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I have a word for certain Skeptics out there who want to make a fuss over this ministry soliciting financial support.

Get a life!

Ever since Jim Bakker and Oral Roberts made a strain with their machinations, it seems the Skeptics have always felt it some kind of "answer" to point out when a ministry asks people for financial support. That and quoting their mission statement. It's enough to refute the entire site, so don't bother any further.

Well, before you Skeppies get too in the mood, I have something for you. You see, my local library offers me access to a special database called Associations Unlimited. It's a neat tool -- here is a description: "Contains information for approximately 460,000 international and U.S. national, regional, state, and local nonprofit membership organizations in all fields, including IRS data on U.S. 501(c) nonprofit organizations." One of those organizations is one of your favorites -- Dan Barker's Freedom from Religion Foundation.

Uptight about my solicitation, and my asking people to contribute $70-80 per year? Before you get too excited, here are some fun facts about Danny's Place:

• Membership Dues: individual, $40 annual; household, $50 annual. (Ouch -- not quite $80, but they do know the principles, don't they?)
• Staff: 5.
• Budget: $500,000. (Read that one again. That's five zeroes.)
• Missions: Promotes the constitutional principle of separation of state and church; educates the public on matters relating to nontheistic beliefs; combats fundamentalist thought. Opposes payment of public funds for religious purposes, government favoritism toward religious institutions, illegal activities conducted in the name of religious charities, and the religious campaign against women's rights and against civil rights for homosexuals. Has ended prayers in public programs and schools. Has stopped the practice by the U.S. Postal Service of giving cancellations to a Catholic group in violation of the Postal Service's own regulations. (There's more, but I want to know, Skeptics: Can I just quote this "mission statement" like you often do mine, and be entirely rid of Dan's arguments forever?)
• Publications: American Infidel: Robert G. Ingersoll. Book. Price: $15.00/copy. o The Born Again Skeptic's Guide to the Bible. Book. Price: $15.00/copy. o Freethought Today, 10/year. Newspaper. Includes legal cases, features on freethinkers, reports on clergy abuse, philosophical articles, and reports on foundation activities. Price: included in membership dues; $20.00/year for nonmembers. Circulation: 4,400. o Losing Faith in Faith - From Preacher to Atheist. Book. Price: $20.00/copy. o One Woman's Fight. Book. Price: $15.00/copy. o 20th Century Women Freethinkers. Book. o Woe to the Women - The Bible Tells Me So. Book. Price: $10.00. o Women Without Superstition: No Gods - No Masters: The Collected Writings of Women Freethinkers of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Price: $25.00. o The World-Famous Atheist Cookbook. (Hey, wow, they don't use Amazon, but isn't that fascinating. Selling books to raise cash!)

So in short, Skeptics:

• Let's not hear anything about this ministry asking for funds -- not until Dan cuts that budget and starts wearing sackcloth.
• Let's not hear any complaints about being supported through Amazon profits.
• Let's cut the tactic of quoting mission statements, or solicitation statements, as a form of "refutation".

And above all, let's see you take on actual arguments instead. Do we make ourselves clear?

See an offended Skeptic worry about this rather than real issues here.