# Ask Maudlin Murray O'Hair (the American Atheists guy) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 9, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876 "2003-02-09T13:07:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/21 "2003-02-09T14:31:23Z")
Okay, okay, context and better titling would have helped. But all of that’s probably been filled in now. On preview, maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/22 "2003-02-09T14:35:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Desmostylus \* > \*\*We’re all just a bit slow, **Lib**. A different thread title would have helped. Plus the link that you’re supposed to put in. \*\* Plus, why is this thread in the Pit? Come to think of it, why is the thread that this thread is parodying (or so I thought) in the Pit? ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/23 "2003-02-09T14:44:23Z")
I don’t see this thread heading in the direction you intended, **Lib**. Close up and start again? ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/24 "2003-02-09T14:50:57Z")
I’ve seen the linked thread and I’m still confused. What does some guy from some atheist organisation have to do with Jack Chick? Or have I missed the point completely and this is an obscure reference to coercion and/or fraud? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/25 "2003-02-09T14:57:00Z")
I haven’t noticed any comparable threads that Diogenes has started. If I had, my response would have been the same. “Huh? I don’t get it.” Is your actual intent to run an “Ask the Atheist” thread? If so, I would follow it with interest, and perhaps contribute. This thread, however, has whooshed right by me. I’ll keep an eye open for that other thread. Buh bye! ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/26 "2003-02-09T15:08:56Z")
Dear Maudlin Murray O’Hair, My mother in law keeps sending me emails saying that you are trying to get ‘Touched by an Angel’ taken off the air. Why did you do such an awful thing? Don’t you know that America was founded by Christian men and women? Why don’t you get yourself out of Hell where you are rightfully burning for all eternity and go to communist Russia? Also, do you have any hints about how to tell my mil to stop sending me the fucking emails? ---
**Author:** ![Slip\_Mahoney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Slip\_Mahoney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slip_Mahoney)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/27 "2003-02-09T15:45:13Z")
I think that it’s safe to say that Lib’s thread was not inspired by Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/28 "2003-02-09T15:56:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yojimboguy \* > \*\* > Is your actual intent to run an “Ask the Atheist” thread? If so, I would follow it with interest, and perhaps contribute. This thread, however, has whooshed right by me. Buh bye! \*\* **Libertarian** is not an atheist. I can only assume his intent here is to mock atheism, and to demonstrate that **Diogenes the Cynic** ’s thread is not amusing to him. Both of them have had better ideas. ---
**Author:** ![senor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@senor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/senor)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/29 "2003-02-09T16:16:43Z")
Madalyn, You were one mean old bitch. Are you in hell or just rotting in the ground? SENOR ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/30 "2003-02-09T17:10:48Z")
Dear Maudlin Murray O’Hair, Is it true that the real reason you kicked up a fuss about the declaration of independence was _not_ because of the “Under God” part, but because it did not end with “Hail Satan”? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/31 "2003-02-09T17:23:42Z")
[Parody mode on standby] **Lib** , my intent with the Chick thread was not to mock Christianity but to mock Jack Chick. “Bob” is clearly an idiot and a bigot who knows nothing _about_ Christianity. Is your intent to mock atheists, per se, or only to mock a specific, aggressive, intolerant brand of atheism? (I that some people are not as familiar with this kind of atheism as they are with “Chick” brand fanatacism. Maybe some links would help clarify the kind of thought that you are parodying)[resume parody mode] Question for the atheist: What is your best rebuttal to Anselm’s Ontological Argument? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/32 "2003-02-09T17:35:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kal \* > \*\*Dear Maudlin Murray O’Hair, > > My mother in law keeps sending me emails saying that you are trying to get ‘Touched by an Angel’ taken off the air. > > Why did you do such an awful thing? Don’t you know that America was founded by [nonsense reference deleted]ian men and women? > > Why don’t you get yourself out of Hell where you are rightfully burning for all eternity and go to communist Russia? > > Also, do you have any hints about how to tell my mil to stop sending me the fucking emails? \*\* We’re not trying to take the show off the air. We believe in freedom of speech. As we told the show’s producers, we’re willing to meet them halfway. If they will rename the show _Touched by a Psychosis_, and run a continuous disclaimer in a prominent marquee, we have no problem with it. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/33 "2003-02-09T17:38:04Z")
**Kal** , send your MIL this Snopes link. > **[Petition to Ban Religious Broadcasting](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/petition-to-ban-religious-broadcasting/)** > > Are atheists petitioning the FCC to ban religious broadcasting? Down at the bottom of the page, click on the “Touched by a Hoax” box, it brings up this. > [@](#): > > For the past several months, a chain email has been floating around the internet and our message board stating that the FCC is forcing CBS to take Touched By An Angel off the air because we mention the word “God.” The email goes on to ask its readers to send a petition to the FCC to save the show. This is a new variation of an old hoax that has circulated (originally in paper chain letter form) for the past 26 years. If you are a recipient of this email, please ignore it. As a matter of fact, we are very pleased to announce that CBS has already renewed our show for 24 episodes next season! Although we are still finishing up the sixth season, we are excited by the opportunity to bring you a seventh season of Touched By An Angel. If you’d like to voice your support of the show, you can always do so by dropping a letter to CBS. For the address, click on the “How To Contact Us” link. Thank you to all of those who voiced their concern. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/34 "2003-02-09T17:39:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by senor \* > \*\*Madalyn, > > You were one mean old bitch. Are you in hell or just rotting in the ground? > > SENOR \*\* She was a kind and caring person, who was singlehandedly responsible for exterminating religious influence from our public schools. The quality of education that our inner-city children enjoy today is directly attributable to her tireless and charitable work. She died. She no longer exists. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/35 "2003-02-09T17:42:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic \* > \*\* > Question for the atheist: > > What is your best rebuttal to Anselm’s Ontological Argument? \*\* Too easy. I am an atheist. If [nonsense reference deleted] exists, then I do not. But I do. Therefore, [nonsense reference deleted] does not. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/36 "2003-02-09T17:58:03Z")
**DDG** : Oh, I’ve done that. I still get sent it about 4 times a year. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/37 "2003-02-09T18:00:29Z")
Diogenes wrote: > [@](#): > > Is your intent to mock atheists, per se, or only to mock a specific, aggressive, intolerant brand of atheism? (I that some people are not as familiar with this kind of atheism as they are with “Chick” brand fanatacism. Maybe some links would help clarify the kind of thought that you are parodying [American Atheists](http://www.atheists.org/). One of the many gems from the site: > [@](#): > > But we [atheists] can’t stay in the closet any longer. The Christian Right, in their never-ending quest to make everyone Christian, has unleashed an unparalleled slew of efforts aimed at Christianizing the country. On top of legislation, constitutional amendments, and publicity, the religious right have engaged an a war of words and slander against their greatest enemy: the logic and common sense of atheism. The Bible goes so far as to forbid contact with atheists (2 Corinthians 6:14), thereby stemming debate and preventing the incursion of logical, non-religious ideas entering the flock. Similar behavior is seen in religious cults, where new members are not even allowed to contact non-cult family members. ---
**Author:** ![Slip\_Mahoney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Slip\_Mahoney](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slip_Mahoney)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/38 "2003-02-09T18:39:41Z")
> [@](#): > > But we [atheists] can’t stay in the closet any longer. The Christian Right, in their never-ending quest to make everyone Christian, has unleashed an unparalleled slew of efforts aimed at Christianizing the country. On top of legislation, constitutional amendments, and publicity, the religious right have engaged an a war of words and slander against their greatest enemy: the logic and common sense of atheism. The Bible goes so far as to forbid contact with atheists (2 Corinthians 6:14), thereby stemming debate and preventing the incursion of logical, non-religious ideas entering the flock. Similar behavior is seen in religious cults, where new members are not even allowed to contact non-cult family members. Perhaps a little over the top, but basically correct. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/39 "2003-02-09T18:57:02Z")
A lot of people say the same thing about Chick. The AA paints Christians as an insidious evil force. It’s time for panic mode, they say, because Christians are on a Crusade, willing to use any means to achieve their nefarious ends. Meanwhile, they paint themselves as rational, as victims of ubiquitous oppression, as champions for reason and intellect. I think they make a caricature of atheism, just as Chick does of Christianity. ---
**Author:** ![Truth\_Seeker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Truth\_Seeker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truth_Seeker)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2003, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876/40 "2003-02-09T19:03:11Z")
Sorry, **Lib** , but I have to agree with the “doesn’t seem to be working” crowd. **Diogenes** ’ thread is funny because Chick tracts are essentially self-parodies – their efforts to underline the seriousness of their message ends up trivializing it. **Diogenes** isn’t really trying to make a point, he just finds the inherent incongruity comical. You, however, are annoyed, which adds an entirely different flavour to this thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-maudlin-murray-ohair-the-american-atheists-guy/153876.md?page=3)