Darrel Ray
Encyclopedia
Darrel Wayne Ray is a writer and speaker on leadership and organizational development and author of two books on the topic. He is the author of the book The God Virus: How Religion Affects Our Lives and Culture. Ray is founder of the organization "Recovering Religionists", a national self-help group for those leaving their religious indoctrination. In May 2011, he published the survey Sex and Secularism: What Happens When You Leave Religion?.
in Wichita, Kansas by parents who eventually became missionaries, and among family members highly involved in church life.
In 1972, he earned a bachelor's degree in sociology/anthropology at Friends University
in Wichita, Kansas, and in 1974 he completed an MA in Church and Community at Scarritt College for Christian Workers
in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1978 he finished a doctoral program in psychology at Peabody College
of Vanderbilt University
, earning his Ed.D.
In 1979, Ray joined the Quaker church and later he attended the Presbyterian
church. From 1969 to 1984 he taught Sunday school, preached, and was a tenor soloist in several church choirs. He left the church in the mid 1980s.
studying sex and sexuality) released the results of a self-reporting online survey of over 14,500 American secularists, titled "Sex and Secularism: What Happens When You Leave Religion?", concluding that sex improves dramatically after leaving religion, and people who are religious exhibit similar sexual behaviors as the non-religious, but experience markedly increased guilt. The study has been criticized for suffering from self-selection bias, due to its recruiting of participants via the science blog Pharyngula
.
Early life and education
Ray was raised a fundamentalist ChristianFundamentalist Christianity
Christian fundamentalism, also known as Fundamentalist Christianity, or Fundamentalism, arose out of British and American Protestantism in the late 19th century and early 20th century among evangelical Christians...
in Wichita, Kansas by parents who eventually became missionaries, and among family members highly involved in church life.
In 1972, he earned a bachelor's degree in sociology/anthropology at Friends University
Friends University
Friends University is a private non-denominational Christian university in Wichita, Kansas.Friends University was founded in 1898. The main building was originally built in 1886 for Garfield University, but was donated in 1898 to the Religious Society of Friends by James Davis, a St. Louis...
in Wichita, Kansas, and in 1974 he completed an MA in Church and Community at Scarritt College for Christian Workers
Scarritt College for Christian Workers
Scarritt College for Christian Workers was a college that trained missionaries, teachers and other people dedicated to sharing Christianity. It was associated with the United Methodist Church....
in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1978 he finished a doctoral program in psychology at Peabody College
Peabody College
Peabody College of Education and Human Development was founded in 1875 when the University of Nashville, located in Nashville, Tennessee, split into two separate educational institutions...
of Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
, earning his Ed.D.
In 1979, Ray joined the Quaker church and later he attended the Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
church. From 1969 to 1984 he taught Sunday school, preached, and was a tenor soloist in several church choirs. He left the church in the mid 1980s.
Books
- Teaming up: making the transition to a self-directed, team-based organization (1995). ISBN 978-0-0705-1646-5
- The performance culture: maximizing the power of teams (2001). ISBN 978-0-9709-5050-5
- The God Virus: How Religion Affects Our Lives and Culture (2009). ISBN 978-0-9709-5051-2
Research
In May 2011, Ray and Amanda Brown (an undergraduate at University of KansasUniversity of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
studying sex and sexuality) released the results of a self-reporting online survey of over 14,500 American secularists, titled "Sex and Secularism: What Happens When You Leave Religion?", concluding that sex improves dramatically after leaving religion, and people who are religious exhibit similar sexual behaviors as the non-religious, but experience markedly increased guilt. The study has been criticized for suffering from self-selection bias, due to its recruiting of participants via the science blog Pharyngula
Pharyngula (blog)
Pharyngula is a blog on FreeThoughtBlogs and ScienceBlogs run by PZ Myers. In 2006, the science journal Nature listed it as the top-ranked blog written by a scientist. Pharyngula also won the 2005 Koufax Award for Best Expert Blog. The blog topics are eclectic, delving into the non-scientific as...
.
External links
- The God Virus book website
- Recovering Religionists
- Sex and Secularism - press release and full report
- Atheist Nexus profile - Darrel Ray