Mission and Strategy

"Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity in exclusion of all other religions may establish, with the same ease, any particular sect of Christians in exclusion of all other sects?"
- James Madison, A Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments, June 20, 1785.

The mission of the Stiefel Freethought Foundation is to gain respect for freethinkers and ensure the complete separation of church and state.

Strategies:

Grow the Freethought Movement

Unite freethought groups around common causes
Overcome divisions from label choice
Optimize communication between freethinkers
Increase financial resources and membership
Motivate inactive freethinkers to join the movement
Support those questioning their faith, but do not serve as de-conversion missionaries
Join forces with other minorities repressed by dogma and fundamentalism

Secularize public policy

Increase and protect civil liberties and rights
Weaken fundamentalist political influence
End legal privileges and government funding for religious groups
Shield public education from religious influence
Promote the teaching of science and critical thinking

Level the perception of who is ethical

Educate how ethics do not require religion or a deity
Personalize freethinkers to others by "coming out" and "living openly"
Support and perform charity, especially in research and education
Demonstrate that we do "believe" in love, integrity, reason and freedom
Take a positive approach whenever possible
Have fun, be happy and avoid becoming bitter

Provide an alternative to religion

Supply education on reality-based universal values
Offer freethinkers a community providing friendship, guidance and support
Show how life can be filled with hope and purpose without faith
Increase the study of humanism
Teach science-based achievement of tranquility and euphoria

Marginalize fundamentalists

Oppose fundamentalism, irrationality and dogma, but not religion in general
Take a diplomatic approach while appreciating the value of religious criticism
Educate how sacred texts are factually and morally imperfect and not to be taken literally
Contrast fundamentalist values with secular values
Demonstrate that the values held by freethinkers and moderate theists are very similar

Team with theists

Accept that religion can be both good and evil; give tolerance of the good to receive tolerance
Open dialogue with religious moderates and liberals
Recruit theistic groups to work to end discrimination against freethinkers
Help religions continue to evolve toward love, goodness and tolerance