From the desk of Ren LaForme

I’ve never been to church.

I mean, obviously I’ve been to a church – but I’ve never attended church regularly.

As a result, I have no ties to any real organized religion. All I have are the beliefs in my head – beliefs that I figured out on my own.

What are those beliefs?

It’s personal. And that’s how it should be.

I’m not going to stand on the side of the road and tell people that they’re going to hell if they don’t embrace Jesus. I’m not going to explode myself in a group of innocent people. I’m not even going to draw a cartoon of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and post it all over campus just because I can.

At the same time, I don’t want people shoving their religion down my throat.

To me, the atheist that complains about the nativity scene on the lawn of a town hall is the exact same as the Christian that pushes for creationism in Texan textbooks — they’re both pushy, annoying and unnecessary.

I believe that religion, or the lack thereof, is the business of one person and one person only.

The world would be a better place if Christians, Jews, Muslims, atheists, Scientologists and whoever else kept their views to themselves.

UB Freethinkers members are free to think what they want... as long as it follows an atheistic agenda.

UB Freethinkers recently tried to create a controversy on campus by posting blasphemous religious images – including a cartoon depicting the prophet Muhammad, which is against Islamic law.

While they stated that they were being “critical and skeptical of religion in general” and “would never attempt to target [one] group,” Freethinkers knew exactly what they were doing.

In a two-page e-mail sent to The Spectrum, they laid out an extensive history of Muslim protest and violence after a Dutch newspaper printed the images. UB Freethinkers knew that someone was going to raise a stink.

Consequently, they posted the fliers without Student Association permission – all clubs must get approval from SA before hanging anything up.

The Freethinkers knew exactly what they were doing. They created a controversy; they came to us – feigning outrage – and complained to anyone willing to listen.

Freethinkers: As a person who’s been in contact with countless religious skeptics, I see where you’re coming from. I don’t, however, agree with the way you’re going about doing things.

One of your members said: “We will stand up for anyone’s right to believe whatever they want.” The last time I checked, posting images stating that Jesus is an imaginary friend is not standing up for someone’s right to believe – it’s making fun of it.

But you’re the UB Freethinkers – not the UB Free-to-hate-on-all-religion-ers. You’re not thinking freely if you’re following your own atheistic dogma.

Bottom line: There is a way to go about your business without being disrespectful. Find it.

And be willing to accept the fact that you might not be right. After all – isn’t that what your problem with religion is?