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The American public has a very negative view of atheists (see: [[Views on atheists]]). Thus, the American Atheist organization has a branding problem in terms of the name of its organization.

The American public has a very negative view of atheists (see: [[Views on atheists]]). Thus, the American Atheist organization has a branding problem in terms of the name of its organization.

Not having the word atheist in the name of secular organization and using words like humanist/rationalist/etc. instead poses a branding problem as well since many people are not familiar with words such as humanism, [[rationalism]], etc.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-speckhardt/atheist-humanist-labels_b_4723649.html Atheist, Humanist, Secular: Why Fight Over Labels?], Huffington Post</ref>

Not having the word atheist in the name of secular organization and using words like humanist/rationalist/etc. instead poses a branding problem as well since many people are not familiar with words such as humanism, [[rationalism]], etc.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-speckhardt/atheist-humanist-labels_b_4723649.html Atheist, Humanist, Secular: Why Fight Over Labels?], Huffington Post</ref>

David Silverman is a proponent of nonbelievers using the word "atheist" to describe themselves.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-speckhardt/atheist-humanist-labels_b_4723649.html Atheist, Humanist, Secular: Why Fight Over Labels?], Huffington Post</ref>

David Silverman is a proponent of nonbelievers using the word "atheist" to describe themselves.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-speckhardt/atheist-humanist-labels_b_4723649.html Atheist, Humanist, Secular: Why Fight Over Labels?], Huffington Post</ref>

=== Bad reputation of Madalyn Murray O'Hair ===

=== Bad reputation of Madalyn Murray O'Hair ===

== Controversial Billboard ==

== Controversial Billboard ==

The American Atheists organization sponsored an aggressive and controversial billboard and an interview with [[Fox News]] occurred as a result of the billboard [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XEgkViLbTk VIDEO].  The president of American Atheists David Silverman has a degree in [[marketing]]. But despite his degree in marketing, according to fellow [[atheist]] and [[evolution]]ist [[PZ Myers]], Silverman was stuck defending a "badly designed, ugly" sign.<ref>http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/01/that_controversial_oreilly_int.php</ref>

The American Atheists organization sponsored an aggressive and controversial billboard and an interview with [[Fox News]] occurred as a result of the billboard [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XEgkViLbTk VIDEO].  The president of American Atheists David Silverman has a degree in [[marketing]]. But despite his degree in marketing, according to fellow [[atheist]] and [[evolution]]ist [[PZ Myers]], Silverman was stuck defending a "badly designed, ugly" sign.<ref>http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/01/that_controversial_oreilly_int.php</ref>

== American Atheist organization and Christmas ==

== American Atheist organization and Christmas ==

"We're trying to be inclusive of everyone in Christmas and saying that anyone can celebrate it. It shouldn't be viewed strictly as a Christian holiday," he said.

"We're trying to be inclusive of everyone in Christmas and saying that anyone can celebrate it. It shouldn't be viewed strictly as a Christian holiday," he said.

Such friction has long roots in American history, says Boston University religion professor Stephen Prothero. Christmas may be a religious holiday, but it's also deeply secular, creating a natural conflict.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/14/living/atheist-christmas-feat/ How do atheists celebrate Christmas?] By Todd Leopold, CNN</ref>}}

Such friction has long roots in American history, says Boston University religion professor Stephen Prothero. Christmas may be a religious holiday, but it's also deeply secular, creating a natural conflict.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/14/living/atheist-christmas-feat/ How do atheists celebrate Christmas?] By Todd Leopold, CNN</ref>}}

== American Atheists and their challenges in terms of overweight leadership personnel ==

== American Atheists and their challenges in terms of overweight leadership personnel ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and obesity]] and [[American Atheists and obesity]]

''See also:'' [[Atheism and obesity]] and [[American Atheists and obesity]]

[[File:Matt Dillahunty.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|As of July 9. 2016, [[Matt Dillahunty]] was on the board of directors for the American Atheists organization. ]]

[[File:Matt Dillahunty.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|As of July 9. 2016, [[Matt Dillahunty]] was on the board of directors for the American Atheists organization. ]]

[[Madalyn Murray O'Hair]] was the founder of the American Atheists organization and she was overweight.<ref>http://www.flickr.com/photos/alan-light/229583104/</ref> One of the last pictures taken of Madalyn Murray O'Hair features her standing before a cake as can be seen [http://www.dallasobserver.com/content/printVersion/276262/ HERE].  

