Originally published in the FSGP newsletter for July/August of 2004, this article was written by Margaret to back her plan to "Plant the seeds of Atheism" link

Great insight into Margarets leadership and motivational expertise-

Planting the Seeds of Atheism

by Margaret Downey

The events freethinkers host should serve to educate, inspire, and begin the process of growing future leaders who will help create a more humanistic world. Each of us can contribute to the goal if we are passionate and confident.
Money helps, too, but I can say from experience that with just a little bit of seed money, all things are possible.

I started FSGP in 1993 with just $1,000 in my pocket. Membership grew from thirty-five people to four hundred people in ten years. FSGP finally has enough money to continue publishing a quarterly newsletter and occasionally the hosting of speakers and special events.

Putting on a monthly event is difficult, if not impossible, without volunteers. We should think of events as putting water on the seeds of Atheism. Without nourishment and attention, the seeds will fail and the plant will never grow. A little bit of creativity will help. Fortunately, the seedling boxes are filled with creative ideas, sample press releases, speaker connection information, and many other items to facilitate a successful event. Events could help FSGP find younger members. If FSGP is going to see that our garden is robust enough to produce and bear fruit, we must attract people under the age of forty.

Our children and our children’s children must have a safe community in which to question authority and express their non-theist life stance without fear of repercussions. FSGP has a lot of soil to till before our garden is comfortable enough to sprout. But let’s face it. There are many pests working to kill our gardens. Beware of the “praying mantis” community! A recent Gallup poll revealed some interesting trends about Americans’ views of deities, the afterlife, and what they will encounter on the other side of death’s door.

The percentage of Americans who believe in God or a universal spirit has remained near or above 90% for the past sixty years. Dishearteningly, there has been a significant increase in the last ten years or so in the percentage of Americans who believe in the devil. From 1997 to 2004, belief in Hell has ranged between 56% and 71%. The 2004 data reveal that 70% of Americans believe in Hell. In 1994, 72% of Americans said they believed in angels. That percentage has increased to 78% today. We must do everything we can to bring those figures down.

Obviously, the events I have proposed will be met with opposition. Conservatives and overtly religious people will tramp on the fields we are trying to grow. We must be strong and determined.

Producing a successful event will take commitment, courage, stamina, and determination. But we must try to create a climate that promotes honesty about our philosophical life stance. Recent statistics revealed that many social factors are against us. Religious belief will be like a weed in our garden of rationality.

According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 66% of Americans view non-theists unfavorably. Interestingly, that is double the hatred for Muslims. The Washington Post and Harvard University revealed that 69% of Americans would be disturbed if a family member married a non-theist. In the last presidential election, 49% of the electorate said it wouldn’t, under any circumstance, vote for a non- theist. The religious weed is growing and spreading. A March 2004 Gallup Poll indicated that 91% of Americans want to keep the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. Gallup compared that statistic to a poll taken at the height of the Cold War. A 1953 poll asked if the phrase “under God” were added to the existing pledge, to distinguish a religious America from non-religious communist countries would you agree or not agree with the inclusion. A substantial majority of Americans, 69%, said they supported the addition. So preference for including “under God” increased by 22%. We are de-evolving in America.

We need Freethought voices now more than ever, we need Freethought events now more than ever, and we need volunteers now more than ever.

If you simply can’t volunteer to adopt a seedling or help host an event, then please dig into your pockets to help the Freethought community financially. You will see your investment grow and take pride in the fact that your financial assistance helped make the Freethought community more visible. FSGP must be seen by the public as promoting rational thinking, separation of church and state, and the need to be free from religious intrusions.
I think that if we are to make our Atheist/Free- thought/Humanist garden a reality (or should I say create a Reality Garden), we must share ideas, exchange literature, support each others’ causes, and communicate well with like-minded groups. I am convinced that the tools of cooperation will be the empowerment we need.

Instead of adding “Miracle Grow” to our garden, I suggest that we add as many leaders as possible. FSGP must  encourage others to lead well.

Leaders must be kind – yet strong. Leaders must be well spoken – yet able to communicate using language that does not turn others away.
Leaders must be ready in personality and image to represent a cause well. If you are not a leader, don’t worry.

You can be supportive and helpful just by volunteering when a leader does emerge.

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