Who is your favourite public atheist and why?

Question

Which person in the public eye do you most admire for advocating atheism, and why in particular do you chose her or him?

Answer 1

Dear Dalinian,



I’m obviously wearing my bias on my sleeve, but nevertheless I’d have to nominate Prof. Richard Dawkins.

» about – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins



Why?

1. For scientific contributions to evolutionary biology and memetics, in:

• ‘The Selfish Gene’, 1976

• ‘The Extended Phenotype – The Long Reach of the Gene’, 1982

• numerous academic papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, 1968-2011

» list of publications – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_publications_by_Richard_Dawkins



2. For championing godless science to the citizenry, as the University of Oxford's Professor for Public Understanding of Science from 1995 until 2008, and in:

• ‘The Blind Watchmaker – Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe without Design’, 1986

• ‘River Out of Eden – A Darwinian View of Life’, 1995

• ‘Climbing Mount Improbable’, 1996

• ‘Unweaving the Rainbow – Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder’, 1998

• ‘Growing Up in the Universe’, the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, 1991

• ‘A Devil's Chaplain – Reflections on Hope, Lies, Science, and Love’, 2003



3. For challenging creationism, intelligent design, and their promulgation through school systems, by founding the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science in 2006

» about – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins_Foundation_for_Reason_and_Science



4. Principally for advocating for atheism and humanism, as...

• an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society

• a vice-president of the British Humanist Association, since 1996

• a Distinguished Supporter of the Humanist Society of Scotland

• a member of the Secular Coalition for America advisory board

• a Humanist Laureate of the International Academy of Humanism

• a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

• a signatory of the humanist manifesto ‘Humanism and Its Aspirations’, published by the American Humanist Association in 2003

• a founder of the Out Campaign in 2007

• a supporter of the UK's first atheist advertising initiative, the ‘Atheist Bus Campaign’ in 2008

... and in:

• ‘The Ancestor's Tale – A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Life’, 2004

• ‘The God Delusion’, 2006

» http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_God_Delusion

• ‘The Root of All Evil?’, two part TV documentary series, 2006

» Part 1, video, 47:51 – http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4321574955310561251

» Part 2, video, 47:58 – http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7619161192220036050

• ‘The Enemies of Reason’, two part TV documentary series, 2007

» Part 1, video, 47:54 – http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7218293233140975017

» Part 2, video, 47:48 – http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4720837385783230047

• ‘The Greatest Show on Earth – The Evidence for Evolution’, 2009

• ‘Faith Schools Menace?’, TV documentary, 2010

» video, 47:25 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzJv-5yWx2g



Thank you for the opportunity to advocate for my alter ego, and to give you some pointers for further exploration,



Warm Regards, Dr Dawkins’ Doppelgänger

Answer 2

The first to come to mind is Congressman Pete Stark because he has served in politics since 1973 and it is not any big deal what his beliefs or lack of beliefs are. To be atheist is not to be a particular thing, like a religion, but it is the absense of particular beliefs. So, it's not really a label except by those who are of a faith or Church, etc.. Otherwise we are just people. It is the "something" folks who need to identify unbelievers as outsiders or different. And in fact most Church people see all people outside their Church as "other" or against them.

Anyway, he's the first I thought of because he makes no big deal out of not believing in god. It's just not a part of his thinking. But he's a very good politician and looks out for everyone. That's why he has been in office for so long. He's a good guy.

Answer 3

Thanks very much indeed for asking this question, Dalinian – I confess that I got hooked on the variety and number of nominations, so I decided to sum them up, in part to have a cohesive list of people I’d like to know more about. Then I figured other folk might find this interesting and useful too, so why not include it in my answer?



My nomination goes to the Prophet of the FSM, Bobby Henderson, so the whole summary goes like this:



——————————————————————————————————————

# – NAME (DATE(S) – INFO) — where # = number of nominations



FAVOURITE PUBLIC ATHEIST NOMINATIONS

3 – Carl Sagan

— (1934-1996 – American astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, & science populariser)

2 – Christopher Hitchens

— (b.1949 – English-American author, journalist, polemicist & antitheist)

2 – David Attenborough

— (b.1926 – British broadcaster & naturalist)

2 – Richard Dawkins

— (b.1941 – British ethologist, evolutionary biologist, author, & science populariser)

1 – B.F. Skinner

— (1904-1990 – American behaviorist, author, inventor, social philosopher, & poet)

1 – Bill Maher

— (b.1956 – American comedian, TV host, political commentator, author & actor)

1 – Bobby Henderson

— (b.1981 – founder of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster)

1 – George Carlin

— (1937-2008 – American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor, & author)

1 – Jesse Ventura

— (b.1951 – American professional wrestler, actor, & statesman)

