The National Day of Reason is a celebration of critical thought, scientific integrity, and free inquiry.
To tackle the complex and evolving challenges humans face in the 21st century, it is essential that modern solutions champion reason and scientific research. In advancement of these ideals, Congressional Freethought Caucus co-chairs Congressman Jamie Raskin and Congressman Jared Huffman introduced a resolution in the House to designate May 4, 2022 as a National Day of Reason.
This resolution celebrates the important roles played by reason and critical thought in our nation’s founding, social evolutions, and its continued and necessary improvement. And at a time when White Christian Nationalists are gaining a terrifying amount of momentum in government, bills like this one help us correct the narrative: our nation was founded on definitively secular values.
Alongside designating May 4 as a Day of Reason and calling for reason-based approaches to combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the resolution also addresses climate change and highlights that America’s 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."
The resolution concludes by encouraging “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.”
The National Day of Reason will anchor a Secular Week of Action, focused on creating and carrying out compassionate and evidence-based responses to homelessness. You can learn more about the Week of Action here.
