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

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.

“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?” ; his TV debate (Channel 13, Indianapolis, IN, The Dick Wolfsie Show) with John D. Morris on “The Question of Noah’s Flood” ; 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?” . 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.

In 2022, Frank 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. When 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 and in his exposé of The Amityville Horror. ”

Selected bibliography

Zindler has authored, co-authored or edited several texts on atheism:

• Zindler, Frank R. (1991). Dial an Atheist: Greatest Hits from Ohio. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1578849505.
• Paine, Thomas (1993). Zindler, Frank (ed.). The Age of Reason: Examination of the Prophecies. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-0910309707.
• Ingersol, Robert G.; Zindler, Frank R. (1997). A Few Reasons for doubting the Inspiration of the Bible. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1578849505.
• Drews, Arthur; Zindler, Frank R. (1997). The Legend of Saint Peter: A Contribution of Mythology to Christianity. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1578849512.
• Zindler, Frank R. (2003). The Jesus the Jews Never Knew. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1578849161.
• Price, Robert M.; Zindler, Frank R. (2010). The Case Against The Case For Christ: A New Testament Scholar Refutes the Reverend Lee Strobel. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1578840052.
• Riskas, Thomas; Zindler, Frank R. (2011). Deconstructing Mormonism: An Analysis and Assessment of the Mormon Faith. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1578840076.
• Zindler, Frank R. (2011). Through Atheist Eyes: Scenes From a World That Won't Reason. Volume I: Religions & Scriptures. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1578840113.
• Zindler, Frank R. (2011). Through Atheist Eyes: Scenes From a World That Won't Reason. Volume II: Science & Pseudoscience. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1578840120.
• Zindler, Frank R. (2011). Through Atheist Eyes: Scenes From a World That Won't Reason. Volume III: Debates. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1578840137.
• Zindler, Frank R. (2011). Through Atheist Eyes: Scenes From a World That Won't Reason. Volume IV: Omnium-Gatherum. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1578840144.
• Zindler, Frank R.; Price, Robert M. (2013). Bart Ehrman and the Quest of the Historical Jesus of Nazareth. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1578840199.
• Salm, René J. (2008). Zindler, Frank R. (ed.). The Myth of Nazareth. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1578840038.
• Salm, René J. (2015). Zindler, Frank R. (ed.). NazarethGate: Quack Archeology, Holy Hoaxes, and the Invented Town of Jesus. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1578840380.
• Zindler, Frank R. (2019). Confessions of a Born-Again Atheist: The Implausible Lives of a Godless Guy. American Atheist Press. ISBN 978-1-57884-039-7.
• Zindler, Frank R. (2022). The Amityville Horror: An Inquest into Paranormal Claims, GCRR Press, ISBN 978-1-959281-02-3 (Print) and ISBN 978-1-959281-03-0 (eBook)

References

1. American Atheists. "American Atheists". American Atheists. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
2. ^ "Frank R. Zindler (Biographical Information)". The Secular Web. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
3. Biography at World of Reason
4. Biography at Secular Student Alliance
5. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Frank Turns 80 - Part 1". YouTube.
6. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Frank Turns 80 - Part 2". YouTube.
7. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Frank Turns 80 - Part 3". YouTube.
8. Zindler, Frank and Robert Price (2013). Bart Ehrman and the Quest of the Historical Jesus of Nazareth: An Evaluation of Ehrman's Did Jesus Exist?. American Atheist Press.
9. "Frank R. Zindler". Bookfinder. Retrieved 27 June 2012.

External links

• Official website
• Frank Zindler profile at The Jesus Project
• Westfall, Marilyn (20 August 2007). "An Interview with Frank Zindler". Eloquent Atheist.
• "Frank Zindler - The Christ Myth," interview on the Point of Inquiry Podcast
• A Life Celebration: Frank Zindler
• Appearances on C-SPAN

• 1939 births
• American atheism activists
• Christ myth theory proponents
• Critics of Christianity
• Living people
• Writers about religion and science
• American Atheist Magazine editors