home | about | affiliates | press | forum | activism                    Resources for: Students | Faculty | Group Leaders

"New Group Focuses on Humanism"

Source: The Oregon Daily Emerald (University of Oregon)
Date: January 21, 1997
Author: Joel McGrady


Subtitle: Students for Freedom From Religion offer resources for atheists, agnostics and skeptics

University students can choose from more than 20 campus organizations specific to religious affiliation, but now students who count themselves as agnostic, atheist or skeptical of traditional religions have an organization of their own.

Students for Freedom From Religion (SFFR) recently formed on campus to promote several key ideas of humanism: "the ethical tenets of personal responsibility, accountability, freedom and critical inquiry," according to the organization's constitution.

"SFFR was created to bring together people interested in discussing secular and humanist ideas," said Selena Brewington, one of the group's founders. "We encourage those who are involved in our discussions to be informed. We provide books, magazines and on-line materials.

"We have an expressly non-religious membership, but people who have religious affiliations are encouraged to attend and participate," Brewington said.

"The most valuable human quality is the ability to reason," Brewington said. "Reasoning allows us to be moral and to have compassion. Reasoning also allows us to question and to critically analyze. On campus, our mission is to encourage a wide range of activities. Among them: critical thinking and analysis, expression of informed opinion and informed debate."

SFFR is an affiliate of the Campus Freethought Alliance. The CFA is an umbrella group for secular humanist student groups in both high schools and universities.

The Students for Freedom From Religion submitted the paperwork for official recognition as a student group Jan. 17. It is unsure as of yet whether it will seek ASUO funding. Brewington points out that SFFR's largest current source of contributions is the community at large, though it may also receive funding from the CFA in the future if it becomes an ASUO-approved group.

SFFR meets Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the third floor lounge of Chapman Hall. Interested students can look for exact dates at SFFR's home page (http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~sbrewing/sffr) or send e-mail to: sbrewing@darkwing.uoregon.edu


This article was retrieved from www.dailyemerald.com/archive/v98/2/970121/campus.html
 

join | contact | contribute