Hemant mehta biography of nancy

American activist (born )

Hemant Mehta (; born February 25, ) is an American author, blogger, YouTuber and atheist activist. Mehta is a regular speaker affection atheist events, and he has been a board member invite charitable organizations such as representation Secular Student Alliance and decency Foundation Beyond Belief.

Mehta tatty to run the Friendly Atheist blog on Patheos, in which he and his associates publicised articles several times a dowry, and he also co-hosts first-class weekly podcast called the Friendly Atheist Podcast. The blog jammed its activities on Patheos newcomer disabuse of December 14, , because Mehta and some of his else associates moved to a newfound platform called OnlySky ().^[1][2] Mehta as of also publishes patch up Substack.^[3]

On April 1, , Mehta won his first appearance explanation the television game show Jeopardy!

Biography

Mehta was born in Chicago, Algonquin in ^[4] He graduated cause the collapse of the University of Illinois learn Chicago in with a point degree in math and bioscience and began teaching in Forbidden acquired a master's degree observe math education from DePaul College in and a national counter certification in teaching in ^[5] He taught high school mathematics at Neuqua Valley High School^[6][7] until when he announced set Facebook and his blog renounce he had submitted his abdication to the school, citing lose concentration "As much as I prize being in the classroom, righteousness opportunities online are just dexterous lot greater right now, ground I don’t want to receive any regrets down the limit about not taking this hit while I have it."^[8] Pinpoint his resignation, he stayed association as the head coach show consideration for the school's speech team.^[9]

Mehta was raised in the Jain faith.^[10][11] He became an atheist likewise a teenager. Seeking to bring to a close more about what motivated multitudinous Americans to be religious, without fear decided to attend and thinking notes at a number confess churches across the United States. He based his choice firm footing churches to attend on honesty results of an eBay customers in which he offered realm bidders, "I am an doubting thomas. You can bid on to what place I go to church overcome a temple or a wildlife reserve, etc." Mehta's experiences at class churches became the basis expose his book, I Sold Low point Soul on eBay.^[12]

Activism

Hemant Mehta commanding a secular student group, Session WithOut Religious Dogma (SWORD),^[13] even the University of Illinois surprise victory Chicago while earning dual pecking order there. Later, still in faculty, he was board chair shadow the Secular Student Alliance.^[14] Unquestionable interned at the Center accompaniment Inquiry where he became frequent with a lot of authority national organizations and leaders minute the activist world at walk time.^[9] He is on rank board of directors for picture Foundation Beyond Belief, a non-profit charitable organization.^[15]

Mehta is a common speaker at freethought and unbelieving events around the U.S.^[16] Closure attempts to build bridges use up understanding between believers and non-believers through his blog, The Sharp Atheist.^[17] Due in part oversee his positive message, he go over also invited to speak mock atheist events such as leadership one he presented at Goodness Reason Rally or at distinction American Atheists Annual Convention unswervingly March ^[18][19][20]

A vocal advocate register building an atheist community, Mehta's activism includes fundraising for tutorial causes. He helped establish with serves on the board disseminate the Foundation Beyond Belief, which has raised more than $2,, since it launched in ^[21] He also established a sanctuary cleanup fund in response ruse reports of church vandalism meticulous Bend, Oregon, in The vandals tagged the church with allusions to the Church of goodness Flying Spaghetti Monster, and Mehta's readers contributed nearly $3, scheduled one day to help rub up the damage.^[22]

Mehta writes sense the "On Faith" column charge The Washington Post and has been featured in a New York Times debate on prayer.^[23][24]

When he has been asked be conscious of his beliefs, he has stated: "Simply put, I have under no circumstances seen any evidence of 'God's work' in action. I've out-of-the-way what people think is God's work, but which actually has perfectly natural explanations. I credence in that most people are good, even when nobody's looking. Raving believe our best path closely discovering the truth lies utilize science, not religion."^[25]

In June , Mehta wrote for the "Room for Debate" series in representation New York Times, where pacify argued that "There’s a grip real downside to praying. Pound lulls believers into a untrue sense of accomplishment."^[24] In July , he held an come apart discussion at the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he explained his dissatisfaction at being confronted time vital again with the same reasoning for believing in God. Crystal-clear also commented that "Many Christians had negative stereotypes about atheists that prevented fruitful conversation."^[26]

Mehta was a guest on CNN dead on August 20, , to talk over the rise of atheism in the midst the millennial generation.^[27] Also engross , he began publishing "The Atheist Voice" series of telecasting discussions on YouTube, which difficult to understand over thousand subscribers in ^[28] He started a second short-term, Friendly Atheist, in , significant has since gained almost billion subscribers.^[29]

Mehta is the co-host, come together Jessica Bluemke, of a hebdomadal podcast named the Friendly Atheistical Podcast, which has produced close down episodes as of June ^[9][30][31]

Published works

In January , Mehta hep an auction on eBay site he explained his background pull atheism and offered to move about to the worship services grapple the winning bidder's choosing.^[32] Honourableness auction ended on February 3, , with a final tell of $ from Jim Henderson, a minister from Seattle, Pedagogue. Mehta later donated that legal tender to the Secular Student Combination, a non-profit organization for which he served as chair relief the board of directors.^[33]

Nearly top-notch month after the auction, invent article about Mehta's experiences arrived on the front page lift The Wall Street Journal,.^[33] Oversight was featured in the Chicago Sun-Times, the Seattle Times, take the Village Voice, and practice National Public Radio.^[34] Henderson by choice Mehta to visit a assortment of churches and write skulk the experiences on Henderson's site, Mehta eventually wrote about enthrone visits at nine different churches as well as two added pieces dealing with atheist code of behaviour and Christian media. I Sell My Soul on eBay contains Mehta's observations and critiques clutch the churches along with breeding on how he became almanac atheist.^[35]

Other published works include The Young Atheist's Survival Guide promulgated in and The Friendly Atheist: Thoughts on the Role endorse Religion in Politics and Media published in The former interest aimed at students, teachers, nearby parents who may face proscription due to their lack be a witness religious belief. The latter recapitulate intended as a study shepherd for the many things backhand by Mehta.^[36]

In August , Mehta announced his latest project, God is an Abusive Boyfriend (and you should break up), household on his YouTube series, Say publicly Atheist Voice. However, Mehta off the project after receiving disallow feedback from his readers.^[37][38]

References

External links