‘Protecting democracy, liberty, progress, justice’

Members of Congress, national secular leaders and advocates gathered July 21 on Capitol Hill to celebrate reason, constitutional democracy and the growing visibility of nonreligious Americans in public life.

“Every year, some of the most reasonable people I know assemble to highlight the essential role that reason plays in protecting democracy, liberty, progress and justice for all,” Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said of the third annual Congressional Reason Reception.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition for America hosted the evening filled with wit and humor.  Several members of Congress and leaders of the secular movement took turns speaking at the dais, with Mary L. Trump, the president’s niece, concluding the event as the keynote speaker. (See her speech beginning on this page).

The reception served as a celebration of reason and joy in public life, a secular alternative to the dour and sanctimonious National Prayer Breakfast as debates over Christian nationalism, religious exemptions and the separation of church and state continue to shape national politics.

“Our country was founded on freedom of religion and church/state separation,” said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., co-chair of the Congressional Freethought Caucus. “No wannabe king or theocratic sycophant hellbent on controlling people through religious extremism will change that. Folks from all walks of faith — or none at all — came together to celebrate something far more American: a government run by reason, freedom of conscience and the Constitution. That’s what the Reason Reception is all about. No matter how hard Christian nationalists fight to overturn democracy and force their extremism on the American people, we will be here defending church/state separation and our fundamental rights.”

The reception also recognized author and journalist Katherine Stewart as the recipient of the Age of Reason Award and National Women’s Law Center Director of Nominations & Democracy Allison Gill as recipient of the Common Sense Award.

The Congressional Reason Reception coincides with the growing strength of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, which now includes 37 members, and reflects a secular movement that continues to gain ground on Capitol Hill.

“This country belongs to all of us, believers and nonbelievers alike, and no one needs to bow their head to belong here,” said FFRF’s Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor.