National Day of Reason

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National Day of Reason
Observed by United States secular humanists
Date First Thursday in May
2023 date May 4  (2023-05-04)
2024 date May 2  (2024-05-02)
2025 date May 1  (2025-05-01)
2026 date May 7  (2026-05-07)
Frequency annual
Related to <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
File:National Day Of Reason OKC 2003.jpg
A National Day of Reason protest in Oklahoma City

The National Day of Reason is a secular celebration for humanists, atheists, and other secularists and freethinkers in response to the National Day of Prayer, a legal holiday in the United States.[1][2] The day is celebrated on the first Thursday in May of every year, to coincide with the National Day of Prayer, which many atheist and secular groups view to be unconstitutional.[3] The purpose of the National Day of Reason 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."[4] The National Day of Reason is also meant to help build community among the non-religious in the United States.[5][6]

History

The National Day of Reason was created by the American Humanist Association and the Washington Area Secular Humanists in 2003.[7] In addition to serving as a holiday for constitutionalists and secularists, the National Day of Reason was created in response to the perceived unconstitutionality of the National Day of Prayer.[4] According to the organizers of the National Day of Reason, the National Day of Prayer, "violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution because it asks federal, state, and local government entities to set aside tax dollar supported time and space to engage in religious ceremonies".[7]

In 2005, the New York city-based Center for Atheism began to strongly advocate for observers of the National Day of Reason to celebrate in a positive manner.[8] They decided to donate blood as a group in order to make a "public statement about the life-affirming ideas of nonbelievers."[8]

The National Day of Reason has taken some time to gain popularity, however, over time, more local and state governments have been giving the Day of Reason official recognition.[9] In 2011 and 2012, Representative Pete Stark supported a proclamation in support of the National Day of Reason in the United States House of Representatives.[6] For the first time, a resolution to honor the National Day of Reason was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.[10] The resolution, U.S. House Resolution 228, was proposed by Representative Mike Honda on April 29, 2015.[11]

Activities

File:National Day of Reason in Minnesota 3.jpg
Humanists, atheists and agnostics held this event in support of the separation of church and state. and as a protest to the government endorsed National Day of Prayer on May 6, 2010.

Several organizations associated with the National Day of Reason have organized food drives and blood donations, while other groups have called for an end to prayer invocations at city meetings.[12][13][14] Other organizations, such as the Oklahoma Atheists and the Minnesota Atheists, have organized local secular celebrations as alternatives to the National Day of Prayer.[15] Additionally, many individuals affiliated with these atheistic groups choose to protest the National Day of Prayer.[16]

Some politicians have supported the National Day of Reason. In Omaha, Nebraska, Mayor Jean Stothert signed a proclamation supporting the National Day of Reason and urging all citizens to "promote the development and application of reason."[17] City government who affirm the National Day of Prayer have also been asked to consider affirming the National Day of Reason as well.[18]

Notes

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ National Day of Reason Celebrated as an Alternative to National Day of Prayer American Humanist Association Press Release
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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