Firing of David Silverman from the American Atheists organization
In 2018, David Silverman was fired after allegations of financial conflicts and sexual assault.[2] Nick Fish, the new president of American Atheists, indicated that Silverman's termination was not over sexual allegations, but as a result of a "loss of confidence" stemming from violations of internal policies on staff management, conflicts of interest, and their general code of conduct.[3] Silverman, through his lawyer, denies any wrong doing and indicates he has never had a non-consensual sexual encounter.[4] In 2019, atheists PZ Myers and Stephanie Zvan indicate that Silverman's attempts to improve his public image have failed.[5][6] In his book, Fighting God, Silverman indicates that he is a “proud feminist.” (See also: Atheism and sexism and Atheism and the Me Too Movement).[7]
Silverman claimed that he had an open relationship with his Jewish and theist wife, but later admitted he lied about that his matter and cheated on her.[8]
Silverman told atheist David Smalley in an interview that he suffers from depression and that he doubts his self-worth.[9]
On October 2, 2019, Silverman indicated the experience of being accused of sexual harrassment, being fired from the American Atheist organization and losing many of his former atheist friends caused him a "horrific level of pain" that "damaged" him and that he now has textbook symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.[10] In addition, he had suicidal thoughts.[11] Furthermore, he said he now takes medication and he is still a damaged person.[12]
In October 2019, David Silverman was hired to be the Executive Director of Atheist Alliance International.[13] In December of 2019, the atheist blogger David G. McAfee reported that David Silverman has been suspended by AAI pending an investigation into an alleged inappropriate touching incident.[14]
Silverman recently appeared on the YouTube channel of Carl Benjamin, an atheist who is ant-feminist. PZ Myers indicated the video declared that "After falling victim to the #MeToo movement, ex-leader of American Atheists David Silverman had his life totally destroyed by false allegations made by feminists in the atheist movement."[15]
Timeline of Events in the David Silverman Firing
- A Brief Timeline of Events in the David Silverman Firing by Stephanie Zvan
Silverman sues the American Atheists organization for defamation plus files lawsuits against women who accused him of sexual harassment
See also: Atheist lawsuits
Silverman has filed a defamation lawsuit against the women who accused him of sexual misconduct, BuzzFeed who reported the news story, and the American Atheists organization.[16] On December 9, 2019, David Silverman's attorney withdrew from being his lawyer in his suit against American Atheists and Silverman will be acting as his own attorney.[17]
Atheist feminists/progressive atheists attempting to get Atheist Alliance International to fire David Silverman
See also: Atheist Alliance International's hiring of David Silverman and Atheism and leadership and Atheism and the Me Too Movement
According to David Silverman there are atheist feminists/progressive atheists attempting to get Atheist Alliance International (AAI) to fire David Silverman.[18] David Silverman indicates that Secular Woman and its president Monette Richards is trying to get the United Nations to revoke AAI's special consultative status with the UN in order to punish AAI for hiring Silverman.[19]
According to Silverman, the board of directors for AAI reviewed the evidence that Silverman presented maintaining his innocence of the sexual assault allegations that have been lodged against him and unamimously decided to hire him.[20]
For further details, please see:
See also: Decline of the atheist movement and Internet atheism
Contents
- 1 Timeline of Events in the David Silverman Firing
- 2 Silverman sues the American Atheists organization for defamation plus files lawsuits against women who accused him of sexual harassment
- 3 Atheist feminists/progressive atheists attempting to get Atheist Alliance International to fire David Silverman
- 4 Post sexual harassment allegations against Lawrence Krauss and David Silverman, searches for atheism related topics have dropped markedly
- 5 David Silverman and sexual abuse allegations
- 6 Atheist Lawrence Krauss and sexual abuse allegations
- 7 See also
- 8 Notes
David Silverman and sexual abuse allegations
- This Firebrand Atheist Was Just Fired After Allegations Of Financial Conflicts And Sexual Assault, Buzzfeed
- American Atheists Terminates Its President Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations By Kimberly Winston, Religion News Service
- American Atheists fires its president over sexual misconduct allegations, Salt Lake Tribune
- American Atheists Answers Follow-Up Questions After the Firing of Its President, Friendly Atheist
Atheist Lawrence Krauss and sexual abuse allegations
- Lawrence Krauss Faces Allegations Of Sexual Misconduct, Buzzfeed, 2018
- Facing Sexual Harassment Allegations, Physicist Lawrence Krauss Will Not Appear At Several Events - Buzzfeed, 2018
- When Lawrence Krauss was inappropriate with me, atheist Christina Rad
- More Organizations Cut Ties With Physicist Lawrence Krauss
See also
Notes
- ↑ My Time With Richard Dawkins (Or, Why You Should Never Meet Your Idols) by Sarah at Skepchick, September 5, 2013
- ↑ This Firebrand Atheist Was Just Fired After Allegations Of Financial Conflicts And Sexual Assault
- ↑ Leading atheist, accused of sexual misconduct, speaks out, Washington Post (republished article from Religion News Service) by Kimberly Winston, September 6, 2018
- ↑ American Atheists President David Silverman Fired After Sexual Misconduct Allegations, Christian Post, 2018
- ↑ David Silverman is failing Redemption 101 by PZ Myers
- ↑ David Silverman: Liar for the Defense by
- ↑ David Silverman was a “Proud Feminist”, PZ Myers
- ↑ Just wives by PZ Myers
- ↑ David Smalley On Social Justice In Atheism, go to the 1 hour 1 minutes and 18 second mark of the video]
- ↑ Our Disharmony w/ David Silverman & the "Atheist Movement"
- ↑ Our Disharmony w/ David Silverman & the "Atheist Movement"
- ↑ Our Disharmony w/ David Silverman & the "Atheist Movement"
- ↑ David P. Silverman Appointed Executive Director
- ↑ David Silverman Suspended Pending Investigation Into Touching Incident
- ↑ David Silverman was a “Proud Feminist”, PZ Myers
- ↑ Despite Misconduct Allegations, David Silverman Is Now Running an Atheist Group BY HEMANT MEHTA
- ↑ Yikes, Silverman is SLAPPing some more by PZ Myers
- ↑ David Silverman (Former President of American Atheist) talks to us about allegations against him.
- ↑ David Silverman (Former President of American Atheist) talks to us about allegations against him., Silverman starts mentioning this matter at the 51:29 point of the video
- ↑ David Silverman (Former President of American Atheist) talks to us about allegations against him., Silverman starts mentioning this matter at the 51:29 point of the video
- ↑ Lawrence Krauss sent on paid leave by Arizona University in wake of harassment allegations, The Australian, 2018
- ↑ This Firebrand Atheist Was Just Fired After Allegations Of Financial Conflicts And Sexual Assault