Great Thinkers

Two men are regarded as having contributed equally to the successful outcome of the American War of Independence. George Washington in directing the movement of the soldiers and another man whose words in a time of crisis inspired those soldiers.

Over the years, even centuries, since the Revolution America has produced some remarkable unbelievers; but the greatest of them all was undoubtedly ROBERT G. INGERSOLL (1833-1899).

His indelible imprint set a hard task for religious apologists. Never before had the Scriptures been so minutely analysed and put to the test of logic, common sense and fair play - and always in the most superb language.

Channel 4 in the UK ran a half-hour series of interviews in 1994 called "The Vision Thing". Various people with different beliefs were interviewed by Sheena McDonald, a respected TV journalist.
The only atheist viewpoint was put by Richard Dawkins on 15 Aug. 1994.

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Titus Lucretius Carus (c.99-55 BCE)

was a Roman philosopher and poet whose great work is the 6 part poem called De Rerum Natura (On the Nature of Things).

Very little is known about his life.

Hypatia of Alexandria (370 - 415)

Giordano Bruno - (1548-1600)

was born at Nola, near Naples in 1548.

An Italian representative of the late Renaissance thought; his teachings and writings, encompassing philosophy, cosmology, theology, mathematics and creative literature, constantly brought him into collision with orthodox opinion and led him to a heretic's death.

Epicurus (341-270 BCE)

a Greek philosopher, was born on the island of Samos. In 306 he moved to Athens for his required military training of 2 years. His home garden was turned into a school (known as "The Garden") where he taught his philosophy. His followers who came from all over Greece and Asia Minor were known as "the philosophers of the garden." Unlike the Academy of Plato and the Lyceum of Aristotle "The Garden" admitted women.

History has produced many great persons in science and philosophy. Atheists are indebted to them for their courage and wonderful discoveries. Three men though, stand out as truly world changing.
They are:

Nicolaus Copernicus
Galileo Galilei
Charles Darwin

Their discoveries amid Church protest has seen religion and a god pushed further into the background. All paid a price and as atheists we should know at least a fraction about each of them and the reaction to their findings.

Carl SaganCarl Edward Sagan (1934-1996)

Bertrand RussellBertrand (Arthur William) Russell (1872-1970) was one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century. His ethical, philosophical and religious writings are a must read for every person seeking an understanding of atheism and the affect religion has and is still having on humanity.