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Madalyn Murray O'Hair

Madalyn Murray O'Hair Quotes

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Madalyn Murray O'Hair was an American activist and lawyer, known for her pivotal role in the Supreme Court case Murray v. Curlett (1963), which resulted in the elimination of Bible reading and prayer from public schools. She founded American Atheists and was a significant figure in the secular movement in the United States.

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Famous Madalyn Murray O'Hair Quotes

“Religion has caused more misery to all of mankind in every stage of human history than any other single idea.”

Humans Ideas Atheism Mankind Stage Misery Atheist Human History There Being No God

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“The relationships that people have - that are sexual, psychological, emotional - these relationships are not open to supervision by parents, schools, churches, or government. Nobody has any right to intervene at all in any kind of relationship like that.”

People Kind Government School Parent Church Relationship Emotional Psychological Supervision

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“No god ever gave any man anything, nor ever answered any prayer at any time - nor ever will.”

Men Prayer Atheist

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“I want three words: Woman, Atheist, Anarchist. That's me.”

Want Three Atheism Atheist Anarchist Three Words

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer.”

“I told my kids I just want three words on my tombstone, if I have one. I'll probably be cremated. One is "woman." I'm very comfortable in that role. I've loved being a woman, I've loved being a mother, I've loved being a grandmother. I want three words: Woman, Atheist, Anarchist. That's me.”

Ifs Want Kids Mother Three Roles Comfortable Atheist Grandmother Anarchist Being A Woman Being A Mother Tombstone Three Words Being A Grandmother

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“Organizing atheists is like hurding cats”

Religion Atheism Cat Atheist

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“But the most heinous crime of the Church has been perpetrated not against churchmen but against churchgoers. With its poisonous concepts of sin and divine punishment, it's warped and brainwashed countless millions. It would be impossible to calculate the psychic damage this has inflicted on generations of children who might have grown up into healthy, happy. productive, zestful human beings but for the burden of antisexual fear and guilt ingrained in them by the Church. This alone is enough to condemn religion.”

“The fear of hell is the basis for the Christian faith.”

Christian Religion Hell Bases Christian Faith

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“Atheism may be defined as the mental attitude which unreservedly accepts the supremacy of 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.”

May Reason Attitude Accepting Atheism Authority Aim Independent Method Lifestyle Defined Assumption Ethical Creeds Outlook Arbitrary Supremacy Scientific Method Mental Attitude

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“Atheism is a very positive affirmation of man's ability to think for himself, to do for himself, to find answers to his own problems.”

Thinking Men Problem Ability Answers Atheism Positive Atheism Affirmation Very Positive Positive Affirmations

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“An Atheists 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.”

Knows Men Should Earth Together Religion Heaven Enjoy Atheism Fellows Atheist Fellow Man

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“Religion has ever been anti-human, anti-woman, anti-life, anti-peace, anti-reason and anti-science. The god idea has been detrimental not only to humankind but to the earth. It is time now for reason, education and science to take over.”

Life Humans Has Beens Ideas Reason God Earth Science Time Religion Peace Religious Education Lord Doubt Atheism Atheist Humankind Detrimental Anti Religion

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“Atheism is based upon a materialist philosophy, which holds that nothing exists but natural phenomena. There are no supernatural forces or entities, nor can there be any. Nature simply exists.”

Philosophy Religion Force Natural Atheism Entity Natural Phenomena Supernatural Forces

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“You hate me because I am the embodiment of all your doubts.”

Religion Hate Doubt Atheism Hate Me Embodiment You Hate Me

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“The atheist realizes that there must not only be an acceptance of his right to hold his opinion, but that ultimately his is the job to turn his culture from religion, to eliminate those irrational ideas which have held the human race in intellectual slavery.”

Humans Ideas Jobs Turns Culture Realizing Race Opinion Acceptance Evolution Intellectual Slavery Atheist Human Race Irrational

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“Religion is induced insanity.”

Insanity Anarchy Heresy

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“I don't care whether I succeed or whether I fail as long as I am trying. I hope that I succeed.”

Trying Long Care Failing Succeed Don't Care I Don't Care

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“Well, we are men. Let's start acting like it.”

Men Wells Acting

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“An atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death.”

Religion Atheism Strive Atheist Strife Involvement Atheistic Daily Atheist

Book:Why I Am an Atheist ; Including, A History of Materialism

Source: Why I Am an Atheist ; Including, A History of Materialism

“There is no God. There's no heaven. There's no hell. There are no angels. When you die, you go in the ground, the worms eat you.”

Dies Heaven Hell Angel Atheist Worms There Is No God

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“The atheist must abandon his defensive positions, take up the cudgels and go forward, rather than into the retreat of apathy.”

Position Atheist Abandon Apathy Retreat

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

“About six years ago, Life magazine ran an article on the historicity of Jesus and I was floored to find that they conceded the only evidence we have for his existence is in the Gospels. But don't take Life's word for it. In his book The Quest of the Historical Jesus, the most definitive study that's ever been done on the subject, Albert Schweitzer admitted that there isn't a shred of conclusive proof that Christ ever lived, let alone was the son of God. He concludes that one must therefore accept both on faith.”

Years Book Done Religion Jesus Christ Existence Accepting Study Atheism Subjects Son Six Evidence Years Ago Historical Proof Magazines Ran Articles Quests Conceded Historical Jesus

Author:Madalyn Murray O'Hair

About the Author

Born: April 13, 1919
Died: September 29, 1995
Known for: Author
Quotes: 123

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Books & Sources

Freedom Under Siege: The Impact of Organized Religion on Your Liberty and Your PocketbookRelated source material

What on Earth Is an Atheist!Related source material

Why I Am an Atheist ; Including, A History of MaterialismRelated source material

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