October 14, 2024

Read More Freedom From Religion Foundation Although a Christian prayer rally held the past Saturday in Washington, D.C., was billed as “A Million Women — An Esther Call on the Mall,” its primary organizer was a … More » from Male extremist organized women’s prayerful ‘Esther Event’ in D.C. The post Male extremist organized women’s prayerful ‘Esther

Read More Freedom From Religion Foundation Natalie Mendoza, Arizona State University – Arizona, $750 By Natalie Mendoza I am one of the lucky ones. My parents did not brainwash me in religion. Growing up, my atheist parents … More » from 7th place — 2024 High School Essay Contest: Natalie Mendoza The post 7th place —

Read More Freedom From Religion Foundation Evelyn Dietz, Rollins College – Florida, $400 By Evelyn Dietz As a general rule, religious “Nones” have the potential to protect pressing rights regarding bodily autonomy in the United States, … More » from 9th place — 2024 High School Essay Contest: Evelyn Dietz The post 9th place —

Read More Freedom From Religion Foundation Lyn Sepersky, University of Wisconsin – Wisconsin, $1,500 By Lyn Sepersky I was supposed to feel heard. I was supposed to feel loved. But in the pews of the Catholic Church … More » from 5th place — 2024 High School Essay Contest: Lyn Sepersky The post 5th place —

Read More Freedom From Religion Foundation Ivy Nichols, Colorado State University – Colorado, $1,000 By Ivy Nichols A glance into the values of religious “Nones” reveals the potential of this growing demographic to build a more inclusive, … More » from 6th place — 2024 High School Essay Contest: Ivy Nichols The post 6th place —

Read More Freedom From Religion Foundation Olivia English-Saunders, Michigan State University – Virginia, $1,500 By Olivia English-Saunders I always tried to be religious. In Texas, I grew up watching my friends pull out their pink bibles inscribed … More » from 5th place — 2024 High School Essay Contest: Olivia English-Saunders The post 5th place —

Read More Freedom From Religion Foundation Toby Shu, Georgetown University – Colorado, $2,000 By Toby Shu In March, I cast my first ballot in Colorado, voting in the 2024 presidential primary. And appearing on the ballot … More » from 4th place — 2024 High School Essay Contest: Toby Shu The post 4th place —

Read More Freedom From Religion Foundation Ashkon Shirazi, Brown University – Florida, $2,500 By Ashkon Shirazi My parents raised us without religion; their country had seen too much of it. The secular shah was replaced with … More » from 3rd place — 2024 High School Essay Contest: Ashkon Shirazi The post 3rd place —

Read More Freedom From Religion Foundation Garrett Hartfelder, University of Southern California – California, $3,000 “I’m grateful to have worked within my community to combat fundamentalist overreach, including a successful recall election of two transphobic board … More » from 2nd place — 2024 High School Essay Contest: Garrett Hartfelder The post 2nd place —