American Atheists

[[File:American Atheists logo AA convention 2017.jpg|thumb|left|American Atheists logo]]
{{atheism}}
'''American Atheists''' is an organization in the [[United States]] that promotes [[atheism]] and encourages atheists to be open about their lack of belief in God. It was headed by {{wpl|David Silverman (activist)|David Silverman}} until 12 April 2018, after accusations of sexual assault and improper financial practices.<ref>[https://www.atheists.org/2018/04/update-regarding-david-silverman/ Update Regarding Dvaid Silverman], American Atheists</ref>

In March 2012, American Atheists started a campaign to encourage atheists in the [[Judaism|Jewish]] and [[Muslim]] communities to be open about their lack of belief.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/mar/18/american-atheists-advertising-jews-muslims Why American Atheists is advertising to Jews and Muslims], Dave Silverman, the Guardian's ''Comment is Free'', 18 March 2012</ref> 

As of December 2012, the Public Relations Director of American Atheists was {{wpl|Teresa MacBain}}, a former Methodist Pastor who dramatically came out at the American Atheist Convention in March 2012.<ref>[http://www.weareatheism.com/teresa-macbain-public-relations-director-american-atheists/ Teresa MacBain - Public Relations Director, American Atheists]</ref> MacBain has since returned to religion after being less than truthful on several occasions.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/10/24/teresa-macbains-return-to-god-is-distressing-to-many-closeted-pastors/ Teresa MacBain’s Return to God is Distressing to Many Closeted Pastors]</ref>

In July 2013 American Atheists created a stir by erecting a granite bench with quotes from [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[Thomas Jefferson]] and [[Madalyn Murray O'Hair]], the founder of American Atheists. This was done as a counterpoint to a monument with the [[Ten Commandments]] at the same site outside a courthouse. The group plans to build more atheist monuments if more religious monuments are erected in public spaces.<ref>[http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/06/29/atheists-unveil-monument-in-florida-and-promise-to-build-50-more/ Atheists unveil monument in Florida and promise to build 50 more][http://democratherald.com/news/national/atheists-unveil-fla-monument-near-ten-commandments/article_1f79d7f0-ff80-5625-87d4-429679a9fecd.html Atheists unveil Fla monument near Ten Commandments]</ref>

In June 2015, American Atheists spoke out against a [[North Carolina]] "religious 
bigotry
 freedom" law that had passed despite the veto of the governor.<ref>http://news.atheists.org/2015/06/11/atheists-decry-bigotry-cloaked-in-nc-religious-freedom-law/</ref> This law, like many of the "[[religious freedom]]" laws, is specifically targeted to allow discrimination against [[Homosexuality| homosexuals]] trying to get [[Same-sex marriage| married]].

==Madalyn Murray O'Hair==
[[File:Madalyn Murray O'Hair.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Madalyn Murray O'Hair laughs in the face of your Bronze Age [[God|sky daddy]].]]
Madalyn Murray O'Hair (1919-1995), was the founder of American Atheists and noted ([[rhetorical]]) bomb-thrower. O'Hair was raised a Christian but said that in her early teens she read the [[Bible]] through and afterwards became an [[atheist]].<ref name="who">[http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Secular-Philosophies/Who-Was-Madalyn-Murray-Ohair.aspx Who Was Madalyn Murray O'Hair?]</ref>

===Lawsuits===
O'Hair fought some noteworthy lawsuits. She won in the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] case of ''Murray v. Curlett'' in 1963, which helped end [[school prayer]] along with the contemporaneous decisions of ''Abington School District v. Schempp'' (1963) and ''Engel v. Vitale'' (1962).<ref>[http://atheism.about.com/od/religioninschool/a/AbingtonSchempp.htm Abington School District v. Schempp/Murray v. Curlett], about.com</ref> 

One of her genuinely nuttier actions was filing a lawsuit against [[NASA]] for Apollo 8 astronauts' reading from the [[Book of Genesis]] during their mission on December 24, 1968.<ref>http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1774&dat=19691125&id=D7kqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CmYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5802,3204174</ref> This led to ''another'' lawsuit against the Apollo 11 mission preventing Buzz Aldrin from saying communion publicly (he did so quietly).<ref>Chaikin, Andrew (1994). A Man on the Moon: The Triumphant Story Of The Apollo Space Program</ref>

===Quotes===
{{cquote|Your petitioners are [[atheist]]s and they define their lifestyle as follows. An atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god. An atheist thinks that heaven is something for which we should work for now — here on [[Earth]] — for all men together to enjoy.|4=''Murray v. Curlett'', Petition for Relief, 1959}}

{{cquote|An atheist knows that a hospital should be built instead of a [[church]]. An atheist knows that a deed must be done instead of a [[prayer]] said. An atheist strives for involvement in [[life]] and not escape into [[death]]. He wants [[disease]] conquered, [[poverty]] vanquished, [[war]] eliminated.|4=''Murray v. Curlett'', Petition for Relief, 1959}}

{{cquote|Atheism may be defined as the mental attitude which unreservedly accepts the supremacy of [[Critical thinking|reason]] and aims at establishing a lifestyle and ethical outlook verifiable by experience and the [[scientific method]], independent of all arbitrary assumptions of authority and creeds.|4=American Atheists charter<ref>[[wikiquote:Madalyn Murray O'Hair|Madalyn Murray O'Hair]], Wikiquote.</ref>}}

===The end===

She and her family were abducted and [[murder]]ed in 1995 by disgruntled ex-employee of American Atheists David Waters.<ref>[http://www.crimemagazine.com/murder-madalyn-murray-ohair-americas-most-hated-woman-1 The Murder of Madalyn Murray O'Hair: America's Most Hated Woman], Crime Magazine</ref> Though the [[FBI]], ATF, and Dallas Sheriff took the case seriously, the [[Texas|Austin]] Police Department were criticized for giving these crimes a low priority.<ref>[http://weeklywire.com/ww/06-07-99/austin_pols_feature1.html Preying on Atheists]</ref> In the end, the motive turned out to be a combination of petty revenge and the theft of some gold coins that O'Hair had. The ''Forensic Files'' episode on this case can be viewed on Tubi. A link is below.

==See also==
* [[New Atheism]]
* [[Closet]]

==External links==
* [http://www.atheists.org/ American Atheists], official website
* [http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/madalyn_ohair/ Madalyn O'Hair's writings at Internet Infidels]
* {{wpa|Out Campaign}}
* [https://tubitv.com/tv-shows/447623/s07-e08-without-a-prayer "Without a Prayer" - Forensic Files Season 7 Episode 10, December 14, 2002 (Tubi)]

==References==
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[[Category:Atheist groups]]
[[Category:Organizations]]

Categories: Atheist groups, Organizations