English Español Italiano Türkçe Français Nederlands

The bfg is a secular society (founded in 1870) devoted to principles of the Enlightenment and of Humanism. We are non-dogmatic and non-ideological; we claim no absolute truths; and we therefore respect people with religious convictions that we don't share. We claim such respect for ourselves as well; we think that dogmatic, authoritarian or totalitarian thought-patterns are a threat to personal human rights.

We are a politically nonpartisan association of people who belong to no church or sect. Our activities are social, cultural, charitable and political. Our main political activity is to advocate church/state separation and hence the abolition of certain privileges of the churches in Germany where they are supported by a vast amount of tax revenues. We think that religious institutions should, like other associations, be financed entirely from their own members' pockets.

Experience has shown, however, that progress toward this political goal depends not only on the validity of the arguments but also on the numerical strength of an organization. If only a few of the non-religious citizens of Germany are willing to promote their interests as such in an association of like-minded folks - while millions of citizens are enrolled in the churches even though many of them are just nominal members - then the non-democratic power of the churches will remain intact.

Links:

• The Bavarian Crucifix Case
• Gora's Life: An Outline
• How Gandhi Came to Believe Caste Must be Dismantled by Intermarriage
• Gandhi's Last Words
• A Unique School in the "Land of a Million Gods"