Founding fathers atheist Quotes

Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

— Epicurus

Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.

— Epicurus

I have sworn upon the altar of god.

— Thomas Jefferson

Christianity neither is, nor ever was a part of the common law.

— Thomas Jefferson

Lighthouses are more helpful than churches.

— Benjamin Franklin

I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man.

— Thomas Jefferson

What is it the Bible teaches us? -- rapine, cruelty, and murder.

— Thomas Paine

Everyone must act according to the dictates of his own reason.

— Thomas Jefferson

July 4th ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion.

— John Adams

... happily the Government of the United States... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.

— George Washington

I have examined all religions, and the result is that the Bible is the best book in the world.

— John Adams

I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life, I absenteed myself from Christian assemblies.

— Benjamin Franklin

I believe in one God, and no more; and I hope for happiness beyond this life.

— Thomas Paine

The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity

— John Adams

Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd, and bloody religion that has ever infected the world

— Voltaire

The United States of America should have a foundation free from the influence of clergy.

— George Washington

I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world and do not find in our particular superstition [Christianity] one…

— Thomas Jefferson

Every one must act according to the dictates of his own reason, and mine tells me that civil powers alone have been…

— Thomas Jefferson

Scarcely was I arrived at fifteen years of age, when, after having doubted in turn of different tenets, according as I found…

— Benjamin Franklin

The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a…

— Thomas Jefferson

Certainly, no power to prescribe any religious exercise, or to assume authority in religious discipline, has been delegated to the General Government.

— Thomas Jefferson

...It would be more consistent that we call [the Bible] the work of a demon than the word of God. It is…

— Thomas Paine

I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of…

— John Adams

What has been the effect of [religious] coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support…

— Thomas Jefferson

We have abundant reason to rejoice that in this Land the light of truth and reason has triumphed over the power of…

— George Washington

Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have…

— Thomas Jefferson

I firmly believe this ... that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the builders…

— Benjamin Franklin

Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, creator of the Universe. That he governs it by his Providence. That he…

— Benjamin Franklin

I hold that in this country there must be complete severance of Church and State; that public moneys shall not be used…

— Theodore Roosevelt

Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason,…

— Thomas Jefferson

I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth --…

— Benjamin Franklin

We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build…

— Benjamin Franklin

The whole history of these books (i.e. the Gospels) is so defective and doubtful that it seems vain to attempt minute enquiry…

— Thomas Jefferson

Mystery is made a convenient Cover for absurdity.

— John Adams

Question with boldness even the existence of a god.

— Thomas Jefferson

I looked around for God's judgments, but saw no signs of them.

— Benjamin Franklin

Erecting the 'wall of separation between church and state'... is absolutely essential in a free society.

— Thomas Jefferson

The Declaration of Independence laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity.

— John Adams

Let us with Caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.

— George Washington

Nothing is more dreaded than the national government meddling with religion.

— John Adams