Dan Barker

{{short description|American atheist activist and musician|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Dan Barker

| image = Dan Barker.jpg

| caption =

| birth_name = Daniel Edwin Barker{{cite web|last=Lueders|first=Bill|title=Fervor in reverse|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19910728&id=4DcdAAAAIBAJ&pg=3760,4051303|work=The Milwaukee Journal|pages=7–13|date=July 28, 1991}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|6|25}}

| birth_place = Santa Monica, California, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| alma_mater = Azusa Pacific University

| known_for = {{ubl | Advocacy of atheism and rationalism | Criticism of religion }}

| occupation = Co-president, Freedom From Religion Foundation, author, musician

| module = {{Listen

| filename = Dan Barker introducing himself.ogg

| title = Voice of Dan Barker

| embed = yes

}}

Daniel Edwin Barker (born June 25, 1949){{Cite web |date=2023-12-26 |title=Dan Barker |url=https://www.geni.com/people/Dan-Barker/6000000104559657854 |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=geni_family_tree |language=en-US}} is an American atheist activist and musician who served as an evangelical Christian preacher and composer for 19 years but left Christianity in 1984. He and his wife Annie Laurie Gaylor are the current co-presidents of the Freedom From Religion Foundation,{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=27715|title=Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor are happily God-free|publisher=Isthmus The Daily Page|date=December 18, 2009|access-date=August 17, 2013|author=Grauvogl, Ann|archive-date=November 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107013057/http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=27715|url-status=dead}} and he is cofounder of The Clergy Project. {{cite web|url=https://clergyproject.org/clergy-project-history/|title=The Story of The Clergy Project|publisher=The Clergy Project|date=n.d.|access-date=July 3, 2022|author=unknown}} He has written numerous articles for Freethought Today, an American freethought newspaper. He is the author of several books including Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist.[https://www.salon.com/2013/06/29/god_is_a_delusion_i_was_a_pentacostal_preacher_until_i_lost_my_faith/ "“God is a delusion”: I was a Pentecostal preacher — until I lost my faith"]. Salon.

Barker has been an invited speaker at Rock Beyond Belief.{{cite web|url=http://rockbeyondbelief.com/2011/01/16/dan-barker-joins-the-lineup|title=Dan Barker Joins the Lineup|publisher=Rock Beyond Belief website|date=January 16, 2011|access-date=August 17, 2013|author=Griffith, Justin|archive-date=October 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192227/http://rockbeyondbelief.com/2011/01/16/dan-barker-joins-the-lineup/|url-status=dead}} He is on the speakers bureau of the Secular Student Alliance.{{cite web|url=http://secularstudents.org/speakers/DanBarker|title=Dan Barker|publisher=Secular Student Alliance|access-date=August 18, 2013|archive-date=October 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194718/http://secularstudents.org/speakers/DanBarker|url-status=dead}}

Biography

Barker 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 several churches: Religious Society of Friends (Quaker), a church in the Assemblies of God fellowship, and an independent Charismatic church. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.mannamusicinc.com/All%20Songs.htm|title=Manna Music All Songs List|publisher=Manna Music|access-date=August 17, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011110715/http://www.mannamusicinc.com/All%20Songs.htm|archive-date=October 11, 2013}}

In 1984, he announced to his friends, family, and co-ministers that he had become an atheist,{{cite news|url=http://metroactive.com/papers/metro/10.03.02/barker-0240.html|title=Heretical Animals|publisher=Metro Silicon Valley|date=October 3, 2002|access-date=August 17, 2013|author=Von Busack, Richard|archive-date=December 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215154507/http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/10.03.02/barker-0240.html|url-status=dead}} and appeared on AM Chicago (hosted by Oprah Winfrey) later that year on a show about "kicking the religion habit".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_t17c7Zkts |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/i_t17c7Zkts |archive-date=December 19, 2021 |url-status=live|title=The Oprah Winfrey Show|publisher=AM Chicago|year=1984|access-date=August 17, 2013}}{{cbignore}}

Personal life

Barker and Gaylor met when both were guests on the show. They began dating six months later and married in 1987. They have a daughter, Sabrina Delata.{{cite news|url=http://host.madison.com/news/the-atheists-calling-the-madison-based-freedom-from-religion-foundation/article_85a849c9-f26a-50e8-8a04-cf8bc889d8a0.html|title=The Atheists' Calling|publisher=Madison.com|date=February 25, 2007|access-date=August 17, 2013|author=Erickson, Doug}}

He is a member of the Lenni Lenape Delaware Tribe of Indians,{{cite web|url=http://delawaretribe.org|title=Delaware Tribe of Indians}} and in 1991 edited and published Paradise Remembered,{{cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Remembered-Lenape-Childhood-Stories/dp/B00GW4Z9LS|title=Paradise Remembered a Lenape Indian Childhood and Other Stories |first=Dan|last=Barker|publisher=Dan Barker|year=1991|asin=B00GW4Z9LS}} a collection of his grandfather's stories as a Lenape boy in Indian Territory.

Freedom From Religion Foundation

File:Dan Barker introduces the FFRF.webm.]]

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.{{cite web|url=https://ffrf.org/about/staff-and-board/annie-laurie-gaylor-3/|title=Annie Laurie Gaylor|website=Freedom From Religion Foundation|date=January 30, 2024 |access-date=June 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426101811/https://ffrf.org/about/staff-and-board/annie-laurie-gaylor-3/|archive-date=April 26, 2024}} Barker is co-host of Freethought Radio, a radio program based in Madison, Wisconsin for atheists, agnostics, and other freethinkers that began in 2006 and has included interviews with Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Steven Pinker, Christopher Hitchens, Philip Pullman, Daniel C. Dennett, Ron Reagan, Julia Sweeney, and Michael Newdow.{{cite web|url=https://www.ffrf.org/news/radio|title=Freethought Radio|date=January 2000 }}

Media appearances

File:Barker-DSouza-UCSD-201103.jpg at UCSD in 2011.]]

Barker has appeared on dozens of national television and radio programs to discuss and debate issues related to atheism and the separation of state and church. He has discussed nativity scenes on government property,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGeGSabXgKM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301141644/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGeGSabXgKM |archive-date=March 1, 2014 |url-status=dead|title=Fox & Friends|publisher=Fox News|date=December 4, 2010|access-date=August 17, 2013}} the campaign against a Mother Teresa stamp,{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-march-8-2010/mail-mary|title=Mail Mary|publisher=Comedy Central|date=March 14, 2010|access-date=August 17, 2013|author=The Daily Show}} prayer in public schools,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgPcAO4icFQ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301123837/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgPcAO4icFQ |archive-date=March 1, 2014 |url-status=dead|title=Does Prayer Have A Place In Public Schools|publisher=Fox News|date=August 14, 2011|access-date=August 17, 2013}} and has appeared on Oprah Winfrey, The O’Reilly Factor, Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham, Phil Donahue, Hannity & Colmes, Maury Povich, Good Morning America, Sally Jessy Raphael, and Tom Leykis, as well as many international television and radio shows.

He was featured in a New York Times article about the growth of atheism in Southern states,{{cite news|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70F1EF73D590C748CDDAB0994DF494D81&showabstract=1|title=Faith Is a Fraud; Godless And Proud of It|work=New York Times|date=December 7, 1997|first=Marshall|last=Sella|access-date=September 27, 2007}} has given addresses on his own "de-conversion" across the United States,{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1991/01/24/minister-turned-atheist-speaks-this-weekend/|title=Minister-turned-atheist Speaks This Weekend|publisher=Orlando Sentinel|date=January 24, 1991|access-date=August 30, 2013|author=Lazarus, Bill}}{{cite web|url=http://www.trhonline.com/portfolio/flipside/getpost.pl?messnumb=1092712932|title=Dan Barker Speaks Tonight at Schofield|publisher=University of Wisconsin|work=The Flip Side|date=April 28, 2004|access-date=August 30, 2013|author=Lyman, Wendy}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spectatornews.com/campus-news/2004/04/29/atheism-speaker-attracts-large-crowd|title=Atheism speaker attracts large crowd|publisher=University of Wisconsin|work=The Spectator|date=April 24, 2004|access-date=August 21, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/nov/13/former_preacher_deconverts|title=Former preacher 'de-converts' to atheism|publisher=Lawrence Journal World|date=November 13, 2004|access-date=August 17, 2013|author=Baker, Jim}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cm-life.com/2013/03/11/evangelical-preacher-shares-story-of-conversion-to-atheism|title=Evangelical preacher shares story of conversion to atheism|publisher=Michigan Central Life|date=March 11, 2013|access-date=August 17, 2013|author=Tonge, Shawn|archive-date=October 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191952/http://www.cm-life.com/2013/03/11/evangelical-preacher-shares-story-of-conversion-to-atheism/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://blogs.lawrence.edu/news/2006/05/minister-turned-atheist-discusses-journey-to-deconversion-in-lawrence-university-address.html|title=Minister-Turned-Atheist Discusses Journey to Deconversion in Lawrence University Address|publisher=Lawrence University|date=May 11, 2006|access-date=August 21, 2013}} and has participated in more than 140 debates around the country and the world.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2008/4/30/the-interminable-debate-while-most-associate|title=The Interminable Debate|publisher=The Harvard Crimson|date=April 30, 2008|access-date=August 17, 2013}}

