Jonathan Safran Foer Quotes

There are those, of course, who deny that they need any form of authority. They are the popular atheists and agnostics. Such men say that they must be shown by 'reason' whatever they are to accept as true. But the great thinkers among non-Christian men have taken no such position. They know that they cannot cover the whole area of reality with their knowledge.

That's true that I'm "not religious as that term is conventionally understood," though I've never been an atheist. Atheism is an active faith; it says, "I believe there is no God." But I don't know what I believe. I was brought up a Lutheran in Jamestown, North Dakota. I have trouble with faith. I'm not proud of this. I don't think it makes me an intellectual. I would believe if I could, and I may be able to before it's over. I would welcome that.

I profess no belief in God, which by definition is true, especially if we take the accepted definition of God. But to be an atheist is to also have a belief, and have a system, and I don't know that I like that either.

Do you believe in God, doctor?" No - but what does that really mean? I'm fumbling in the dark, struggling to make something out. But I've long ceased finding that original.

I am an atheist, and if an atheist and a pope think the same things, there must be something true. There must be some human truth that is beyond religion.

I am an intransigent atheist, though not a militant one. This means that I am not fighting against religion - I am fighting for reason.

What am I supposed to say to an atheist when he sneezes, ah, when you die nothing happens.

I'm an atheist, and I don't have any belief in an afterlife.

I am not an atheist. An atheist is someone who has compelling evidence that there is no Judeo-Christian-Islamic God. I am not that wise, but neither do I consider there to be anything approaching adequate evidence for such a god. Why are you in such a hurry to make up your mind? Why not simply wait until there is compelling evidence?

Atheism is a crutch for those who cannot bear the reality of God.

Me pray? Never! I'm an atheist.

I am an atheist because there is no evidence for the existence of God. That should be all that needs to be said about it: no evidence, no belief.

I think maybe it is better to believe than not to believe. But I couldn't tell you why.

Atheists are my brothers and sisters of a different faith, and every word they speak speaks of faith. Like me, they go as far as the legs of reason will carry them -- and then they leap.

Really, a young Atheist cannot guard his faith too carefully. Dangers lie in wait for him on every side.

Thank you God for making me an atheist.

I don't think any of us really knows why we're here. But I think we're supposed to believe we're here for a purpose.

Some are Atheists by Neglect; others are so by Affectation; they, that think there is no God at some times; do not think so at all times.

An atheist has to know a lot more than I know. An atheist is someone who knows there is no god. By some definitions atheism is very stupid.

He who thinks half-heartedly will not believe in God; but he who really thinks has to believe in God.

People are invariably surprised to hear me say I am both an atheist and an agnostic, as if this somehow weakens my certainty. I usually reply with a question like, “Well, are you a Republican or an American?” The two words serve different concepts and are not mutually exclusive. Agnosticism addresses knowledge; atheism addresses belief. The agnostic says, “I don't have a knowledge that God exists.” The atheist says, “I don't have a belief that God exists.” You can say both things at the same time. Some agnostics are atheistic and some are theistic.

Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make when in the presence of religious dogma.

Most atheists bristle at the thought that atheism has anything to do with faith, but not Penn Jillette.

No man can be an agnostic who has a sense of humour.

I'm not sure about anything as far as religion and spirituality go.