Randy Newman: No Soul to Sell?

Randy Newman is a very famous and popular songwriter - but in addition to that, he may also be an atheist. His father certainly was - and an aggressive one at that.

The Guardian explains:

"My father was an aggressive atheist," says Newman, sitting in his west Hollywood office. Newman Sr, a doctor, dismissed religion as "bullshit" and was happy to expand on this theme to his many showbusiness patients. "Whether this is apocryphal or not, it's too good not to tell. My dad used to do house calls, and he got a call in the middle of the night from Oral Roberts [the famous television evangelist] who had haemorrhoids, really severe. My dad said, 'You call me at three in the morning - why don't you stick your own finger up your ass and cure yourself?'"

Newman doesn't say that he is an atheist as well, but he also doesn't claim to believe in the existence of a soul. He is a very driven and demanding songwriter, though... thanks to Brent Razmussen for pointing this story out.

Read More:

• Atheism 101
• Atheism in Society