The following is a list of fictional atheists and agnostics limited to notable characters who have, either through self-admission within canon works or through admission of the character creator(s), been associated with a disbelief in a supreme deity or follow an agnostic approach toward religious matters.
Literature NameBookAuthorNotesRefsMorris BellamyFinders KeepersStephen KingA young murderer obsessed with John Rothstein's books, who eventually kills and robs him. He states that he does not believe in God.Holden CaulfieldThe Catcher in the RyeJ.D. SalingerThe 17-year-old protagonist of author J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. He is universally recognized for his resistance to growing older and desire to protect childhood innocence. Since the book's 1951 publication, Holden has become an icon for teenage rebellion and angst, and now stands among the most important characters of 20th-century American literature. The name Holden Caulfield, as shown below, was used in an unpublished short story written in 1942 and first appeared in print in 1945.Angel ClareTess of the d'UrbervillesThomas HardyAngel Clare, the love interest of Tess, admits to his father, a reverend, that he would not like to become a reverend after Mr. Clare finds a book that is "moral" but not "religious." Angel proceeds to tell him that he cannot follow the Church while "she refuses to liberate her mind from an untenable redemptive theolatry." When Tess assumes Angel Clare's religion, or lack thereof, she expresses that she and her husband do not "believe in anything spiritual." When she explains Angel Clare's reasoning for his lack of faith, Tess "paralleled" work from "Dictionnaire Philosophique to Huxley's Essays." Thomas Huxley created the concept of agnosticism, and Voltaire, the writer of The Dictionnaire, attacked many aspects of Christianity.Tess DurbeyfieldTess of the d'UrbervillesThomas HardyThe main protagonist of the novel, a young peasant who was raped by a noble. After her marriage to Angel Clare, she converts to atheism.Holly GibneyMr. Mercedes trilogy, The Outsider, If It Bleeds, Holly, Never FlinchStephen KingA private investigator with autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder and one of the most recurring characters in King's 21-century mythos. In End of Watch, she states that although she does not believe in God, she will pray for Bill Hodges.Brady HartsfieldMr. MercedesStephen KingAn American 30-year-old serial mass murderer. He stopped believing in a god after killing his younger brother Frankie.Ivan Fyodorovich KaramazovThe Brothers KaramazovFyodor DostoevskyOne of the titular brothers and the most amoral one. Ivan's agnosticism stands in contrast to his half-brother's, Alyosha, devotion.Alexei Nilych KirillovDemonsFyodor DostoevskyA mentally ill socialist, who does not believe in God and desires the whole world to commit suicide and set itself free from fear.MeursaultThe StrangerAlbert CamusAn Algerian ("a citizen of France domiciled in North Africa, a man of the Mediterranean, an homme du midi yet one who hardly partakes of the traditional Mediterranean culture") who seemingly irrationally kills an Arab man whom he recognizes in French Algiers. The story is divided into two parts: Meursault's first-person narrative view before and after the murder, respectively.Dr. Bernard RieuxThe PlagueAlbert CamusThe main character of the book, Rieux is a doctor who works devotedly throughout the book fighting the plague to the point of perpetual exhaustion. He is trustworthy, practical, and a humanist. MothwingWarrior CatsErin HunterMothwing lacked belief in StarClan ever since her brother, Hawkfrost, admitted to faking the sign which led to her becoming a medicine cat. She usually hides her lack of faith, believing that the Clans would not stand for a medicine cat who did not believe in StarClan (as communing with StarClan is normally a large part of a medicine cat's duties).Howard RoarkThe FountainheadAyn RandAn architect born in 1900, Roark is a model of artistic integrity, doing things in the way he thinks is right rather than in the conventional way. He is oblivious to social norms and pressures.Nikolai Vsevolodich StavroginDemonsFyodor DostoevskyA socialistic revolutionist. He admits he does not believe in God in his talk with Shatov.Noirtier de VillefortThe Count of Monte CristoAlexandre DumasA former Jacobite, he is an atheist, as revealed in the second half of the novel.Taryn StrayerWhite Nights, Black Paradise Sikivu HutchinsonAn African American woman non-believer and fictional member of the San Francisco-based Peoples Temple church at the center of the Jonestown, Guyana massacre tragedyDagny TaggartAtlas ShruggedAyn RandTaggart mentions that the only form of a prayer she knows is looking at her ancestor's statue. Jasnah KholinThe Stormlight ArchiveBrandon SandersonJasnah is a prominent historian and powerful politician. While she acknowledges that there are powerful being in her universe, she does not believe that a true omnipotent God exists.
