O'HAIR, Madalyn (Mays) Murray

Born 13 April 1919, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; died circa 1995; presumed murdered, no body found

Daughter of Irwin and Lena Scholle Mays; married William J.Murray, mid-1940s; Richard Franklin O'Hair, 1965

Madalyn Murray O'Hair's unorthodox ideology first came to public attention in 1963 with the renowned "Murray Case" (Murray v. Curlett) in the U.S. Supreme Court. O'Hair brought and won suit against the Baltimore public schools on behalf of her eldest son, charging that the required prayer in the classroom—"sectarian opening exercises"—violated the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.

Since the early 1960s, O'Hair has become one of the most controversial figures in American public life. Calling herself an "individual anarchist," she devoted her career to a public campaign of exposing the "unconstitutional partnership" between church and state, showing how these two establishments are not separate as the law requires but hopelessly intermingled. The symbiosis of religious and political life has, from her viewpoint as an atheist spokeswoman, disastrous consequences for the solution of secular social problems and for the ability of the individual to operate in a "free" society without pressures from dominant religious groups. Her life's work is a critical exploration and exposé of religion—"its origins, its evolution, its political interventions in diverse nations, its wealth, its insanity"—and the effects of "irrational and superstitious" religious beliefs on individuals and society.

Drawing upon a wide and varied background, including academic degrees in philosophy, law, and social work in addition to military service with the Women's Army Corps in World War II (1943-46), O'Hair's infamy as social activist and writer is the result of her work in founding American Atheists, Inc., the American Atheist Center, the Freethought Society of America, the Society of Separationists, and Other Americans.

O'Hair is the author of an entire canon of volumes dealing with the history, philosophy, and practice of atheism published by the American Atheist Press. These works deal with the past and present impact of organized religion on national economic and political issues. A longrunning radio broadcast, the American Atheist, was a series of essays on this subject. In addition, O'Hair edited the monthly news magazine bearing the same name. The Atheist Center and Press were established because their goals and values were at such marked variance with those of other organizations, both secular and religious, that O'Hair felt the need for a separate forum in which atheist ideas could be voiced.

O'Hair's self-made career as an atheist separationist, like the careers of the more radical feminist writers, is an interesting case because she goes so far beyond the conventionally accepted position for women writers, the guardianship of agreed-upon standards of public morality. In speaking out against religion and God, O'Hair openly challenges the historical model of female activism.

O'Hair's standing as an author is based on the polemic, with its mixed reputation in literary circles as an "applied" form in the tradition of social action, persuasion, high emotion, and the definition and pursuit of the public good. In her works, all of these traits are well developed.

What more she may accomplished is unknown, for O'Hair, one son, and her granddaughter (adopted and raised as a daughter) disappeared with little trace, though with well over half a million dollars. They are believed the victims of foul play by a former employee convicted of embezzling funds; while another man involved in the speculated kidnapping and killing was himself murdered and found, the O'Hairs have never been found.

Other Works:

Why I Am an Atheist (1965, 1991). What on Earth Is an Atheist? (1966). The American Atheist (1967). An Atheist Epic: Bill Murray, the Bible, and the Baltimore Board of Education (1968; revised, 1970, in 1989 as An Atheist Epic: The Complete Unexpurgated Story of How Bible and Prayers Were Removed From the Public Schools of the United States). The Atheist World (1969). An Atheist Speaks (1970, 1986). Let Us Prey: An Atheist Looks at Church Wealth (1970). An Atheist Believes (1971). Understanding Atheism (1971). Atheism: Its Viewpoint (1972). Atheist Magazines: A Sampling, 1927-70 (introduction by O'Hair, 1972). The Atheist Viewpoint (29 vols., edited by O'Hair, 1972). Letters from Atheists (1972). Letters from Christians (1973). Freedom Under Seige: The Impact of Organized Religion on Your Liberty and Your Pocketbook (1974). Religious Factors in the War in Vietnam (1975, in 1982 as War in Vietnam: The Religious Connection. An Atheist Looks at Gods (1979). Women & Athiesm (1979). Nobody Has a Prayer (1982). An Atheist Speaks (1986). All About Atheists (1988). Our Constitution: The Way it Was (1988). Atheists: The Last Minority (1990). Atheist Heroes and Heroines (1991). The Atheist World (1991). Atheists: Their Dilemma: An Address Given to the 23rd Annual National Convention of American Atheists on 10 April 1993 (1993).

Bibliography:

Bozarth, G. R., A Case Against Madalyn Murray O'Hair: Interrelated Essays on an Experience (1989). Conrad, J. K., Mad Madalyn (1983). In 1962 Madalyn Murray O'Hair Kicked God, the Bible and Prayer Out of School: And Ten Other Myths About Church and State (1992). Murray, W. J., My Life Without God (1992). Rappoport, J., Madalyn Murray O'Hair: "Most Hated Woman in America" (1998). Stein, G., Nineteen Editorials: 1989 (1990). Stein, G., A Truthful Portrayal From a Firsthand Witness: An Expensive, Unnecessary Luxury for the Atheists by One Who Was There and Experienced It (1990). Woodworth, F., The Atheist Cult (1991). Wright, L., Saints & Sinners: Walker Railey, Jimmy Swaggart, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, Anton LaVey, Will Campbell, Matthew Fox (1995).

Reference works:

CA (1974). CB (1977).

Other references:

Insight (Nov. 1996). Moody's (Jan. 1995). Newsweek (1 Dec. 1975, 19 Sept. 1977). NYTM (16 May 1976, 13 June 1976). Progressive (Feb. 1999). Time (Feb. 1997). WP (18 Feb. 1970).

—MARGARET J. KING