My Life Without God

by William J. Murray

In 1963 America's most famous atheist, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, won the landmark lawsuit filed on behalf of her son William, that effectively banned prayer in public schools. Bill shares in vivid detail his upbringing - the raging battles, his activity in his mother's atheistic empire, his dependence on drugs and his years as a fugitive.Nearly two decades after the Court's decision, Bill came to the end of his personal strength. In desperation he called out to God and God answered. From embezzlement to kidnapping to murder, Bill reviews the shocking evidence surrounding the disappearance of his mother, brother and daughter. Though actively involved in atheism, Bill discovered the gift Jesus Christ offers to all who seek Him. He invites you to experience God's grace in this journey from despair to everlasting love.

Genres: Biography, Memoir, Atheism, Biography Memoir, Christian, Nonfiction, Religion

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 1982

Reviews

[Natalie Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since my Dad is from Maryland, I remember hearing him talk about infamous atheist, Madalyn Murray O’Hair, who successfully fought the battle to have prayer and Bible reading removed from America’s government schools in 1963. In this book her son, William, tells the story of his destructive and dysfunctional family life growing up. The writing is mildly graphic, but paints a vivid picture of the horrific lifestyle that entrapped the author well into his adult life. It’s amazing to realize what a far-reaching impact one woman can have in her family and country. The book barely touches the author’s conversion to Christianity in the last two chapters. Even though he was only 33 at the time, you feel like you’ve read an entire life story by the time you get to that point! It’s a captivating and well-written autobiographical account that is especially eye-opening for those of us who grew up in Christian homes with loving parents.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a moving portrait of a life growing up under a mother that was absolutely angry with God. It is also testimony to the power of God to save one most might think hopeless. Where God is, there is power - nothing is impossible with God.

[Rod Horncastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. I finished it in 3 days. A pretty sick exciting life.

It would be nice to think that this family is a rare exception. But its not. I meet people just like this all the time. Welcome to the world without God.

[Lillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just saw that this book is back in print. I read it years ago, but I haven't forgotten the impact. William Murry is the son of the infamous atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair, and she used him in the famous court case that banned prayer from schools. He shares his terrible childhood and early adulthood, when he was living the life of degradation under his mother's tutelage, knowing nothing of God. He finally reached a point of desperation when he called to the God he didn't know. But God knew him and saved him. Murray then went on to found the Religious Freedom Coalition and use all the skills he learned from his mother to stand for prayer in school rather than against it, to preach Christ rather than atheism, to promote good and not evil. If you've ever thought you or someone you know is so far from God there is no hope, this book will demonstrate that God knows His children whether or not they know Him, and He answers when they call on Him for help. A wonderful story of redemption.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

97% of this book speaks of his life before Christ. I started the book and it was hard to quit. It gave some insight to families that are not raised with a belief in God, but I know this may be a little generalization of atheist. The insight on how God can just use the reading of His Word to change a life is amazing. The sad thing is the lack of a true Christian witness to this man all his life. What a shame. But God is faithful.

[Marilyn Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling read -- I finished it in two days because I couldn't put it down. William J. Murray is the son of the infamous Madalyn Murray O'Hair who happened to be in the right place at the right time (if you're an atheist) to get the Supreme Court to take prayer out of the schools. William was her test case. What a sad, pathetic, and wicked woman she was. Like an evil spider spinning its web, she knew just how to keep both her sons emotionally entangled and dependent. William eventually managed to break free, even becoming a committed Christian, but until then his total wreck of a life was filled with drugs, embezzlement, divorce, and dysfunction. His Mom turned his younger brother and his own daughter completely against him. In the end, Madalyn Murray O'Hair wasn't some noble proponent of civil liberties or even atheism, but a miserable human being obsessed with milking her particular gravy train and destroying religion. In the process, she ended up destroying herself.

[Creatchter]

I understand his need to tell the truth

I too have just purchased this book I chose to respond because I think you are under the beleif that she removed prayer from school, she did not. The law states schools can't require unwilling students to participate in prayer. A child can do papers and speaches on God. They can Pray as they choose. It is illegal for it to be mandatory.

Mom was a communist she made more than one attempt to become a Soviet citizen they denied her entry into their country. She spent the rest of her life destroying American life as we knew it. She was quite successful. FACT: Prayer was removed teen suicide rate doubled in 10 years teen pregnancy tripled.School shootings were for the most part un heard of now we are not surprised when we hear of another. How could God let this happen?.......thats right we had Him removed.

Figure that one out.

[Ann Gustafson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard book to read, because of the psychological abuse William was raised with by his mother. However, it is a book we all should read so we are not blindsided by someones beliefs that seem "ok". Each decision truly affects many generations.