Comics NameDebutCreator(s)NotesAnarkyDetective Comics No.608(Nov. 1989)Alan GrantNorm Breyfogle A.k.a. Lonnie Machin, an ambiguous superhero/villain in publications of DC Comics.Beta Ray BillAn alien superhero from Marvel Comics, who believes that if something even dwells in the heavens, it is pointless to worship that "something".Secret Invasion Aftermath: Beta Ray Bill - The Green of Eden (2009), by Kieron Gillen; Bill states that when he looks at the heavens, he considers them to be empty – "and, if not empty, I find the idea of worshipping whatever dwells there, obscene."Booster GoldA.k.a. Michael Jon Carter, a superhero in publications from DC Comics.Justice League International Annual #2Dr. ManhattanFrom the graphic novel and Watchmen,In Chapter IV reveals that he doesn't think there is a God who thinks that God does not exist, has also said that he is nothing like God.Johnny CJohnny the Homicidal ManiacJhonen VasquezSerial killer in Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.Maggie GreeneThe Walking Dead Issue 10(July 2004) Robert KirkmanA character who founded in The Walking DeadIron ManTales of Suspense Issue 39 (March 1, 1968)A.k.a. Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark, a superhero in the Marvel Universe.Eugene PorterThe Walking Dead Issue 53(October 10, 2008) Robert KirkmanA character in The Walking DeadRorschach In the graphic novel Watchmen, this character says that they "Looked at sky through smoke heavy with human fat and God was not there. The cold, suffocating dark goes on forever, and we are alone"Hank PymA.k.a. "Ant Man", a Marvel Comics character who founded in The AvengersTheGodlessHeathen.com: The Leading The Godless Heathen Site on the NetSpider-Man 2099 (Miguel O'Hara)Peter David, Rick LeonardiMiguel O'Hara does not believe in God, but still calls on him.Mister TerrificA.k.a. Michael Holt, a superhero in the DC Comics Universe.Infinite Crisis # 5, pg. 1Savage DragonSuperhero who stars in his eponymous series from Image Comics.Erik Larsen. The Savage Dragon #31Starman (Ted Knight)Superhero from DC Comics and member of the JSA.JSA Returns #9 All-Star ComicsColossus/Piotr RasputinLen Wein, Dave CockrumMember of the X-Men, originating from Communist Russia, hence his atheism.ZoroEiichiro Oda
Video games NameGameNotesRefsEmperor of MankindWarhammerThe Emperor saw religions as irrational superstitions that divided Humanity. To replace the old traditions of religion and faith he created an atheistic ideology known as Imperial Truth.Margit EberbachMaji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!One of the heroines who is a German soilder and stated (at least in her route) to be an atheist.Ted StrayerFallout 3 A non-player character living in Rivet City. When Rev. Clifford tries to convince Strayer to believe in God, he responds that there is "no way in hell".Andrew RyanBioShock Ryan created the underwater city of Rapture as a refuge from a world consumed by government, altruism and religion. He explicitly states that he does not believe in God.SibrandAssassin's Creed In his last words to Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad after the latter dealt with the Teutonic knight with his Hidden Blade and said that he would be safe in the arms of God soon enough, Sibrand replied that there was nothing waiting for him in the end, not even God or the afterlife, that they did not even exist and that it was the one thing what he feared most.Rodrigo BorgiaAssassin's Creed II During his duel with Ezio Auditore da Firenze at the Vatican Vault, after failing to activate the Vault door because he did not have any First Civilization DNA in him, Rodrigo told to Ezio in the middle of the duel that he looked for God in the vault, shocking Ezio, which led to the latter to ask whether God was really in the Vault. Rodrigo replied that God being in the Vatican vault was a more logical answer and far more interesting than God being in the sky with angels singing cherubim all around. Ezio then asked what God would do once Rodrigo entered the vault. Rodrigo replied he was only after power, which Ezio asked whether God would give it up easily. Rodrigo then told that whatever lay beyond the Vault wall would not be able to resist the Staff and Apple and that they were made for felling gods. Ezio, being already a believer, replied that God was omniscient and omnipotent, and that mere artifacts could not harm Him, to which Rodrigo accused Ezio that he took up the image of God from other men. Ezio was shocked to learn of Rodrigo's atheism and rejection of the Bible, despite his papacy. Rodrigo then scoffed that Ezio was still too naive. Rodrigo then replied: "I became Pope because it gave me ACCESS. It gave me POWER. Do you think I believe a single god-damned word of that ridiculous book? It's all lies and superstition. Just like every OTHER religious tract written over the past ten thousand years."Al MualimAssassin's CreedDuring his final fight with Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad in Masyaf and brief talks about the Apple of Eden while the latter was bound by the Apple's powers, Al Mualim confirmed that Altaïr was immune to the effects of the Pieces of Eden, to which Altaïr asked what illusion it was. Al Mualim then denies the existence of any God whatsoever, by saying: "Is it any less real than the phantoms the Saracens and Crusaders follow now? Those craven Gods, who retreat from this world that men might slaughter one another in their names? They live amongst an illusion already. I'm simply giving them another, one that demands less blood."Mario AuditoreAssassin's Creed II When speaking of the Auditore Villa Pastor to Ezio, Mario says "The prete (priest) seems a nice enough fellow, but I've never been much of a believer.".Arno DorianAssassin's Creed UnityBy the end of the game, Arno described the Creed in strongly atheistic terms and claims that there exists no higher power to judge humanity nor does a supreme being watch over humanity or punishes them for their sins, and that only humanity itself can guard itself against its own obsessions.Altaïr Ibn-La'AhadAssassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed IIAfter starting to research on the Apple of Eden, Altaïr began to have doubts about the existence of a God, citing various conflicts and contradictions in the religious books available in the Holy Land during his time, noting how cruel they were in their punishments of those who rejected the books, and thus began noting them down in his Codex. Altaïr, much like Arno Dorian, professed the Assassin's creed in strongly atheistic terms and called the "light of God" as a light that blinds society and forces it to "stumble about in ignorance".Terrence SweetwaterBattlefield: Bad Company 2During an idle conversation with Haggard, Sweetwater reveals that he rejects the concept of sin and a god, referring to them as "superstition", as well as just stating that he does not believe in a god.MalevolaDispatchMalevola identifies as an atheist, despite being half-demon and able to speak demonic languages.
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