Atheist Day
Monday, March 23, 2026
The most hated woman in America. Madalyn Murray O'Hairwas a Baltimore mother who challenged the practice of mandatory Bible reading in her son's public school. Her case,Murray v. Curlett, reached the Supreme Court in1963, where it was consolidated with. Abington School District v. Schempp. The Court ruled that officially mandated Bible reading in public schools was unconstitutional.That same year, O'Hair founded. American Atheists. In1964,Lifemagazine called her "the most hated woman in America." She was confrontational, litigious, and unapologetic. She pursued cases to remove "In God We Trust" from currency and to revoke tax exemptions for churches. She remained the public face of American atheism until her death in 1995
History
The most hated woman in America. Madalyn Murray O'Hairwas a Baltimore mother who challenged the practice of mandatory Bible reading in her son's public school. Her case,Murray v. Curlett, reached the Supreme Court in1963, where it was consolidated with. Abington School District v. Schempp. The Court ruled that officially mandated Bible reading in public schools was unconstitutional.That same year, O'Hair founded. American Atheists. In1964,Lifemagazine called her "the most hated woman in America." She was confrontational, litigious, and unapologetic. She pursued cases to remove "In God We Trust" from currency and to revoke tax exemptions for churches. She remained the public face of American atheism until her death in 1995
How It's Celebrated
Atheist Day is observed by recognizing the importance of the day, learning about its background and significance, and sharing awareness with others through conversation and social media. Many people take time to reflect on the meaning of the observance and participate in relevant activities or community events.