About SBU Freethinkers
SBU Freethinkers represent the secular student body of Stony Brook University. The group aims to foster constructive discussion between students, faculty, and guests based around social and moral issues that impact our society. SBU Freethinkers seek to portray a positive image of active and concerned atheists. The organization is breaking through the common comparison of organizing atheists to herding cats by bringing people together around a cause greater than organization for the sake of authority and dogma. Freethinkers come together to inspire one another and appreciate our freedom of thought and speech.
Freethinkers are people who base their beliefs on evidence and critical thinking. We uphold the principles of the scientific method and are unaffected by logical fallacies such as claims to authority and dogma. Instead, we opt for objective data. Naturally, many Freethinkers are also non-theists. Freethinkers place a great value on freedom of speech and separation of church and state, as did the founding fathers of America. Freethinkers also accept that science does not have all the answers just yet. But rather than creating myths to fill in the gaps, we appreciate the magnificence of such questions that are left to be answered.
These types of questions will lead us into constructive discussion. We also openly discuss controversial topics that face our society. These are the type of discussions that need to take place in order for society to make progress. If we continue to substitute religion for science, we will not make any progress. If we tuck away controversial issues, then we can never hope to move past them.
Affiliations
Center For Inquiry (CFI) On Campus (formerly the Campus Freethought Alliance)
The Center for Inquiry - On Campus is dedicated to promoting and defending reason, science and freedom of inquiry in education, and to the enhancement of freethought, skepticism, secularism, humanism, philosophical naturalism, rationalism, and atheism on college and high school campuses throughout North America and around the world. CFI - On Campus consolidates international resources toward this end.
CFI's Website
Secular Student Alliance (SSA)
An educational nonprofit whose purpose is to educate high school and college students around the country about the value of scientific reason and the intellectual basis of secularism in its atheistic and humanistic manifestations. Based in Albany, NY.
The Secular Student Alliance offer students and their organizations a variety of resources, including but not limited to leadership training and support, guest speakers, discounted literature and conference tickets, and thought provoking online articles and opinions.
SSA's Website
Stony Brook University (SBU)
Founded in 1957, Stony Brook is one of the State University of New York’s four University Centers. Stony Brook is a proud member of the Association of American Universities, and a National Merit Institution. Stony Brook is a large and diverse university that boasts more than 250 student groups on campus, and encourages students to become active in these groups and in turn their community.
Stony Brook's Website
Mission and Goals
Mission Statement
To educate, organize, and unite students at Stony Brook University, by promoting the ideals of rationality, science, and secularism.
Goals
Our goals are:
- To a create a visible campus community of secular or non-religious students at Stony Brook University;
- To provide a venue for students at Stony Brook University to discuss and share their secular or non-religious philosophies and world views;
- To provide a way for students at Stony Brook University to advocate for the rights and interests of secular and non-religious people;
- To provide a way for secular and non-religious students at Stony Brook University to meet each other and interact socially; and
- To provide a venue for events of interest to secular or non-religious students at Stony Brook University and to the secular and non-religious community at large.
- To operate a sustainable organization.
