The Legacy of Kenneth Bronstein: A Champion for Atheism

Kenneth Bronstein reminisced about the inaugural gathering of NYC Atheists that he orchestrated, reflecting on the experience with a mix of humor and sorrow. “It was quite disheartening,” he recounted to The Washington Post in 2004. “Ten individuals in a room, all engaged in heated debates with one another.” Mobilizing atheists, he noted, resembled the daunting task of organizing a meeting of anarchists or, as he humorously put it, herding cats. The community often splintered into factions, including freethinkers, secular humanists, and anti-theists. Adding to the challenge, he pointed out, was the reality that atheists, unlike an increasing number of religious and ethnic groups, lacked a dedicated holiday to celebrate their beliefs.

Despite these hurdles, Mr. Bronstein remained steadfast in his mission. “We have faith,” he would assert passionately. “Just not in God.”

Sadly, Mr. Bronstein passed away in a Manhattan care facility on October 18, firmly convinced that he would not face an afterlife in heaven or hell. He was 85 years old at the time of his death. His partner, Elinor Fine, confirmed that leukemia complications were the cause.

A retired engineer from IBM, Mr. Bronstein played a pivotal role in revitalizing a disorganized group of nonbelievers, transforming it into a burgeoning movement known as NYC Atheists around the year 2000. As the president of this organization, his primary objective was to staunchly advocate for the separation of church and state while striving to dismantle any preferential treatment afforded to religious institutions.

During his tenure, Mr. Bronstein actively recruited members, initiated legal challenges, distributed petitions, and organized book club discussions. Although he once derided these gatherings as “intellectual masturbation,” he genuinely relished the spirited exchanges of ideas.