I think she had a lot to do with why atheists are perceived as angry.

I didnt recall she was murdered

I remember hearing about her in Catholic grade school and feeling afraid

I didn't know anything about her either. She really was responsible for Atheism as a movement.

Thank you for this. This is what we say we should not do but, unfortunately, the, in-you-face tactic often gets results. I will watch for it and spread the word to my many atheist friends.

"Murray O’Hair is not widely known outside of the US" - I'm extremely disappointed in myself, but I have to admit I've never heard of her. I will be rectifying this by educating myself, and she sounds like she was great!

(What's more, from now on I'm going to be posting links to her life story every time I hear anyone say that women who receive death threats online "should just ignore it".)

I became aware of her in the late 60s. I remembered hearing the adults talking about her, and saying very unflattering things. I also remember when she disappeared, and so many of those tolerant "christians" crowed about it being god's retribution. I thought she was abrasive and awesome.