In an unconstitutional partnership with the state, the church can impose the most irresistible, if covert, controls conceivable.

I can't pinpoint a period in history or a place in the universe where religion has actually helped the welfare of man.

Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer.

Atheism is a very positive affirmation of man's ability to think for himself, to do for himself, to find answers to his own problems.

There are certain bodily functions of mine which I will not allow to be supervised. One of these is eating. Nobody's going to license me to do this. Another one is bodily disposals. I will defecate and urinate when I damn well please and as the spirit -and the physical necessity -moves me. And my sex life is peculiarly my own. I will engage in sexual activity with a consenting male any time and any place I damn well please.

I'm saying that there's absolutely no conclusive evidence that Jesus ever really existed, even as a mortal. I don't believe he was a historical figure at all.

Even if I believed there was a real Jesus, I wouldn't fall for that line of hogwash. The "Virgin" Mary should get a posthumous medal for telling the biggest goddamn lie that was ever told. Anybody who believes that will believe that the moon is made out of green cheese.