FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION: EXPOSED AND CONFRONTED!
HISTORY
"Formed in 1976 by Annie Gaylor Jr. and Sr., the
foundation was incorporated nationally in 1978. It has grown ever since and
is now supported by over 11,000 members. It is run out of an 1855 building
at the corner of West Washington Avenue and North Henry Street in
Madison, Wisconsin that once was a church rectory. With a minimum annual
membership fee of $40, the foundation has saved over $3.3 million (US) and
receives over $1 million in dues per year. The foundation primarily uses
this money to pay legal fees in cases contesting the separation of church
and state of various United States governmental organizations, but it also
pays salaries to its staff of four, distributes advertisements and sends out
news publications to its members."
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_From_Religion_Foundation#_note-aboutCalling>
(09 Dec. 2007).
STATED
AGENDA
"The Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc., is an
educational group working for the separation of state and church. Its
purposes, as stated in its bylaws, are to promote the constitutional
principle of separation of state and church, and to educate the public on
matters relating to nontheism."
<http://www.ffrf.org/purposes>
(18 Feb. 2007).
SUCCESSES
This foundation has become the
most formidable foe of religion in America. It invests large amounts of
money into battling religion and has already been successful in the
following areas:
- Won the first federal lawsuit challenging direct
funding by the government of a faith-based agency
- Overturned a state Good Friday holiday
- Won a lawsuit barring direct taxpayer subsidy of
religious schools
- Removed Ten Commandments monuments from public
lands
- Ended bible instruction in public schools after 51
year practice
- Halted prayer at public institutions
- Stopped direct subsidy to religious schools
- Ended commencement prayers at a Top Ten University
after 122 years of practice
- Ended distribution of Gideon bibles in public
schools.
- Brought nearly 30 First Amendment lawsuits since
1977, and keeps several Establishment law challenges in the courts at all
times.
<http://www.ffrf.org/legal>
(18 Feb. 2007).
APPROACH
USED TO ACCOMPLISH AGENDA
- Files lawsuits!
- Publishes Freethought Today
- Sponsors annual high school and college atheist
based essay competitions with cash awards
- Conducts, annual national conventions, honoring the
"Freethinker of the Year" for state/church activism, a "Freethought
Heroine" and student activists
- Bestows "The Emperor Has No Clothes" Award to
public figures for their criticism of religion
- Promotes freedom from religion with educational
products, bumperstickers, music CDs, winter solstice greeting cards and
literature
- Publishes useful atheist books
- Provides speakers for events and debates
- Established a freethought book collection at the
University of Wisconsin Memorial Library as well as a 2,000-volume office
collection
<http://www.ffrf.org/purposes>
(18 Feb. 2007).
WHAT
THEY BELIEVE
Morality
"Morality is human-made, not ordained. Freethinkers
judge conduct by its intent and consequences to the welfare of individuals,
humankind and the planet as a whole. Freethinkers are responsible for their
own actions, and do not blame or credit the supernatural, or respond to
bribes of an "afterlife" or threats of hellfire. The only "higher power"
we can truly invoke lies in our own minds and our own intelligence."
"Freethinkers accept the natural world, and reject the
unproved and primitive supernatural myths about gods, devils, angels, magic,
life-after-death and the suspension of natural laws ("miracles") through
wishful thinking ("prayer"). We hope that someday humanity will outgrow
god-ideas much as children outgrow literal belief in Santa Claus." (Author's comment: They, of course, don't just hope;
they will do their utmost to make sure it will happen.)
<http://www.ffrf.org/nontracts/freethinkers_info.php>
(18 Feb. 2007).
(See Analysis Below)
ANALYSIS
"Morality is human-made, not ordained."
This
assumption alone carries tremendous ramifications. This implies that
morality is relative and that it has been, and still is, the result of
human beings' subjective judgments. Since it has been so, all humans
continue to have
the right to conceive their own subjective morality. If atheists would
have their way, what a nightmarish world this would be.
"Freethinkers judge conduct
by its intent and consequences to the welfare of individuals, humankind
and the planet as a whole."
Noble-sounding indeed, but also
"assumes" that the human mind can and "wants to" create a morality that is
totally selfless and is not tainted by selfish motives. Sigmund Freud,
an arch-atheist, informed us that there is a part of the human mind (The
ID) that makes that a difficult challenge indeed, as history is clearly
proven.
"Freethinkers are
responsible for their own actions, and do not blame or credit the
supernatural, or respond to bribes of an "afterlife" or threats of
hellfire."
