Brief History Of The FHA
1983
The Foundation for Humanity’s Adulthood (FHA) is founded
The FHA was founded in 1983 as the Centre For Humanity’s Adulthood (CFHA) by Australian biologist Jeremy Griffith to develop and promote understanding of the human condition. Jeremy’s writing on the human condition, which began in 1967 during his six year search for the Thylacine or ‘Tasmanian Tiger’, grew from his desire to reconcile ideality and reality. See Jeremy’s biography.
Submission by Jeremy Griffith to ‘Nature’ and ‘New Scientist’ Journals
Jeremy Griffith
Dec 1987
In 1983, Jeremy Griffith traveled to London to personally submit to Nature and New Scientist journals a ‘Summary’ of a book which in 1988 became published as Free: The End of The Human Condition.
1988
The CFHA publishes Free: The End of The Human Condition
Jeremy Griffith’s first book presents in detail the first principle biology underpinning his explanation of the human condition.
Media release: ‘This book will attract a great deal of interest and controversy.’
1990
Tim Macartney-Snape summits Everest with the Key Aloft
Tim Macartney-Snape holds the FHA's flag aloft on the summit of Mount Everest.
In May 1990, Tim Macartney-Snape completed his second successful ascent of Mount Everest solo and without oxygen in his famous ‘Sea to Summit’ expedition carrying with him the CFHA’s key aloft flag. Starting at sea level from the Bay of Bengal, Tim became the first person to climb the entire 8874 metres of the world’s highest mountain. See Tim’s biography.
The FHA is incorporated
At the initiative of a number of Sydney lawyers the FHA was incorporated in May 1990 as a company limited by guarantee in order to better develop and promote understanding of the human condition, and in particular the work of Jeremy Griffith. Significantly, three of the FHA’s founding directors, Jeremy, Tim Macartney-Snape and Chris Stephen together with Jeremy’s brother Simon Griffith (appointed as a director in 1992) all attended Geelong Grammar School. The incorporation of the FHA paved the way for it to become a registered charity in 1991.
1991
The FHA publishes Beyond The Human Condition
Jeremy Griffith & Tim Macartney-Snape at the launch
of Beyond with Ron & Ann Reynolds of Millenium
Books, the book's ditributors.
Launched at the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney in November 1991, Jeremy Griffith’s second book Beyond the Human Condition elaborates on the biology in his first book Free, and examines subjects such as science and religion, politics and psychiatry.
Media release: ‘Introducing a biological idea as revolutionary and potentially controversial as Charles Darwin’s…’
Commendations for Beyond were given from arguably the five most eminent scientists in the world working in opening up the holistic scientific paradigm (including two winners of the prestigious Templeton Prize).
1992
Professor John Morton launches Beyond in New Zealand
Emeritus Professor of Zoology and theologian John Morton, launched Beyond on 10 June 1992 at Auckland University. See Morton’s commendation.
The Kenya Museum Society launches Beyond
Beyond was launched at the National Museum of Kenya, in the Louis Leakey auditorium on 29 Sept 1992. Jeremy Griffith was invited to visit a number of primate field studies in Kenya and Burundi.
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Photos from Jeremy Griffith and his partner Annie Williams' 1992 trip to Africa. Above Right: Jeremy with Louis Leakey's memorial statue outside the Kenyan Museum prior to him giving his launch presentation. Below L to R : Jeremy with Dr Shirley Strum's Chololo Ranch Baboon Project study group in Kenya - Jeremy with Dr Susanne Abildgaard and common chimp at Jane Goodall's Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Centre in Burundi - Jeremy with the Susa Mountain Gorilla study group in Rwanda. Jeremy met with the carer of this troup, Dr Elizabeth Macfie, veterinarian for Dian Fossey's Karisoke Gorilla Research Centre - Jeremy and Annie in Samburu National Park in Kenya.
