Thomas Edison

Inventor

Thomas Edison was an American scientist, businessman, and one of the most prolific inventors of all time. He is responsible for some of the most important inventions in the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. He also created the first industrial research laboratory, a stock ticker, a mechanical vote recorder, and a battery for an electric car. In addition, he originated the concept and implementation of electric-power generation and distribution to homes, businesses, and factories. [1]
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The following is from a 1910 article in the New York Times entitled "No Immortality of the Soul," Says Thomas A. Edison:

Searching the inner structure of all things for the fundamental, Edison told me that he had come to the conclusion that there is no "supernatural," or "supernormal," as the psychic researchers put it - that all there is, all there has been, all there ever will be, can or will, soon or late, be explained upon material lines.

He denied the individuality of the human being, declaring that each human being is an aggregate, as a city is an aggregate. No just judge would, in these modern days of clearing vision, punish or reward an entire city full; therefore, future reward and punishment for human beings seems to him unreasonable. Immortality of the human soul seems unreasonable. He does not, indeed, admit existence of a soul.

A merciful and loving Creator he considers not to be believed in. Nature, the supreme power, he recognizes and respects, but does not worship.

Further along in the article, Edison goes on:
"But - God - the Almighty? No!"

He shook his head emphatically. "Mercy? Kindness? Love? I don't see 'em. Nature is what we know. We do not know the gods of the religions. And nature is not kind, or merciful, or loving. If God made me - the fabled God of the three qualities of which I spoke: mercy, kindness, love - He also made the fish I catch and eat. And where do His mercy, kindness, and love for that fish come in?

"No; nature made us - nature did it all - not the gods of the religions. And nature did it mercilessly; she had no thought for mercy or against it. She did it impersonally, what we call cruelly." [2]