This is a
fascinating statement. They say that they are "responsible for their own
actions," (which is what most religions believe, by the way. Nothing new and
original here), and they do not blame or credit the Supernatural,
referring, it appears, to evil influences such as demons or Satan. Do not
Religions such as Christianity and Judaism place the responsibility for
one's actions on individual choices? They certainly do believe in "tempting forces,"
but they also believe that each human being has the capacity to
resist those forces and grow stronger by doing so. Most of all, they
hold that humans have "freedom of choice," and that they, therefore, are responsible
for their own actions. Not too much difference here.
The point I would like to briefly
focus on, though, is the concept of "responsibility." Taking responsibility for one's
actions is a noble concept, but if one chooses to steal, lie, commit adultery and
gets away with it, who will they be responsible to? Nietzsche, another
arch-atheist, felt he
was "responsible" for his own actions, and that he had the
right to decide what was right or wrong; thus his conclusion that "good
is evil and evil is good." He also believed that he had the right to visit
as many prostitutes as he wished, and that he was only responsible to
himself. The end result was venereal disease and the mental illness caused
by it. He feared not Hell; he was not affected by bribes of the
afterlife; he felt he was brilliant enough to choose his own right path
and ended up insane. Atheists are welcome to determine right
from wrong as well, and to allow their own minds to assess consequences,
or lack thereof, on their own , but they should be warned that the atheist leaders of the past have already done
it and have not done such a great a job, and that they risk making
some sad mistakes themselves, like their predecessors have before them. Nonetheless, they have been given freedom
of choice, and they are welcome to try.
(Read
Not-So-Moral Atheists
on this
site).
"The only "higher power" we
can truly invoke lies in our own minds and our own intelligence."
Clearly if one does not believe in a
Higher Power, one only has himself or herself to rely upon. But what a
weak foundation that is. Human beings have proven and daily prove to be
very frail and weak beings, who have a chronic tendency to
"self-destruct." The evidence is the tens of millions in the US alone who
now have incurable STD's, the tens of millions who are dying of AIDS,
the tens of millions who are dying of smoke-related diseases, the hordes
who are committing suicide by using drugs and by abusing alcohol; the
millions who will choose to drive while drunk, and on and on. Many such
foolish people are well educated and some are actually very intelligent.
I know some that are both brilliant and foolish, as their self-destructive
actions have clearly spotlighted.
Human beings have for
centuries paid lip service to Religion and ethics. The fact that people
believe in a god or give superficial reference to religious ethics
means only that they are superficial believers or, worst still,
hypocritical beings. The reality is that
at the societal and global level humans are committing suicide and
hesitate to turn back, even when the evidence is
irrefutable. So, which
intelligence is FFRF referring to? Maybe they believe that scientists
are the intelligent ones that will lead to human salvation. But who is
responsible for creating the atomic bomb, the hydrogen bomb, chemical
weapons, horrific weapons, the technology that is poisoning our land, our air, our water?
Lots of knowledge there, and a definite understanding of the scientific
method, but where is the wisdom? Maybe they should all listen to the
supreme Scientist of the past century, Einstein, who warned that,
"...without
a religion-based “’ethical culture’ “...there
is no salvation for humanity.” (Einstein,
Albert, “Christianity and Judaism.” In Seelig,
Cal (Ed.) Albert Einstein: Ideas and Opinions. New York: Three
Rivers Press, 1982, 184-185)
Unlike atheists, Christianity, instead, holds that humans are very weak and
in need God's help. It also teaches that
humans will continue to give Religion "lip service," but will not implement
healthy, powerful principles given as gifts from the Creator that can
bring about healing to humanity. Christianity also teaches that human
beings will finally bring themselves to the brink of extinction, thanks
to the false savior, Science, in the hands of an irresponsible humanity and that
the return of Jesus Christ is the only thing that finally save humanity from
self-destruction. (Read Matthew 24 for an advance description of our
days).
Atheism is just another expression
of a weak and frail humanity offering solutions that will not work,
as many famous atheists have already proven. Only Jesus Christ the
Messiah will solve the insoluble, not FFRF, or any other self-deluded
foundation.
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The Ten Commandments
"Do study the ten commandments! They epitomize the
childishness, the vindictiveness, the sexism, the inflexibility and the
inadequacies of the bible as a book of morals."
"In essence, the first four commandments all scream
that "the lord thy god" has an uneasy vanity, and like most dictators, must
resort to threats, rather than intellectual persuasion, to promote a point
of view.... How can anyone not perceive the pettiness, bluster, bombast and
psychotic insecurity behind the first four commandments? We are supposed to
respect this!"
<http://www.ffrf.org/nontracts/10comm.php>
(18 Feb.
2007).
