What is your name? (Real or pseudo)

Stephanie Kirmer, aka Mnemosyne9 in chat rooms and stuff.

What is your date of birth?

5/9/84

What is your gender?

Female

What is your race?

White (Welsh and German/Austrian to be exact)

What is your e-mail address? (optional)

mnemosyne9@godisdead.com

What is the name and URL of your homepage? (optional)

Mnemosyne9's Homepage

Where do you live? (City, State, Country)

Topeka, KS, US

How would you best describe your form of freethought? (Atheist, Agnostic, Humanist, etc.)

Atheist, Humanist, Unitarian

Were you raised as a freethinker or to be religious?

Roman Catholic

What originally set you on the path to freethought?

I began to read extensively about the topics of theology and philosophy and really began to think about them, in seventh grade I believe.

When did you "come out" as a freethinker to family/friends/public, and how did it go over?

Well, I had to break it to different people different ways. And it went over just fine with my friends and my mom, but my dad did not lend his support and refused to respect what I had chosen to believe. But I persisted and I gave up contact with him to be able to express what I believe.

Do you feel it necessary to continue to hide your beliefs in any circumstances, and if so, why?

I don't make a point to show everyone my beliefs, but if asked I will not hesitate to tell anyone under any circumstances.

Have you ever been the victim of discrimination or abuse because of your beliefs?

I don't know exactly if this counts as discrimination, but I did a lot of volunteer service, and there is a program at my school that gives out awards for that type of thing. (It's a Catholic school.) And I was the recipient of one of these awards last year. The only person who did more service than me was a junior who did 300 hours to my 257. But at the end of the year, when they were giving out the awards for service for each grade, I didn't get picked. And I think it was because on the form you filled out as to "What did your service mean to you?" I answered the question, "How did jesus affect your service?" with essentially, "He didn't. A guy who's been dead for 2000 years give or take had not a thing to do with my service hours. I'm a humanist, and that's why I did it." So I believe that the reason I didn't get the award at the end of the year was because I am a humanist and an atheist, and not a Christian. But I can't prove it and I didn't look into it for fear of repercussion or getting in trouble, so I don't know if it really was or not. but that's what it looked like to me.

In what types of freethought activism, if any, do you participate?

I'm a member of the Youth Freethinkers Alliance and I am on several mailing lists and discussion groups on the topic.

What do you feel is the best part of being a freethinker?

Everything except the misunderstanding and anger from some people...except for that I love being a freethinker and wouldn't give it up for anything.

What do you feel is the worst part of being a freethinker?

A lot of people don't understand what a freethinker is and get defensive and angry towards us.

What is the societal atmosphere for freethinkers where you live?

"Claustrophobic" best describes it I think. This town is quite conservative.

How do you define "freedom of religion" and do you think your country attempts to grant this?

I believe that freedom of religion includes the government playing no favorites and neither advocating nor sabotaging the practice of any religion. And I think the government tries to do this, but the conservative Christian right makes it hard.

If you could share one thought with whoever might read this profile of you, what would it be?

Well, I'd say that no one thought could really cover me so you can go to the page on my website with all my favorite quotes, and that should suffice.

But if you must have a thought, "Dare to think for yourself."