Science fiction examples almost seem too easy. I can think of a couple of examples off the top of my head from Babylon 5 as well. Na’toth, G’kar’s assistant, says in one episode that she doesn’t believe in anything, to which G’kar replies that everyone must believe in something, even if it’s only the blind workings of chance. And in another episode, Garibaldi is in a coma, and Ivanova (a Jew) tells Dr. Franklin that she’ll pray for Garibaldi. “But he’s an agnostic.” “Then I’ll only say half a prayer.”.
No, he’s definitely not; he was in seminary, but dropped out after he lost his faith. See “Damned if You Do” for a little more explanation.
Hmmm. But in another episode (possibly “Forever”), Chase says a prayer before performing an autopsy on a dead baby.
Being non-religious doesn’t necessarily make one an atheist. Agnostics and secular humanists (possibly the same thing) only express doubts. The don’t necessarily deny the existence of a god (or many). They just don’t know, and don’t claim to.
I’d like to see more “freethinkers” on TV. It’s only a good thing, IMHO, to show good people who have doubts.
Making a character an atheist is still a shorthand way of saying he’s an irreverent, incredibly hard-boiled sort - I don’t think they’re generally portrayed as complete human beings. That’s not exactly a great step forward for us, since I think your average person thinks atheists are bitter, angry human beings. Of course, it’s not like atheists are the only group to suffer from shallow depictions on TV.
By the way, I started a GD thread about atheists earlier this year. I was wondering if we could do anything to get the public at large to trust us a little more. The most popular suggestion seemed to be “an atheist, likeable, wacky neighbor character on a sitcom.” I started calling the character “atheist Kramer.” These days, atheist Kramer doesn’t seem like such a good idea. 
Maybe more like Wilson on Tool Time. As case might be made for him as an agnostic with a great deal of study into many religions worldwide.
The Waltons: Erin was engaged to Ashley something (played by Jonathan Frakes) who goes to war and comes back an atheist.
He was a flawed character whose atheism reflected a tortured, troubled mind.
Becker.
Dr. Cox from scrubs is an atheist, a constant source of contention with his fundie sister (although the real reason for their bickering is a bit more complex). While he is, as stated above, a “hard-boiled, irreverent” human being to the nth degree, he is also the most “complete human being” on the show. A very complicated character, and one of my favorite currently on TV.
There’s also Fox Mulder. Remember him? God was the only thing he didn’t believe in.
Many agnostics may be secular humanists. But many secular humanists are atheists. Secular humanism is a philosophical approach to life that specifically rejects supernatural explanations. It describes a whole set of beliefs, as opposed to “atheist” and “agnostic” which address only whether a person believes or considers himself to have knowledge about a god.
In my experience, most Secular Humanists are negative/weak/practical atheists.
Christina on *Grey’s Anatomy * is an atheist, but of course she’s damaged and emotionally unavailable.
Isn’t Bill Adama an atheist, or at least a skeptic?
There was that Seinfeld ep where Puddy kept telling Elaine that she was going to go to hell. (“Stop bossing me. That’s why you’re going to hell!”) Not sure if she affirmatively disbelieved, or simply didn’t believe to the extent he did (changing all the car radio presets to Christian stations.)
Bill Maher.
Secular humanism is a broad philosophic position and not simply a statement about belief or non-belief in God. As such, it is inaccurate to identify secular humanism as being the same thing as nontheism, atheism, or agnosticism.
Alot of early TV characters never mentioned god or religion as the producers didn’t want to offend viewers. I don’t remember anyone on I Love Lucy talking about god. ANd of course there’s the Addams Family and the Munsters.
Yes, but he’s willing to use religious rhetoric and myths when it suits him. Baltar was an atheist until 6 converted him to the Cylon faith. Also I go the impression that Roslin was borderline agnostic until she started having visions and believing herself to be the Gods’ chosen prophet. And of course there’s Brother Cavil (why do the other Cylons tolerate his model’s blasphemy?).
Heh. “Wait a minute, you two are sleeping together? Well, then it’s easy. You’re both going to hell.” And Puddy has her do bad things on his behalf since she’s going to hell anyway.
Sidenote: I keep singing this thread title to myself to the tune of the Family Guy theme song: “It seems today that all you see/is agnostics in movies and atheists on TV”
The problem with atheist characters is that atheism is defined by a single negative belief. That’s it. Dramatically and comedically, there’s not as much to work with as there is with religion. I mean, they’ve centered entire shows around a preacher’s family or a church. How exactly do you have an atheist show his inclinations beyond a throwaway line or two? Show him not going to church?
Give them a catchphrase. Something like “Science H. Logic!” might do it. 
If we’re opening up the definition to include agnostics as well as atheists, then I can think of a few:
Daria (Daria) - Agnostic
Detective Mike Logan, ADA Claire Kincaid, and ADA Serena Southerlyn (Law & Order) - Agnostic
Lois (Malcolm in the Middle) - Atheist
SNL alum Julia Sweeney was a guest on Craig Ferguson’s show last night and spent most of the interview talking about how, after being raised a Catholic, she became an atheist. (This has been a topic in several of her one-woman shows.)
I couldn’t recall ever having seen someone talking about being an atheist on a network talk show before. She did a fairly good job of explaining her position without appearing arrogant or disrespectful.