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D.L. Dykes Foundation
CONTACT THE DYKES FOUNDATION
www.faithandreason.org
1-800-882-7424
info@faithandreason.org
ABOUT THE DYKES FOUNDATION
The D.L. Dykes, Jr. Foundation was established in 1986 to support, expand and disseminate the thoughts and ideas of Reverend D.L. Dykes, Jr., a United Methodist minister and teacher. Its founder, the late R. Z. Biedenharn, was a businessman, philanthropist, and student of theology who believed that D.L. Dykes’ religious insight and approach could “change the minds and hearts of people.”
R. Z. Biedenharn and D.L. Dykes, Jr. were lifelong friends who believed that religious faith without solid, critical thinking is a dangerous and destructive thing. Paraphrasing Socrates, D.L. Dykes often said, “The unexamined faith is not worth believing.” The two friends loathed the manipulations of television evangelism and the seeds of literalism and fundamentalism, which it sows across America and around the world. They wanted to spread a new awareness of religion and spirituality that would liberate and challenge people.
The two friends imagined a public forum in which faith and reason could be brought together in constructive dialogue.
ACTIVITIES OF THE DYKES FOUNDATION
Since its founding, the Dykes Foundation has sought to preserve and disseminate the thought and teaching of the Reverend. D. L. Dykes, Jr., a United Methodist minister for more than forty years and for whom the Foundation was named. In addition we have tried to encourage and showcase the work of other clergy, scholars and writers whose own ideas and work seem to expand and evolve.
Reverend Dykes’ work. In so doing, we have continued the operations and activities below:
Preserving the D. L. Dykes, Jr. Sermon Library and making video, audio and transcriptions available through a catalogue and on this web site;
Producing television and video such as a television broadcast series of 52 half hour programs called the FAITHandReason® Series which aired in the late 90s over The Odyssey and Hallmark Channels. Individual programs continue to air across the nation in various markets;
We encourage and support thoughtful discussion in churches, universities, the web and other appropriate settings.
We make our resources available to the general public in order to promote thoughtful reflection.
We give the public the information they need to form their own conclusions.
We are building a community by promoting critical thinking.
The D. L. Dykes, Jr. Foundation is a 501.c3 Operating Foundation headquartered in downtown Jackson, Mississippi.
