Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc.
Vol. 43 No. 08 October 2026
FFRF Lifetime Member Margaret Downey, who is president of the Thomas Paine Memorial Association working to erect a monument to Paine in Washington, D.C., is pictured giving SNL alum, comedian (“Letting Go of God”) and actress Julia Sweeney a Paine bobblehead in appreciation of Julia’s volunteer work for the association. You can purchase your own Paine bobblehead (complete with a beautiful keepsake box) from FFRF. All proceeds will go to the Paine association to aid in the long overdue memorial in D.C. for this forgotten Founder, intellectual revolutionary, American Revolution pamphleteer and visionary and author of “The Age of Reason.” Check out ffrf.org/shop under “Gifts & Accessories.”
Lifetime Members David and Susan Lofvers posed for this photo outside the decorated-for-Halloween Chaffee Art Center in Rutland, Vt. “One of these tombstones in particular resonated with us [despite the misspelled ‘atheist’] and might be relatable to readers of FFRF,” they wrote.
FFRF Member Greg Uhl shows off a few books he purchased for his “Little Free Library seeding spree.” The books he has donated to the little libraries included some of the books in the “Stardust” series by Bailey Harris. Greg is the nephew of the late Diane and Stephen Uhl, major FFRF benefactors.
FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott has a little fun standing behind the “A Masterpiece of Evolution” photo op during a Minnesota Atheists Meetup in Bloomington, Minn., on Aug. 23. The event was titled, “Apostate’s Picnic,” and included a “debaptism ceremony” performed by Secular Celebrant Steve Adams. Patrick spoke to the group about FFRF’s most recent legal actions and his personal journey to atheism.
Photo by Patrick Horst
FFRF Attorney Chris Line speaks at the Kentucky Freethought Convention in Lexington, Ky., on Sept. 12. His presentation, “The Christian Nationalist Playbook: How We Defend Our Freedoms and Win,” examined the Christian nationalist movement and FFRF’s ongoing work to defend the separation of state and church.
FRF Action Fund attorneys Chris Line and Ryan Jayne traveled to Oklahoma City, where they tabled at the Oklahoma State School Boards Association’s Education Leadership Conference.
