Al Stefanelli
Al serves on the Board of Directors for The Clergy Project, and is the former Georgia State Director for American Atheists, Inc.
He is a retired journalist and the author of "Free Thoughts - A Collection Of Essays By An American Atheist" and "A Voice Of Reason In An Unreasonable World - The Rise Of Atheism On Planet Earth."
Al began writing in 1985, starting with the New York Times. In 1993 he joined a McClatchy newspaper, writing a weekly column for ten years. His writing continues to be widely distributed on the Internet and in print.
He also produced and hosted a weekly syndicated radio broadcast for three years and was the founder and President of the former United Atheist Front, Inc., which functioned as a civil rights organization.
Al is also a former Southern Baptist Pastor, having served two churches and as pulpit supply for three counties.
He co-hosts "American Heathen Radio" and "Reap Sow Radio." He occasionally guests on "The God Discussion Show" and has appeared on the TV program "Atheist Perspectives on News and Events as well as other media outlets.
Al also contributes to the "The American Heathen" blog and is a member of a local freethought group, the Fayette Freethought Society, in the Atlanta Metro area.
“Fundamental Christianity and Islam are diseases. They are viruses that have infected our species, and I see no reason to cease my broad-brushed punditry against them, their toxic beliefs and their dangerous doctrines.”
“To the fundamentalist, their evidence in the form of religious doctrines and scriptures from various holy books must remain unchanged. This quashes the chance of empiricism and retards the intellectual growth of the mind. To the freethinker, our evidence is in the form of what exists in the real world, what can be verified by independent sources and what the community of like-minded individuals has solidified as acceptable methods of investigation that are based on credible, consistent techniques.”
“To the freethinker, change is anticipated, and something to be embraced. To change our mind is our greatest strength, as it has led to the most remarkable discoveries in human insight and has resulted in the drive to grow as a species in all areas of our lives.”