National Day of Reason

Today is the National Day of Reason. (It's always the same day as "the federally-supported National Day of Prayer, an annual abuse of the constitution", as the NDoR page brilliantly puts it. Don't believe me? Check it out. The NDoP is blatantly Christian, even Protestant. It's not something the government should be behind.)

We join with all people of good will to encourage the application of reason and tolerance in public discourse and to affirm the value of maintaining the separation of church and state. In so doing, we oppose the division of America along religious lines inspired by the National Day of Prayer. The National Day of Reason is intended to be a secular alternative to the federally-proclaimed National Day of Prayer, and shall draw attention to the fact that:

* Reason and the scientific method continue to be used to advance humanity and are worthy of recognition;
* The National Day of Prayer is an exclusionary, government-funded religious observance that violates the First Amendment principle of separation of church and state;
* Overtly and exclusively Christian prayers in government sanctioned events discriminate against those of minority belief systems as well as those without religion;
* Government funding of religious activities, programs, and personnel is unconstitutional, and constitutes an inappropriate use of taxpayers' money.