National Day of Reason

Each year the NDoR is the first Thursday of May. This year that is today. May The Fourth Be With You!
Humanists Commend National Day of Reason Resolution Introduced in the US House (Washington, DC, May 2, 2023) , Congressional Freethought Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Raskin and Huffman, introduced a resolution to recognize May 4, 2023 as a “National Day of Reason.”
The National Day of Reason celebrates science, logic, and reason as guiding principles of our secular democracy, and promotes greater awareness of the constitutional separation of religion and government. The resolution “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.”
Nicole Carr, of the American Humanist Association (AHA), said, “The celebration of reason as a guiding tenet of our democracy is important to humanists across the country, especially as true religious freedom is coming increasingly under threat.”
Humanist around the country will celebrate the National Day of Reason as part of a nationwide Secular Week of Action, an opportunity to make positive change in their communities through volunteerism. Those interested in demonstrating their support for a National Day of Reason are encouraged to visit nationaldayofreason.org "We stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies in Congress in support of science, reason, and democracy,” said Lily Bolourian, Legal and Policy Director
Learn more about the National Day of Reason at nationaldayofreason.org. 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 (CFE) 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.
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In 2010 Federal Judge Barbara C. Crabb reasoned that Congress could no more enact a prayer statute “than the government may encourage citizens to fast during the month of Ramadan, attend a synagogue, purify themselves in a sweat lodge or practice rune magic.”
The National Day of Reason resolution is an attempt to repair the constitutional damage.
The resolution reads:
Whereas the application of reason has been the essential precondition for humanity’s extraordinary scientific, medical, technological, and social progress since before the founding of our country;
Whereas reason provides vital hope today for confronting the environmental crises of our day, including the civilizational emergency of climate change, and for cultivating the rule of law, democratic institutions, justice, and peace among nations;
Whereas the United States founders insisted upon the primacy of reason and knowledge in public life, and drafted the Constitution to prevent official establishment of religion and to protect freedom of thought, speech, and inquiry in civil society;
Whereas James Madison, author of the First Amendment and fourth President of the United States, stated ‘‘the advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty’’, and ‘‘knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives’’; and
Whereas, May 4, 2023, would be an appropriate date to designate as a ‘‘National Day of Reason’’: Now, therefore, be it resolved that the House of Representatives— (1) supports the designation of a ‘‘National Day of Reason’’; and (2) 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.
Other sponsors include Reps. Julia Brownley, Pramila Jayapal, Hank Johnson, Eleanor Holmes Norton and Mark Pocan. “We are grateful to Rep. Huffman, Rep. Raskin and other co-sponsors for working so that reason and our secular Constitution will prevail,” comments FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor.