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'{{Redirect|Dave Silverman|the animator|David Silverman}} {{Infobox scientist |name = Dave Silverman |image = David_Silverman-Apr_4_2011.JPG |image_size = |caption = Dave Silverman in 2011 |birth_name = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|08|13|df=yes}} |birth_place = [[Marblehead, Massachusetts]], [[United States]] |death_date = |residence = [[Cranford, New Jersey|Cranford]], [[New Jersey]] |citizenship = [[United States|American]] |nationality = |ethnicity = [[Jewish]] |alma_mater = [[Brandeis University]]<br>[[Penn State University]]<br>[[Seton Hall University]] |fields = |workplaces = [[American Atheists]] |doctoral_advisor = |academic_advisors = |doctoral_students = |notable_students = |known_for = [[Atheist]] activism, [[Separation of Church and State]], [[Criticism of religion]] |author_abbrev_bot = |author_abbrev_zoo = |influences = |influenced = |awards = |signature = |footnotes = |religion = None ([[Atheism]]) }} '''David Silverman''' (born August 13, 1966) is the current president of the [[American Atheists]], a non-profit organization that supports the rights of atheists and the removal of expressions of religion in public when possibly interpretable as governmental endorsement, in accordance with the [[Establishment Clause|First Amendment]] of the United States [[US Constitution|Constitution]]. ==Career== David Silverman began publicly challenging religion in high school and often states in interviews that he became an atheist at the age of six.<ref name="mastermedia">{{cite news | url=http://www.mastermediaspeakers.com/davidsilverman/index.html | title=Dave Silverman - MasterMedia Speakers Bureau | publisher=[[MasterMedia]] |year= 2011 | first= | last= | accessdate =2011-04-09}}</ref> Although he was never in the closet about his disbelief, he was forced to do his [[Bar mitzvah]]. He calls this the turning point in his life where he decided never to lie about his atheism again because he had gotten up on stage and told all the people he knew that he believed in God.<ref name=interview>{{cite web|last=Merica|first=Dan|title=Atheist organizer takes ‘movement’ to nation’s capital|url=http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/23/atheist-organizer-takes-movement-to-nations-capital/|work=cnn.com|publisher=CNN|accessdate=2013-06-18}}</ref><ref name="Daily KOS interview">{{cite web|last=Pakman|first=David|title=TDPS: American Atheists' David Silverman Fascinating O'Reilly Behind-Scenes, Agnostic vs. Atheist|url=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/02/09/942401/-TDPS-American-Atheists-David-Silverman-Fascinating-O-Reilly-Behind-Scenes-Agnostic-vs-Atheist|work=Daily KOS|accessdate=2013-06-18}}</ref> Seventeen years later his father admitted to him that he also was an atheist.<ref name="Daily KOS interview"/> He received a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from [[Brandeis University]] and MBA in Marketing from [[Penn State University]], and an Advanced Graduate Certificate in International Business from [[Seton Hall]]. Silverman is a former professional inventor with seventy four patents, and has authored several articles, including a cover story for ''[[Inventors Digest]]''. Silverman has worked with the [[American Atheists]] organization since 1996, and has held a variety of roles, including: New Jersey State Director, Communications Director, and Vice President. He was elected president of American Atheists on September 16, 2010, following Ed Buckner.<ref name="SilvermanPresident" /><ref name="Media">{{cite news | url=http://atheists.org/media/media_releases | title=American Atheists - Media Releases | publisher=[[American Atheists]] |year= 2010 | first= | last= | accessdate =2011-04-09}}</ref> ===Media appearances=== During his tenure as Communications Director and Vice President of American Atheists, Silverman made several media appearances, but has been especially visible since becoming president.<ref name="Media"/> An atheist awareness billboard campaign launched in the December 2010 sparked controversy and increased media exposure for the organization.<ref name="NPR">{{cite news | url=http://www.npr.org/2010/12/11/131988679/War-On-Christmas-Spreads-To-Lincoln-Tunnel | title=NPR - War on Christmas Spreads to Lincoln Tunnel | publisher=[[NPR]] |year= 2010 | first= | last= | accessdate =2011-04-09}}</ref> As a result of this campaign, Silverman has appeared on a number of television shows since late 2010, most notably, ''The O'Reilly Factor'' on January 4, 2011. It was under Silverman's direction that the American Atheists group sought to block the preservation of a cross-beam section of the World Trade Center skeleton that resembled a cross. Silverman opined: "The [[World Trade Center cross]] has become a Christian icon. It has been blessed by so-called holy men and presented as a reminder that their God, who couldn’t be bothered to stop the terrorists or prevent 3,000 people from being killed in his name, cared only enough to bestow upon us some rubble that resembles a cross."