Freethought Today

Vol. 22 No. 10 - Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. -
December 2005

View the Table of Contents for this issue

Letter Box

Joining Ranks of "Lifers"

It gives me great pleasure to finally be able to join the ranks of FFRF Life Members. I am humbled by the words, and deeds, of the people who have preceded me here.

I truly believe that the work of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and organizations like it, goes a long way to ensure the continued survival of humanity, as well as the sanity of the human race itself.

Please find enclosed my check for the membership fee. I hope that it will help you "keep up the good work."

Larry Rhodes
Tennessee

Free from Superstition

I grew up as a liberal sort of Methodist, majored in philosophy/religion at DePauw University, and earned a Master's in Christian Education at Hartford Seminary. All of that education led me to realize that scriptures reflect the culture out of which they emerged, and that man creates gods in his own image. When I became sure enough and brave enough, FFRF was the organization I joined to make public that I am an Atheist.

Now so many politicians are mixing state and church that I am becoming more of an activist. Please accept my Lifetime Membership to help with any cause that might encourage people to accept evidence, use their minds, and enjoy life free from superstition, religion, and other irrational beliefs.

Deloris Crowe
Michigan

"Doing More Than Talk"

It is so great to see someone doing something other than just talk about the subversive actions of the administration and Congress trying to force their religious beliefs down our throats. Seems kind of strange, but it really is the freethinkers who are doing all they can to protect freedom of religion for the people of religion who don't seem to have a clue what freedom is all about. Please put me in for a Life Membership, and keep up the good work.

Fred Belt
California

Forestalling Fundamentalism

It is so frightening to realize what is going on in the United States today and how quickly we are losing our freedoms to the call of the Right and fundamentalist religion. As you are an organization that I believe may help forestall such actions, I am happy to enclose my $1,000 to become a Life Member.

Peggy Lockard
Arizona

Oregonian Becomes "Lifer"

My membership expired back in May, but you lovely people have still been sending me the newspaper and renewal notices all this time. I thank you for keeping me informed and for all of the good work you do.

Since I'm only in my mid-30s and I plan to live at least 30 more years, I calculated it out that it would be wisest to just become a Lifetime Member and save myself a couple dollars in fees through the years. Yes, it is purely economic and has nothing to do with the fact that I think you're great. ;)

Melinda R. Getch
Oregon

Lifetime Membership "Tithe"

I have been a member since 1995, the year Butterfly McQueen died. Her obit indicated she had bequeathed some funds to the Freedom From Religion Foundation in Madison, Wis. This sounded like the organization I had been seeking for many years. I immediately mailed a postcard addressed to "The Freedom From Religion, Madison, WI." It was returned stamped "Invalid Address." I then did what I should have done in the first place; I telephoned information.

I didn't know what to expect, but was delighted when they gave me your number. I immediately called and a meek, hesitant female voice answered. After reading some of the e-mail messages you receive, I would be hesitant to answer the phone also! Anyhow, after receiving your information I knew I had found my people.

I had been raised in a strict, fundamentalist home. I had been taken to church and Sunday School my whole life, but somehow it just didn't take. One of my earliest memories is of overhearing my mother telling my dad that Jesus was going to "take" my brother and me if he didn't get saved! Young as I was, I knew something was wrong. My brother and I always went to church and tried to live good lives, yet Jesus was going to kill us because our father, as good a man as he was, wasn't born-again!

The seed of Reason was planted.

I think the final nail in the coffin of faith was when it was our family's "Turn in the Barrel," hosting the preacher and his wife for Sunday dinner. While conversing, I asked the reverend, "If Adam and Eve were the first humans, how do you explain the Cave Men?" He bobbed and weaved, but I wasn't about to let to go. His final answer, "They weren't humans, they were apes."

Recently I had the good fortune to win $10,000 in a drawing at the web site, iwon.com. My religious indoctrination wasn't completely wasted. I am adhering to the cornerstone of organized religion and tithing. Please accept my tithe of $1,000 for a Lifetime Membership.

Keep up the great work--

William "Bill" Hooks
Arizona

Religion Sabotages Government

Readers should enjoy "The God who Wasn't There" by former Christian fundamentalist Brian Flemming (www.thegodmovie.com). This movie is a great ride pointing out how Christians themselves can never be sure if their thoughts (Christians are not supposed to think) are not actually sabotaging their plans of avoiding eternal damnation.

What a great feeling for religious people it must be, to one day get the horrible monkey of religion off their backs, and enjoy freethought.

What a scary feeling for freethinkers to see what religion is doing to what was the best government that the world has ever known.

I hope we can get it back. . . . My $1,000 is on its way.

Randy Lyman
California

Our Atheism Brought Love

For 50 years, my older brother and I were just brothers but we were not friends. He would never call me; if I wanted to speak to him I would have to call him.

I liked my brother but never felt close to him. We did not have a lot in common. Religion was a topic we never talked about.

When I gave my brother Atheism: The Case against God by George H. Smith, this book was the beginning of a relationship that I never thought possible. I also gave him On The Gods and Other Essays by Robert Ingersoll, which he loved. Our atheism united us. We finally had something in common.

When he comes into Los Angeles and we meet for breakfast, we hug. Now he calls me at least once a week. I'm the only atheist he knows. We often tell each other "I love you."

I bought him a subscription to Freethought Today that he likes very much.

