Secular Coalition Expands Supporters by Thousands
Feb. 13, 2006 - The Secular Coalition for America has two new coalition partners: The Society for Humanistic Judaism and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The Secular Coalition for America is the nation's first lobbying organization that works to increase the visibility and respectability of nontheistic viewpoints in the United States and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all. These two new additions join the other members of the coalition which include the American Humanist Association, Atheist Alliance International, Institute for Humanist Studies, Secular Student Alliance, and Secular Web (Internet Infidels).Organized in 1969, the mission of the Society for Humanistic Judaism is to mobilize people to celebrate Jewish identity and culture consistent with a humanistic philosophy of life. As the central body for the Humanistic Jewish Movement in North America, the Society assists in organizing and supporting congregations and in providing a worldwide voice for its members. The Society gathers and creates educational and programmatic materials (including holiday and life cycle celebrations), sponsors training programs and conferences, and publishes a quarterly topical journal, Humanistic Judaism. This group has approximately 10,000 members and more than 30 congregations located in the major population centers across North America. The Society is connected to Secular Humanistic Jews worldwide through the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews, and to the movement's rabbinic seminary, the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, and Camp Keshet, the summer camp for cultural, secular and Humanistic Jewish children.
Incorporated in 1978, the Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national association of freethinkers (atheists and agnostics) with 6,300 members working to keep church and state separate and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism. The Foundation publishes the newspaper Freethought Today and files lawsuits on violations of separation of state and church, including payment of public funds for religious purposes and government funding of pervasively sectarian institutions. It has taken the lead in challenging the "faith-based initiative."
Having both groups join during the same time period clearly demonstrates the goals of the Secular Coalition for America: respecting individuals' right to celebrate their backgrounds and to enjoy whatever traditions they choose -- while at the same time, steadfastly working to ensure that no religion imposes itself on our government.
Herb Silverman, President of the Secular Coalition for America, expressed his pleasure regarding the expansion of the coalition, "With the additions of the Society for Humanistic Judaism and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, I am thrilled that we now have seven outstanding national organizations from across the nontheistic spectrum. By working together, we hope to publicly promote our perspectives and take them to the political table."
The Secular Coalition for America enthusiastically welcomes these new groups and encourages their thousands of members, and other nontheist Americans, to sign up for the e-alert program and financially support its efforts.
For more information contact Lori Lipman Brown, Director, Secular Coalition for America, by e-mail or at 202-299-1091.