The arrogance found within these
words has seldom been equaled. Childishness? Telling people not to steal and
kill is childish? Insisting that each human being has a supreme duty to
honor and respect the one that makes every atom in the human body and all of
existence spin, childish? A God that "demands" that we do not harm our
neighbor is childish? Would the millions of women and men who daily find out
that their mate has been betraying them or has abandoned them for another
person feel that the commandment on adultery is childish? Would the people
who lost their life savings because of the Enron affair think that a commandment
against lying and stealing is childish? How about the countless parents that
get abused by their own flesh and blood? Do they find the commandment on
honoring one's parents childish?
What would the brilliant, "all-wise"
leaders of FFRF propose instead, if they had been "creators" and "sustainers" of
life? Which approach would they have used? They of course would have
been "gentle persuaders," because they are "soft-hearted humanists" who don't
believe in asserting divine power. Now consider this: if God's "assertive" approach has had
limited results with rebellious human beings, would the "lame" approach of
convincing with logical arguments have worked any better? Have humans not seen
and experienced the most
"logical" argument of all, that the result of disobedience to the Ten
Commandments over the centuries has resulted in nothing but turmoil and torment
for most of humanity? Is that not logical enough? Should that not be
persuasive enough...? Has it changed anything?
If there is a God who makes and
sustains all things, He and only He has the right to determine right and wrong. He and
only He has the right to insist any way He wants that humans do
"what is
right for them and others." He has all the rights in the universe to demand
and expect honor and total submission, given the fact that life is His gift
and death His prerogative. Asserting that a Creator is petty,
psychotic and insecure, because He "demands" what is good for humanity, is the ultimate
foolishness, and I quiver at the consequences that such an attitude will
lead to. Let's hope that these valiant, quixotic,
aggressive and offensive atheists will come to the point of sobriety some
time in the future--for their own sake.
Please read,
Ten Great Proofs of God's Existence,
-- a logical and sensible rebuttal to atheists' inane views about the Ten Commandments,
from someone who did study the Ten Commandments--as they
recommend--and found therein undeniable evidence of a Divine and loving
Creator.
Jesus Christ
"On the whole, Jesus said little that was worthwhile.
He introduced nothing new to ethics (except hell). He instituted no social
programs. Being "omniscient," he could have shared some useful science or
medicine, but he appeared ignorant of such things (as if his character were
merely the invention of writers stuck in the first century)."
"Why is Jesus so special? It would be more reasonable
and productive to emulate real, flesh-and-blood human beings who have
contributed to humanity--mothers who have given birth, scientists who have
alleviated suffering, social reformers who have fought injustice--than to
worship a character of such dubious qualities as Jesus."
<http://www.ffrf.org/nontracts/jesus.php>
(18 Feb. 2007).
Jesus Christ said nothing worthwhile?
Would two billion people revere such a person, if he said nothing
worthwhile? Would countless universities teach his views around the world,
if they were useless and empty? Would Einstein believe that within His
teachings where found the solutions to "all human ills" if Christ said
nothing worthwhile? (See quote below). The arrogance that
frames the minds of FFRF leaders in declaring of little significance the
teachings of Jesus Christ is nothing short of shocking and laughable.
Jesus Christ did not come to
create social programs. Jesus Christ went much further: He taught the
supreme principles that have led to thousands of social programs worldwide
for thousands of years. He
did not create World Vision, The Salvation Army, hundreds of Christian
hospitals and clinics, countless programs for the needy around the world--HE
INSPIRED THEM. He was not a man that would simply create a program
that would help "the few," given His limited time on earth, He
offered humanity irresistible, motivating, transforming concepts that have,
are and will continue to move millions to help their fellow men worldwide.
Contrariwise, what have the 1 billion atheists done for humanity, in the
meantime? What is FFRF doing for humanity, except trying to undermine
Religion, and Christianity in particular, anywhere it can.
How "puny" is Atheism before the Great
Master. How inane and absurd its assertions; how "laughable" its fruits.
"Being "omniscient," he could have shared some useful
science or medicine, but he appeared ignorant of such things."
Jesus Christ gave His fullest support
to a Book that offered health principles that where way ahead of their
time--over 3000 years ahead of their time. It's called the Torah.
It gives principles that would abolish most infectious diseases and that
would decrease cancer and heart problems dramatically. He also taught
principles that would eradicate most mental illnesses. Furthermore, He
proposed principles of morality that would eradicate drug use, smoking,
STD's, murder, suicide, adultery, fornication neighbor abuse through lying
and cheating, worker abuse, government abuse, and a host of other social
ills that afflict humanity. But this is not enough for atheists that
instead encourage life styles that have been proven to harm and to cause physical
and mental problems. What they want is "freedom" --
freedom
from God, that is. Freedom
to experiment with behaviors that have been experiments with for millennia
and need no further
experimentation, because they have failed terribly.
