The greatest atheist in history

[Artois]

I don't propose that he was the greatest atheist, but Douglas Adams (Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy) tickled my fancy with a few of his atheistic quotes.  I believe he considered himself a 'radical' atheist to differentiate himself from the lily livered, wishy-washy atheists... or was he a 'fundamentalist' atheist, I can't remember.

[johannhowitzer]

He has some interesting things to say on both sides of the fence.  The whole "set out to prove that black is white, and got killed at the next zebra crossing" had me in stitches.  Once I knew what a zebra crossing was...

[Boingo]

Do you mean the greatest advocate of atheism, or the greatest person who also happened to be an atheist?

To be honest, I was being a bit vague about this--I wanted to see if people would advance nominations of strident atheists ("great" for being loud atheists) or people who were great and happened to be atheist (great and, independently, atheist).  Like you, I think the latter makes a better candidate for the title of greatest.

[asymmetry]

Bill Hicks great stand-up comedian, famous for saying things directly. RIP.

[EvaRia]

Terry Pratchett!

OMG yes!

Or from his book the Last Continent, the God of Evolution!

"Sorry? You're an atheist God?"

[Bloodshadow]

Due to my melancholic and cynical nature, I am repulsed and annoyed by any and all forms of faith. My monstrously huge ego would proclaim myself to be the greatest atheist ever, but I'm pretty sure there are actually people who hate religion.

[theloconate]

 CARL SAGAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Uppercut]

My choice for greatest atheist is myself. I really am the greatest person to ever exist.

slayer for musicians

I don't know about the rest of Slayer but Tom Araya is a practicing Catholic.

OK, then I guess this makes no sense to me.  Never really thought of atheism as a cause to be advanced

I wouldn't say atheism is a cause to be advanced, but I'd say skepticism is; and most skeptics I know happen to be atheists for a reason.

[Glitch]

OK, then I guess this makes no sense to me.  Never really thought of atheism as a cause to be advanced.

...

And yet you regularly make threads advancing your religion?


Oh, and Carl Sagan.  Definitely.

[theloconate]

OK, then I guess this makes no sense to me.  Never really thought of atheism as a cause to be advanced.

...

And yet you regularly make threads advancing your religion?


Oh, and Carl Sagan.  Definitely.

CARL SAGAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[johannhowitzer]

And yet you regularly make threads advancing your religion?

Oh gee, we must be reading different forums, because none of the threads in the religion section were started by me.

Also, I regularly make posts about various worldviews - but, naturally, people pick out the posts that disagree with their own worldview and make me their opponent.  I still haven't given any real evidence of what I actually believe in, just stuff you could twist into a profession of belief in some worldview.  Y'know, if I'm an atheist, the post you quoted makes just as much sense... 

I believe in one thing above all else: the pursuit of truth, no matter what form it may take.  I keep resisting all this pigeonholing, but I guess there isn't really any point, since it doesn't actually affect me.  By all means, assume away.

[Chironex]

CARL SAGAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He was agnostic as far as I know. He was a great person though.

Terry Pratchett is my favorite writer (and maybe the greatest person in history :3). I didn't even know that he used to be an atheist. Even if he still was one, I'd probably still like him. (I mean "was" as in "he is still alive but he is no longer an atheist according to some articles")

The first name that comes to me when I hear "the greatest atheist" is Richard Dawkins.