List of famous Australian Atheists

[David Nicholls]

Hi folks,


The AFA is compiling a list of famous Australian Atheists. Below are some for starters. Can you add to it? No, Protium is not famous enough... yet! :)


David



Phillip Adams (1939–): Australian broadcaster, writer, film-maker, left-wing radical thinker and iconoclast. He was the Australian Humanist of the Year in 1987.

Sir Mark Oliphant (8 October 1901 – 14 July 2000) Australian physicist and humanitarian.

Wil Anderson (1974–): Australian comedian, radio presenter, and former host of The Glass House.

Richard Carleton (1943–2006): Current affairs journalist for Australia’s 60 Minutes TV program.

Bob Brown (Born 27 December 1944), Australian Senator Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens

Bob Hawke Prime Minister of Australia 1983 1984 1987 1990 (Born 9 December 1929)

Andrew Denton (1960–): Australian comedian and television presenter host of the ABC's weekly interview program Enough Rope.

David Marr Journalist (Born July 14, 1947 inSydney)

Peter Singer (born July 6, 1946) Australian philosopher.

John Doyle (1953–): Australian comedian, actor and writer, famous as "Rampaging" Roy Slaven in the comedy duo Roy & HG.

Rachel Griffiths (1968–): Australian Golden Globe- and SAG Award-winning, Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-nominated film and television actress.

Clive James AM (1939–): Australian expatriate author, poet, critic, memoirist, travel writer and cultural commentator, though perhaps best known as a talk show host and television presenter.

Guy Pearce (1967–): Award-winning English-born Australian-raised actor, perhaps best known for his critically acclaimed roles in Rules of Engagement, The Count of Monte Cristo and L.A. Confidential as well as a starring role in The Proposition.[111]

Robyn Williams (1944–): Australian science journalist and broadcaster, interviewer and host of the Science Show on the Australian

Tim Minchin (1975 - ): http://www.timminchin.com (http://www.timminchin.com/) Australian comedian, actor, composer, songwriter and pianist

[ozogg]

Ummm,

Is the list for the famous, or the infamous ? :D

________________ reply separator ________________

David Nicholls?

[davo]

Tim Minchin (1975 - ) http://www.timminchin.com Australian comedian, actor, composer, songwriter and pianist

"‘And if anyone can show me one example in the history of the world of a single spiritual person who has been able to show either empirically or logically the existence of a higher power with any consciousness or interest in the human race or ability to punish or reward humans for their moral choices or that there is any reason other than fear to believe in any version of an afterlife, I will give you my piano, one of my legs and my wife.’"

[David Nicholls]

David Nicholls? That's one answer

Ummm,

Is the list for the famous, or the infamous ? :DAnd that's a better one. :)

[Chasly]

Just curious whether Bob Hawke espoused his athiestic view while holding office?
I would have thought the two to be incongruent.

[GenericBox]

Of course, wasn't around. But even back then, well actually, ESPECIALLY back then, I would assume it would be considered political suicide. But again just speculating. Don't know really.

[boxsey]

I read in the TV week that the bloke that plays Harold in Neighbours is an atheist. Just in the last couple weeks...
Ironic, really, given his character.

[eclectic]

Tim Minchin (1975 - ) http://www.timminchin.com Australian comedian, actor, composer, songwriter and pianist

"‘And if anyone can show me one example in the history of the world of a single spiritual person who has been able to show either empirically or logically the existence of a higher power with any consciousness or interest in the human race or ability to punish or reward humans for their moral choices or that there is any reason other than fear to believe in any version of an afterlife, I will give you my piano, one of my legs and my wife.’"

yay for the Timster! I'm going to see him in April - yippee!!!

[eclectic]

front row center,, Wednesday show. Maybe we can catch up for a coffee/beer??

we're going on the thursday. :( but a beer sometime would be great! sorry we (my partner & I, not the royal we) haven't come up with a perth meet-up suggestion yet.

[Godless Ray]

Where is it read that Denton is atheist?


Godless Ray

[Godless Ray]

You Got Philip Adams down didn/t you?

[davo]

Phillip Adams and Denton were in the original list posted ;)

[Seamus]

Fred Hollows.


