Click here to vote on our Facebook Page for the three most effective slogans for the National Day of Reason 2014. Winning slogans will be handwritten on local signs, used all over social media, printed on banners, and more. Which ones best help explain our reaction to National Day of Prayer in a positive, unified way? Polling will remain open until July 17, 2014, so don’t delay — vote for your top three today! Slogans added in the comments will also be considered.

Click to visit the National Day of Reason on Facebook & vote!

Secular Coaltion for Rhode Island
rhodeisland@secular.org
Contact: Christine Eldridge 401-484-0147

May 14, 2013

PRESS RELEASE: Humanists of Rhode Island and The Secular Coalition for Rhode Island Co-Sponsor Request to Governor Chafee to Issue Proclamation for a Day of Reason

The Humanists of RI and The Secular Coalition for RI are pleased to announce pursuant to their request, that on April 30, 2013 Governor Lincoln D. Chafee issued a State of Rhode Island Gubernatorial Proclamation officially declaring May 2 the Day of Reason in Rhode Island. In doing this, Governor Chafee helps raise awareness throughout the State of Rhode Island of the importance of Reason as a guiding principal of our secular democracy. (See signed Proclamation below.)

Humanists of RI and the Secular Coaltion of RI join with The National Day of Reason, a consortium of leaders from within the community of reason endorsing the idea of a National Day of Reason. This observance is held in parallel with the National Day of Prayer, on the first Thursday in May each year. The goal of this effort is to celebrate reason—a concept all Americans can support—and to raise public awareness about the persistent threat to religious liberty posed by government intrusion into the private sphere of worship.

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity. Humanists of Rhode Island are dedicated to good works and service projects that will best demonstrate our ideals.

The Secular Coalition for Rhode Island and the Secular Coalition for America share the common mission to increase the visibility of and respect for nontheistic viewpoints in the United States, and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all.

Humanist of Rhode Island website
Humanist of Rhode Island on Facebook
Secular Coalition for Rhode Island on Facebook

This piece written by AHA executive director Roy Speckhardt originally appeared on

Every year on the first Thursday of May a peculiar thing happens: the president and government officials across the nation ask us to pray. Not only do they ask us to pray, they inform us of the value of prayer and how, according to President Obama’s 2012 National Day of Prayer Proclamation, prayer has “always been a part of the American story, and today countless Americans rely on prayer for comfort, direction, and strength.” Of course, it’s not exactly “countless” since we can count millions of Americans that don’t believe in the efficacy of prayer.

This is a particular problem for nonreligious Americans who are civically minded. Just like our religious family and friends, we want to participate in community gatherings and political events and be an accepted contributor to the diverse American tapestry. So we understandably take issue with efforts to say that the American way is the way that excludes us, especially when those efforts are driven by officials we helped elect.

And it’s not just the excluded nonreligious 20 percent of the country who are bothered by the president asking for nationwide prayer. There are also many people of faith that object to government’s intrusion in their private religious practices. After all, we didn’t elect our representatives to give us advice on how and when to pray, and some particularly devout people believe that reserving prayer for a single day demeans its importance.

As if it weren’t bad enough just as a concept, the National Day of Prayer’s execution makes it even worse. This national religious “observance” has been around since the 1950s during the McCarthy Era when we took pains to distinguish ourselves from atheist communist Russia, when Congress and President Truman mandated that it occur every year. It was only relatively recently that it became such a focal point, and credit for that goes to George W. Bush, Shirley Dobson and the National Day of Prayer Taskforce who steered the observance in a decidedly conservative direction that encourages mixing church and state. During Bush’s reign, there were elaborate prayer breakfasts and ceremonies where religious values were praised.

Click here to read the rest of this post on HuffingtonPost.com.

As in previous years, this year’s National Day of Reason coincided with the Congressionally-mandated and federally-supported National Day of Prayer on Thursday, May 2, 2013. The American Humanist Association encourages all who value the separation of religion and government to join us in commemorating this and future Days of Reason, and in building awareness for this important cause.

What can you do to demonstrate your support for a Day of Reason?

• Plan a special event to commemorate the NDR, such as a protest demonstration, special lecture, or social gathering;
• Work to have a Day of Reason proclaimed by your state or local government;
• Hold a press conference for your local media to promote respect for the separation of religion and government, and to draw attention to the many breaches of that principle during recent months;
• Organize a letter-writing campaign urging your elected officials to support the separation of religion and government;
• Visit www.nationaldayofreason.org to sign-up as an endorser, to view planned events, or to read some of the media coverage from previous years.

Let us know about your plans to commemorate the National Day of Reason by sending a message through our Contact Page, or post your photos and ideas on the AHA’s Facebook page.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brian Magee, 202-238-9088 ex 105, bmagee@americanhumanist.org

(Washington, DC, April 30, 2013)—Two members of Congress are offering encouragement to those taking part in National Day of Reason events on May 2, an observance that promoters see as a more inclusive alternative to the religiously focused, government-sponsored National Day of Prayer.

“The National Day of Reason celebrates the application of reason and the positive impact it has had on humanity,” Rep. Michael Honda (CA) declared in the Congressional record. “It is also an opportunity to reaffirm the Constitutional separation of religion and government.”

“I encourage all citizens to join in observing this day and focusing upon the employment of reason, critical thought, the scientific method, and free inquiry to the resolution of human problems for the welfare of humanity,” Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) entered into the Congressional Record.

This support takes on a new meaning this year in light of the recent controversy over the refusal to include secular representation at the official memorial service honoring the victims of the recent Boston bombings. The National Day of Prayer Task Force openly admits that its purpose is to represent “a Judeo Christian expression of the national observance.” Supporters of the National Day of Reason find this practice exclusionary.

“Our elected officials dishonor their office and their constituents when they promote and attend divisive events that tell a growing minority of Americans that they aren’t worthy of full citizenship,” said American Humanist Association Executive Director Roy Speckhardt. “Our secular government has no business endorsing expression of some beliefs while excluding others.”

The National Day of Prayer was created in 1952 by an act of Congress to be held each year on the first Thursday of May. In response to what it regards as an ongoing violation of the First Amendment, the American Humanist Association, together with the Washington Area Secular Humanists, created the National Day of Reason “to celebrate reason—a concept all Americans can support—and to raise public awareness about the persistent threat to religious liberty posed by government intrusion into the private sphere of worship.”

Support by elected officials for the National Day of Reason is nothing new. Former Rep. Pete Stark (CA) issued National Day of Reason proclamations while in office, as have several local and state government officials.

Local groups all over the country hold events on the National Day of Reason in a variety of ways, but all are geared toward raising the visibility of the secular community and to setting an example for how one might effect positive change. Local events in past years have included a day of volunteer work, a charity activity, or lectures and discussions designed to foster rational thought. The National Day of Reason website at NationalDayOfReason.org indicates directions that local groups around the country can or are taking this year.

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The American Humanist Association (www.americanhumanist.org) advocates for the rights and viewpoints of humanists. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., its work is extended through more than 160 local chapters and affiliates across America.

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms our responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity.

Read the proclamation below and read last year’s proclamation here.

Read the text of the proclamation:

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