George Santayana (1863–1952) 20th-century Spanish-American philosopher associated with Pragmatism
Source: The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress (1905-1906), Vol. III, Reason in Religion, Ch. I
Of Atheism; in the original archaic English this read: I HAD rather beleeve all the Fables in the Legend, and the Talmud, and the Alcoran, then that this universall Frame, is without a Minde. And therefore, God never wrought Miracle, to convince Atheisme, because his Ordinary Works convince it. It is true, that a little Philosophy inclineth Mans Minde to Atheisme; But depth in Philosophy, bringeth Mens Mindes about to Religion.
Essays (1625)
Context: I had rather believe all the fables in the legends and the Talmud and the Alcoran, than that this universal frame is without a mind. And therefore, God never wrought miracle, to convince atheism, because his ordinary works convince it. A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.
George Santayana (1863–1952) 20th-century Spanish-American philosopher associated with Pragmatism
Source: The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress (1905-1906), Vol. III, Reason in Religion, Ch. I
William Barrett (philosopher) book Irrational Man: A Study in Existential Philosophy
Source: Irrational Man: A Study in Existential Philosophy (1958), Chapter Nine, Heidegger, p. 187
Wilhelm Stekel (1868–1940) Austrian physician and psychologist
American Journal of Psychotherapy Volume II (1948); this has sometimes been quoted as "Fervid atheism is usually a screen for repressed religion." Stekel repeated the anecdote http://benatlas.com/2010/06/wilhelm-stekel-on-atheism-and-telepathy in his Autobiography (1950). <br class="br">The man was the manager of a large New York bank. Stekel met him on the liner on which he was travelling back to Europe.
Carl Sagan (1934–1996) American astrophysicist, cosmologist, author and science educator
Emmett F. Fields, in "Atheism : An Affirmative View" (1980) http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/emmett_fields/affirmative_atheism.html <br class="br">Misattributed
Thomas Paine (1737–1809) English and American political activist
1790s, Discourse to the Theophilanthropists (1798)
Bertrand Russell (1872–1970) logician, one of the first analytic philosophers and political activist
Quoted in Library of Living Philosophers: The Philosophy of Bertrand Russell (1944)
1940s
“If there is a God, atheism must seem to Him as less of an insult than religion.”
Edmond de Goncourt (1822–1896) French writer