophy, politics, social issues and feminism. 	"[Beauvoir] remained an atheist until her death."Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986), The Internet Encyclopedia or Philosophy (Accessed 21 April 2008)"I cannot be angry at God, in whom I do not believe." Haught (1996), p. 293. 	
 	 	1920–2004 	Author 	Canadian author of non-fiction, noted especially for Canadiana and Canadian history, and a well-known television personality and journalist. Awarded the Order of Canada and Order of Ontario. 	"Berton's book, The Comfortable Pew, in which as a lifelong atheist he attacked status quo religiosity, outraged churchgoers. But the wider public came to expect to be challenged by Berton's views." Cathryn Atkinson, 'Obituary: Pierre Berton', The Guardian, 7 December 2004, Pg. 27.
 	 	1967– 	Comedian 	American comedian. 	""My name is Matt Besser, and I'm an Arkansas Razorback. My father is a Jew from Little Rock, Ark., my mother was a Christian from Harrison, Ark., and somehow I'm an atheist now living in L.A. I am a Razorback living in the Razorback diaspora." Thus begins Woo Pig Sooie, Matt Besser's one-man comedic rant that fearlessly confronts all the folly and confusion of what it means to be religious in America."'Razor Sharp', Nashville Scene, 1 June 2006 (accessed 20 August 2008).
 	 	1971– 	Actor 	British (English) actor, known for his roles in A Knight's Tale, A Beautiful Mind, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World and The Da Vinci Code. 	"I was brought up Catholic. I'm lapsed. From the age of three I was with the nuns. Now I'm an atheist. I think religion does a lot for us but I can't quite believe it, alas... It's just a personal choice. I love the idea of heaven though. Who doesn't? It's lovely."Paul Bettany, Bettany the Non-Believer, Movie & Entertainment News, WENN.com, 10 May 2006 (accessed 10 June 2008).
Björk	1965– 	Musician 	Icelandic singer/song writer, composer and producer. 	"I've got my own religion. Iceland set a world record. The United Nations asked people from all over the world a series ot questions. Iceland stuck out on one thing. When we were asked what do we believe, 90% said, 'ourselves'. I think I'm in that group. If I get into trouble, there's no God or Allah to sort me out. I have to do it myself." Interview by Liam Fay, 'Björk on the wild side', Hot Press, 10 Aug 1994. 	
 	 	1957– 	Visual arts 	British (Scottish) painter and illustrator, especially of evocative images of rural life in 19th century Scotland. 	"Around their dinner table could be found all shades of political and religious affiliation. Hugh was a devout Christian and apolitical, while Jemima's atheism was coupled with a stout defence of Disraeli's brand of toryism."A. J. Crilly, 'Blackburn, Hugh (1823–1909)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 (accessed 2 May 2008).
 	 	1944– 	Philosopher 	British (English) academic philosopher known for his efforts to popularise philosophy. 	"Some years ago, without realizing what it might mean, I accepted a dinner invitation from a Jewish colleague for dinner on Friday night. I should say that my colleague had never appeared particularly orthodox, and he would have known that I am an atheist."Simon Blackburn, Religion and Respect (pdf) on his website, August 2004 (accessed 23 April 2008.)
 	1897–1974	Scientist 	British (English) experimental physicist known for his work on cloud chambers, cosmic rays, and paleomagnetism, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics, Fellow of the Royal Society and awarded OM and CH. 	"The grandson of a vicar on his father’s side, Blackett respected religious observances that were established social customs, but described himself as agnostic or atheist."Mary Jo Nye: "Blackett, Patrick Maynard Stuart." Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography, Vol. 19 p. 293. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008. 	
 	1950– 	Writer, bioethicist 	Australian writer, philosopher, bioethicist, and critic. He is co-editor of the upcoming Voices of Disbelief, a collection of essays by prominent atheists and sceptics. 	"It’s true that atheists and sceptics have less reason to be aggressive in arguing publicly for our views if we find ourselves in an environment where religion wields little political influence. In those circumstances, there is simply less urgency about speaking up. Those, however, are not the circumstances that we face."The New Atheism rocks 	
 	1951– 	Scientist 	British (English) psychologist and memeticist, best known for her book The Meme Machine. 	In a Point of Inquiry podcast interview, Blackmore described religion as a collection of "really pernicious memes", "I think religious memeplexes are really amongst the nastiest viruses we have on the planet". Blackmore also practices Zen Buddhist meditation; later, when she was asked: "And you find this practice of Zen, the meditative practice, completely compatible with your lack of theism, your atheism...?" She replied: "Oh yes, I mean, there is no god in Buddhism...".Susan Blackmore - In Search of the Light, Point of Inquiry, 15 December 2006 (accessed 1 April 2008). 	
