Crime History: Atheist leader O'Hair killed by kidnappers

[rug]

On this day, Sept. 29, in 1995, atheist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair was murdered in Texas during a botched extortion scheme.

O'Hair, 76, played an important role in a 1960s U.S. Supreme Court decision banning mandatory prayer in public schools. Life magazine declared her "the most hated woman in America."

On Aug. 27, 1995, kidnapers snatched O'Hair and her son Jon Garth Murray, and her granddaughter, Robin Murray O'Hair.

Five years later, David Roland Waters, a former employee of O'Hair, led police to the bodies at a remote ranch west of San Antonio. The three had been killed and dismembered in an Austin storage shed. Another body, belonging to a Waters accomplice, was found nearby.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/crime-punishment/2011/09/crime-history-atheist-leader-ohair-killed-kidnappers

Requiescat in pace.

[dmallind]

1. A rather obnoxious woman, but effective. Very "new atheist" too

O'Hair was for several decades far more strident in criticizing superstious drivel than the current whipping boys of Christianity's persecution complex.

And a woman too. Bit strange for this "boys' club".

[no_hypocrisy]

3. My boss once had her as a law client.

Not the easiest woman to represent.

[rug]

5. There is a lot strange about the whole episode.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Very noxious and well past productive

After the initial victories she became more of a diva. A waste in many ways

[Warpy]

9. I didn't like her but I was grateful to her

because she got the Southern Baptists out of southern schools.

That three days a week bible study with Southern Baptist church ladies did get us out of class and into the library, but it also identified us as outsiders and that was extremely unpleasant. Outsiders are always targeted by the school bullies. Some days at those schools were hellish.

The state has no business pushing any sect at any school and she brought a suit that made that abundantly clear. That she eventually paid with her life just makes her a martyr.

But no, it never made her a likable person.

[jeepnstein]

2. Killed by one of her own, wasn't she?

It's all very sad.

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. I thought she was riveting. And utterly fearless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=gLyvyQLlodc

Young people should check her out.

[hlthe2b]

7. Her case against school prayer came up before USSC along with 3 or 4 others...

It was only a mere fluke of timing that her case was the one that came up for that somewhat landmark decision. Important decision, yes, but it was inevitable and hardly a result of Madalyn Murray O'Hair.

From all accounts she was a very unpleasant and noxious human being. Her other son had little but contempt for her, accusing her of "love of power over people," of being an "evil person," and stated that she "stole huge amounts of money. She misused the trust of people. She cheated children out of their parents' inheritance. She cheated on her taxes and even stole from her own organizations. She once printed up phony stock certificates on her own printing press to try to take over another atheist publishing company"....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madalyn_Murray_O%27Hair


I'm not sure that atheists want to deify her (pardon the intentional pun)...;) That said, what a horrific murder of the woman, her son, and her granddaughter--apparently at the hand of corrupt individuals within her own organization.

[kickysnana]

8. If your non-belief morphs into a religion with you as its evangilist haven't you jumped the shark?

On the other hand in the current theocracy lite non-believers need each other in order to keep from being arrested or stoned. Both already called for by Xian leaders.

Makes my brain hurt.

[cleanhippie]

10. Can you clarify what you mean by "morphs into a religion"?

And give an example of what you mean?

[kickysnana]

11. Sure

Holding regular meetings, writing up a dogma, recruiting others, institutionalizing non-believing.

[cleanhippie]

12. Thanks. Cam you point to any of this "dogma and instutionalized non-belief"?

Thanks again.

[kickysnana]

15. Madalyn Murray O'Hair's organization and life.

As I said single people trying to fight organized religions' march to take over have even less chance now than in the past; on the other hand the fight seemed to me to make her particular Atheism organization a religion rather than an advocacy vehicle but it also made it a draw and successful, I am grateful. I have trouble with the grey areas. (In the end so did some of her followers?) But I am just opining. What I think really doesn't matter. And it makes my head hurt when I try to sort it all out, the same problem I have had trying wrap my head around religion(s). faith, small f, is so much easier to wrestle with.

[Odin2005]

13. I think she was HILARIOUS!

:rofl: :D

[Smarmie Doofus]

14. She had a great comic sense and magnificent timing.

She was a ferocious and brilliant debater.

She may not have won "Ms. Congeniality" or "Diplomat of the Year", that's not what she thought was needed at the time and was not what she was trying to be.