"an egalitarian and a self-named anarcho-syndicalist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-syndicalism) who wanted to see an end to the economic disparity which exists between the First and Third Worlds and who believed in no power higher than the best expressions of the human spirit found in personal and social relationships."[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hollows#cite_note-9) (Wiki)



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hollows

[SchizoDeluxe]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Australian_atheists

[davo]

Fred Hollows.
"an egalitarian and a self-named anarcho-syndicalist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-syndicalism) who wanted to see an end to the economic disparity which exists between the First and Third Worlds and who believed in no power higher than the best expressions of the human spirit found in personal and social relationships."[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hollows#cite_note-9) (Wiki)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hollows

<sarcasm> What?! an anarcho-syndicalist? don't they just want to live on the dole and cause chaos? </sarcasm> :)

[Godless Ray]

Sorry guys. I'm going blind!

[Godless Ray]

JUst thought of another one:

What about ABC radio man Terry Lane ?


Godless

[davo]

Sorry guys. I'm going blind!

Happens to me a lot, I try to keep it to weekends

[davo]

Can't find any reference to him being atheist. What do you know Godless?

http://creation.com/changing-lane

[davo]

ha ha...
http://freethinker.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/ex.jpg

I was thinking more like :

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3313/3329762839_d5879a4c39.jpg

[Lee]

Richard Tognetti


(I read it in an ABC magazine.)

[davo]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25082591-5012694,00.html

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh

[balans]

Since one New Zealander has already been included on this list here's another: Sir Edmund Hillary. Someone I already admired, even more so now.

http://www.celebatheists.com/?title=Sir_Edmund_Hillary

[David Nicholls]

Hi folks,

Who wants a small job? (With minuscule wages but with my *eternal* thanks)

Every now and and then if someone could collate the names not on the original list into one post with their birth and death date if necessary and a small description such as butcher, baker or condom maker etc :) I will then edit the original post and implant them.

*I am only coining a phrase with eternal* :D

David

[Lee]

Yeah, it's not like I got nuthin to do! :rolleyes:

[Godless Ray]

Protium,
It is not mentioned specifically, but it seems clear in his book God the Interview. He made statements such as "IN the end we don't need God" "God is a completely useless concept" etc.

Protium, would you like me to contact his former producer? I know he can get a message to Terry.

Godless Ray

[Kid]

What about the guys from The Chasers War on Everything? Just asking, cos I've no idea, but they do have a go at religion quite often. And those science guys, Dr Karl Whatshisname and the other guy with the funny eye? See how good at names I am? I'm not saying they are atheists, just wondered if they were...(this is more like a guessing game...guess the atheist!)

[eclectic]

What about the guys from The Chasers War on Everything? Just asking, cos I've no idea, but they do have a go at religion quite often. And those science guys, Dr Karl Whatshisname and the other guy with the funny eye? See how good at names I am? I'm not saying they are atheists, just wondered if they were...(this is more like a guessing game...guess the atheist!)

I do hope they are atheists.

If anything happens to my future-hubby, my back up plan is the live with the entire chaser team. :)

[Kid]

Hey! that's my plan!:D

[eclectic]

Hey! that's my plan!:D

perhaps we can share? ;)

You mean Adam Spencer, and Dr Karl's surname is Kruszelnicki. Anyone know if they are atheists?

[balans]

In the interview on Weekend Sunrise regarding the "Atheist Buses" in the UK, Samantha Armytage said a few things that indicated her Atheist or Agnostic leanings. Pure speculation on my part of course, and prior to that inerview I had no idea who she was but she may be a potential addition to the list.

[Duffy]

perhaps we can share? ;)

You mean Adam Spencer, and Dr Karl's surname is Kruszelnicki. Anyone know if they are atheists?

I have heard Adam Spencer say he was an atheist on radio but don't know were the proof is. Adam Hills said so in his comedy routine and Jonathan Biggins said it on the ABC last week. And there's John Saffron.

I know Andrew Denton is the list. Did anyone see his doco 'God on my Side'? What is it with those singing brothers with the toupees?? How Denton doesn't laugh, I'll never know.:D

[boxsey]

Anna Bligh is an atheist? Wow. I read somewhere she was going to be a nun once. I know she signed some thing that said she will support pro-choice.....hadn't heard her to be one of us though.

[Vonnie]

Peter Cundall, 1927- , Horticulturist / Television Personality, Gardening Guru (He was born in England, but is a naturalised Australian).

Gardening Australia just isn't the same without him. :(

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bigidea/stories/s1149441.htm

Peter Thompson: That experience—you must have been expecting to spend four years—perhaps even four years in solitary. You speak so positively about that experience and how you were able to fill the time. What about the dark side of it?

Peter Cundall: I never had one. The dark side, I mean, for example, I've never had a religion. Never had. Even as a child, even as an infant, even at a Catholic school. I never believed it. It never made sense. I regarded it as another fairy story. So right from the very word go—I mean I used to go through the motions and sing the hymns and mumble over my magic beads, and that's all I regarded them as, but I never believed. So I never had any…I was on my own feet, right? So there was no real dark side. Just the waiting, and the boredom. There were moments of intense happiness, intense happiness. Almost ludicrous when you think about it.

Peter Thompson: Brought about by what?

Peter Cundall: Because one day, they came in with a bucket full of water, hot water, and told me to scrub out the cell. And you wouldn't believe how happy I was doing that. Just doing that. You've never seen a cell scrubbed so utterly and thoroughly as I did with that. Every corner, every little crack. I mean I was just so happy to be doing something. So happiness is such an incredibly relative thing.

Peter Thompson: When you say you didn't believe in God because that was for you another fairy tale, did you have a belief system that was an alternative to that?

Peter Cundall: No. I didn't even think it was necessary. And still don't. I still don't think it's necessary. And that doesn't mean—I've never been anti-religion—although I went through a period once when I used to wind down the window of my car and shout 'Parasite!' when I saw the priest, you see, but that was only as a kind of a joke more than anything else. But no, I've always been totally self-reliant. I've always respected any kind of religion. I've always, without envy, seen how people are so happy singing their hymns and praying, and yet I've always regarded prayer as like taking part in a telephone conversation with no one at the other end.Vonnie

[Vonnie]

Hamish Blake, 1981- , Comedian

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22729528-7642,00.html

Hamish is not exactly Amish: "I think I'm quite the atheist. As a kid, I looked at various spiritual beliefs and went, 'I just don't buy that'."Lionel Murphy (1922 - 1986), QC (Queen's Counsel) [I can't find a link off-hand - I know they're out there, as I've quoted him before - but everyone knows he was atheist, anyway.]

Bill Hayden (1933- ), Ex-Governor General

http://www.hsnsw.asn.au/ahoy.html

As Governer General he publicly declared himself an atheist and spoke, without fear despite criticism, in favour of voluntary euthanasia and other causes supported by Humanists. Whether speaking in Australia or abroad, he advocated peace and human rights, and condemned injustice, intolerance and discrimination.Philip Nitschke, (1947- ), Medical practitioner and voluntary euthanasia campaigner

Paul Hester, (1959 – 2005), Musician

http://www.celebatheists.com/?title=Paul_Hester

Hester was a member of the disbanded New Zealand/Australian band Crowded House. In a September 30, 1993 interview on MTV Europe the following Q&A took place:

Q: Do you believe in God?

Paul: No! My father used try to get me to go to Sunday school but I wouldn't.

Vonnie

[Chasly]

I am pretty sure that Dr.Karl whatever his name does believe in something.
I saw it on "Compass" recently. Unfotunately I didn't pay too much attention to it because we had visitors but I do remember shaking my head at something he said and saying to myself, ".....but you're supposed to be a f....g scientist!"

[boxsey]

Really? I met him last year, and asked questions about the big bang and evolution etc, and while i can't verbartim remember his replies, I got no sense of faith from it. That would knock my socks off if he was a deist.

[Chasly]

http://www.abc.net.au/compass/s2488209.htm


Geraldine Doogue
Well ladies and gentlemen thank you very much indeed for joining us for this 21th Birthday of Compass. I really appreciate you making the time.
Beliefs and spirituality,

Geraldine Doogue
Karl you probably sniff at the whole idea of a spirituality do you?
Karl Kruszelnicki
No, I’m fully prepared to believe in the “Church of God the Utterly Indifferent who sets the universe going and says you’re on your own kids.
Karl Kruszelnicki
There’s something bigger. Like the universe couldn’t have started together. It could have started itself. So either our universe is part of a bigger universe or dot, dot, dot. So I put myself in the woozy agnostic thing I’m sorry.