 	 	1923– 	Lawyer 	English barrister and father of Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 	"The pupil said he had read Richard Dawkins's book The God Delusion and it had helped turn him into an atheist. Mr Blair looked put out and eventually spluttered something about his new Tony Blair Faith Foundation also being about understanding people who had no god. His father Leo was a "militant" atheist, he added."Tim Walker, 'Pupil rattles Blair', Daily Telegraph 5 April 2008.
 	 	1955– 	Visual arts 	British (English) art gallery curator, Director of the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London, art writer and broadcaster, awarded an OBE in 2008. 	"The hidden jewel of the year was an impromptu performance by 40 singers from a South African township under the dome of St Paul's Cathedral, which made me - a devout atheist - feel spiritually moved."Iwona Blazwick, 'The Best of 2002', Daily Telegraph, 21 December 2002, Section, Pg. 01.
 	1840–1922	Author 	British (English) poet, writer and diplomat. 	"Wilfred Scawen Blunt was notorious as an atheist, a libertine, an adventurer and a poet. Somehow he also found time to be a diplomat - one of the earliest in this country to make a real attempt to understand Islam - and an anti-imperialist, becoming the first British-born person to go to jail for Irish independence."Phil Daoust, The Guardian, 11 March 2008, G2: Radio: Pick of the day, Pg. 32. 	
 	 	1919–2005 	Scientist 	English-Austrian mathematician and cosmologist, best known for co-developing the steady-state theory of the universe and important contributions to the theory of general relativity and a Fellow of the Royal Society. 	"Since his childhood in Vienna Bondi had been an atheist, developing from an early age a view on religion that associated it with repression and intolerance. This view, which he shared with Hoyle, never left him. On several occasions he spoke out on behalf of freethinking, so-called, and became early on active in British atheist or "humanist" circles. From 1982 to 1999, he was president of the British Humanist Association, and he also served as president of the Rationalist Press Association of United Kingdom."Helge Kragh: "Bondi, Hermann", Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography Vol. 19 p. 343. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008. Accessed via Gale Virtual Reference Library 29 April 2008."Also president of the Rationalist Press Association from 1982 until his death, and with a particular interest in Indian rationalism, Hermann was a strong supporter of the Atheist Centre in Andra Pradesh. He and his wife Christine visited the centre a number of times, and the hall in the science museum there bears his name. When presented with a prestigious international award, he divided a large sum of money between the Atheist Centre and women's health projects in Mumbai."Jane Wynne Willson, Vice-President of the British Humanist Association, 'Obituary letter: Hermann Bondi', Guardian, 23 September 2005 (accessed 29 April 2008).