1 – Madalyn Murray O'Hair

— (1919-1995 – American atheist activist, founder of American Atheists)

1 – Matt Dillahunty

— (b.1969 – American, president of the Atheist Community of Austin, Texas)

1 – Pete Stark

— (b.1931 – American Democratic Party Congressman since 1973)

1 – Sam Harris

— (b.1967 – American author, neuroscientist, & CEO of Project Reason)

1 – Seth Macfarlane

— (b.1973 – American animator, writer, comedian, actor, singer, & director)

1 – Terry Pratchett

— (b.1948 – English comical fantasy novelist)

1 – Thunderf00t

— (b.???? – atheist YouTube vlogger)



TONGUE-IN-CHEEK NOMINATIONS

1 – Jesus Christ (central figure of Xtianity)

1 – Joel Osteen (American Xtian televangelist)

1 – Pope Benedict (German, 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church)

1 – The guy next door (A real jerk)

1 – The Prophet Muhammed (central figure of Islam)

——————————————————————————————————————



Share and Enjoy,



Peace-&-Love, from a devotee of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

——————————————————————————————————————

...._ _(o)_(o)_ _...... About the FSM ⫸ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster

._\`:_ F S M _:' \_,.. Vagrant’s Guide ⫸ http://www.venganza.org/flash/guidetopastafarianismpreloaded.swf

......./ (`---'\ `-.....’.... My Church ⫸ http://www.venganza.org

...,-`.._)....(_,.......... The Loose Canon ⫸ http://loose-canon.fsm-consortium.com/the-loose-canon/

——————————————————————————————————————

Answer 4

Carl Sagan cause he wasn't an advocate, He was a comedian; I also like Seth Macfarlane really awesome too; I think people that make their atheism the almost last thing you know about them to finding out they actually atheist, are awesome. I also enjoy a lot of work by various out there atheists enjoyable too.

Answer 5

David Attenborough. He's clearly a very smart guy & looks at the wonders in nature & sees them for what they are: from NATURAL origins not supernatural origins. He wrote Life on Earth with no mention of God. Why should he?

Answer 6

George Carlin (deceased)

Sam Harris

Answer 7

One of my favourite public figures is Tupac Shakur. Most men and women noticed him as "Thug" or "Gangster". I noticed him as a character who truthfully noticed the sector like I do. Most men and women have no idea how wise he used to be. Im 17 years historic.. approximately the age of Tupac throughout his first interviews. He used to be 17 however he gave the impression of an eighty 12 months historic philospher. I am an overly logical philosopher like he used to be so I can relate to him and he taught me how you can stare on the international by way of the rearview. ;)

Answer 8

Jesse Ventura. He was a professional wrestler, then Governor of someplace really cold, then he made a big deal about how as an atheist he could never run for president. As if.

Answer 9

Fave atheist : Thunderf00t from YouTube.



Because his videos are intelligent, humorous and thought provoking. And because he manages to show an incredible amount of poise and dignity despite some of more aggressively ignorant fundies that try (and fail) to prove him wrong...

Answer 10

Sir David Attenborough on God:

http://youtu.be/7Lg6QgRWR8A



Carl Sagan on God and gods:

http://youtu.be/4E-_DdX8Ke0

Answer 11

Matt Dillahunty (I think that's his name) from The Atheist Experience in Texas. Why? Because he's awesome, that's why!

Answer 12

i do not admire ppl for being atheists, yes i am an atheist no i do not create some kind of us vrs them against theists in my head and do not care who believes what

Answer 13

B.F. Skinner - He built a strong, scientific case that superstitious beliefs are merely a result of conditioning techniques.

Answer 14

Terry Pratchett. Definitely. I mean, he's just awesome and his books are so worth reading.

Answer 15

The guy next door

=

now that is an example of some one that don't give a rats as

About anyone but him self

A real jerk

Answer 16

Christopher Hitchens. He is charismatic and entertaining and not afraid to be himself.

Answer 17

Madeline O'hare - She single handedly removed God from our schools. Good job Madeline, good job.

Answer 18

Joel osteen

Answer 19

Richard Dawkins is my most favourite

atheist my friend.



Thanks for asking!

Answer 20

If it doesn't have to be alive today, I'd say Carl Sagan

Answer 21

Pope Benedict

you don't know him like I do

Answer 22

Why? your not trying to shoot somebody are you?

Answer 23

Christopher Hitchens because he is hilarious.

Answer 24

Probably Jesus Christ or the Prophet Muhammed.

Answer 25

Bill Maher is awesome, even though he's an Apatheist.

Answer 26

How can one admire someone who leads others down the path to hell?

Answer 27

None of them are knowledgeable, or smart so i would say none. They are just sad. God bless!!