Essay Prompt, Requirements, Eligibility, and Awards

AWARDS:

William J. Schulz Memorial First Place Prize: $3,500
Second Place Award: $3,000
Third Place Award: $2,500
Fourth Place Award: $2,000
Fifth Place Award: $1,500
Sixth Place Award: $1,000
Seventh Place Award: $750
Eighth Place Award: $500
Ninth Place Award: $400
Tenth Place Award: $300
Optional Honorable Mention(s): $200

All eligible entrants are offered a full one-year complimentary student membership, which includes a digital version of 10 issues of Freethought Today, (FFRF's newspaper, which publishes winning student essays), and a complimentary book or premium.
THIS YEAR'S TOPIC: “. . . .To do good is my religion . . .”

PROMPT: Thomas Paine, our “forgotten Founder,” famously wrote that “to do good is my religion.” Write a first-person essay that asserts why “doing good” is not dependent on religious belief. Explain why you are not religious, and what you think morality should be based on instead of God, holy books or dogma. How would you counter common myths that atheists are immoral or “can’t be good without God.” FOCUS ON ONE ISSUE. If you have examples of how you’ve “done good” to help others, include in your essay.

WORD COUNT: 350-500 words

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