 	1973– 	Philosopher 	Swedish philosopher, well-known as the originator of the simulation argument, developer of the existential risk concept, and his advocacy of transhumanism. 	"Evolution theory gives a naturalistic explanation of how advanced biological organisms could come to exist. This explanation is superior in every way to the earlier deistic explanation. Not only does it not involve postulating some unobserved superhuman entity, but evolution theory is an infinitely richer source of successful empirical predictions than any rival creationist explanation. At this stage of the debate, the atheist seems to have triumphed. Actually, that might be an overstatement, for the atheist has only refuted the deist’s argument for God’s existence; she has not proved that God does not exist. Still, considering the internal difficulties with deism referred to above, atheism, or at least agnosticism, would be the only reasonable conclusion at this point [...] The main possibilities are nonetheless the following: either there is a large ensemble of universes with differing properties, or our universe was intentionally created. Currently, the ensemble hypothesis is the most plausible one."Is there a God? The evidence for and against 	
 	 	1970– 	Author 	Moroccan-Dutch writer. 	"Believers live behind a fence, and non-believers live in a pasture and they know there are believers out there behind the fence." "It [religion] is a matter of conditioning, of brainwashing." "I know that when I die, it's over with me." "Gelovigen leven achter een hek, en ongelovigen in een weiland, waarin ze weten dat er gelovigen zijn die achter hekken wonen." "Het [religie] is een kwestie van conditionering, van hersenspoeling" "Ik weet dat het moment dat ik ter aarde word besteld, dat het afgelopen is met mij." Humanistische Omroep, Video interview with Hafid Bouazza."Look, I'm an atheist. I believe God does not exist, I do not believe in an afterlife. How terrible it may be: Hitler isn't in hell getting pinched in his ass with a trident. I'm fine with he fact there are people who do believe that and get comfort from it, like my mother. I just hope the influence of religion on policy makers will diminish, because my freedom is precious to me." "Kijk, ik ben atheïst. Ik geloof niet dat God bestaat, ik geloof niet dat er een hiernamaals is. Hoe gruwelijk ook: Hitler wordt op dit moment niet in de hel met een drietand in zijn reet geprikt. Dat er mensen zijn dat dat wél geloven en daar troost uit putten, mensen als mijn moeder: prima. Als de invloed van religies op beleidsmakers maar steeds kleiner wordt, want mijn vrijheid is me dierbaar."
 	 	19??– 	Comedian 	Irish comedian and columnist, writer/director/performer of Jesus: The Guantanamo Years. 	"Don't expect Jerry Springer-style controversy, however. Bowman, an atheist, has found that "most Christians are so disgusted by Guantanamo that I don't get many people saying it's offensive". And playing Jesus has even infiltrated his own personality: "I feel myself being more humble and trying to understand people with compassion rather than getting angry."" Emma John, 'A funny thing happened on the way to redemption', The Guardian, 14 August 2006, G2, Pg. 22.
 	 	1952– 	Author 	British (Scottish) novelist and screenwriter, awarded a CBE. 	Interviewer: "What song would you like played at your funeral?"
Boyd: "We'll Meet Again. I'd like the congregation to join in. As a devout atheist, I should make it clear there are no religious connotations."Rosanna Greenstreet, 'Q&A: William Boyd', The Guardian, 3 February 2007, Weekend Pages, Pg. 8.
 	 	1918– 	Scientist 	American biochemist and Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 1997. 	Boyer, Paul. "A Path to Atheism". Freedom From Religion Foundation. Retrieved February 3, 2007.
 	 	1899–1970 	Politician 	British (English) Labour politician, vice-chairman of the party in 1968. 	"Mrs. Braddock, whose husband died in 1963, was an atheist, and her funeral service, next Tuesday at Liverpool crematorium, will be non-sectarian."Christopher Warman, '"Merseyside legend" Mrs Braddock dies at 71', The Times, 14 November 1970; pg. 1; Issue 58023; col G.
 	1833–1891	Politician 	British (English) political activist and Member of Parliament, freethinker, radical and champion of popular causes, and one of the most famous English atheists of the 19th century. 	"Excepting to each of the above allegations, I maintain that thoughtful Atheism affords greater possibility for human happiness than any system yet based on, or possible to be founded on, Theism, and that the lives of true Atheists must be more virtuous -- because more human -- than those of the believers in Deity, the humanity of the devout believer often finding itself neutralized by a faith with which that humanity is necessarily in constant collision. [...] Atheism, properly understood, is no mere disbelief; is in no wise a cold, barren negative; it is, on the contrary, a hearty, fruitful affirmation of all truth, and involves the positive assertion of action of highest humanity." Charles Bradlaugh, 'A Plea For Atheism' (1864). 	
 	1847–1931	Politician 	Danish politician, critic and author, Minister of Finance 1909–1910 and 1913–1920. 	"Because of his Jewish origin, his atheism, and his "European," rather than "Danish," outlook, Brandes was, from the beginning of his political career, at odds with the more moderate faction of the left coalition that formed the Left Reform Party in the late 1890s."'Brandes, Edvard', Encyclopædia Britannica Online (accessed 1 August 2008). 	
