Well, atheist groups are again showing their intolerance for anything—or anyone!—Christian. A friend of our ministry, Eric Hovind of Creation Today, recently spoke in a public high school debate class in Georgia on critical thinking. Well, an atheist group, the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), is “requesting an investigation into Hovind’s appearance.”
Apparently, a lawyer from FFRF wrote a letter to the school stating, “It is unconstitutional and completely inappropriate for TCCHS to host a fundamentalist Christian speaker whose sole purpose and goal is the promotion of biblical creationism . . . . It is difficult for us to understand how this presentation could have been approved . . . . Your community undoubtedly includes many people who have professional experience . . . to discuss ‘critical thinking’ with students interested in debate, and whose presence would not violate clear constitutional dictates.” This lawyer is reportedly claiming that having Eric come to the public school and speak is a violation of the First Amendment.
Now, to claim that Eric can’t speak in a public school about critical thinking simply because he is a Christian/creationist is absolutely ridiculous. Christians are not second-class citizens barred from participating in society or from speaking in the public sphere. In no way is having a Christian give a lecture on critical thinking a violation of the First Amendment. If FFRF wants to claim that Christians can’t speak on critical thinking, then neither can they! But this is the type of intimidation these secular groups are often using to try to inhibit Christians from speaking out in this country. Really, such secular groups want freedom of speech as long it is their own! They want freedom of religion as long as it is their own religion (i.e., the worldview of naturalism and humanism I mention below)! They want the free exercise of religion as long as it is only for them!
You see, anytime that atheists or other secular humanists are speaking in the public sphere or in a school, they are promoting religion. They are teaching students that the universe and all life came about through natural processes. Naturalism is atheism. Atheism or secular humanism is no less a religion than Christianity is. It is a set of beliefs through which they view and interpret the world that they cling to with blind faith and ardor—it’s a religion. In fact, in some places humanism is even officially categorized as a religion. Those at FFRF and similar organizations are just as religious and fundamental as Eric or any other Christian! So if Christians can’t speak on critical thinking in the classroom then neither can atheists, agnostics, or other humanists! Virtually, no one would be able to speak in a classroom—including the teacher!
.FFRF can’t stand a Christian even being allowed to give a lecture on critical thinking! What are they so afraid of? All that FFRF’s complaint does is show their hatred of anything Christian. The organization would better be called the “Freedom from Christianity Foundation”—because that is their true motivation in what they strive for.
They know in their hearts that God exists, but they are actively suppressing this belief in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). They fight so hard against a God that they claim doesn’t even exist because they know that He really does! We need to pray that, instead of fighting against God, these lost individuals will repent and put their faith and trust in Christ and in what He did for them.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken
This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.
Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.