Barker and his wife host a weekly one-hour radio program, Freethought Radio. It is carried on several stations throughout the Midwest and is available through podcast.{{cite web|title=Freethought Radio & Podcast|date=January 2000 |url=http://ffrf.org/news/radio|access-date=June 12, 2013}}

Publications

Musicals

Mary Had a Little Lamb (Manna Music 1977)
His Fleece Was White as Snow (Manna Music 1978)

Books

{{cite book|last=Barker|first=Dan|title=Maybe Yes, Maybe No: A Guide for Young Skeptics|year=1990|publisher=Prometheus Books|isbn=978-0879756079}}
{{cite book|last=Barker|first=Dan|title=Maybe Right, Maybe Wrong: A Guide for Young Thinkers|year=1992|publisher=Prometheus Books|isbn=978-0879757311}}
{{cite book|last=Barker|first=Dan|title=Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist|year=1992|publisher=Freedom From Religion Foundation|location=Madison, WI|isbn=978-1877733130}}
{{cite book|last=Barker|first=Dan|title=Just Pretend|year=2002|publisher=Freedom From Religion Foundation|isbn=978-1877733055}}
{{cite book|last=Barker|first=Dan|title=Godless: How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America's Leading Atheists|year=2008|publisher=Ulysses Press|isbn=978-1569756775}}
{{cite book|last=Barker|first=Dan|title=The Good Atheist: Living a Purpose-Filled Life Without God|year=2011|publisher=Ulysses Press|isbn=978-1569758465}}
{{cite book|last=Barker|first=Dan|title=Life Driven Purpose: How an Atheist Finds Meaning|year=2015|publisher=Pitchstone Publishing|isbn=978-1939578211}}
{{cite book|last=Barker|first=Dan|title=GOD: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction|year=2016|publisher=Sterling|isbn=978-1454918325}}
{{cite book|last=Barker|first=Dan|title=GOD: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction (expanded reprint)|year=2023|publisher=Prometheus Books|isbn=978-1633888760}}
{{cite book|last=Barker|first=Dan|title=Free Will Explained: How Science and Philosophy Converge To Create a Beautiful Illusion|year=2018|publisher=Sterling|isbn=978-1454927358}}
{{cite book|last=Barker|first=Dan|title=Contraduction|year=2024|publisher=Hypatia Press|isbn=978-1839195976}}

Music albums

Night at Nakoma (2008, piano solo)
Friendly Neighborhood Atheist (2002, FFRF album)
Beware of Dogma (2004, FFRF album)
Adrift On A Star (2013, FFRF album)

References

External links

[http://www.ffrf.org/ Freedom From Religion Foundation]
[http://www.ffrf.org/news/radio Freethought Radio]
[https://www.chriscomer radio.com/Archive20/CNRLNTS122497HR2DanBarker.mp3 Dan Barker Radio Interview]

Category:1949 births

Category:20th-century atheists

Category:21st-century atheists

Category:American atheism activists

Category:American writers on atheism

Category:American Assemblies of God pastors

Category:American performers of Christian music

Category:American former Protestants

Category:American jazz pianists

Category:Atheist philosophers

Category:Azusa Pacific University alumni

Category:American critics of Christianity