For Immediate Release
Contact:
Sam Gerard, sgerard@americanhumanist.org
(Washington DC, May 4, 2020) – Humanists rejoice in the introduction of House Resolution 947 to recognize May 7, 2020 as a National Day of Reason. The resolution was introduced by Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and cosponsored by fellow Congressional Freethought Caucus members Huffman (D-CA), Holmes Norton (D-DC), and McNerney (D-CA).
The National Day of Reason promotes public awareness of science, logic, and reason. While a National Day of Prayer is recognized annually by a presidential proclamation encouraging Americans to pray, it overlooks the millions of Americans who don’t pray, but wish to recognize and celebrate our shared American values. Today’s resolution offers an inclusive alternate to the National Day of Prayer that Americans of all faiths and philosophies can celebrate.
“With the ongoing pandemic, this resolution comes at a time where science and reason ought to be our guiding lights.” AHA Executive Director Roy Speckhardt asserted. “However, some of our leaders are looking to anything except reason to get us through the pandemic. The resolution introduced by Rep. Raskin bolsters our government’s religiously neutral nature during this pivotal moment in American history.”
The resolution asserts that “irrationality, magical thinking, and superstition have undermined the national effort to combat the COVID–19 pandemic, and reason is fundamental to creating an effective coordinated response to beat the virus involving the Federal Government, the States, and the scientific and medical communities” and “encourages all citizens, residents, and visitors to join in observing this day and focusing on the central importance of reason, critical thought, the scientific method, and free inquiry to resolving social problems and promoting the welfare of humankind.”
Concurrently, humanist communities across the country are introducing National Day of Reason resolutions and proclamations at the state and local levels as well as celebrating the National Day of Reason with a Secular Week of Action.
Speckhardt concluded: “We encourage public servants to bring empathy and sound reasoning to their deliberations and work to protect the freedoms and civil rights of all Americans.”
Learn more about the National Day of Reason here.
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The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
The Center for Freethought Equality is the advocacy arm of the American Humanist Association dedicated to lobbying and political advocacy. The CFE significantly increases humanist activity in key Washington coalitions, and has established a permanent lobbyist on the Hill that fights for issues secular Americans care about like the separation of church and state and protecting civil liberties.