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1993
Jeremy Griffith and Tim Macartney-Snape meet Sir Laurens van der Post
Jeremy Griffith & Tim Macartney-Snape with the late
Sir Laurens van der
Post
In April 1993, Jeremy Griffith and Tim Macartney-Snape met with renowned author and philosopher Sir Laurens van der Post and his wife Ingaret Giffard at their home in London, prior to Tim's address to the Royal Geographical Society. Sir Laurens is one of the great inspirations for Jeremy's work and after their time together Sir Laurens wrote to Jeremy saying, "Ingaret and I were very moved by your letter of 2nd May, the thought of us which you carried to Australia and gratitude for the visit for which the two of you took time off in a very busy schedule in England...I would hope you will always know how we value the examples you set and the work you are doing in Australia".
Professor Charles Birch addresses FHA Open Day
Emeritus Professor of Biology Charles Birch addressed a large gathering of FHA members, interested parties, parents and friends at the FHA’s Open Day in Sydney. Professor Birch said, that there were ‘two huge themes’ in Jeremy Griffith’s books; the first being ‘the nature of the world’, and the second being ‘the nature of human nature’. He went on to explain that ‘science can’t deal with subjectivity’, and that subjectivity ‘is something that is very difficult to get your teeth into and yet it is the most important thing in the world’. See Birch’s commendation.
1991–
1995
Interest & support develops amongst university students
Following the launch of Beyond in 1991 and the subsequent media interest, reviews and commendations, interest in Jeremy Griffith’s work grew in academic and scientific circles. The FHA also attracted a new body of interest and support from a diverse range of people including university students from campuses in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and country New South Wales.
Jeremy Griffith, Tim Macartney-Snape and other FHA members were invited to speak about the FHA’s ideas in Universities and other intellectual and philosophical forums across Australia. Workshops, discussion forums and outdoor camps were also held to foster interest in and discussion of the ‘human condition’.
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1995
ABC-TV Four Corners approach the FHA
In April 1995, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) broadcast the Four Corners program ‘Prophet of Oz’ concerning the FHA, Jeremy Griffith and Tim Macartney-Snape. The program was produced by Reverend Dr David Millikan of the Uniting Church, who also wrote a full page article about the FHA in the Sydney Morning Herald titled ‘Prophet of the Posh’.
The FHA became aware of the defamatory nature of the program prior to it going to air and sent more than a dozen substantial letters of complaint and appeal to the ABC prior to the broadcast including a half-page press advertisement ‘open letter’ in The Australian newspaper to ABC managing director, Mr Brian Johns. Parents of university students who were interested in the FHA’s ideas also sent a joint letter of complaint to Brian Johns.
Following Four Corners, the FHA made numerous complaints, appeals and protests to the ABC—all to no avail. Having been dismissed by the ABC, the FHA distributed thousands of publications and held open days and public lectures to try and overcome the negative effects of the program.
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John Biggs introduces Jeremy Griffith’s public talk
on ‘Evolutionary Psychology, and its limitation, The Human
Condition’ |
1996
Complaint to the Independent Complaints Review Panel
In May 1996, the FHA complained to the ABC’s Independent Complaints Review Panel. The ICRP accepted the complaint but the FHA decided to withdraw it due to the ICRP’s condition that the FHA relinquish its legal rights to take subsequent action against the ABC.
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Complaint to the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA)
In August 1996, the FHA submitted a 900-page complaint concerning the ABC Four Corners program to the ABA—Australia’s media watchdog.
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1998
Ruling by ABA for breach of Code
In February 1998, the ABA handed down a ruling which found Four Corners ‘inaccurate, unbalanced and partial’. The ‘ABA concluded that the program was not balanced in its presentation of the experience of parents of Foundation members. The ABA also concluded that the program was inaccurate in its representation of Mr Griffith and inaccurate and lacked balance in its representation of Mr Tim Macartney-Snape’.
Tim Macartney-Snape, Annie Williams, John Biggs, Sam Belfield, Jeremy Griffith
and Annabelle West working on a document at the FHA.
The ABA censures Four Corners
The ABA ruling received publicity in The Australian newspaper (reproduced below) and feature articles on the FHA appeared in both The Bulletin magazine (21 April 1998) and The Weekend Australian (9 May 1998).
THE AUSTRALIAN Friday March 6 1998 — 4
1998
The Bulletin Profile of Jeremy Griffith and the FHA
In April 1998, The Bulletin (a national weekly magazine in Australia incorporating Newsweek) ran a two page feature story by Lenore Nicklin about Jeremy Griffith and the Foundation for Humanity's Adulthood.
The Australian Magazine Profile of Tim Macartney-Snape
In July 1998, The Australian newspaper’s weekend magazine featured a seven-page feature article by Jill Rowbotham about Tim Macartney-Snape, his involvement with the FHA and the ABA’s ruling.
The ABA: ‘Appropriate for ABC to apologise’
In July 1998, the ABA took the unprecedented step of advising the ABC it would be appropriate to apologise to the FHA in light of the ABA ruling. Despite not exercising its right to challenge the ruling, the ABC refused to apologise. As a result the FHA was left with no alternative other than to consider taking defamation action against the ABC and Fairfax.
Professor Charles Birch launches the FHA’s website
World leading biologist Professor Charles Birch, winner of the Templeton Prize and described as ‘Australia’s leading thinker on the issue of science and God’, launched the FHA’s website at the Australian Museum in Sydney in October 1998. Professor Birch opened his address saying ‘The FHA has had a positive and creative influence on many’.
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Professor Charles Birch says the ABC should ‘apologise for its mistake’
Professor Birch wrote to the ABA saying, ‘I consider it would be the only right thing for the ABC to admit the bias of the Four Corners program and to apologise for its mistake.’
1999
FHA establishes the University of Denial-Free Studies
The University of Denial-Free Studies was established to offer courses for people to study the understanding of the human condition that is now available, and learn how those understandings ameliorate the human condition.
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1999
Inside Sport Profile of Tim Macartney-Snape 
The June 1999 edition of Inside Sport magazine published a six-page profile on Tim Macartney-Snape. This article documents Tim’s legendary stature as one of the most talented and accomplished mountaineers the world has seen. Mountaineering requires the highest levels of courage, perseverance and endurance and this article also documents how Tim’s defence of the FHA has demanded all his proven qualities of character.
Macartney-Snape: ‘one of this century’s greatest Australians’
On 28 August 1999, The Australian newspaper—as further testament to Tim Macartney-Snape’s stature—recognised Tim as one of this century’s greatest Australians. In a special colour magazine titled 'This Living Century' Tim was listed with nine other Australian Adventurers—including Douglas Mawson and Charles Kingsford Smith—as 'People who shaped our Nation'.
‘Macartney-Snape once wrote that adventure, as one form of the search to understand the truth, should be vigorously defended.’
2000
Millennium Message: Tim Macartney-Snape
Tim Macartney-Snape was invited by the City of Melbourne to contribute a ‘millennium message’ for the year 2000 celebrations in Melbourne. In May 2000 the City of Melbourne released a book, Melbourne Millennium Messages 2000, containing a selection of 50 of the messages received from ‘over 500 leaders’ who responded. Tim’s message, which follows, was one of the 50 chosen :
‘Ours is an ancient land but we are young at heart.
Let’s use our youthful strength to champion free thinking
and through that bring liberating understanding to the
human condition. Only then can there truly be a better
life for all.’ Tim Macartney-Snape, Adventurer
Jeremy Griffith & Tim Macartney-Snape meet Australian Prime Minister John Howard
Jeremy Griffith and Tim Macartney-Snape were invited to Parliament House, Canberra, to attend the launch of PR company Jackson Wells Morris by Australian Prime Minister John Howard on 3 April 2000. After Mr Howard’s speech Jeremy and Tim met the Prime Minister and discussed the difficulty of a right wing government in a left wing media climate.
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Richard Biggs & Anthony Landahl discussing the human condition at a bush camp |
2001
Defamation action commenced against ABC and Fairfax
After several years preparing for the litigation, in April 2001, two sets of proceedings were commenced in the Supreme Court of New South Wales seeking redress—one against the ABC and another against John Fairfax Publications, publisher of the Sydney Morning Herald.
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2003
‘ABC loses defamation case’
In May 2003, a Supreme Court jury found Jeremy Griffith was defamed by the national broadcast’s portrayal of him as having no support from the scientific community. The jury also found that Tim Macartney-Snape was defamed by the Four Corners program’s depiction of him as being deceitful and misusing his influence.
ABC loses defamation case
30 May 03
A NSW Supreme Court jury today found ABC's Four Corners program defamed a well-known mountaineer by implying he used his influence to recruit students to an alleged cult.
