Frank Zindler

Frank R. Zindler (May 23, 1939) is an American atheist who served as interim president of the atheist organization American Atheists in 2008.

Career

Prior to his involvement in the atheist community, he was Chairman, Division of Science, Nursing, & Technology, at Fulton-Montgomery Community College of the State University of New York. After the abduction and murder of Madalyn Murray O'Hair, her son Jon Garth Murray, and granddaughter Robin Eileen Murray-O'Hair in 1995, he became editor of both ''American Atheist'' magazine and Director of American Atheist Press. In 2009, he retired as editor of the magazine but continued as Director of American Atheist Press. In the spring of 2011, he published a multi-volume anthology of his short essays and other works.

At a party celebrating his 80th birthday, he came out of the closet as a gay man by giving a dramatic reading of the "Confessions" part of his autobiography.

“In 2022, he published his eleventh book, ''The Amityville Horror: An Inquest into Paranormal Claims''. The book was begun in the fall of 1979, as an example for his students of how to investigate claims of the supernatural and paranormal. ootnote ref. #bWhen the book was two-thirds completed it was put aside when an oral publishing agreement fell apart. The story of how this played out is described both in his ''Confessions'' ootnote ref. #cand in his exposé of ''The Amityville Horror.'' ootnote ref. #d��

ootnote ref. #aZindler, Frank (2022). ''The Amityville Horror: An Inquest into Paranormal Claims''. GCRR Press.

ootnote ref. #bZindler, Frank (2022). ''The Amityville Horror: An Inquest into Paranormal Claims''. GCRR Press, pp. xvii–xx (Preface) and pp. 1–8 (Introduction).  

ootnote ref. #c Zindler, Frank (2019). ''Confessions of a Born-Again Atheist, American Atheist Press,'' pp. 483–488.

ootnote ref. #dZindler, Frank (2022). ''The Amityville Horror: An Inquest into Paranormal Claims''. GCRR Press, pp. xvii–xx (Preface) and pp. 1–8 (Introduction).  

Debates

Over the course of a long life, Zindler engaged in a great number of radio, TV, and platform debates in defense of the “Wall of Separation” between state and church; the civil rights of atheists, humanists, secularists, and secularism generally; abortion rights and the right of women to control their own bodies; and the right to “death with dignity” at the end of life. He vigorously defended the teaching of evolution in public schools and the rights of LGBTQ Americans. ootnote ref. #e

“Among his most memorable debates were his radio debate (WMUZ Detroit, Al Kresta Show, November 14, 1989) with John P. Koster (author of ''The Atheist Syndrome'') on the question “Does God Exist?” ootnote ref. #f his TV debate (Channel 13, Indianapolis, IN, The Dick Wolfsie Show) with John D. Morris on “The Question of Noah’s Flood” ootnote ref. #g and several radio debates (e.g., WTVN 610 AM, “Night Talk with Jim Bleikamp” in Columbus, OH) with Duane T. Gish on the question “Is Creationism Science?” ootnote ref. #h He also had a famous debate with philosopher and theologian William Lane Craig at Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, IL on June 27, 1993.

Zindler is also a proponent of the mythicist theory that no historical person lies behind the Gospel picture of Jesus of Nazareth. After the publication of Bart Ehrman's 2012 book ''Did Jesus Exist? The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth'' arguing (from a non-religious perspective) for the existence of a historical Jesus, Zindler and Robert M. Price co-edited an anthology of essays by various mythicists arguing against Ehrman's position.

ootnote ref. #eZindler, Frank (2019). ''Confessions of a Born-Again Atheist, American Atheist Press,'' pp. 480–483.

ootnote ref. #fZindler, Frank (2011). ''Through Atheist Eyes: Scenes From a World That Won’t Reason, Vol. III: Debates'', pp. 7–120.

ootnote ref. #gZindler, Frank (2011). ''Through Atheist Eyes: Scenes From a World That Won’t Reason, Vol. III: Debates'', pp. 120–189.

ootnote ref. #hZindler, Frank (2011). ''Through Atheist Eyes: Scenes From a World That Won’t Reason, Vol. III: Debates'', pp. 191–267.

Selected bibliography

Zindler has authored, co-authored or edited several texts on atheism:
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* ''The Myth of Nazareth: The Invented Town of Jesus'' (2008)
* ''Nazareth Gate: Quack Archeology, Holy Hoaxes, and the Invented Town of Jesus'' (2015)
* Zindler, Frank R. (2019). ''Confessions of a Born-Again Atheist: The Implausible Lives of a Godless Guy.'' American Atheist Press. .
* “Zindler, Frank R. (2022). ''The Amityville Horror: An Inquest into Paranormal Claims,'' GCRR Press, (Print) and (eBook)

References

External links

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Frank Zindler profile
at ''The Jesus Project''
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* "Frank Zindler - The Christ Myth," interview on th
''Point of Inquiry'' Podcast


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zindler, Frank

1939 births
American atheism activists
Christ myth theory proponents
American critics of Christianity
Living people
Place of birth missing (living people)
Writers about religion and science
American Atheist Magazine editors