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

"National Group Recognizes Atheism"

Source: The Orion (California State University-Chico)
Date: March 4, 1998
Author: Caleb Conn


Religious organizations from Christians to Muslims to Mormons are represented on almost every college campus in America.

But organizations representing those who are atheists, secular humanists or unbelievers have been ignored.

But times have changed and the Campus Freethought Alliance was is making its way up nationally. The CFA is an organization composed of students from campuses across the nation. and is "...dedicated to the promotion and enhancement of freethought, skepticism, secularism, non-theism and humanism," according to the alliance's declaration.

The alliance sets out to prove that it is possible to lead a normal, healthy, productive life without religion playing a large role.

Instead of morals and ideals being learned through the teachings of any religion, the alliance strives to show that these values can be learned through the attainment of basic human needs.

The Center for Inquiry in Amherst, New York, founded the CFA in 1996. Student representatives from Harvard University, the University of Maryland at College Park, State University of New York and others drafted a "Declaration of Necessity," a document stating the purpose and goal of the organization.

The CFA wants to establish organizations for "freethinkers" on every campus. Freethought is the process of explaining supernatural occurrences and beliefs using logical thought processes and scientific facts.

Freethinkers are those who follow these practices and apply the processes to everyday life. These people reject any explanations that include the paranormal, the occult and mysticism.

The argument behind this goal is that many students who are atheists, secular humanists and skeptics have to deal with their beliefs alone. In a college atmosphere, that can be tough. So CFA has become a supportive environment where student freethinkers can associate with others who share the same beliefs.

Overall, the CFA helps to create a positive social environment for those students who are "unbelievers."

The following are some examples of what the organization does for its members so they don't feel so alone:

• Helps establish an organization for each campus.
  
• Schedules speakers, meetings, fund-raisers and readings for student members at the different campuses.
  
• Acts as a coordinating device to link organizations at different campuses together.
  
• Holds conventions with campus representatives to determine CFA goals.
  
• Provides an Internet link for student members.

join | contact | contribute