[[Madalyn Murray O'Hair]] was the founder of the American Atheists organization and she was overweight.<ref>https://www.flickr.com/photos/alan-light/229583104/</ref> One of the last pictures taken of Madalyn Murray O'Hair features her standing before a cake as can be seen [http://www.dallasobserver.com/content/printVersion/276262/ HERE].  

As of 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]], [[Monty Gaither]], [[Blair Scott]] and [[Ann Zindler]]. A picture of an overweight Richard Andrews can be found [http://nowscape.com/atheism/atheist_people.htm HERE].  

As of 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]], [[Monty Gaither]], [[Blair Scott]] and [[Ann Zindler]]. A picture of an overweight Richard Andrews can be found [http://nowscape.com/atheism/atheist_people.htm HERE].  

On August 11. 2013, a new overweight member of their board of directors was listed - namely,  [[Jamila Bey]].  A video of an overweight Jamila Bey can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uekUG0CDs-w HERE]. As of June 8, 2016, she is no longer on their board of directors.

On August 11. 2013, a new overweight member of their board of directors was listed - namely,  [[Jamila Bey]].  A video of an overweight Jamila Bey can be seen [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uekUG0CDs-w HERE]. As of June 8, 2016, she is no longer on their board of directors.

On July 9, 2016, [[Matt Dillahunty]] was on the Board of Directors for the American Atheists organization. Pictures of an overweight Matt Dillahunty can be found [https://www.flickr.com/photos/revupreview/17492637685/in/photolist-qDuETP-nSad6y-s4prdT-bRX8Ee-skRGvK-skP8pz-nRb5mu-9sjevP-9BLiun-sqSqDZ-qfFatU-s4pkVP-rtMpz6-8JQY3T-8JQY3a-sDJUYc-s7zfuD-sDLkKt-vvp7YU-rp3NWr-skFZf3-sjRNWN-sBrsGA-rqb3u9-KEwCy-s4g9Jf-btf8J7-sBrgu5-rGKCTY-cV9RtL-sn7xQt-s3R4WX-sDJY2X-smZr9h-snbnis-s5B4po-sniAfV-rGKA5w-s5zBCf-sn8VBx-rGX8QT-sn9V1e-sn9Y8B-sjRPp1-sngXqp-s3R58t-sn9TXC-rq9AHw-sDHg6R-sn9UNR HERE] and [http://www.conservapedia.com/File:Matt_Dillahunty.jpg HERE].

On July 9, 2016, [[Matt Dillahunty]] was on the Board of Directors for the American Atheists organization. Pictures of an overweight Matt Dillahunty can be found [https://www.flickr.com/photos/revupreview/17492637685/in/photolist-qDuETP-nSad6y-s4prdT-bRX8Ee-skRGvK-skP8pz-nRb5mu-9sjevP-9BLiun-sqSqDZ-qfFatU-s4pkVP-rtMpz6-8JQY3T-8JQY3a-sDJUYc-s7zfuD-sDLkKt-vvp7YU-rp3NWr-skFZf3-sjRNWN-sBrsGA-rqb3u9-KEwCy-s4g9Jf-btf8J7-sBrgu5-rGKCTY-cV9RtL-sn7xQt-s3R4WX-sDJY2X-smZr9h-snbnis-s5B4po-sniAfV-rGKA5w-s5zBCf-sn8VBx-rGX8QT-sn9V1e-sn9Y8B-sjRPp1-sngXqp-s3R58t-sn9TXC-rq9AHw-sDHg6R-sn9UNR HERE] and [http://www.conservapedia.com/File:Matt_Dillahunty.jpg HERE].