Sheldon Ackley

From Philosopedia

Ackley, Sheldon (1919 - 9 January 2008)

Ackley, who was fired for atheism from teaching philosophy at Gettysburg College, was recruited by Joseph Blau as the first Leader of the Long Island Society of Ethical Culture, serving from 1950 to 1959.

He had a Ph. D. in philosophy and taught at Boston University, Bates College, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Ackley had been a conscientious objector during World War II. In 1959 he testified before the U.S. House Armed Services Committee as a representative of the American Ethical Union, saying that it opposed "the requirement of belief in a Supreme Being as the sole basis for lawful exemption from military service as a conscientious objector."

He served on the Board of the American Civil Liberties Union from 1968 to 1986.

In 1981 Ackley became a member of the Board of Leaders of the New York Society and was senior leader three years later, serving until 1986.

In 1982, after early retirement from teaching, Ackley became a “Secular Humanist Leader” in New York.