National Day of Reason

National Day of Reason
National Day of Reason
Observed by United States secular humanists
Date First Thursday in May
2010 date May 6
2011 date May 5
2012 date May 3
Related to National Day of Prayer
A National Day of Reason protest in Oklahoma City

The National Day of Reason is an unofficial secular celebration created by the American Humanist Association and the Washington Area Secular Humanists for humanists, atheists, and other secularists and freethinkers in response to the official National Day of Prayer of the United States.[1][2] The day is celebrated on the first Thursday in May every year, to coincide with the National Day of Prayer. In 2008 it fell on April 1, the 75th anniversary of the first Humanist Manifesto.

Some organizations associated with the NDR have organized blood donations.[3] The Tampa group has called for an end to prayer invocations at city meetings.[4] Other local groups, such as the Oklahoma Atheists and the Minnesota Atheists have organized secular celebrations as alternatives to the National Day of Prayer,[5] while many affiliated with these atheistic groups choose to protest the official National Day of Prayer.[6]

Notes

  1. ^ Lucy Madison (May 5, 2011). "National Day of Prayer sparks celebrations, protests". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20060126-503544.html. Retrieved May 7, 2011. 
  2. ^ National Day of Reason Celebrated as an Alternative to National Day of Prayer American Humanist Association Press Release
  3. ^ Center For Positive Atheism
  4. ^ Janet Zinc (May 06, 2010). "On National Day of Prayer, atheists renew call to end invocations at Tampa city meetings". St. Petersburg Times. http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/on-national-day-of-prayer-atheists-renew-call-to-end-invocations-at-tampa/1093064. Retrieved May 7, 2011. 
  5. ^ Minnesota Atheists Day of Reason
  6. ^ National Day of Reason

External links