[jonny diane - Professional Wedding Officiant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting backstory on this woman. I remember seeing et hearing about her in the news as a curiosity long after this took place. Sad she was so unhappy that she chose to hurt those closest to her. To me it just shows anything carried to extreme from religion or lack of is not healthy for anyone.

[Robert Thibodeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that describes the culture of the 1960's to the 1980's. William Murray lived a difficult life under the influence of his mother's atheist values. He was used as the "pawn" in removing prayer from schools in 1963 (when he was a teenager).

I met William Murray in February 2016 when we were both giving testimony before the Maryland House of Delegates Ways and Means Committee in support of HB 955 which would allow "student led and student initiated prayer back into public schools." During our brief time together, I learned some of the details that were described in this book (and some details that have been omitted).

This book was a very easy read that leaves you "shaking your head" at things his mother did. How she manipulated the press; how she manipulated donors to her cause; how she manipulated her family...and ultimately - how this type of manipulation angered the wrong person and it cost her, her son and grand daughter (William Murray's daughter) their lives.

I highly recommend this book (which I do not do often)!

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book about a family I could never understand nor agree with. So humbling to again witness how God loves and wants us all to accept Him no matter the sinful lives we have lived. Bill Murray discovered Christ is the only real answer to a peaceful life. I felt so bad for the way of life Bill Murray and then his daughter, Robin, were subjected to by living with Madalyn and her "demons."

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a difficult read. I find that I am still naive at 69 years old! I really didn't know such depravity and godlessness was possible. I am so glad he found faith, God, and Jesus Christ.

[Kenneth Leitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is good

I am amazed by this testimony. Take it to heart. Jesus is the only way to eternal life. Do it today.

[Marcella Wigg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Madalyn Murray O'Hair is an interesting person, to say the least, and I read My Life Without God primarily to learn about the author's firsthand experiences being raised by her, not so much for his conversion story. Murray's tale of his childhood is even worse than one might imagine: Murray O'Hair was a narcissistic, domineering and unstable person who took a special pleasure in belittling and abusing the men in her family. She was also a militant atheist and communist. When she discovered that she could garner national media attention for battling against school prayer in the courts on behalf of her mortified son, she put aside any considerations for his well-being for her own attention. Eventually the case reached the Supreme Court, and her thirst for the limelight never again dissipated.

Murray describes a variously countercultural and conventional life throughout the Sixties and Seventies: working short-lived jobs, traveling around in broke-down cars between cities and to escape state charges, drinking and smoking weed frequently, carrying on dysfunctional relationships with several women. Murray hardly casts his pre-religion self in a flattering light. He beat multiple women, was mostly absent from his elder daughter's life (sending her to live with his mother, of all places!), and generally lacking a focus or purpose to his life.

He definitely had some interesting experiences, but I found some portions of the writing rather dry, and I would have liked greater depth into his conversion story and how it changed him (although I didn't read the book for this, it would definitely add something to the narrative), if and how he has worked to mend the relationships with ex-wives and family that are salvageable, and a few other questions I found to be dangling towards the end. Also, I dislike the "everything happens for a reason" rhetoric that occurred in his description of the plane crash of his former boss. Finally, I can understand where he is coming from with his dislike of atheism given his personal experiences with its toxicity, but he is too harsh on atheists/the non-religious as a whole, perhaps not surprising given his association with the Moral Majority. The Murray-O'Hair murders do have some discussion in the final chapters of the book, although Murray had some distance from it since he had not been in contact with his family in fifteen or more years at the time of their deaths.

[JPS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave the book 5 stars because I thought the book itself was well written and very transparent. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for William J. Murray to relive some of those moments that were not his fondest, however, it was hard to relate to anything he wrote, because before Christ, he wasn’t a very good person. He struggled with anger, alcohol, he abused every woman he dated, neglected his kids, and portrayed himself as the victim. He lacked accountability throughout his life and put the blame solely on his mother. I understand why he and the rest of his family were dysfunctional, but by God, there was no self-awareness, just a cycle of bad behavior and bad choices. He repeatedly stated that he hated his mother, but found every reason to come back and fall for her tricks repeatedly. I know there is some psychological term that explains this, but as a reader, I felt no sympathy. He said he always came back to create a relationship with Robin and I believe that was a small part of his reasoning. I think he liked the money too. Especially at certain points of his life. Even as an adult. The only season I felt bad for him was when he was a child. A kid will do anything to gain the approval and attention of their parents. But eventually a line has to be drawn. He never truly did that. The kicker for me, was when he arranged Robin to stay with Madalyn. Worst part of it all. I disliked the person I read about and felt bad for Robin and Jade. They both deserved better. They were the real victims.

