Born on this date
Richard Strauss (1864), composer
“When during my stay in Egypt I became familiar with the works of Nietzsche, whose polemic against Christianity was particularly to my liking, the antipathy which I had always felt against a religion which relieves the faithful of responsibility for their actions (by means of confession) was confirmed and strengthened.”
—Strauss, quoted in "Recollections and Reflections" (ed. Willy Schuh, 1949)
Hugh Laurie (1959), actor
James Lipton: Do you share House’s skepticism?
Hugh Laurie: [laughing] I do. Big chunks of it, yes. I’m not a religious man. Again, I think this is connected to my father. My father was religious oddly enough, but I nonetheless I suppose was impressed by [and] enamored of his devotion to medical science. I find I am a fan of science. I believe in science.”
—Laurie interview, “Inside the Actors Studio,” Bravo TV (July 31, 2006)
Joseph Lewis (1889), author
“Atheism rises above creeds and puts Humanity upon one plane.
There can be no ‘chosen people’ in the Atheist philosophy.
There are no bended knees in Atheism;
No supplications, no prayers;
No sacrificial redemptions;
No ‘divine’ revelations;
No washing in the blood of the lamb;
No crusades, no massacres, no holy wars;
No heaven, no hell, no purgatory;
No silly rewards and no vindictive punishments;
No christs, and no saviors;
No devils, no ghosts and no gods.”
—Lewis, "Atheist Rises Above Creeds," address on atheism at Community Church, New York City (April 20, 1930)
Gene Wilder (1933), actor
“I’m going to tell you what my religion is. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Period. Terminato. Finito. I have no other religion. I feel very Jewish and I feel very grateful to be Jewish. But I don’t believe in God or anything to do with the Jewish religion.”
—"Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish," Abigail Pogrebin (Oct. 25, 2005)
“When during my stay in Egypt I became familiar with the works of Nietzsche, whose polemic against Christianity was particularly to my liking, the antipathy which I had always felt against a religion which relieves the faithful of responsibility for their actions (by means of confession) was confirmed and strengthened.”
—Strauss, quoted in "Recollections and Reflections" (ed. Willy Schuh, 1949)
Hugh Laurie (1959), actor
James Lipton: Do you share House’s skepticism?
Hugh Laurie: [laughing] I do. Big chunks of it, yes. I’m not a religious man. Again, I think this is connected to my father. My father was religious oddly enough, but I nonetheless I suppose was impressed by [and] enamored of his devotion to medical science. I find I am a fan of science. I believe in science.”
—Laurie interview, “Inside the Actors Studio,” Bravo TV (July 31, 2006)
Joseph Lewis (1889), author
“Atheism rises above creeds and puts Humanity upon one plane.
There can be no ‘chosen people’ in the Atheist philosophy.
There are no bended knees in Atheism;
No supplications, no prayers;
No sacrificial redemptions;
No ‘divine’ revelations;
No washing in the blood of the lamb;
No crusades, no massacres, no holy wars;
No heaven, no hell, no purgatory;
No silly rewards and no vindictive punishments;
No christs, and no saviors;
No devils, no ghosts and no gods.”
—Lewis, "Atheist Rises Above Creeds," address on atheism at Community Church, New York City (April 20, 1930)
Gene Wilder (1933), actor
“I’m going to tell you what my religion is. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Period. Terminato. Finito. I have no other religion. I feel very Jewish and I feel very grateful to be Jewish. But I don’t believe in God or anything to do with the Jewish religion.”
—"Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish," Abigail Pogrebin (Oct. 25, 2005)
