I’m going to start this piece by saying this: I’m not a writer, nor do I really plan to be at any time, but I’m doing this for a number of reasons that I think are particularly important. I’m really grateful for Mindy Gorin for giving me this platform to work on, and I urge everyone to read her articles about feminism and other topics.

To start, my name is Joe Mondi. I’m a music major, a DJ, a progressive, and I kind of just ran out of things to put here so I’m going to move on (that took 20 minutes, let’s keep going).

I believe, first of all, that we are living in a challenging time. Many particular schools of thought are being challenged all across the board, and tensions are high between parties of opposition. And through the Internet we have total access to being able to challenge our own ideas; the question is in our willingness to do it. A few years ago, I was watching speeches and debates with Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins in awe, which I think is probably a similar route a lot of religious people went on before becoming an atheist. The past few weeks I found myself watching Jane Elliott’s experiments on racial inequality (it’s off topic, but definitely check it out).

In the beginning of this year, I started the Ramapo Atheists, made possible with the help of some great friends and the Student Government Association. The conversation of religion and its impact on our world, both historically and currently, has always been something which I have taken great interest in, but never to the level of urgency I feel for it now. Conversations I have shared with people have brought me and others to new perspectives that I’m really proud to have been a part of. This club will serve as a social and political group which allows people to come together and share a voice against harmful religious and superstitious ideas.

In order to make this possible, we need to first shine some light on the importance of this cause. It is no mystery that religious belief has been the root cause of some of history’s darkest moments. Actions that under no common circumstances would be acceptable by civilized cultures have been ultimately normalized and become part of the society. Everything from slavery, homophobia, sexism, terrorism, and hatred, have at some point, and even still today, been justified using readings from religious texts. Religion has allowed for backlash against scientific evidence, which opposes its doctrine. This will undoubtedly prove itself disastrous if a president is elected who does not believe that climate change is actually affecting us, or that women should be denied the right to to receive an abortion.

We are still living in a country where in fact being an atheist is widely acknowledged as something to be detested. Many people find themselves either being forced to believe in something their rational minds cannot justify, or, if speaking out, being outcasted by friends or family.

People in the LGBTQ+ community are finally getting their voices recognized in the past few years, but that fight is far from being over. (Remember that we are close to electing a candidate for president who called the supreme court decision to allow gays to marry “the darkest day in American history”).

We have to remember that for some people who were indoctrinated at a young age with certain beliefs, it is difficult for them to speak out if they ever find themselves questioning, so we need to give them a voice. It is not until we free ourselves from religious intimidation, superstitious ideology, and irrational thoughts that we can make our way towards true freedom.

So here is where you come in. The club has already been approved, and we have the freedom to do a lot of great things. We are looking for two kinds of people to join:

1. Atheists who wish to have a voice in this cause, and who will come up with ideas of what we can do to spread the message and achieve a brighter future

2. Any person who is questioning their religious beliefs and who feels like they need a safe place where they can come and openly discuss their beliefs. Anyone is always welcome to come express themselves in a meeting.

We wish to hold open forums for people to discuss their beliefs, as well as hire established individuals to come and speak to Ramapo audiences. We are looking to hold debates with religious organizations or clubs as a means of education. Most importantly, we should be recognized as a club that shares humanist values and does not tolerate intolerance of others in the form of hatred.

We’ve already had a few meetings in the past semester and it has been incredibly productive. The result of this movement will rely on how people find themselves able to have an open and honest discussion about it. Lies cannot stand to facts, and we should continue to be critical of any claim that can only be valued by one’s willingness to use faith to believe it.

For information on how to join, please contact Joe Mondi at jmondi@ramapo.edu.