La
Libre Pensée
The French Federation of Freethinkers
History
Founded in 1847 at the crossing of the Republican movement and dawning
Labour movement which goal was the full secularism of State and
school and the struggle against religious oppression, La Libre Pensée
was rich of well known members in France as Raspail, Blanqui, Victor
Hugo, Littré, Paul Bert, Ferdinand Buisson, Aristide Briand,
Clemenceau, Emile Zola, Romain Rolland, Jean Jaures, Jean Rostand,
Bertrand Russel…
La Libre Pensée was the main
association in the struggle for separation between State and churches
in the nineteenth century. The French separation law (laïcité)
was the consequence of this struggle (in 1905).
Today La Libre Pensée is still very active. It organises
conferences and colloquia among other things, and publishes a magazine.
One of the recent colloquia was one about the Separation of Church
and State as the 200 anniversary of Jefferson's Letter.
There are also young people active within La Libre Pensée.
Aims
La Libre Pensée is built over four main principles that generations
of freethinkers have implemented.
Anticlericalism:
Freethinkers refuse interference of religions within society and
within republican institutions when they exist. In favour of secularism,
La Libre Pensée defends in France the full respect of the
1905 law of separation of churches and State.
Against
Religions: Freethinkers consider religions as one
of the mains sources of obscurantism on earth. La Libre Pensée
thinks that Humans must conquest happiness on earth and not in a
so called paradise, refusing revealed truths, dogmas and in favour
of a full freedom of consciousness.
Against
Militarism: Freethinkers don't allow wars and massacres
for interests in which people are not involved. In favour of unilateral
disarmament, Free Thought is internationalist. Pacifist, the French
federation of freethinkers is member of Free Forces of Peace.
Against
Capitalism: Refusing every sort of economic exploitation
as well as any political or religious oppression founded in enslavement
of persons. La Libre Pensée is active for a full social emancipation
of mankind.
Freethinkers are free citizens. By
joining la Libre Pensée, they refuse any religious ceremony
and have secular and civil funerals.
Contact La Libre Pensée
Website: www.multimania.com/librepensee/,
Postal address: 10-12, rue des Fosses Saint Jacques, 75005
Paris,
E-mail: Libre.Pensee@wanadoo.fr.
@written by Hansi Bremond
Involvement in IHEYO
La Libre Pensée is a member organisation of IHEU (IHEYO is
the youth section of IHEU). La Libre Pensée was present at
the 2002 International Humanist Youth Conference.
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