Atheist Community of Jonesboro looks to form student chapter

Hostilities are rising on the ASU campus as the Atheist Community of Jonesboro attempts to establish a student led organization on campus since their formation in January.

"ACJ was formed because Northeast Arkansas non-theists have no representation in the area, and no forum through which to socialize, to network and to organize," Joseph Langston, ACJ president, wrote in an e-mail. "…We aren't against the religious, we are pro non-theist. Our goal is to find those non-theists in NEA and let them know we're here for them to serve their social, intellectual and humanitarian needs."

Although the group invites "theists" to their weekly meetings to enjoy "having a dialogue with any person of any faith," Langston said that their fliers are being torn down all over campus in a way that cannot be coincidence.

"Since its Jan. 11 launch, ACJ's membership has tripled and word has gotten out in spite of an apparent systematic campaign to remove ACJ's fliers and restrict the free flow of information," Langston said in a Jan. 27 press release. "ACJ believes free speech and a free society are mutually inclusive - neither can exist in a vacuum."

ACJ members have a growing concern about their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion "or lack thereof," Langston said.

"Our group isn't anti-theistic; we would no more wish to abolish religion in America than we would wish to abolish the Constitution that grants us all the right to worship as we please," he said.

John Griffith, ACJ vice president and creator wrote in an e-mail "[This] involves ASU students, graduates and free speech issues," in response to a hostile phone call.

"We are also looking at starting a student chapter led by student members and are concerned with possible discrimination against identified members," Griffith, who is a 2008 ASU graduate, said.

According to the ACJ Facebook page, they have three primary goals to serve in the Jonesboro area. The first of which is "to provide a community for non-theists built upon inclusion, mutual respect, and fellowship."

In support of this purpose, Langston added, "Our group does not seek to change anyone's beliefs, nor do we wish to preach or to proselytize our beliefs or lack thereof; we acknowledge the rights of others to believe/practice what they like so long as they do not interfere with the rights, happiness, and freedoms of others."

The second purpose of the group is "to promote critical thinking and reason through education, activism, and criticism of irrational, unsupported, and faith-based world views and beliefs."

In keeping with this attitude, Langston added that the group is not just about religion.

In their meetings they discuss everything from the supernatural to the occult. Every week a new topic of discussion is posted on the Facebook page and the group enjoys rational debate.

The group's third mission is performing charity and community service.

They are able to do this with donations, either monetary or by people bringing things like clothing or canned food to the meetings.

"Our long-term goal is to promote awareness and acceptance as being valuable and to encourage people in this area to be open-minded and tolerant," Langston said.