Geraldine Doogue
I thought you were more scientifically rigorous than that.

Karl Kruszelnicki
I’m very rigorous. I definitely don’t know.

[balans]

Geraldine Doogue
I thought you were more scientifically rigorous than that.

Karl Kruszelnicki
I’m very rigorous. I definitely don’t know.

I like his response to this question, although I'm sure idiots will see this honesty as a failing on the part of science (and therefore proof of god wtf?). I on the other hand see the admission of not knowing everything as the strength of the scientific method.

[Duffy]

Karl Kruszelnicki
I’m very rigorous. I definitely don’t know.

I find credibility in his honest assessment. I reckon there a lesson in that for both sides of the theist debate.

[Chasly]

How can an agnostic scientist possibly garner any praise from an athiest?

I must be missing something......

[balans]

How can an agnostic scientist possibly garner any praise from an athiest?

I must be missing something......

I honestly don't know if there is somesort of a god or not, I find it highly unlikely that there is, and incredibly highly unlikely to the power of a very big number that any of the religions are anything more than a strange social phenomenon.

His views seem perfectly reasonable to me.

[boxsey]

Yah. Like a 6.9 on the scale.

[kencooke]

Bill Hayden

[kencooke]

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki

Prof Paul Davies
PAUL DAVIES: That's right. As a scientist I don't like the idea of a god who will intervene from time to time in the workings of the universe. It seems to me that greatest evidence we have for some deeper meaning or purpose in the universe is the existence of natural laws that are capable of bringing the universe into being and life into being, without the need for miraculous intervention . So I see it as exactly the other way round.
The world today. (http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/stories/s108220.htm). Davies might more accurately be described as a "cosmic deist" or a "modern pantheist".

Prof Peter Singer
See debate with Dinesh D'Souza on youtube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phgb67NAaHA)

[youngmoigle]

I definitely remember Bob Hawke saying (while he was Prime Minister) that he was an agnostic.

[loubert]

Bad boy of robotics ... Rodney Brooks.


just a website to see that there are others in the big wide world.

http://machineslikeus.com/famous-atheists.html
:D:D:D

[Lee]

From Wikipedia


Phillip Adams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip_Adams)
Lyn Allison (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyn_Allison)
Wil Anderson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wil_Anderson)



Russell Blackford (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Blackford)
Hamish Blake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamish_Blake)
Damien Broderick (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damien_Broderick)



Richard Carleton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Carleton)
Alan Carpenter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Carpenter)
David Chalmers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Chalmers)
Noel Counihan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noel_Counihan)
Eva Cox (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Cox)



Andrew Denton (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Denton)
Catherine Deveny (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Deveny)



Greg Egan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Egan)



Kieran Galvin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kieran_Galvin)
Percy Grainger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Grainger)
Germaine Greer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germaine_Greer)
Rachel Griffiths (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Griffiths)
Dick Gross (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Gross)



Andrew Hansen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Hansen)
John Harsanyi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Harsanyi)
Bill Hayden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Hayden)
Dorothy Hewett (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Hewett)
Ian Hunter (politician) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Hunter_%28politician%29)



Clive James (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_James)



Mark Latham (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Latham)
Carmen Lawrence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen_Lawrence)
Antony Loewenstein (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antony_Loewenstein)



Paul McDermott (comedian) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McDermott_%28comedian%29)
J. L. Mackie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._L._Mackie)
Tim Minchin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Minchin)



Montague Miller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montague_Miller)



Graham Oppy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Oppy)



Guy Pearce (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Pearce)



Cameron Reilly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_Reilly)
Ian Robinson (rationalist) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Robinson_%28rationalist%29)



Graeme Samuel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeme_Samuel)
Jill Singer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Singer)
Peter Singer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Singer)



Chris Taylor (comedian) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Taylor_%28comedian%29)



Frederick Vosper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Vosper)



Robyn Williams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robyn_Williams)
Sean Williams (author) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Williams_%28author%29)
Brian Wilshire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Wilshire)
Edward Woodward (jurist) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Woodward_%28jurist%29)

[GenericBox]

Hamish but no Andy?

