Joseph McCabe

Date of Birth: November 12, 1867

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: January 10, 1955

Biography

Joseph McCabe was an influential English writer, born on November 12, 1867. Initially educated for the priesthood, he became a Roman Catholic priest but later turned away from religion entirely, becoming a prominent advocate of secularism and atheism. McCabe was a prolific writer, with more than 250 books and pamphlets to his name, covering subjects from religion and philosophy to science and history. His works often challenged traditional religious beliefs and promoted rational thought. He was a member of several freethought organizations and contributed to many secularist publications. Known for his clear, incisive writing style, McCabe left a lasting impact on the freethought movement in the 20th century.

5 Interesting Facts about Joseph McCabe

1. Joseph McCabe was fluent in several languages, including Latin, Greek, German, and French.

2. He was ordained as a priest in 1890 but left the priesthood in 1896 due to his growing skepticism.

3. McCabe translated numerous works from German and French into English, including works by Ernst Haeckel.

4. He was a founding member of the Rationalist Press Association.

5. McCabe once debated notable Catholic apologist G.K. Chesterton.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Joseph McCabe

1. “The making of a philosopher is not merely a matter of learning and study, but of suffering.”

2. “Science has done more for the development of Western civilization in one hundred years than Christianity did in eighteen hundred years.”

3. “Faith is the surrender of the mind; it’s the surrender of reason, it’s the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other mammals.”

4. “The worst enemy of life, freedom, and the common decencies is total anarchy; their second worst enemy is total efficiency.”

5. “Freethought is not just the rejection of gods, but the acceptance of reality.”