G-- knows I'm no the thing I should be,
Nor am I even the thing I could be,
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G-- knows I'm no the thing I should be,
Nor am I even the thing I could be,
But twenty times I rather would be
An atheist clean,
Than under gospel colours hid be,
Just for a screen.

The church is always trying to get other people to reform; it might not be a bad idea to reform read more

The church is always trying to get other people to reform; it might not be a bad idea to reform itself a little, by way of example

Of all religions, Christianity is without a doubt the one that should inspire tolerance most, although, up to now, the read more

Of all religions, Christianity is without a doubt the one that should inspire tolerance most, although, up to now, the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men

By respect for life we become religious in a way that is elementary, profound and alive.

By respect for life we become religious in a way that is elementary, profound and alive.

Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.

Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.

We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.

We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.

Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil read more

Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.

Religion is something left over from the infancy of our intelligence, it will fade away as we adopt reason and read more

Religion is something left over from the infancy of our intelligence, it will fade away as we adopt reason and science as our guidelines.

I fear one day I'll meet God, he'll sneeze and I won't know what to say.

I fear one day I'll meet God, he'll sneeze and I won't know what to say.