A jury of three men and a woman found an ABC Four Corners program aired on April 24, 1995, defamed mountaineer Tim Macartney-Snape by implying he abused his position of influence to recruit students to the ideas of his friend, Jeremy Griffith.
Mr Macartney-Snape and Mr Griffith are co-directors of an organisation called Foundation for Humanity's Adulthood (FHA).
During the trial, the court heard Mr Griffith was a biologist who had written a book about the human condition that sparked the formation of the FHA.
The jury also found the Four Corners program defamed Mr Macartney-Snape by implying he deceived schools which invited him to talk about Mt Everest by exploiting the occasion to promote Mr Griffith's ideas.
Mr Griffith was also found to be defamed by Four Corners for implying that his work as a scientist was of such a poor standard that it had no support from the scientific community...
Outside the court, Mr Macartney-Snape said he was relieved with the verdict which he said would help him to restore his reputation.
"I'm extremely relieved. It's been eight years now that I've had to live under a stigma which they unfairly put on us and me," he told AAP.
"It has affected me in many ways, professionally, personally, socially."
Mr Griffith said the verdict was a vindication of his work.
"This vindicates us," he said.
"Science underpins the whole thing and it's on that imputation that we were successful."
Six other members of the organisation were unsuccessful in their action against Four Corners.
Justice David Levine stood the matter over for directions on June 13.
From The Australian newspaper’s website 30/5/2003
Jeremy Griffith’s third book A Species In Denial is launched in Aust & NZ
With a foreword by Professor Charles Birch, A Species In Denial was Jeremy Griffith’s most definitive work to date on the subject of the human condition. Professor John Morton described it as ‘a superb book’. Tim Macartney-Snape officially launched the book at the Australian Museum on 5 June 2003 and the launch was followed by an Australia wide tour by Jeremy and Tim to promote the new book, including lectures at universities. The book was also launched in New Zealand at the same time.
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2004
United Kingdom launch of A Species In Denial
A Species In Denial became a bestseller in Australia and New Zealand where sales are continuing to grow. Following on this success A Species In Denial was launched in the United Kingdom on 18th October 2004.
Human Condition Documentary Proposal
In 2004, FHA Publishing & Communications began sending out a proposal for the making of an impasse-breaking documentary series about the biology of the human condition to leading scientists, philosophers, psychiatrists and documentary makers around the world. To date, the proposal has received commendations from over 100 of the world’s leading scientists and thinkers including physicist Stephen Hawking and Nobel Laureate Charles Townes. It is planned for the proposal to be followed up by an international lecture tour.
2005
NSW Supreme Court jury found that the FHA was defamed by Fairfax
In September 2005, a NSW Supreme Court jury found that the FHA was defamed in a 1995 article published in The Sydney Morning Herald.
See the Resistance section of this website for more information.
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2006
The Essay — The Great Exodus: From the horror and darkness of the human condition
Jeremy Griffith was invited, among other scientists and thinkers, to submit an essay to be included in a book about ways to live a meaningful life. This is the essay Jeremy submitted which was published in Living a Life of Value in America in mid-2006.
The Book — The Great Exodus: From the horror and darkness of the
human condition
With a foreword by Professor Harry Prosen, former President of the Canadian Psychiatric Association, Jeremy Griffith’s fourth book The Great Exodus contains both an expansion of the biology of the human condition that is presented in The Human Condition Documentary Proposal and an expansion of The Great Exodus essay.
2007
In March 2007, a trial began in the Supreme Court of New South Wales to determine defences and damages following the jury’s 2003 finding that the ABC defamed Jeremy Griffith and Tim Macartney-Snape in the 1995 Four Corners program. An initial four and half weeks in Court before Justice David Kirby in March and April was followed by a further two weeks of hearings finishing in early July.
After 30 hearing days completed, the evidence in the case was closed in July. Written submissions were filed in the following months. Justice Kirby heard oral submissions in the first week of December and the matter is reserved for judgment. It is hoped that the Court will be able to deliver judgement some time during 2008.
See The FHA Blog for the latest news and updates about the trial.
A Case Overview & History of the court case is also available.