Posted March 4, 2009 on Facebook:
Good Evening!
I hope you are doing well. I want to inform you that I have decided to rename the group I am founding the International Society of Secularists. I know many atheists will have concerns about this decision, so I would like to take a moment to explain it.
Atheists appear to be the most organized and active portion in the non-theist community, at least in English speaking countries. This activism and organization, especially over the last decade, has brought me hope for secularism. I do not take atheists for granted, and I hope they will continue to be interested in my organization.
I have found it very difficult to generate interest in my group from those who do not explicitly call themselves atheist but are nevertheless non-theists. I know many atheists might argue that other names for non-theist positions are all forms of atheism. However, I ultimately had to ask myself “What are the goals of the organization I want to form?” Although activism is certainly going to be a part of what we do, it will not be our main focus. Our purpose is to provide a source of cohesion for the secular community. We will do this by establishing social and support networks for non-theists, as well as providing services to both the public and to the secular community.
I know this decision will probably cause the organization to be viewed as a moderate group, and moderate theists and non-theists are sometimes criticized for their apparent lack of clarity and steadfastness. Let me be clear – the ISS stands for free thought and separation of church and state. It also embraces the use of reason and science over faith and tradition. I believe both moderate and more vocal groups are both important components of social movements.
You may have questions and concerns about my decision to change the name of the organization, and I welcome those. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to share your feedback and ideas. I hope that you will continue to show support and interest in the organization.
Sincerely,
Andrew J. Clapper
Founder
International Society of Secularists
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