American Atheists and obesity

Madalyn Murray O'Hair was the founder of the American Atheists organization.

Madalyn Murray O'Hair was the founder of the American Atheists organization and she was overweight.[1] In 1998, a picture of an overweight Madalyn Murray O'Hair in front of a cake was taken with the words "25th Anniversary American Atheists" on it as can be seen HERE.

A few years before O'Hair's murder, she had to have hip replacement surgery (According to the Harvard Medical school, "Losing weight, strengthening muscles, and increasing flexibility may help you stave off joint replacement."[2]).[3] Interestingly, it was her artificial hip that allowed law enforcement authorities to identify her remains.[4] Also, her adopted daughter Robin was reportedly so obese she required two seats on commercial aircraft.

On December 28, 2010, the pictures of the members of the American Atheists organization's board of directors showed a significant portion of its members having excess body weight. Members of the American Atheists board of directors who were overweight as of December 28, 2010 included: Richard Andrews, Blair Scott, Monty Gaither, and Ann Zindler. A picture of an overweight Richard Andrews can be found HERE. Pictures of an overweight Blair Scott can be found HERE and HERE. A picture of an overweight Monty Gaither can be found HERE. A picture of an overweight Ann Zindler can be found HERE.

Research suggests that extra pounds and large waists undermine perceptions of leadership ability.[5] In addition, according to medical science, there are a number of health risks associated with obesity (see: Health risks linked to obesity).

See also: Atheism and obesity

## Contents

* 1 Matt Dillahunty: Atheist activist and member of the Board of Directors of the American Atheists organization
* 2 Aron Ra
* 3 Nick Fish: American Atheists National Program Director
* 4 Mandisa Thomas: Board member of American Atheists organization
* 5 Pamela Whissel: American Atheists organization
* 6 Dave/Danielle Muscato: American Atheists
* 7 Jamila Bey: American Atheists Board of Directors member in 2013
* 8 Dan Ellis: State Director of the American Atheists in Utah
* 9 Steven Foster: State Director of the American Atheists in Arkansas
* 10 Jacob Mounts: Assistant State Director of American Atheists in Indiana
* 11 Randy Henderson: Former State Director of the American Atheists in Iowa
* 12 See also
* 13 Notes

## Matt Dillahunty: Atheist activist and member of the Board of Directors of the American Atheists organization[edit]

As of February 25, 2019, Matt Dillahunty is on the board of directors for the American Atheists organization. He was elected in 2015.

Wikipedia, a website founded by an atheist and agnostic, declares concerning Matt Dillahunty:

“  |  Matthew Wade Dillahunty (born March 31, 1969) is an American atheist activist. He was the president of the Atheist Community of Austin from 2006 to 2013. He has hosted the Austin-based webcast and cable-access television show The Atheist Experience since 2005, and formerly hosted the live Internet radio show Non-Prophets Radio. He is also the founder of and a contributor to the counter-apologetics encyclopedia Iron Chariots and its subsidiary sites.

He is regularly engaged in formal debates and travels the United States speaking to local secular organizations and university groups as part of the Secular Student Alliance's Speakers Bureau. Alongside fellow activists Seth Andrews and Aron Ra, he traveled to Australia in March 2015 as a member of the Unholy Trinity Tour. In April 2015 he was an invited speaker at the Merseyside Skeptics Society QEDCon in Manchester, United Kingdom. Beginning in the summer of 2017, Dillahunty joined a speaking tour sponsored by the Pangburn Philosophy foundation where he shared the stage with fellow atheists Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Lawrence Krauss.[6]

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Dillahunty serves on the Board of Directors for the American Atheists organization and he was elected in 2015.[7]

Pictures of an overweight Matt Dillahunty can be found HERE and HERE.

## Aron Ra[edit]

Aron Ra

Aron Ra is an atheist activist and vlogger. He is also an ardent evolutionist and vocal critic of creationism. Aron Ra is also the Texas State Director of American Atheists.

Aron Ra is also a feminist and considers the men's rights movement to be an extremist hate group.[8]

A pictures of an overweight AronRa can be found HERE. In 2014, a video entitled Aron Ra on faith appeared on YouTube in which Aron Ra appeared to have excess weight.

## Nick Fish: American Atheists National Program Director[edit]

In 2018, the American Atheist organization indicated that Nick Fish is their National Program Director.[9]

Pictures of an overweight Nick Fish can be found HERE and HERE.

## Mandisa Thomas: Board member of American Atheists organization[edit]

As of February 8, 2019, Mandisa Thomas was a board member of the American Atheists organization.[10] Thomas is also the founder and President of Black Nonbelievers.[11]

Pictures of an overweight Mandisa Thomas can be found HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE.

As of February 8, 2019, Mandisa Thomas was a board member of the American Atheists organization.[12] Thomas is also the founder and President of Black Nonbelievers.[13]

## Pamela Whissel: American Atheists organization[edit]

In 2018, the American Atheist website indicated that Pamela Whissel is the membership director of their organization.[14] In addition, as of April 16, 2018, she is the editor-in-chief of American Atheist magazine and has held this position since 2011.[15]

A picture of an overweight Pamela Whissel can be found HERE.

