Atheist Foundation of Australia

The Atheist Foundation of Australia, Inc. was established in South Australia in 1970, when The Rationalist Association of South Australia decided upon a name change to better declare their basic philosophy, namely atheism.

The Atheist Foundation of Australia defines Atheism as "the acceptance that there is no credible scientific or factually reliable evidence for the existence of a god, gods, or the supernatural." The Foundation rejects belief in God, and rejects the supernatural and superstition in general. The Foundation considers religion unnecessary and often harmful. The Foundation favours the scientific method, and the discovery of physical laws, as the best way to understand the truth about reality. The Foundation believes that humans are rational and ethical beings, capable of making responsible and creative contributions to society.

The Foundation's stated aims are:

* To encourage and to provide a means of expression for informed free-thought on philosophical and social issues.
* To safeguard the rights of all non-religious people.
* To serve as a focal point for the fellowship of non-religious people.
* To offer reliable information in place of superstition and to offer the methodology of reason in place of faith so as to enable people to take responsibility for the fullest development of their potential as human beings.
* To promote atheism.

The Foundation publishes six issues of "The Australian Atheist" per annum.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics in the national census categorises atheists under "No Religion". The 18.7% (Census 2006) of Australians that fall within this category also include Humanists, agnostics and rationalists.

ee also

*Council of Australian Humanist Societies
*Human rights in Australia
*Irreligion in Australia
*Religion in Australia - includes Australian Bureau of Statistics census information relating to religion and belief.
*Rationalist Society of Australia
*The Secular Party of Australia
*Major world religions - Humanism, rationalism, atheism and agnosticism rank third in world (combined)
*List of secularist organizations

References

* [http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/AD25AA55EB7FDC75CA25697E0018FD84?opendocument Australian Bureau of Statistics 1996 Census Dictionary - Religion category]
* [http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/B783FA5B03524218CA256B3B00149F9B?opendocument Australian Bureau of Statistics 2001 Census Dictionary - religion category]
* [http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/BFDDA1CA506D6CFACA2570DE0014496E?opendocument Year Book Australia, 2006. Religious Affiliation section] from Australian Bureau of Statistics. Much of the text of Religion in Australia is taken from here (or previous versions).

External links

* [http://www.atheistfoundation.org.au/ Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc Homepage]
* [http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/briefs/brief_3.html Human Rights Brief No. 3] Assessment of international law pertaining to freedom of religion and belief from Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission