Born on this date
Edward Gibbon, historian (1737)
"The various modes of worship, which prevailed in the Roman world, were all considered by the people, as equally true; by the philosopher, as equally false; and by the magistrate, as equally useful."
—Gibbon, "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" (Vol. 1, 1776)
Mary Wollstonecraft, feminist author (1759)
"Besides, in great schools, what can be more prejudicial to the moral character than the system of tyranny and abject slavery which is established amongst the boys ... which makes religion worse than a farce."
—Wollstonecraft, "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792)
Herbert Spencer, agnostic philosopher (1820)
“Religion has been compelled by science to give up one after another of its dogmas, of those assumed cognitions which it could not substantiate.”
—Spencer, "First Principles" (1862)
Ulysses S. Grant, 18th U.S. President (1822)
“Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the Church, and the private schools, supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the church and state forever separate.”
—Grant address delivered in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1875
Russell T Davies, television writer, director, producer (1963)
"Yes, I'm deeply atheist. If they haven't reached that point by the Year Five Billion, then I give up! When did the Doctor do that speech about believing in things that are invisible? It's Episode 5, isn't it? That's another bit of atheism chucked in. That's what I believe, so that's what you're going to get."
—Davies interview, Doctor Who magazine (Sept. 14, 2005)
Hubert Harrison, activist essay (1883)
“It should seem that Negroes, of all Americans, would be found in the Free-thought fold, since they have suffered more than any other class of Americans from the dubious blessings of Christianity.”
—Harrison, “The Negro Conservative” (1914), quoted in "Doubt: A History" by Jennifer Michael Hecht ( 2003)
Freedom From Religion Foundation
"The various modes of worship, which prevailed in the Roman world, were all considered by the people, as equally true; by the philosopher, as equally false; and by the magistrate, as equally useful."
—Gibbon, "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" (Vol. 1, 1776)
Mary Wollstonecraft, feminist author (1759)
"Besides, in great schools, what can be more prejudicial to the moral character than the system of tyranny and abject slavery which is established amongst the boys ... which makes religion worse than a farce."
—Wollstonecraft, "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" (1792)
Herbert Spencer, agnostic philosopher (1820)
“Religion has been compelled by science to give up one after another of its dogmas, of those assumed cognitions which it could not substantiate.”
—Spencer, "First Principles" (1862)
Ulysses S. Grant, 18th U.S. President (1822)
“Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the Church, and the private schools, supported entirely by private contributions. Keep the church and state forever separate.”
—Grant address delivered in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1875
Russell T Davies, television writer, director, producer (1963)
"Yes, I'm deeply atheist. If they haven't reached that point by the Year Five Billion, then I give up! When did the Doctor do that speech about believing in things that are invisible? It's Episode 5, isn't it? That's another bit of atheism chucked in. That's what I believe, so that's what you're going to get."
—Davies interview, Doctor Who magazine (Sept. 14, 2005)
Hubert Harrison, activist essay (1883)
“It should seem that Negroes, of all Americans, would be found in the Free-thought fold, since they have suffered more than any other class of Americans from the dubious blessings of Christianity.”
—Harrison, “The Negro Conservative” (1914), quoted in "Doubt: A History" by Jennifer Michael Hecht ( 2003)
Freedom From Religion Foundation
