Press Release

May 3, 2006

For Immediate Release - Contact: Roy Speckhardt (202) 238-9088
rspeckhardt@americanhumanist.org - www.americanhumanist.org

(Washington, DC) Humanists see the National Day of Prayer as a dividing
intrusion instead of a chance to seek commonality. While many predominantly
Christian groups will push tomorrow as a day of universal prayer, the
American Humanist Association and other Freethought groups around the
country will instead celebrate the non-divisive National Day of Reason.

AHA executive director Roy Speckhardt said, “Our elected officials aren’t
being true to their oath of office when they promote divisive political
props like national prayer. Our secular government has no business calling
on people to express their beliefs in one way over another.”

Millions of Americans don’t see prayer as an answer to any question,
especially now, after the American Heart Journal published the damning
results of the most scientifically rigorous study of the efficacy of prayer
to date. Millions more Americans who retain faith in prayer see it as a
private matter and are offended by politicians’ attempts to hijack their
deeply held religious beliefs to boost their poll numbers.

“But all Americans, regardless of their worldview, can join us in
celebrating a National Day of Reason,” said AHA president Mel Lipman.
“Reason is commonly recognized as a sound basis for decision making.
Scientific reasoning explains much of human progress and potential, and no
one, religious or not, wishes to be unreasonable.”

Simultaneous National Day of Reason (www.nationaldayofreason.org) events are taking place in locations across the country. Over 80 national and local
groups along with hundreds of individuals from 46 states and the District of
Columbia have endorsed the National Day of Reason.

Lipman concluded, “Not only does the National Day of Prayer inappropriately
promote belief over nonbelief, it sets an unnecessary standard for how
religious people should behave. That’s why we invite everyone to participate
in the universal alternative offered by the National Day of Reason.”

Founded in 1941, the American Humanist Association is the oldest and largest Humanist organization in the nation with over 100 local affiliates. The AHA is dedicated to ensuring a voice for those with a positive nontheistic outlook, based on reason and experience, which embraces all of humanity. .