 	1965– 	Television producer 	American TV producer and writer, creator of Star Trek: Enterprise. 	"These mythologies explain the world's creation, humanity's destiny, and they serve to codify the beliefs of these religions by telling stories about God or whatever deity has been cooked up. By definition, Atheism has no need for a mythology. Atheism is a non-belief. It is the absence of religion and belief in the existence of deities. The fact that we're all gathered here today is kind of odd when you think about it, because we really have nothing to talk about other than our conviction that religion sucks, isn't science great, and how the hell do we get the other 95% of the population to come to their senses? We don't believe anything. Therefore, we have no need for a mythology. [...] What does it mean to be an atheist? What kind of morality can you have? What are your ambitions and hopes? What would the world be like if religion disappeared? How could humanity possibly keep itself together? If anybody ever asks you these questions, tell them to watch STAR TREK. You know it's funny – I worked on the show for 15 years and wrote over 150 episodes. And it didn't occur to me until very recently that I was creating more than just entertainment, but a wider philosophical canvas that embodied my very own beliefs."Braga's speech at the International Atheist Conference in Reykjavik Iceland, 24-25 June 2006, 'Every religion has a mythology' (accessed 19 August 2008).	
 	1833–1897	Composer 	German romantic composer. 	The religious faith of Brahms is a matter in which he, true to his character, would give varying accounts of in public. He did, however, entrust his true thoughts to a small clique of close friends, among them Bohemian composer Antonin Dvořák. Dvořák once said of Brahms: "Such a man, such a fine soul--and he believes in nothing! He believes in nothing!" Swofford, Jan. "Johannes Brahms: A Biography." Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1997</ref> 	
 	 	1922– 	Author 	Italian writer and dramatist, famous for having been sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for 'plagiarism'. 	"Braibanti is a fiercely intellectual left-wing atheist and so, apart from his sexual preferences, would be regarded by sections of Italian opinion as a dangerous character."'Plagiarist's appeal', The Times, 15 November 1969; pg. 6; Issue 57718; col D.
 	 	1961– 	Author 	American author, founder of HowStuffWorks and author of WhyWontGodHealAmputees.com and GodIsImaginary.com. 	
 	1950– 	Businessperson 	British (English) entrepreneur, founder of the Virgin Group. 	"I do not believe in God, but as I sat there in the damaged [balloon] capsule, hopelessly vulnerable to the slightest shift in weather or mechanical fault, I could not believe my eyes."Richard Branson, Losing My Virginity, p.239. 	
 	1865–1916	Author 	German feminist writer. 	"Passionate and enthusiastic, Lily was converted to atheism, pacifism, and feminism by Georg von Gizycki, whom she married in 1893."'Braun, Lily', Encyclopædia Britannica Online (accessed 1 August 2008). 	
 	 	1939–1998 	Atheist activist 	British secularist, socialist and journalist, Editor of The Freethinker from 1993 until his death. 	"He was an old-fashioned rationalist and radical. He detested modern politics and despised Blairite froth, spin-doctoring and cloned MPs and betrayal of principles. I share Peter's doubts about the milk-and-water term "humanism." He and I called ourselves atheists." Karl Heath, 'Obituary Letter: Peter Brearey', The Guardian, 30 May 1998, Pg. 21.
 	 	1942– 	Author 	British (English) English playwright, who gained notoriety for his 1980 play The Romans in Britain. 	"It strikes me as an exceptionally powerful study of the human need for belief in a higher power, notwithstanding the fact that Brenton himself is an atheist. And the dramatist examines the nature of Paul's faith with both sympathy and insight."Charles Spencer reviewing a production of The Romans in Britain, 'A powerful and thrilling act of heresy', Daily Telegraph, 10 November 2005, Reviews, Pg. 30.
 	1896–1966	Writer 	French writer, poet, artist, and surrealist theorist, best known as the main founder of surrealism. 	"A cynical atheist, the poet, critic, and artist harbored an irrepressible streak of romanticism."Douglas F. Smith reviewing Mark Polizzotti's Revolution of the Mind: The Life of Andre Breton. 	
 	 	1889–1938 	Scientist 	American geneticist, known especially for his work on fruit fly genetics. 	"...he always remained true to his own concepts and ideals and did not dissimulate. His open designation of himself as "atheist" in "Who's Who in America" and his opposition to the invasion of the Soviet Union by the Allies..."H J Muller, 'Dr. Calvin B. Bridges', Nature 143, 191-192 (04 Feb 1939).