[Kerri-Lee]

perhaps we can share? ;)

You mean Adam Spencer, and Dr Karl's surname is Kruszelnicki. Anyone know if they are atheists?

I actually think that Dr Karl does believe in god because I heard him on Triple J last year talking about going on a pilgrimage. He also gave a very poor rational as to why scientists can still believe in god (can't remember exactly what he said). Saying that, I have heard him say that the whole saga of the Israelites fleeing Egypt didn't happen because the Egyptians didn't mention it. He gave a plausible scientific explanation as to how whoever's staff could have turned into a snake(it was a snake in the first place and then off he went with the explanation). Maybe contact him, he seems approachable.

[Kerri-Lee]

What about Barry Humphries? He seems a logical choice.

[cheree]

how can anyone forget derryn hinch????

[cheree]

Didntt Richad Carlton make a doco once about how he found religion?? I remember this whole thing about stigmata etc, and apparently he became religious.
If it was him im thinking of, glad to see it didnt last. (r.i.p)
:rolleyes:
Hi folks,


The AFA is compiling a list of famous Australian Atheists. Below are some for starters. Can you add to it? No, Protium is not famous enough... yet! :)


David



Phillip Adams (1939–): Australian broadcaster, writer, film-maker, left-wing radical thinker and iconoclast. He was the Australian Humanist of the Year in 1987.

Sir Mark Oliphant (8 October 1901 – 14 July 2000) Australian physicist and humanitarian.

Wil Anderson (1974–): Australian comedian, radio presenter, and former host of The Glass House.

Richard Carleton (1943–2006): Current affairs journalist for Australia’s 60 Minutes TV program.

Bob Brown (Born 27 December 1944), Australian Senator Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens

Bob Hawke Prime Minister of Australia 1983 1984 1987 1990 (Born 9 December 1929)

Andrew Denton (1960–): Australian comedian and television presenter host of the ABC's weekly interview program Enough Rope.

David Marr Journalist (Born July 14, 1947 inSydney)

Peter Singer (born July 6, 1946) Australian philosopher.

John Doyle (1953–): Australian comedian, actor and writer, famous as "Rampaging" Roy Slaven in the comedy duo Roy & HG.

Rachel Griffiths (1968–): Australian Golden Globe- and SAG Award-winning, Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-nominated film and television actress.

Clive James AM (1939–): Australian expatriate author, poet, critic, memoirist, travel writer and cultural commentator, though perhaps best known as a talk show host and television presenter.

Guy Pearce (1967–): Award-winning English-born Australian-raised actor, perhaps best known for his critically acclaimed roles in Rules of Engagement, The Count of Monte Cristo and L.A. Confidential as well as a starring role in The Proposition.[111]

Robyn Williams (1944–): Australian science journalist and broadcaster, interviewer and host of the Science Show on the Australian

Tim Minchin (1975 - ): http://www.timminchin.com (http://www.timminchin.com/) Australian comedian, actor, composer, songwriter and pianist

[davo]

how can anyone forget derryn hinch????

There's violence on the television
And letter bombs in the mail:
But things can't be all that bad
'Cos Derryn Hinch went to jail.

Famine eats up children;
The peace talks always fail:
But things can't be all that bad
'Cos Derryn Hinch went to jail.

You might have double malaria -
Doctors see you and go pale:
But things can't be all that bad
'Cos Derryn Hinch went to jail.

Christ Himself on the cross
Told the guy banging in the nail:
"Mate, things can't be all that bad
'Cos Derryn Hinch went to jail."

I can put up with Ronald Reagan
I can put up with Micham Begin
I can put up with tetraplegia
I can put up with total amnesia
I can put up with black spiky hair
I can put up with germ warfare
I can put up with Chasers and Inflation
I can put up with hyperventilation
I can put up with bowel dysfunction
I can put up with nuclear destruction
I can put up with Mike Willesse - well, at a pinch:

But one thing I can not put up with is ..

Derryn fucking Hinch.




(gotta love TISM;)

[davo]

ok I had to post that little bit of australiana .. but anyway yea Derryn is an atheist :

"And speaking of religion: What about the separation of Church and state? And I am not just saying this because I am an atheist."

http://www.hinch.net/articles_archive04/the_government_is_screwing_you.htm

[Seamus]

how can anyone forget derryn hinch????

