It is a rather natural assumption after reading his stories and poems that Edgar Allan Poe must have been an atheist. This idea is not necessarily true. Poe's adopted father, John Allan, had young Edgar baptized in the Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia in 1812. They later attended the newly built Monumental Episcopal Church after 1814, and Edgar and his foster mother, Francis, were apparently regulars. Poe was taught the catechisms while living in England, and studied religion while in school there.

While at West Point, Poe apparently attended church for a time, but he later refused to do so. There is some indication that he attended church with a friend in 1848 in New York. Poe was presented a Bible as a present in in 1846, but it has been lost (after once being owned by the Bronx Historicial Society). According to one source, this note was written alongside The Lord's Prayer in Poe's Bible: "I loath it."

Several of Poe's writings show a pro-religious leaning.

Poe wrote a “Hymn [to the Virgin Mary]” (1833) as part of “Morella.” Removed from later versions of the story, it was nevertheless included as “Catholic Hymn” in The Raven and Other Poems (1845). Another poem, “For Annie” (March 23, 1849) begins with “Thank Heaven!” and includes a reference to “... she prayed to the angels... To the queen of the angels...” 

Poe is said to have known his Bible well. However, nowhere in Poe's writings does he state his belief or position on the subject; however, several men who knew him claimed him as "having no religion."