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Religious Freedom Day proclamation

“Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism or other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good.”

–American Humanist Association

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“Atheism is one thing: A lack of belief in gods … atheism is not a disbelief in gods or a denial of gods; it is a lack of belief in gods.”

–American Atheists

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Mid-Ohio Valley Atheists and Humanists (MOVAH) would like to take the opportunity provided by this (Jan. 16) Religious Freedom Day to remind everyone that our nation is a secular constitutional democratic-republic. In the Preamble, seven Articles and 27 Amendments to our United States Constitution, there is no mention of a deity or of Judeo-Christianity or any other faith tradition. The only times our Constitution mentions religion are in Article VI, Section 3 wherein it states in the second clause “but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States” and in the First Amendment Establishment Clause – “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” – and the Free Exercise Clause – “or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

America is a land where we enjoy both freedom of and freedom from religion. We must not allow practitioners of any one religious belief system or faith tradition to use our government at any level, or the courts, to deprive us of our rights to live by and practice a different religion, or to live with no religion at all. We are all equally American, regardless of creed. Though “In God We Trust” was added to our currency and “under God” added to our pledge in the 1950s, our national motto since our inception remains “E Pluribus Unum – Out of many, one.”

Respectfully submitted,

MOVAH officers and board of directors:

Anthony Underwood, President

Peshka Calloway, VP for Finance and Membership

Eric Engle, VP for Records and Communications

Elaine Opper, Board Member

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