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{{Short description|American atheist activist}}
'''Ellen Johnson''' is the current president of ]. She has been active in the organization since ] and president since ]. She describes herself as a "second-generation ]" who has been an atheist all her life. Her educational background consists of ]s in ] and ], and a ] in Political Science from ].
{{other people}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ellen Johnson
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = 11.15.07EllenJohnsonByLuigiNovi.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Johnson at the Great American God-Out in ] on November 15, 2007
|office = President of ]
|term_start = 1995
|term_end = 2008
|predecessor = ]
|successor = ]
| birth_date = {{bya|1955}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
}}


The American Atheists are a nationwide organization who defends civil rights for nonbelievers, works for the total ], and addresses issues of ] public policy in regards to religion. Johnson took over as President in 1995 after the then President and founder ] went missing along with two other members. It was later discovered O'Hair and the two others were murdered. '''Ellen Johnson''' (born 1955) is an American activist for the civil rights of ]s and for the ] in the ]. She served as the president of the organization ] from 1995 to 2008.


==Early life==
⚫ In ] ], Johnson announced the formation of the Godless Americans Political Action Committee (GAMPAC), a ] to endorse political candidates who support the ]. She is the executive director of that organization.
Ellen Johnson was born in the ] in 1955. She describes herself as a lifelong "second-generation ]".<ref name="Donahue" /> Her educational background consists of ]s in ] and ] and a ] in political science from ]. She is married with two children.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}}


==Career==
⚫ Currently, she is the co-host for "The Atheist Viewpoint" television program, which is available "on dozens of cable systems throughout the nation and on the Internet." She has remained the co-host since ].
Johnson has been active in the ] organization since 1978. She took over as president in 1995 after founder ] went missing along with her son and granddaughter. (They were later found to have been abducted and murdered by two ex-convicts, one of whom, David Waters, worked for her organization.)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Milloy |first=Ross E. |date=2001-03-16 |title=Bodies Identified as Those of Missing Atheist and Kin |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/16/us/bodies-identified-as-those-of-missing-atheist-and-kin.html |access-date=2023-01-31 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


⚫ In November 2002, Johnson announced the formation of the Godless Americans Political Action Committee (GAMPAC), a ] to endorse political candidates who support the ]. She is the executive director of that organization. The PAC has since renamed itself as "Enlighten the Vote".<ref>http://enlightenthevote.com/about/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
⚫ On ], ] she appeared on an ] special interviewed by ] for "Heaven – Where Is It? How Do We Get There?" She appeared on ] in April 2005, ] in December 2005, ]'s ] December 2004, appeared on ] three times in November and December 2003 , and ]'s ] in February 2003


⚫ Starting in 1994, she was the co-host of ''The Atheist Viewpoint'', a television program which was available as of 2003 "on dozens of cable systems throughout the nation and on the Internet."<ref name="Donahue">{{cite web|url= http://infidels.org/wire/stories/?aa_030204.html |title =AA Press Release: Ellen Johnson Slated for Donahue/MSNBC|date= 2003-02-04|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110726180649/http://www.infidels.org/wire/stories/?aa_030204.html |archive-date=2011-07-26 }}</ref>
==Media and Articles==
* Speech to ], July 28, 2004
* ''Grand Rapids Press'', August 7, 2004
*"A Time of Doubt for Atheists ; With the religious making inroads in popular culture and politics, nonbelievers yearn for higher power in Washington," '']'', July 18, 2005 Monday, Home Edition, Part A; Pg. 1.
*"American Atheists Group Is Moving to New Jersey," '']'', April 3, 1999
*"Atheists and Believers: about Ellen Johnson," '']'', September 20, 2000
*"Atheists Don't 'Despise' Others," '']'', February 2, 1997.
*"Atheists reach out in S.F.; Conclave designed to turn nonbelievers into activists," ''],'' May 20, 2005, Friday; Pg. A1.
*"Dear God: Dee-Fense!," '']'', December 11, 2005 Sunday, Section 14NJ; Column 2; Pg. 6.
*"Defending and protecting Atheism worldwide," '']'', June 22, 2005.
*"Encore Presentation: What Happens After We Die?," ], ], April 24, 2005.
*"Heaven, Does it exist?", ], ], December 19, 2005
*"Heaven – Where Is It? How Do We Get There?," ] with Barbara Walters. December 20, 2005.
*"] for Dec. 14," ], December 15, 2004
*Goodstein, Laurie. "Public Lives; It's a Harsh Political Climate for a Believer in Nonbelief." '']''. September 16, 2000, Section A, Page 9, Column 1,
*Sella, Marshall. "Faith Is a Fraud; Godless And Proud of It," '']'', December 7, 1997.
*Steinfels, Peter. "Beliefs; Among struggles with boundaries are those facing Godless Americans and advocates of polyamory." '']'', August 17, 2002.
*Stewart, Barbara. "Atheist in the Foxhole," '']'', January 26, 1997
*Stunsky, Steve. "Communities: Atheists Come to Lobby For What They Believe," '']'', April 11, 1999.
*"The Menorah On the Town Green," '']'', January 7, 1990.
*"Three Top Leaders Missing, Atheist Group Is Adrift," '']'', April 21, 1996
*"True Non-Believers; In California, One Convention So Over God," '']'', April 12, 2004 Monday; C01.


