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Young freethinkers can and should be heard. Michael Campbell invites under-21s to the Young Freethinker blog.

The cliché that ‘young people are the future’ has earned this status for good reason. If the debate between atheists and theists is ever going to progress constructively into the future, it will be done by the current youth of the world. Unfortunately, at present, it can seem like there is a distinctive lack of input from this section of society. Not through any fault of their own I might add. There are plenty of discussions revolving around the topics of education, for example. But how often are the voices of those concerned heard? Not enough in my view.

Out of this perceived injustice comes Young Freethought. A minor platform for under 21’s to circulate their ideas to a wider audience. We have been publishing articles since November last year and with thought-provoking results. Rather than being purely of utility for young freethinkers, the website has attracted the attention of the wider atheistic community – including BHA vice-president Richard Dawkins, who in December, wrote a piece for the blog. Discussing the overbearing presence of religion in our society, Dawkins wrote:

These issues should matter to all of us, but young people are the ones who should care most of all. You will inherit the societies that current governments leave behind. This is your future we are talking about, and the kind of society you want to live in.

If you want – and what decent person wouldn’t? – to live with the best Enlightenment values, live free and tolerant and committed to knowledge and education and reason, then you must speak up and let your voices be heard.

And our voices are beginning to be heard. As a young freethinker myself, I’ve been pleased to see many articles from budding writers and scientists focusing on the future of freethought. Suggestions range from ‘recovering religionist clinics’ to a continuation of rational discourse and public debate. These questions need to be asked in order to be executed and Young Freethought is one of the few places, it seems, where young people can do this.

If you, reading this, are under 21 and feel a passionate polemic lurking inside of you somewhere, Young Freethought is the place for it. Regulated by rationality, such an article is perfect for us. If too, you feel humbled by the scientific or philosophical splendour of our cosmic “mote of dust” we’d like you to write about it. Whilst exposing religious fallacies is a primary aim, let’s not forget that wonderful world we find in front of us. If you’re over 21, I think you’ll be encouragingly surprised at the literate and cogent arguments already advocated. In order for freethought to succeed I hope you’ll agree that places like this are needed.

To borrow a phrase from another BHA member Simon Blackburn, youth is a time for “conceptual engineering”. Young Freethought is a construction site.

Michael Campbell is a student from London and editor of the Young Freethoughtblog.