<ref name="Cross">{{cite news | url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-august-4-2011/culture-war-update---the-dividening-of-america---american-atheists-vs--the-ground-zero-cross | title= Jon Stewart on American Atheists vs. Ground Zero Cross | publisher=[[The Daily Show]] |year= 2011 | first= | last= |accessdate =2011-08-25}}</ref> Silverman attended and spoke at the 2011 American Atheists National Convention, in [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]], [[Iowa]] <ref name="Convention">{{cite news | url=http://www.atheists.org/events/National_Convention | title=American Atheists - National Convention | publisher=[[American Atheists]] |year= 2011 | first= | last= | accessdate =2011-04-10}}</ref> During his speech, he announced [[Reason Rally]]. On March 24, 2012 the Reason Rally, which was the largest atheist gathering in world history took place at the [[National Mall]] in Washington, D.C. Silverman was the Creator and Executive Producer of the event, and the President of the Reason Rally Coalition, the coalition he founded to run the rally. On October 28, 2011, Silverman and [[Dinesh D'Souza]] participated in a public debate on whether [[Christianity]] is beneficial for America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dineshdsouza.com/videos/?tag=Silverman|title=Dinesh D'Souza, The King's College|publisher=Dinesh D'Souza|accessdate=15 September 2014}}</ref> Silverman went on Fox News's [[Hannity]] to discuss Christmas-themed billboards that American Atheists put up in [[Times Square]], NYC.<ref>David Silverman on Hannity 12-20-2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cziLVWk9_E8</ref> Silverman's first book, "Fighting God: An Atheist Manifesto for a Religious World", is on preorder now and is scheduled to be released on December 1, 2015. ===Personal=== Silverman has been married for two decades to publisher Hildy Silverman. The couple has one teenage daughter.<ref name="mastermedia" /><ref name="SilvermanPresident">{{cite news | url=http://atheists.org/blog/2011/09/16/dave-silverman-president-elect | title=American Atheists - Dave Silverman, President-elect | publisher=[[American Atheists]] |year= 2010 | first= | last= | accessdate =2010-04-09}} {{dead link|date=November 2013}}</ref> When Silverman requested a customized [[Vehicle registration plates of New Jersey|New Jersey]] [[vanity plate]] with the letters ATHE1ST it was denied by the [[New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission]] as "objectionable". He appealed and the plate was issued.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2405294/David-Silverman-New-Jersey-denies-gives-mans-request-Atheist-vanity-plate.html|title=David Silverman: New Jersey first denies but then gives in to man's request for 'Atheist' vanity plate |work=Mail Online|accessdate=15 September 2014}}</ref> == See also == {{Portal|Biography|Atheism}} * [[Atheism]] * [[List of atheists]] The guy is AWESOME!! hello!! ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [http://atheists.org American Atheists Website] * [http://atheists.org/blog/ The No-God Blog] * [http://atheists.org/media/Atheist_Viewpoint_TV_Show The Atheist Viewpoint TV Show] {{S-start}} {{Succession box | before=[[Ed Buckner]] | title=[[American Atheists President|President of American Atheists]] | years=2010 - present | after= incumbent}} {{S-end}} {{Criticism of religion}} {{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> | NAME = Silverman, Dave | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = President of American Atheists | DATE OF BIRTH = August 13, 1966 | PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Marblehead, Massachusetts]], [[United States]] | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Silverman, Dave}} [[Category:American atheists]] [[Category:American Jews]] [[Category:Jewish atheists]] [[Category:Atheism activists]] [[Category:Critics of religions]] [[Category:1966 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Marblehead, Massachusetts]] [[Category:People from Cranford, New Jersey]] [[Category:Brandeis University alumni]] [[Category:Pennsylvania State University alumni]]'