All his friends are God believers and my brother, fortified with all that he reads, can hold his own when his friends make dumb remarks defending their religious superstition. My brother feels very much empowered by letting his friends know that he is an atheist.

Newton Joseph
California

Editor's note: Newton Joseph, a Life Member, just gave his brother, Leonard Joseph, a Lifetime Membership in the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

It Pays to Complain

We called and they took this sign down the next day, but there had still been tacit approval and school involvement.

We were pleased to note that of all the area schools, this was the only one with mention of this religious gathering for prayer at the flagpole.

Mr. & Mrs. Craig Cooley
Texas

Native Alaskans Deserve Better

As an Alaska Native, I would like to thank you and the Freedom From Religion Foundation for putting a stop to the federal government funding Alaska Christian College. I hope that I am not the only Alaska Native thanking you for putting a stop to the government's funding of religion. Alaska Natives deserve better than to be misguided by superstition.

Bill Jager
Alaska

"Quyana," Thanks-- From Alaska

When I first read about the 'college' in Soldotna, my stomach turned. So often are our Indigenous people judged in every aspect of living--faith being prominent. We had such a beautiful, yet tough, way of living and honoring god and mother nature so we could survive for centuries--and to have missionaries just swoop in and knock pride and self-sustainable abilities out from under us in the name of a "Western 'savior' " was emasculating. We have paid the price since in every way from poverty to shame and insecurity.

We may have a problem adjusting from rural, isolated village life to the daunting demands of higher education or training in semi-urban and urban settings, but to have a half-assed institution claim to lay the groundwork for preparatory skills under the guise of proper faith is pathetic. I say to these people--though well-meaning--we don't need you. After all, the way to hell is oft paved with good intentions.

Quyana, thank you for your organization's vigilance and efforts. I appreciate all your outfit stands for. Faith can be beautiful, but it doesn't have to be worn on the sleeve to use as a tool of judgment or standards for others with different beliefs.

Macuar
Alaska

It Pays to Complain

Over the past six months I have had the opportunity to stand up for what I believe. I was pleaxsantly surprised to learn that one voice can make a big difference.

Our Lady of Perpetual Agony. The graduate school where I teach part-time decided to decorate the halls of the department. They chose posters and pictures of famous people who made major contributions to humanity, etc. One of the posters was of Mother Teresa. I objected on the grounds that Mother Teresa's failure to allow or promote birth control, and her belief that the "poor" were destined to be poor and should be happy with their fate, caused unnecessary and untold suffering and death. Furthermore, it was particularly cruel to women and it was based on a superstitious/religionist belief system. To my surprise and delight, her picture was removed. I could tell some folks were a little displeased, however.

God Bless Our Rubber Chicken. Until recently, my service club was praying before every meeting under the agenda item called an "opening invocation." I objected on the grounds that it was inappropriate given the diversity of our club and that of our guests, who hail from all parts of the world. Again to my surprise and delight, I prevailed. We now have a brief "reflection," and praying or asking for group prayer is prohibited. We continue to sing patriotic songs with "god" in the lyrics and that is my next target.

Queer as Folk. I work for a charity that has over 200 affiliates around the United States. Last Friday, I got an email from our national office asking that I approve (I sit on a national council that is advisory to the national office) a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Boy Scouts of America. This proposal was made in spite of two years of work on matters relating to diversity and inclusiveness. I objected on the basis that the BSA national office has adamantly adhered to a policy of discrimination on the basis of religion and sexual orientation that is inconsistent with the principles and values of our organization. The process was stopped. While a final decision has not been made, it seems unlikely that it will be approved.

Keep up the good fight!

Bob Mohelnitzky
Wisconsin

Another Success Story

Here in Shallotte, N.C., there was a police car with the Christian "fish" on the back. I wrote three letters to the police department and one to the mayor's office. I received a phone call after the second letter accusing me of going after the police officer for personal reasons. I assured them that was not the case and explained my feeling of separation of church and state.

After the third letter went out this fall, I received another phone call from the chief of police. He told me the item had been removed and all other vehicles checked. The officers had been warned about putting religious/personal items on the vehicles. It feels very good to fight the system and win.

Thanks for your encouragement through your newspaper and information.

Mark Campbell
North Carolina

"I Want to Join Others"

I am enclosing membership dues as a new member of FFRF. I saw your ads in The Nation and The Progressive.

My mother was active in the Presbyterian church in the small town in Ohio where I grew up. She saw to it that I attended Sunday School and church and, worst of all, "Vacation Bible School." I guess I believed it for a while--at least it was mostly innocuous and I wasn't taught to hate anyone.

When I went to college, I had an excellent one-year course in zoology that was taught along the thread of evolution of species. It was so well taught that I came out of it with no doubt about the fact of evolution and the fantasy of Genesis. My spirituality now is, I guess, called "naturalism." That is, I believe there is great power and peace in understanding my own--and the human species'--place in the natural order of things where humans are no more or no less important than grass or earthworms.

I maintained a live-and-let-live attitude regarding other people's religious beliefs. Until a few years ago when the ugliest of "Christians" came into prominence in, of all places, our government. With that and the fear and hatred that today's Christians seek to impose on all of us, I feel the need to fight back.

I have become more outspoken against the imposition of religion where it does not belong and I want to join with other good people who feel the same. I look forward to receiving your publications and news of your activity in pursuit of free thought, freedom, and justice.

Robert C. Van Fleet
California