"It would be more reasonable and productive to emulate
real, flesh-and-blood human beings who have contributed to humanity--mothers
who have given birth, scientists who have alleviated suffering, social
reformers who have fought injustice--than to worship a character of such
dubious qualities as Jesus."
Once again, this assertion is based on
the ignorant notion that one must be directly involved in dealing with
social injustices so as to bring about an end to the same. Jesus Christ
offered the "underpinnings" that inspired the ones that brought about
dramatic changes in social injustices. Unlike what FFRF propagates, the ones
that led the revolutionary changes that transformed our world for the better
where "Christ-inspired" men and women, not atheists. Please read
"ATHEIST
LIES"
on this site, for an enlightening review of who really brought about
positive social changes in our Western World, and what their religious views
were.
WHAT
"SUPERIOR" MINDS THOUGHT ABOUT JESUS CHRIST
Albert Einstein
“If one purges the Judaism of
the Prophets and Christianity as Jesus Christ taught it of all subsequent
additions, especially those of the priests, one is left with a teaching
which is capable of curing all the social ills of humanity.”
(Einstein, Albert,
“Christianity and Judaism.” In Seelig, Cal (Ed.)
Albert Einstein: Ideas and Opinions. New York: Three Rivers Press,
1982, 184-185.)
Dostoevski
“There is in
the world only one figure of absolute beauty: Christ. That infinitely lovely
figure is, as a matter of course, an infinite marvel.”
(Sandoz,
E. Political Apocalypse. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University
Press, 1971, 42.)
William Shakespeare
"In the name of God, I William
Shakespeare...God be praised, do make and ordain this, my last will and
testament in manner and form following. That is to say, first I commend my
soul into the hands of God my Creator, hoping and assuredly believing,
through the merits of Jesus
Christ, my savior, to be made
partaker of eternal life, and my body to the earth whereof it is made. "
(Rowe,
A.L.
Shakespeare's Self Portrait. University Press of
America, 1985, 182.)
Tolstoy
“The solution before us is…by nothing else than a
forward movement along that road which the law of Christ points out to the
hearts of men.”
(Tolstoy, L., "Patriotism,
Slavery of Our Times," in, The Complete Work of L. Tolstoy. New
York: T.Y. Crowell Co., 1927,
303.)
WHAT "SUPERIOR" MINDS SAID ABOUT
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
W. KANT
(German philosopher)
"The righteous man fears God without being afraid of Him, because he regards
the case of his wishing to resist God and His commandments as one which need
cause him no anxiety. But in every such case, regarded him as not
intrinsically possible he cognizes Him as one to be feared."
(Kant,
I. Philosophical Writings, In The German Library: Vol. 13. New York:
Continuum Publishing Co., 1986, 217)
"God created the world for His honors sake because it is only through the
obedience to His holy laws that God can be honored. For what does it mean to
honor God? What, if not to serve Him? But how can He be served? Certainly
not by trying to entice His favor by rendering Him all sorts of praise. For
such praise is best only a means for preparing our hearts to a good
disposition. Instead, the service of God consists simply and solely in
following His will and observing His holy laws and commands."
(Kant, 143)
"God is the only ruler of the world. He governs as a monarch, but not as a
despot; for He wills to have His commands observed out of love, and not out
of servile fear. Like a father, He orders what is good for us, and does not
command out of mere arbitrariness, like a tyrant. God even demands of us
that we reflect on the reason for His commandments, and He insists on our
observing them because He wants first to make us worthy of happiness and
then participate in it. God' s will is benevolence, and His purpose is what
is best. If God commands something for which we cannot see the reason, then
this is because of the limitation of our knowledge, and not because of the
nature of the commandment itself. God carries out his rulership of the world
alone. For He surveys everything with one glance. And certainly e may often
use wholly incomprehensible means to carry out His benevolent aims."
(Kant,156)
G. LEOPARDI
(Foremost Italian poet of the Romantic period)
"The ten commandments contain general principles . . .
conceived for the good of humanity . . . They are infinite and diverse."
(Leopardi, G. Opere, Tomo II. Milano: Riccardo Ricciardi Editore,
1977, 356)
ELIZABETH BEECHER STOWE
(American writer)
"God always makes most prosperous those who are most obedient to His laws in
the Bible."
(Wagenknecht, E.,
Harriet Beecher Stowe. New York: Oxford University Press,
1965, 177.)
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