 	1973– 	Comedian 	British (English) comedian, satirist and presenter of The Late Edition. 	On being presented by Richard Dawkins with an Out Campaign t-shirt: "Look at that. Outed, outed as an atheist and proud to be so."The Late Edition, 18 October 2007 10.30pm-11pm, BBC Four: uk.youtube.com. 	
 	 	1949– 	Actor 	British (English) Academy Award-, Golden Globe- and BAFTA-winning theatre, film and television actor, regarded as one of cinema's most reliable character actors, and known especially for his roles in Bridget Jones's Diary, Moulin Rouge! and Iris. 	"Does the prospect of his own inevitable death frighten him? 'I don't think it does. I don't fret about it. I think it was partly to do with seeing my father go. It didn't frighten him. Upset him a bit but not ... I think if you are an atheist, what's there to be frightened of? ... But I don't want to die yet.' "Nigel Farndale, 'The Heartbreak Kid: Jim Broadbent', Sunday Telegraph, 23 September 2007, Section 7, Pg.8.
 	1975– 	Musician 	American singer, guitarist, banjoist, and songwriter for the indie rock band Modest Mouse. 	Interviewer: "Do you still consider yourself an atheist?"
Brock: "Pretty much, but there are things that make me think. Like that guy who played Jesus [Jim Caviezel] getting hit by lightning during the filming of that movie? That just makes you think, "I can't be 100 percent sure." But I'm not going to change my game plan anyway. [...] I'm 100 percent on the whole Christianity thing being a crock of shit, pretty much, but I don't give a fuck if other people are religious. Believe what you want. Whatever makes the day easier for you."Brock interviewed by Josh Modell, 'Modest Mouse', AV Club, 7 April 2004 (accessed 19 August 2008). 	
 	 	1959– 	Actor 	British (English) actor, producer, writer, and director, whose work includes Mrs. Brown and the BAFTA award winning screenplay for The Last King of Scotland. 	"Nor does organised religion emerge with honour, and Brock says he has been an atheist for many years. "My father was an intelligent and articulate advocate for old-fashioned notions of kindness and liberalism, but in the end I just did not feel that loving him was a justification for believing in a whole theocratic system. Religion in certain circles has become increasingly exclusive and aggressive. Fundamentalist attitudes pervade, and that, in its most extreme form, means you can kill anybody you want to because they're an unbeliever.""Sheila Johnston interviewing Brock, A very British charmer, Daily Telegraph 18 August 2006 (accessed 22 April 2008).
 	 	1941– 	Author 	American literary agent and author, specializing in scientific literature, and founder of the Edge Foundation. 	"He has a keen sense for interesting ideas, but also for the ways in which they fit into society. For instance, he would never call himself an atheist, he says, in America: "I mean I don't believe: I'm sure there's no God. I'm sure there's no afterlife. But don't call me an atheist. It's like a losers' club. When I hear the word atheist, I think of some crummy motel where they're having a function and these people have nowhere else to go. That's what it means in America. In the UK it's very different."" Andrew Brown, John Brockman profile, The Guardian, 30 April 2005, pp 20-22 (accessed 9 June 2008).
 	1944– 	Author 	Australian science fiction and popular science writer. His science fiction novel The Judas Mandala is credited with the first appearance of the term "virtual reality". 	"I sat around reading, especially science fiction comics. My father thought this was some absurd weakness of character, and not only that -- this stuff was going to corrupt me and make me an atheist. Luckily, he was right!"Damien Broderick: Spikes and Cycles 	
 	1961– 	Activist 	Israeli activist, current president and executive director of the Ayn Rand Institute. 	"Anyone who has heard Dr. Yaron Brook lecture on foreign policy would likely call him a militant, unflinching champion of Israel. His loyalty, however, does not derive from his Jewish or Israeli background. He's a proud atheist, who admits to not knowing - or really caring - when the Pessah Seder falls. He relentlessly defends Israel and the West because he puts his faith in the rational, free, individual soul."Orit Arfa, The nexus, The Jerusalem Post, 12 July 2007 (Accessed 16 April 2008) 	
 	1954– 	Roboticist 	Australian-born American robotics engineer, artificial intelligence and artificial life researcher, and director of the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. 	"I've been an atheist - I had found it difficult to have religious beliefs and scientific ones, but I've accepted that I have a duality - there's a human way of interacting with people but also a mechanistic explanation of what people are and how they work."Rodney Brooks on A.I. 	
