Contact:
Jacques Rousseau (email)
1. Core Membership Statement
Members of the Free Society Institute commit to holding themselves responsible for what they believe, and for striving to hold beliefs responsibly, in that they will be guided by empirical evidence rather than by dogma, prejudice or superstition.
2. Strategic Aims and Philosophy
The Society aims to encourage intellectually honest debate on topics which are vulnerable to influence and/or suppression by the entrenched interests of pre-scientific traditional dogmatism, and well as debate on the nature and role of reason and rationality itself. We hold supernatural views of reality to be one of the more powerful threats to individual liberty of thought, and strive to remove this threat on a socio-political level in both South African and international contexts, to ensure the freedom to debate any issue in a manner which leads humanity closer to Enlightenment and Humanist ideals. More specifically, we hold the following to be true:
- That freedom of speech is an essential liberty and a human right
- That intellectual honesty is a fundamental to a naturalistic and realistic worldview
- That a naturalistic and realistic worldview is most conducive to human flourishing
3. Strategy
The Free Society Institute will:
- Promote local and international debate
- Provide commentary on issues relating to our strategic aims, including controversies and events in the domains of religion, ethics and politics
- Organize and promote local public awareness projects related to our aims
- Defend liberal, secular and Enlightenment ideals
- Defend the rights of South Africans and citizens of the world to hold non-theistic world-views, and to be free of persecution and prejudice in doing so
- Strive to build a strong and vocal community of free-thinkers in South Africa
- Work closely with strategic partners, such as the IHEU and others, in defending our ideals and promoting their growth in South Africa and elsewhere
- Seek to educate and inform South Africans of the value of Enlightenment principles and the Scientific Method
4. Roles Within The FSI
FSI Chairman
2009 – present: Jacques Rousseau (email)
FSI Coordinator
2009 – present: Kent Solomon (email)
Good Day.
I am one of the very few Black South African who is a Atheist. I have been searching for a South African organization where I can meet and make friends with people who share a and are interested in promoting reason, science and education within the South African society.
Many times I have tried to make new friends but have found myself alienated and considered insane because of my scientific world outlook. As a I.T. lecture in one of the private colleges in the country I have many times tried to ‘preach’ the gospel of science as the superior alternative to religion with minor success.
My scientific world outlook was encouraged by an interest reading and self-education in evolution, philosophy (dialectical materialism) and the love of nature in general.
I am willing to participate in any activity that will help to promote the Strategic Aims and Philosophy in your statement.
Kind regards
Zeb
Great to hear, Zeb. Please subscribe to our mailing list, so that you’ll know when anything is happening that you might be able to be involved with.
I’ve come across your post as part of doing research for a documentary we’re currently producing for the SABC on Atheism in South Africa (our company is Tin Rage Productions).
The film is not only geared at looking at the historical development of Atheism, but also its spread to various culture bases.
I’d be quite interested in contacting you on this topic, perhaps you’d see fit to being a part of this project?
My details appear bellow; I hope to hear from you soon
[redacted]
I was raised as a conservative christian Africaner but could clearly see the conditioning of ALL South Africans as I researched and studied the general religious beliefs and in particular the Bible and the Coran. Analising the various claims from numerous Beliefs, which could be narrowed down to Their Gods, My submition is that they all proof that they all are wrong, making al religion lies and leaving all with no God. Alas, saying that to any one else made them very angry, agressive and accusing me as crazy, trying to live a new life knowing there is no god, satan, heaven or hell, is not easy. People are still very inhumane, without reason, and stubbornly belieiving their preachers. They are christians, muslims, buddists and many other “thigs” but surely not humans. they have no reasoning, no knowledge, they simply BELIEVE, and what a lot of limited beliefs!! I am an expert in the revealing of the lies, deception, and nonsence in the bible and can proof biblically that I am also a god. It is time for people to become humans and take responsability for their actions and not to blame Satan for their badluck and to thank god for their good fotune. I am not scared no more of the ever burning hell, and it is no more my life’s goal, to walk on streets of gold in heaven I am going to share my new thoughts to people in joining you here today to see where I can further humanism though i am very positive that you can not covert any religious diciple to become a humanist. The latter who are here can merely get together to jointly work towards a better and ultimatre perfect life for all
Are manmade laws based on the 10 commandments, or do atheists believe they are developed from another source? If so which source?
Myk, atheists don’t all believe the same things. Many of us, myself included, are convinced by arguments that morality is evolved. It’s clear that morality exists in non-human animals also, so morality can’t depend on being human, or on the 10 commandments. There are also many humans who don’t care one bit for the 10 commandments, because their religions claim some other source for morality.
There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of books explaining the evolution of morality. One of them, a good one, is even called “The Evolution of Morality”, by Richard Joyce. If you’re happy with reading some math, the one I consider best, though, is Ken Binmore’s “Natural Justice”.
Hi Jacques
I heard you on the Kate Turkington show recently, not something I usually listen to, but was driving home on a Sunday evening and happened to catch the show. I enjoyed listening to you, as I spend a lot of time on You Tube listening to Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens (sadly recently deceased) and Sam Harris, among others. Another excellent program is The Atheist Experience, based in Austin, Texas. It’s a phone-in TV program for on air debate and the main presenter, Matt Dillahunty, who was once studying to be a preacher, is a formidable intellect. Keep up the good work, I’m amazed at how weakly most people are prepared to consider the scientific evidence available in this day and age. I believe that in order to have faith in a religion, you need to a) ignore large sections of the particular holy book you subscribe to, and b) stick your head deep in the sand in order to ignore sound scientific proof.
Thanks Tim – I’ll certainly keep at it!
I am delighted to have discovered this website. Have you any idea how many forum posts are floating around local and international websites regarding the lack of a solid, South African atheist place/organization/group? There is that ever-present, subconscious need amongst atheists to gather and collate information, ideas and opinions – which might be very hard to meet, from a South African standpoint, for most people. The FSI may delve a bit more deeply into certain issues that some don’t really care for, but it’s literally almost a relief to find this amazing, intelligible resource.
I will be blogging about you in my next post – and following your progress keenly!
I was introduced to this website by a friend entangled in the reels and red tape of copyright law and i’m thrilled to finally find a website that disseminates free societies – most sites have ridiculous download prices. I’d like to request a download of a free society (download size?) and I’m lead to believe that you do free speech too. Good on you! Maybe you could fondly refer to yourselves as the Atheist bay?
Regards, Isabella.
Hi there. just wanted to know if there are any events coming up near cape town. been an atheist for years now, but would like to get more involved.
Hi Corne, and welcome. I see you’ve found the Facebook page – we’ll be posting the next event there (which will be on the evening of May 25, somewhere in or around CT CBD). Edit – it’s been posted, here.
Please inform me of your activities in cape town. Thanks
Hi Adeola. I’m afraid that wouldn’t be practical. Please subscribe by Facebook and/or Twitter, using the links at the top of the page. As you’ll see in the comment above yours, the next Cape Town event was mentioned there.