Son of Late Former President Ronald Reagan: I’m ‘Not Afraid of Burning in Hell’
MADISON, Wis. – The son of late former president
Ronald Reagan has recorded a radio advertisement in promotion of a
prominent atheist activist organization, in which he states that he is
“not afraid of burning in Hell.”
Ron Reagan says that he stopped attending church at twelve years old
and has long been regarded as an atheist. Recently, he recorded a radio
advertisement for the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), which has
been airing this month on the Randi Rhodes Show.
“I’m Ron Reagan, an unabashed atheist, and I’m alarmed by the intrusions of religion into our secular government,” he states. “That’s why I’m asking you to join the Freedom From Religion Foundation—the nation’s largest and most effective organization of atheists and agnostics, working to keep state and church separate.”
“Ron Reagan, lifelong atheist, not afraid of burning in hell,” Reagan concludes in the advertisement.
Reagan had been awarded the “Emperor Has No Clothes” award by FFRF in 2009, and is stated to be an honorary director of the organization.
“I imagine some of you have really dark nights of the soul, a lot of theological study. You really went to the mat with this kind of stuff. I feel like an interloper or something,” he stated during his acceptance speech. “At age 8 or whatever, I went: ‘Ah, this isn’t making any sense to me—forget it,’ and didn’t really give it all that much more thought, frankly.”
He then proceeded to explain that he grew up in religious family and attended a Presbyterian church for a time, but announced to his father as a child that he did not wish to go anymore.
“Dad was clearly taken aback, I mean, this was a bit of a stunner to him,” Reagan stated. “But to his credit, he did not try to force me … but he would try quiet persuasion. And in fact, that’s what he did, at some length.”
The FFRF praised Reagan for recording the advertisement in support of the organization.
“We’re so grateful to Ron Reagan for recording this commercial for FFRF, and for being willing to speak out publicly as an atheist for so many years,” said co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor.
However, others have expressed disappointment with Reagan’s views.
“The apple fell very far from the tree,” one commenter stated. “Hey Ron—they call it ‘eternal torment’ because it goes on for eternity. A long time indeed.”
“This is what an atheist looks like. So sad,” another wrote. “Our God creates this beautiful universe, He sent His Son to save us; He loves us so much. … [Ron's atheism] is a great American tragedy. This religion known as atheism attracts the sad; lost humans who have the horrible sin of pride that rules them.”
“I’m Ron Reagan, an unabashed atheist, and I’m alarmed by the intrusions of religion into our secular government,” he states. “That’s why I’m asking you to join the Freedom From Religion Foundation—the nation’s largest and most effective organization of atheists and agnostics, working to keep state and church separate.”
“Ron Reagan, lifelong atheist, not afraid of burning in hell,” Reagan concludes in the advertisement.
Reagan had been awarded the “Emperor Has No Clothes” award by FFRF in 2009, and is stated to be an honorary director of the organization.
“I imagine some of you have really dark nights of the soul, a lot of theological study. You really went to the mat with this kind of stuff. I feel like an interloper or something,” he stated during his acceptance speech. “At age 8 or whatever, I went: ‘Ah, this isn’t making any sense to me—forget it,’ and didn’t really give it all that much more thought, frankly.”
He then proceeded to explain that he grew up in religious family and attended a Presbyterian church for a time, but announced to his father as a child that he did not wish to go anymore.
“Dad was clearly taken aback, I mean, this was a bit of a stunner to him,” Reagan stated. “But to his credit, he did not try to force me … but he would try quiet persuasion. And in fact, that’s what he did, at some length.”
The FFRF praised Reagan for recording the advertisement in support of the organization.
“We’re so grateful to Ron Reagan for recording this commercial for FFRF, and for being willing to speak out publicly as an atheist for so many years,” said co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor.
However, others have expressed disappointment with Reagan’s views.
“The apple fell very far from the tree,” one commenter stated. “Hey Ron—they call it ‘eternal torment’ because it goes on for eternity. A long time indeed.”
“This is what an atheist looks like. So sad,” another wrote. “Our God creates this beautiful universe, He sent His Son to save us; He loves us so much. … [Ron's atheism] is a great American tragedy. This religion known as atheism attracts the sad; lost humans who have the horrible sin of pride that rules them.”