 	 	1929–1995 	Author 	British (English) novelist, essayist, critic, biographer, and dramatist. 	"It [her non-fiction book Black Ship to Hell (1962)] endeavoured to formulate a morality based on reason rather than religion—Brophy described herself as 'a natural, logical and happy atheist' (King of a Rainy Country, afterword, 276)."Peter Parker: 'Brophy, Brigid Antonia [married name Brigid Antonia Levey, Lady Levey] (1929–1995)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004; online edition, May 2006 oxforddnb.com (accessed 29 April 2008).
 	 	1971– 	Illusionist 	British (English) psychological illusionist, mentalist, and skeptic of paranormal phenomena. 	"[Richard Dawkins's book] The God Delusion is a very important defence of atheism, and systematically looks at every aspect of faith and 'proofs' of God's existence. [...] For atheists like me, it's an addictive and wonderful read which argues comprehensively and convincingly for the fallacy of religious belief."Derren Brown, Tricks of the Mind, p. 379, Channel 4 Books 2006, ISBN: 9781905026388.
 	 	1958– 	Politician 	American politician, lobbyist, lawyer, educator, and social worker supporter, Nevada Senator 1992-1994. 	""You can be elected as an openly gay politician in this country, but you can't be elected as an openly atheistic one," said Lori Lipman Brown, who was hired last fall to be the Washington, D.C., lobbyist for an organization devoted to atheist causes, the Secular Coalition for America. She's believed to be the first paid lobbyist for the unbelievers in the nation's capital, the front lines of the culture wars. Now, all Brown is seeking is a constituency willing to go public. "Think of where the LGBT movement was 25 years ago," said Brown, who has worked on gay and lesbian rights issues as a legislator and attorney. "That's where atheists are today." [...] Brown, who is married and was raised a "humanistic Jew," talks about how she "came out" as an atheist several years ago, and how most atheists aren't "out yet" at work. She says atheist kids -- like many gay children -- are made to feel outcasts at school, and explains that she wants to erase the negative connotation to the word "atheist" just as homosexuals have reclaimed slurs like "queer" and "dyke."" Joe Garofoli, 'Atheists hoping to assert rights in religious era', San Francisco Chronicle, 20 February 2006 (accessed 16 June 2008).
 	 	1855–1937 	Atheist activist 	American Episcopal bishop and communist author. 	"An ecclesiastical court [...] sitting at Cleveland, Ohio, yesterday, found Dr. William Montgomery Brown, retired Bishop of Arkansas, a self-styled "Christian Atheist", guilty of heresy."'U.S. Heresy Trial. A "Christian Atheist."' The Times, Monday, June 02, 1924; p. 13; Issue 43667; col C.
 	 	1931– 	Author 	British (English) poet and novelist. 	"Brownjohn is 75 at the moment of publication. He has been on the literary scene - publishing, reviewing, judging, chairing, tutoring, giving readings - since the 1950s. He has also been a London borough councillor, a Labour parliamentary candidate (Richmond, Surrey, 1964), very much what I think of as decent, persistent, dogged "Old Labour" - sensitive but solid, inclining towards the puritan (though a self-confessed atheist in matters of religion) - and a strenuous campaigner for serious radio and television, anti-muzak, anti-destruction of libraries, for the proper traditional cultural concerns of the British Council, et al."Anthony Thwaite reviewing Brownjohn's Collected Poems, 'Poetry: The vodka in the verse', The Guardian, 7 October 2006, Review Pages, Pg. 18
 	 	1897–1946 	Scientist 	American psychologist, a close confidant of and collaborator with Sigmund Freud. 	"Although in her youth she had shared her father's Zionist sympathies, she was not otherwise involved in Jewish affairs and was by conviction an atheist."'Brunswick, Ruth Jane Mack (Feb. 17, 1897-Jan. 24, 1946)' in Notable American Women: 1607-1950. Retrieved August 01, 2008, from Credo Reference
 	1824–1899	Philosopher 	German philosopher, physiologist and physician who became one of the exponents of 19th century scientific materialism. 	"Büchner's materialistic interpretation of the universe in Kraft und Stoff created an uproar for its rejection of God, creation, religion, and free will and for its explanation of mind and consciousness as physical states of the brain produced by matter in motion. His continued defense of atheism and atomism and his denial of any distinction between mind and matter (Natur und Geist, 1857; "Nature and Spirit") appealed strongly to freethinkers, but dialectical materialists condemned his acceptance of competitive capitalism, which Büchner viewed as an example of Charles Darwin's "struggle for survival."" 'Büchner, Ludwig', Encyclopædia Britannica Online (accessed 1 August 2008). 	