## Dave/Danielle Muscato: American Atheists[edit]

Dave Muscato, the former Public Relations Director for American Atheists, had excess weight. Pictures of an overweight Dave Muscato can be seen HERE and HERE and HERE.

Dave Muscato is a transsexual and now goes by the name Danielle Muscato.[16]

## Jamila Bey: American Atheists Board of Directors member in 2013[edit]

Jamila Bey

On August 11. 2013, Jamila Bey was listed as being on the Board of Directors for the American Atheists organization. A video of an overweight Jamila Bey can be seen HERE.

## Dan Ellis: State Director of the American Atheists in Utah[edit]

Dan Ellis is the State Director of the American Atheists in Utah.[17]

According to the American Atheists website: "Dan Ellis was born in Brigham City, Utah, and was raised as a member of the state's predominant faith (Mormon), but he never really believed any of it. He officially resigned from the LDS Church and has been an atheist activist for the last eight years."[18]

In addition, the American Atheists website declares concerning Dan Ellis:

“  |  Dan is the former Media Contact, Vice-President, and President for both Salt Lake Valley Atheists and Atheists of Utah, and is currently serving as Secretary for Atheists of Utah. Dan has been interviewed and featured in both local and national news stories surrounding atheism, satanism, and activism.

He has been one of the co-hosts of the Godless Rebelution podcast since 2014.[19]

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Videos of an overweight Dan Ellis can be found HERE and HERE. In a video Mr. Ellis says, "How was lunch? Ya, I didn't have any so... Don't worry I won't waste away standing here."[20]

A picture of an overweight Dan Ellis can be found HERE.

## Steven Foster: State Director of the American Atheists in Arkansas[edit]

Steven Foster is the State Director of the American Atheists for the state of Arkansas.[21]

A picture of an overweight Steven Foster can be found HERE.

## Jacob Mounts: Assistant State Director of American Atheists in Indiana[edit]

Jacob Mounts is an Assistant State Director of American Atheists in Indiana.[22]

According to the American Atheists website: "He is the founder of Tri-state Area Atheists and Skeptics in SW Indiana. He also engages in other humanist and free thinker groups locally, nationally and internationally at various levels of involvement."[23]

A picture of an overweight Jacob Mounts can be found HERE.

## Randy Henderson: Former State Director of the American Atheists in Iowa[edit]

Randy Henderson

Randy Henderson was a founding member of former president of the Iowa Atheist and Freethinkers organization [24][25] In addition, he formerly served as the Iowa state American Atheists director.[26]

According to the Iowa Atheist and Freethinkers organization:

“  |  Randy studied three years for ministry in a conservative Bible College called Manhattan Christian College in Manhattan, Kansas. He finished undergrad studies at Dana College in Blair, Neb. with degrees in Social Sciences and Religion. In the ’70’s he pastored a church that he helped found in Council Bluffs that was a non-denominational congregation that was Charismatic/Pentecostal. Masters degree in Psychology, Counseling with School Counseling endorsement from U. of Neb. Thirty years atheist and agnostic with the American Atheists, formerly as Iowa state AA director and Freedom from Religion Foundation member.[27] |  ”

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A picture of an overweight Randy Henderson can be found HERE.

## See also[edit]

* Atheism and obesity
* Health risks linked to obesity

## Notes[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan-light/229583104/
2. ↑ [https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/avoiding-knee-or-hip-surgery Harvard Health Letter, Avoiding knee or hip surgery, Published: June, 2013 by the Harvard Medical Center
3. ↑ Bone find may solve O'Hair case, Associated Press, Published: January 29, 2001, republished by Deseret News
4. ↑ Bone find may solve O'Hair case, Associated Press, Published: January 29, 2001, republished by Deseret News
5. ↑ Want to Be CEO? What's Your BMI?
6. ↑ Matt Dillahunty, Wikipedia, Retrieved February 25, 2019
7. ↑ [https://www.atheists.org/about/board/ American Atheists - Board of Directors, Retreived 2-25-2019
8. ↑ Aronra drinks the feminist coolaid by Thunderf00t
9. ↑ American Atheist - Our staff
10. ↑ American Atheists Board of Directors, February 8, 2019
11. ↑ Fear of a Black Atheist by Mandisa Thomas
12. ↑ American Atheists Board of Directors, February 8, 2019
13. ↑ Fear of a Black Atheist by Mandisa Thomas
14. ↑ American Atheist - Our staff
15. ↑ American Atheist - Our staff
16. ↑ Where would atheist activists be without their double standards?
17. ↑ Dan Ellis - State Director
18. ↑ American Atheists - State Directors
19. ↑ Dan Ellis - State Director
20. ↑ So You Think You Know Mormonism - Dan Ellis, video
21. ↑ Steven Foster - State Director, Retrieval date 3-2-2019
22. ↑ Jacob Mounts - Assistant State Director, retrieved on 3-2-2019
23. ↑ Jacob Mounts - Assistant State Director, retrieved on 3-2-2019
24. ↑ Randy Henderson - Flickr
25. ↑ Critical Bible Study with Randy Henderson
26. ↑ Critical Bible Study with Randy Henderson
27. ↑ Critical Bible Study with Randy Henderson