As for his mother, Madalyn Murray-O’Hair. I think she was pure evil and that evilness that controlled her eventually caught up to her. She reaped what she sowed. It’s unfortunate how she passed, and I really do hope Her, her son Garth, and her granddaughter Robin, all had a coming-to-Jesus before they passed. I feel like she loved the attention she got from all the “different” causes she was apart of. When one started to dim, she would race to pick-up another one. It was a means to an end; attention and money. I think William’s dad not leaving his wife due to his involvement with the Roman-Catholic church spoiled religion for her. She was a vengeful person and she needed to blame someone like she blamed others for all of her misfortunes.

In the end, I am pleased to find out that William found God and has tried to do his part as a believer. His book is a powerful testament of how God’s grace and mercy.

I would recommend everyone to read this book at least once.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent book and while I was expecting the author to come off as all holier than thou he really doesn't. I mean the guy admits to beating his wife; hard to come off as "the good guy" in that situation.

Madelyn Murray O'hair probably WAS a lack luster human being; but that doesn't make her wrong about prayer in school or athesim. Ideas are not responsible for who holds them.

But, far more interesting to me, is that without Bill Murray the entire movement might have failed. It was his commitment to being thrown out of school for refusing to participate in the religious ceremonies that served as a catalyst for the entire thing.

So while I'm greatful to Madelyn Murray O'hair for getting prayer out of public schools, I have to admit that she kind of sounds like a douche-bag!

[Rachel Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished reading this book in two days. There are a few factors in how quickly I managed to get through it. For one thing it's good. The writing is easy to follow and I continually want to know what happens next, though... Another reason I read it so quickly because i kept waiting for the turnaround. To have a life without God implys thay there was also one with God. I kept wanting the author to find God already so he could stop making mistakes. I kept thinking 'oh, it'll be in the next chapter...or the next one' it's literally the last chapter and I wish that he had gone more into how his life was changed after. The last and least of the reasons I read this book so quickly: no internet at my new apartment.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The fools says in his heart there is no God" is what comes to mind when I read this book. The author is the son of the infamous atheist Madelyn O'hair Murray. The women credited with removing prayer and Bible reading from all public schools. It's a revealing look into one of the leading atheist (anti-theist) in this country before her untimely murder in 1995. There is a rage against God, a hatred in much of the atheist community, against a God they believe isn't there. I appreciated the author being open about his life, his families dysfunction as well as his own, the emptiness/bitterness of materialistic atheism, and near the end of the book his account of becoming a Christian. This wasn't an easy read, it's painful and sad throughout most of it. It's well worth a read.

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insight into the battle that started with the removal of prayer in school and included the actions of the atheist movement to remove God.

I had a wonderful opportunity to meet the author in 1993 and I will never forget something he said during conversation. "Atheist don't want to remove God simply because they hate God, their main objective is to be sinless. The only way to be sinless is to remove from prominence the judge of sin, which is God. Therefore, without God there is no sin and in their eyes, Atheists can now be sinless."

What a profound statement, especially in light of the compromised church on the denouncement of sin.

[Paige Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting read and brought a lot of depth to my understanding of Madalyn O'Hair and her fight against the Bible and God in the public arena. It covers Mr. Murray's life at home, his struggles at school and his further struggles with coming to terms with the affect his mother's choices had on him for may years of his life.

Keep in mind that it was published in 1982 -- well before Ms. O'Hair's disappearance and eventual death.

[Cristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

True story about what it is like growing up the son of the woman who wanted God taken out of our schools. An interesting story because she really didn't even care about what she was fighting for, she just wanted to fight about something. This led to a very rough life for the author who spent his whole life to get away from who his mother was.

[Janette Lowe]

Just picked it up today, but I heard an interview on the radio with the author - he's the son of that evil woman Madelyn O'Hare (she's the one that got prayer taken out of the schools). The book is about his journey to Christianity after a horrific childhood as her son. He's now a pastor of some kind and has formed a foundation against atheism.

[Rachel Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish he would've explained in more detail his road to conversion, but I teally liked that he didn't just makw his mom the bad guy. He was open about his own deplorable actions as well. It was a good read & I will say that I was often shocked at the extent of his mother's delusions & out right craziness!

[TB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good follow up to "Ungodly". Inspiring reminder that God is at work in every situation. It's a shame that he will have to live with the memories of his mothers's destructive behavior and the murder of her and other family members.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had a lot of cussing in it...very sad. It is about his life growing up without God, then how he found God. If you want to know the history of how prayer was taken out of schools..THIS is your book.

I rated it down due to the language used in it.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book - talks about the chaos that was involved in living with the infamous Madelaine Murray O'Hare

[Anino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Bio by Madeline Murray O'Hair's Son.

[Lawrence Miquelon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on the attitude of the times and the perspective within the family vs. the media and culture.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madalyn Murray O'Hair was the devil himself!!! This book was a real page turner!!

[Alexander Midence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it. Could not put it down