Atheism Argued Successfully by Two Quotations

The study of theology, as it stands in the Christian churches, is the study of nothing; it is founded on nothing; it rests on no principles; it proceeds by no authority; it has no data; it can demonstrate nothing; and it admits of no conclusion. — Thomas Paine

I find this to be a refreshingly honest look at what religion really is, and to refute the most common counter-argument to this position (“it makes people happy”) I offer another penetrating quote:

The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. — George Bernard Shaw

So, yes, it makes some people happy, but this does not change the fact that it’s based on complete fantasy, and I would argue the delusional belief that the creator of the universe cares personally for your life is no foundation on which to build a society.

In summary:

1. Religion is based on absolute fantasy.
2. Yes, it helps people through altered perception of the world, but so do three glasses of wine.

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