Richard Dawkins Quotes

Keeping religion immune from criticism is both unwarranted and dangerous.

The day that this country ceases to be free for irreligion it will cease to be free for religion—except for the sect that can win political power.

Resist this war on God, freedom of religion and freedom of speech.

It is difficult to discern a serious threat to religious liberty from a room of silent, thoughtful schoolchildren.

I have always marveled that so many religions exact such revenge against dissenters. It only weakens the appeal of their faith and contradicts any claims they might have made that 'all religions are basically the same.' If all religions were indeed the same, why not let someone be 'converted' to another religion?

It is apprehended that Jews, Mahometans (Muslims), pagans, etc., may be elected to high offices under the government of the United States. Those who are Mahometans, or any others who are not professors of the Christian religion, can never be elected to the office of President or other high office, (unless) first the people of America lay aside the Christian religion altogether, it may happen. Should this unfortunately take place, the people will choose such men as think as they do themselves.

Congress should not establish a religion and enforce the legal observation of it by law, nor compel men to worship God in any manner contrary to their conscience, or that one sect might obtain a pre-eminence, or two combined together, and establish a religion to which they would compel others to conform

What is blasphemy? Of course nobody knows what it is, unless he takes into consideration where he is. What is blasphemy in one country would be a religious exhortation in another. It is owing to where you are and who is in authority.

In my opinion, you start messing with what this country was founded on, and our baseline is what we call it, it opens up too many - too many doors. You start messing with that, people can say religion kills people. So, let's start messing with that.

It would be intolerant if I advocated the banning of religion, but of course I never have.

The idea we would create some kind of religious test for entry into the country is absolutely wrong.

In the middle ages of Christianity opposition to the State opinions was hushed. The consequence was, Christianity became loaded with all the Romish follies. Nothing but free argument, raillery & even ridicule will preserve the purity of religion.

This crime called blasphemy was invented by priests for the purpose of defending doctrines not able to take care of themselves.

There is much, of course, in the exclusive claims of Christianity which make it hostile to other faiths.

I believe that religious faith schools are highly dubious.

To speak against religion (the Christian) is breaking down the bond of good government.

We have taken God out of our education system. We have taken Him out of government. You have lawyers that sue you every time you mention the name of Jesus Christ in any public forum.

It is very reasonable to worry about the harm done by organized religion, and to prefer looser and more private arrangements.

The Koran and the laws of all civilized nations legislate against the vilification of religions.

For Mitt Romney, the complex question of anti-Mormon bias boils down to the practical matter of how he can make it go away. Facing a traditional American anti-Catholicism, John F. Kennedy gave a speech during the 1960 presidential campaign declaring his private religion irrelevant to his qualifications for public office.

Though there are laws against blasphemy and insult to religion in many European countries, France has institutionalised its anti-clerical past by proscribing religion from public life.

I don't think Arizonans are interested in having the Mormon religion dictate public policy to them.

Those who deny the existence of a supreme being have been turned into second-class citizens by a government that continuously sends messages that 'real Americans' believe in God.

I will forever stick up for Catholics and Christians in general. With a small number of very horrible exceptions, they do play by the rules.

The religion that has to be supported by law is without value, not only, but a fraud and a curse. The religious argument that has to be supported by a musket is hardly worth making.