Sadly, no.:cool:

[davo]

thank fsm they are kiwi

[cheree]

HAHA!! Come on...I reckon Derryn's great. Or is that something i should have kept to myself???:o

[davo]

HAHA!! Come on...I reckon Derryn's great. Or is that something i should have kept to myself???:o

lol no, let it out you will feel better ;)

plus! the more cats to herd the better! :)

[davo]

Paula Steel

http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/music/high-hopes-for-verve-of-steel/2009/05/14/1241894089078.html

[Mister Pervert]

"Karl Kruszelnicki
I’m very rigorous. I definitely don’t know."

I find credibility in his honest assessment. I reckon there a lesson in that for both sides of the theist debate.


I agree. Carl Sagan held the same view and refused to be pigeonholed as an atheist. From memory, Sagan's stock answer to the question was always, "I don't know enough to call myself an atheist."

For a scientist to claim any absolute certainty there is no 'god' is to approach science with a pre-existing belief - and that's never good science. It doesn't prevent one from still being an atheist because the probability of 'god' existing is extremely low. But absolutes are the stuff of fundamentalism, both theist and atheist.

[Mister Pervert]

Firstly, I've been unsuccessful in finding any quotes to back this up, but Geoffrey Robertson QC is (likely) an atheist.

Secondly, Peter Cundall (from the ABC Gardening show) was named earlier in the thread as an atheist, but despite his obvious atheistic stance against organized religion, he is (as far as I know) a pagan.

[gibreel farishta]

Dear Carl Sagan, i contend that a giant snake laid an egg and it became the world that we live in .
do you know enough about that to have an opinion
bit late now i suppose.

[gibreel farishta]

Dear Gibreel, put me down as agsnakist. Carl

[Kid]

Dear Carl Sagan, i contend that a giant snake laid an egg and it became the world that we live in .
do you know enough about that to have an opinion
bit late now i suppose.

A bit late, but spot on...

oh, I just don't know about Thor the Thunder god; I just don't know! don't have all the facts, how can I possibly know or say about the nature of Thor? or Zeus? I just don't know! I just don't know enough to say if there's a Unicorn in the forest or not...how can we possibly know?

and so why does this "God" of the Xians get a special place of 'I just don't know'? What makes this 'god' so damn special that ags have to go around saying...Oh, how can we know? We can't know...
fuck off...
God carries nothing more than the status of a mythical being, created by human beings the same as Thor and Zeus...and so we can know about this God...and yet!! "GOD" gets a special place of reverence, in the 'how can we know'? box. I find that pretentious bullcrap...it is to me a phony position to take. I'm what is known as a positive atheist, that is I break the atheist rules by claiming there is no god...tough...cos if Xians are allowed to make statements to the positive claim "There is a God" without any evidence, then so can I claim 'there is no god'...of any kind. so there, :p

[gibreel farishta]

whats this about agnostic scientists being scientificaly rigourous?
are atheist scientists lax. personaly i just dont think they have the guts of people like dawkins to come out. oooh the christians might not like me
.

[eclectic]

A bit late, but spot on...

oh, I just don't know about Thor the Thunder god; I just don't know! don't have all the facts, how can I possibly know or say about the nature of Thor? or Zeus? I just don't know! I just don't know enough to say if there's a Unicorn in the forest or not...how can we possibly know?

and so why does this "God" of the Xians get a special place of 'I just don't know'? What makes this 'god' so damn special that ags have to go around saying...Oh, how can we know? We can't know...
fuck off...
God carries nothing more than the status of a mythical being, created by human beings the same as Thor and Zeus...and so we can know about this God...and yet!! "GOD" gets a special place of reverence, in the 'how can we know'? box. I find that pretentious bullcrap...it is to me a phony position to take. I'm what is known as a positive atheist, that is I break the atheist rules by claiming there is no god...tough...cos if Xians are allowed to make statements to the positive claim "There is a God" without any evidence, then so can I claim 'there is no god'...of any kind. so there, :p

But is Dr Karl saying that? Is he talking about any specific god, or is he just saying that perhaps there is SOME form of god, and that is what he cannot say for sure about?

[Kid]

Hi Ec, actually, my comment was aimed at agnosticism per se, rather than at Dr Karl, who I know nothing about in regards to his religious or not views. It was just me having a go at agnosticsm in general. I think it's a cop out that does contain a bit of confusion in regards to the thing that they 'can't know about'...exactly what is this thing they can't or don't about, or can never know about? that's all...:)

[Atrax Robustus]

Ken Ham

(One) of my dreams is that someday he will fess up and let everyone know that he was only in it for the money after all!:D

[gibreel farishta]

kid i thought it was a great post. it might as well have referred to Dr. K, i watched the compass programe and he was referring to the christian god.
he is famous for discovering why belly button lint is blue and does a good job bringing kids to science, maybey by being agnostic he gets to talk in xtian schools?

[Merlin]

Dr Karl is an atheist as far as Theistic notions of God are concerned but agnostic regarding Deistic notions.

Another famous Aussie atheist is Richard Neville - writer, activist, social commentator.

Edit: Someone queried whether Richard Carleton was still an atheist. As far as I know he is. I think the person confused him with Mike Willisee who did reconvert after doing a miracles series.

Additionally someone queried if Bob Hawke was a public atheist while Prime Minister, he indeed was a public atheist/agnostic throughout his political career. As was Neville Rann and Bill Hayden. In fact it is a fairly recent phenomenon to have religion be a selling point for politicians in Australia and atheism/agnosticism were more commonly admitted in Australian politics from the 70's up until the mid 90's where religious block voting started to become a bigger issue.

[Praxis]

I haven't read the whole thread but is my fave gal, Catherine Deveny on the list? She's famous ... sorta, kinda.

Andrew Hansen from The Chaser is an atheist I think and so is Craig Reucassell. Sadly, Julian Morrow is not (he was on the cover of some Catholic magazine not so long ago - I was very disappointed).

And of course, the fabulous and "ooooooh, he doesn't 'alf 'ave a twinkle in 'is eye!!" original naughty boy, Paul McDermott.

Again, these people may have already been mentioned in previous posts but I'm too damned lazy to go back through and check :)

[atheist_angel]

I'm glad someone bumped this thread up, because didn't know about most of these people. Tim Minchin and Catherine Deveny are the ones I'm most familiar with. We really should update and put all the names on a single list.

[DanielV]

What about the guys from The Chasers War on Everything? Just asking, cos I've no idea, but they do have a go at religion quite often. And those science guys, Dr Karl Whatshisname and the other guy with the funny eye? See how good at names I am? I'm not saying they are atheists, just wondered if they were...(this is more like a guessing game...guess the atheist!)

Yeah, Andrew Hansen, the most talented Chaser, in my opinion!

[Loki]

While you would think the world has moved forward, Australian scientists working for government (at least) need to be very careful re the god thing if they like having a job. There are many at higher levels who resemble Abbott. Been there, run from that.

[Atrax Robustus]

Something just crossed my mind on this subject . . .

Is anybody aware of famous indigenous Australian atheists?

[SchizoDeluxe]

Something just crossed my mind on this subject . . .

Is anybody aware of famous indigenous Australian atheists?

That would be interesting to know, their culture has a very spiritual aspect to it but if there is any, you would think those living in poor conditions up north of WA would have abandoned any belief of god a long time ago. One would think anyway. I have never heard of any aboriginal that has abandoned those beliefs though but every culture has a non-believer in their group.

[atheist echo]

Don't know if she's been mentioned yet but comedienne and journalist Catherine Deveny (who appeared on Q and A a couple of weeks back)

[atheist echo]

I'm glad someone bumped this thread up, because didn't know about most of these people. Tim Minchin and Catherine Deveny are the ones I'm most familiar with. We really should update and put all the names on a single list.
Yes you beat me to it!

[Praxis]

Don't know if she's been mentioned yet but comedienne and journalist Catherine Deveny (who appeared on Q and A a couple of weeks back)
um yeah ... just a little bit ... a lot ... some of us here are big fans of CD (and some of us went to pathetic jelly on getting to meet her at the GAC dinner :o)

[Fearless]

um yeah ... just a little bit ... a lot ... some of us here are big fans of CD (and some of us went to pathetic jelly on getting to meet her at the GAC dinner :o)

That's right! you were mid sentence and noticed her walk through the middle of the tables... you stopped talking, started murmuring then I think you were not sure whether to take your eyes off her to go grab your camera or chase her down and tackler her to the ground for an enthusiastic hug.

You ended up standing there murmuring... somewhat mesmerised
:p

[atheist echo]

um yeah ... just a little bit ... a lot ... some of us here are big fans of CD (and some of us went to pathetic jelly on getting to meet her at the GAC dinner :o)
Sorry. Like I said wasn't sure. She's so cool.:cool:

[iamjustme]

Ok, probably only famous to the oldier people on here, but he did win a minor Logie once and is on a stamp so since he's my granddad I've got to mention him:

John (Jack) Fegan (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0270388/)- the actor who played Inspector Connolly on Homicide in the early 70s.

[deesl4e]

John Safran. Not 100% sure though.

[iamjustme]

John Safran. Not 100% sure though.

He spends a lot of time harping on the fact he's Jewish. Then again, I know plenty of athiest Jews (ie cultural Jews but not religious ones) so that's not much of an indicator.

[atheist_angel]

John Safran. Not 100% sure though.Maybe he's a Secular Jew...

@03:00 it makes you wonder. :)
U58wgn-9Y3c

[Peter C Jones]

Bob Hawke is an agnostic as is Gough Whitlam (so is Mark Latham). I don't know if we can claim these people. Other Australian politicians that have declared themselves as Atheists include Greg Combet and Nicola Roxan.

[Spud Henley]

Mikey Robinbs from Good New Week.
Ex PM Gough Whitlam I think, at least agnostic.
Oh ofcourse there's me. My wife thinks I'm famous.

[Yarra]

Ian Plimer:

Ian Rutherford Plimer (born February 12, 1946) is an Australian (http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/wiki/Australia) geologist (http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/wiki/Geologist), academic and businessman. He was first known as a prominent critic of creationism (http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/wiki/Creationism), but more recently he has been known for his skeptical views on global warming. He has published approximately 60 academic papers and six books, including his book on the global warming debate, Heaven and Earth — Global Warming: The Missing Science (http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/wiki/Heaven_and_Earth_(book)). He is a director of three mining companies.

[Acepanno]

How about DAME ELISABETH MURDOCH: "No person or God need be worshiped for us to live in amazement at the beauty and immensity of creation. I think that's good." from her Andrew Denton Elders interview. I remember it at the time, before I 'came out' as an atheist. Found it inspiring.

[geezer]

Does The Chaser's Julian Morrow qualify? He's 'fairly' famous, I guess, at least to those who watch the ABC :)

[Praxis]

Wot? You're a famous Aus Atheist now are you? :p

[kencooke]

Julia Gillard. PM.

[kencooke]

David Nicholls.

[Goldenmane]

Me, goddamit.

:D

[Secme]

Josh Thomas, comedian, Gen Y team captain on Talking About your generation.
Famously said "Having a Christian threaten me with hell is like having a hippy threaten to punch me in the aura"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Thomas_%28comedian%29

[Podblack]

This been bumped again? :)
Martin Bridgstock, author of Beyond Belief (http://www.cambridge.org/aus/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521758932&ss=fro)
Michael McRae, author of Tribal Science
and Daniel Keogh of Hungry Beast / writer for Zapruder's Other Films website.

[FSM]

I only have around 10,000 or so regular weekly viewers between my Video blog and radio show.
When do I get famous enough to make the list? :D *jumping up and down*

Dave.

[Worldslaziestbusker]

I only have around 10,000 or so regular weekly viewers between my Video blog and radio show.
When do I get famous enough to make the list? :D *jumping up and down*

Dave.

And you are?
Just kidding.
Does having a wikipedia page constitute auto-nomnomnomination?

[Podblack]

And you are?
Just kidding.
Does having a wikipedia page constitute auto-nomnomnomination?

I just rescued a friend's Wikipedia page from being deleted - she's contributed a lot more to science and rationalism that I have. :/

Oh - Dr Karen Stollznow, the Point of Inquiry podcast host, Monster Talk podcast host and author of 'The Naked Skeptic' column on CSICOP and well-established paranormal investigator. :)

[c2105026]

Well...In one of schrodingers (was it?) alternate universes I may well be the President of the Australian Democratic Republic :p