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Barker has also appeared on dozens of national radio programs and forums to discuss and debate issues related to atheism and the separation of church and state. He was featured in a ''New York Times'' article about atheists<ref>{{cite news | url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70F1EF73D590C748CDDAB0994DF494D81&showabstract=1 | title=Faith Is a Fraud; Godless And Proud of It | publisher=[[New York Times]] |date= December 7, 1997 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-09-27}}</ref> and has given addresses on religious issues at several events across the United States, including one at Harvard University.<ref name="OfficialBio" />
Barker has also appeared on dozens of national radio programs and forums to discuss and debate issues related to atheism and the separation of church and state. He was featured in a ''New York Times'' article about atheists<ref>{{cite news | url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70F1EF73D590C748CDDAB0994DF494D81&showabstract=1 | title=Faith Is a Fraud; Godless And Proud of It | publisher=[[New York Times]] |date= December 7, 1997 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-09-27}}</ref> and has given addresses on religious issues at several events across the United States, including one at Harvard University.<ref name="OfficialBio" />

On [[2007-10-06]] Barker launched a radio show<ref>{{cite web
| last =Donaldson-Evans
| first =Catherine
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Atheist Radio Show Goes National on Air America
| work =
| publisher =FOX News Network, LLC
| date =[[2007-10-10]]
| url =http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,300719,00.html
| format =
| doi =
| accessdate =[[2007-10-11]] }}</ref> on [[Air America Radio|Air America]]. The one hour weekly show is co-hosted with his wife [[Annie Laurie Gaylor]].


==Publications==
==Publications==

Revision as of 19:10, 11 October 2007

Barker at an atheist convention in Reykjavík in 2006.

Dan Barker (born June 25 1949) is a prominent American atheist activist who served as a Christian preacher and musician for 17 years, but left Christianity in 1984.

Biography

He received a degree in Religion from Azusa Pacific University and was ordained to the ministry by the Standard Community Church, California, in 1975. He served as associate pastor at a Friend's (Quaker) Church, an Assembly of God, and an independent Charismatic church. To this day, he receives royalties from his popular children's Christian musicals, "Mary Had a Little Lamb" (1977), and "His Fleece Was White As Snow" (1978), both published by Manna Music and performed in many countries.[1] In 1984 he announced to his friends that he was an atheist.[2]

A successful musician, Barker has composed over 200 songs that have been published or recorded. He is the current co-president with his wife Annie Laurie Gaylor of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, an American Freethought organization that promotes the separation of church and state. The organization was dealt a setback in its quest to stop federal funding of faith-based initiatives in the Supreme Court decision of Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation decided on 25 June 2007[3]. Barker is co-host of Freethought Radio, a Madison, Wisconsin based radio program for atheists, agnostics, and other freethinkers that has included interviews with Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Steven Pinker, Julia Sweeney, and Michael Newdow. His Foundation published his book Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist (ISBN 1-877733-07-5), and he has written numerous articles for Freethought Today, an American freethought newspaper. Dan belongs to a number of high IQ Societies, including Prometheus Society which has an entrance requirement at the 99.997th percentile.[1]

Media appearances

Barker has appeared on Phil Donahue, Oprah Winfrey, Hannity & Colmes, Maury Povich, Good Morning America, Sally Jessy Raphael, and Tom Leykis television programs.

Barker has also appeared on dozens of national radio programs and forums to discuss and debate issues related to atheism and the separation of church and state. He was featured in a New York Times article about atheists[4] and has given addresses on religious issues at several events across the United States, including one at Harvard University.[1]

On 2007-10-06 Barker launched a radio show[5] on Air America. The one hour weekly show is co-hosted with his wife Annie Laurie Gaylor.

Publications

Books

Music Albums

References

  1. ^ a b c "FFRF: Dan Barker Biography". Freedom From Religion Foundation. 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  2. ^ "Former Christian songwriter Dan Barker now an atheist". Metro Silicon Valley. October 3–9, 2002. Retrieved 2007-09-27.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  3. ^ Win for faith-based grants, 26-June-2007, retrieved 26-June-2007 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Faith Is a Fraud; Godless And Proud of It". New York Times. December 7, 1997. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  5. ^ Donaldson-Evans, Catherine (2007-10-10). "Atheist Radio Show Goes National on Air America". FOX News Network, LLC. Retrieved 2007-10-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)