 	 	1900–1983 	Film-maker 	Spanish-born Mexican film-maker, activist of the surrealist movement, considered one of Mexico's finest directors, and one of the most important directors in the history of cinema. 	"Father Julian... and I often talk about faith and the existence of God, but... he's forever coming up against the stone wall of my atheism..."Luis Bunuel (1982, 1985). My Last Breath: p.254.Buñuel is also known for his one-liner, "Thank God I'm still an atheist."
 	 	1941– 	Musician 	British (English) composer known especially for his television and film themes. 	"Geoffrey Burgon [...] has declined a generous Hollywood offer to write the music for award-winning John Carpenter's remake of The Thing, a 1950s horror film. An atheist with a remarkable feel for "church" music, Burgon tells me that time prevents his crossing the Atlantic; he is busy writing two operas [...]"Peter Watson, 'The Times Diary', The Times, 12 January 1982; pg. 8; Issue 61129; col C.
 	 	1951– 	Author 	American author of several books of Jewish fiction and non-fiction, including Waiting for God: The Spiritual Explorations of a Reluctant Atheist. 	"Caught between the atheism of his parents and the religion of his peers, Bush writes from what he calls "my own peculiar perch as an atheist who has nevertheless worked intimately in Jewish religious institutions as a writer and editor for much of my adult life." As a result, he writes about non-belief with an empathy for believers missing from the works of the New Atheists. [...] Bush may be reluctant, but he remains an atheist: "No matter how therapeutic religious observance might be for individuals, no matter how beguiling the symbols, metaphors, ceremonies, and community spirit, there is something about the surrender to God and to a prescribed worship tradition that simply offends my arrogant soul.""Andrew Silow-Carroll, The rabbi and the atheist, New Jersey Jewish News, 20 September 2007 (accessed 21 april 2008).
 	 	1826–1916 	Musician 	British (English) shoemaker, singer and bellringer from Horsham, Sussex, best known for his vast repertoire of songs, many of which were collected in the folksong revival of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. 	"Burstow was a fascinating man. A shoemaker by trade, he shared the radical and non-conformist attitudes of many who followed the gentle craft. His reading included Darwin and Lyle and he was a convinced atheist, this in spite of the fact that he was a well known church bell-ringer."Vic Gammon, Chairman of the Oral History Society, 'The Grand Conversation: Napoleon and British Popular Balladry', 26 March 1999 (accessed 2 May 2008).
 	1866–1924	Musician 	Italian composer, pianist, teacher of piano and composition, and conductor. 	"Aside from his undisputed powers as composer, pianist and man of letters, Busoni was an enterprising (if sometimes erratic) conductor, a passionate bibliophile, a talented draughtsman and a bon vivant. Baptized into the Catholic church, he was at heart an atheist; a lucid commentator on world affairs, he remained politically uncommitted."Beaumont, Anthony: 'Busoni, Ferruccio (Dante Michelangelo Benvenuto)', Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (accessed 28 April 2008), . 	
 	 	1890–1937 	Author 	British (English) modernist writer. 	"By this time she had become an atheist and socialist."Nathalie Blondel: 'Butts , Mary Franeis (1890–1937)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 (accessed 30 April 2008).
 	 	1950– 	Actor 	Irish actor and film producer, star of over thirty-five films including The Usual Suspects, Miller's Crossing and Stigmata. 	"I spent five years in the seminary and I suppose it was assumed that you had a vocation. I have realised subsequently that I didn't have one at all. I don't believe in God. But I did believe at the time in this notion that you were being called."'Coming out as atheist: Noel Gallagher & Gabriel Byrne', National Secular Society (accessed 15 July 2008).
==Notes and references==
Category:Lists of atheists