⚫ On December 20, 2005, she appeared on an ] special, "Heaven – Where Is It? How Do We Get There?", for which she was interviewed by ]. She appeared on '']'' in April 2005,<ref></ref> '']'' in December 2005, ]'s '']'' on December 14, 2004,<ref>{{Cite web |title='Scarborough Country' for Dec. 14 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6719052 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=NBC News |date=15 December 2004 |language=en}}</ref> and appeared on ] three times in November and December 2003, and ]'s ].<ref name="Donahue"/>
⚫ ==External links==
* Official page
* Official page.
* Official page.
*


On May 2, 2008, it was announced on the American Atheists blog that Johnson was leaving her post as president. On May 7, 2008, it was made public that Ellen Johnson was removed involuntarily by a vote of the board of directors. The reason was not revealed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Special Official Statement RE: Ellen Johnson |url=http://www.atheists.org/nogodblog/index.php/2008/05/07/special_official_statement_re_ellen_john |date=2008-05-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513151104/http://www.atheists.org/nogodblog/index.php/2008/05/07/special_official_statement_re_ellen_john |archive-date=2008-05-13|website=American Atheists }}</ref> She was succeeded by ].


==References==
⚫ {{start box}}
{{Reflist}}

⚫ ==External links==
*
*{{C-SPAN|41176}}
⚫ {{s-start}}
{{succession box | {{succession box |
before=] (''de facto'')<br>] (''de jure'')<br><small>(Jon Garth Murray held office as President in 1986 but Murray O'Hair, who was ''de jure'' President from its founding in 1963 until 1986, remained ''de facto'' President until both their murders in 1995)</small>|
before=]|
title=]| title=]|
years=]&ndash;] | years=1995&ndash;2008 |
after=Incumbent after=]
}} }}
{{end box}} {{s-end}}


] {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Ellen}}
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 21:22, 5 September 2024

American atheist activist For other people named Ellen Johnson, see Ellen Johnson (disambiguation).
Ellen Johnson
Johnson at the Great American God-Out in Manhattan on November 15, 2007
President of American Atheists
In office
1995–2008
Preceded byJon Garth Murray
Succeeded byFrank Zindler
Personal details
Born1955 (age 68–69)

Ellen Johnson (born 1955) is an American activist for the civil rights of atheists and for the separation of church and state in the United States. She served as the president of the organization American Atheists from 1995 to 2008.

Early life

Ellen Johnson was born in the United States in 1955. She describes herself as a lifelong "second-generation atheist". Her educational background consists of bachelor's degrees in environmental studies and political science and a master's degree in political science from The New School for Social Research. She is married with two children.

Career

Johnson has been active in the American Atheists organization since 1978. She took over as president in 1995 after founder Madalyn Murray O'Hair went missing along with her son and granddaughter. (They were later found to have been abducted and murdered by two ex-convicts, one of whom, David Waters, worked for her organization.)

In November 2002, Johnson announced the formation of the Godless Americans Political Action Committee (GAMPAC), a PAC to endorse political candidates who support the separation of church and state. She is the executive director of that organization. The PAC has since renamed itself as "Enlighten the Vote".

Starting in 1994, she was the co-host of The Atheist Viewpoint, a television program which was available as of 2003 "on dozens of cable systems throughout the nation and on the Internet."

On December 20, 2005, she appeared on an ABC special, "Heaven – Where Is It? How Do We Get There?", for which she was interviewed by Barbara Walters. She appeared on Larry King Live in April 2005, Good Morning America in December 2005, MSNBC's Scarborough Country on December 14, 2004, and appeared on Fox News three times in November and December 2003, and MSNBC's Phil Donahue.

On May 2, 2008, it was announced on the American Atheists blog that Johnson was leaving her post as president. On May 7, 2008, it was made public that Ellen Johnson was removed involuntarily by a vote of the board of directors. The reason was not revealed. She was succeeded by Frank Zindler.

References

  1. ^ "AA Press Release: Ellen Johnson Slated for Donahue/MSNBC". 2003-02-04. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26.
  2. Milloy, Ross E. (2001-03-16). "Bodies Identified as Those of Missing Atheist and Kin". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  3. http://enlightenthevote.com/about/
  4. "What Happens After We Die?" transcript; Larry King Live; April 14, 2005
  5. "'Scarborough Country' for Dec. 14". NBC News. 15 December 2004. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  6. "Special Official Statement RE: Ellen Johnson". American Atheists. 2008-05-07. Archived from the original on 2008-05-13.

External links

Preceded byMadalyn Murray O'Hair (de facto)
Jon Garth Murray (de jure)
(Jon Garth Murray held office as President in 1986 but Murray O'Hair, who was de jure President from its founding in 1963 until 1986, remained de facto President until both their murders in 1995) 		President of American Atheists
1995–2008 		Succeeded byFrank Zindler
Categories: