Freedom of Religion South Africa

Freedom of Religion South Africa
FormationJanuary 2014; 10 years ago (2014-01)
FounderAndrew Selley
Registration no.K2014099286
Legal statusNonprofit organisation
Websitewww.forsa.org.za

Freedom of Religion South Africa (FOR SA) is a South African nonprofit fundamentalist Christian advocacy group. It was founded in 2014 by Andrew Selley, the lead pastor and founder of the Joshua Generation Church, after parents filed a complaint to the South African Human Rights Commission that alleged that Joshua Generation Church advocated for corporal punishment in the home.[1][2] In Freedom of Religion South Africa v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, FOR SA unsuccessfully opposed a ruling by the Johannesburg High Court that deemed corporal punishment to be assault.

FOR SA is dedicated to "upholding the rights to religious freedom conferred by the South African Constitution, including parental rights and the autonomy of religious organisations to determine their own doctrines and regulate their own internal affairs free from interference by the State or anyone else".[3] It has also advocated against the expansion of LGBT rights[4] and opposed the implementation of comprehensive sex education in South African schools on the grounds of religious freedom.[5]

  1. ^ Wallace, Dale (2020). "Resurgent Fundamentalism, Politics, and the Anti-Liberal Agenda: Challenges for South Africa's Constitutional Democracy" (PDF). Journal for the Study of Religion. 33 (1): 15. doi:10.17159/2413-3027. ISSN 2413-3027. S2CID 244552476. Retrieved 2 October 2023. FOR SA is a fundamentalist Bible-based legal advocacy organization...
  2. ^ "Our Story". www.forsa.org.za. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Who We Are". www.forsa.org.za. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  4. ^ Selley, Andrew (13 August 2015). "Zizipho Pae's Case: A Victory in So Many Ways!". www.forsa.org.za. Retrieved 3 October 2023. ...politicians and activists will lose confidence in the brashness of driving gay rights forward and should have a healthier respect for religious freedom...
  5. ^ Mcewen, Haley (10 November 2019). "America's right is lobbying against South Africa's sex education syllabus". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 2 October 2023.