America's secular voters have finally received official Democratic Party recognition.
The Democratic National Committee just passed a resolution acknowledging the "value, ethical soundness, and importance" of non-religious Americans, reinforcing the untapped political clout of one of the country's fastest-growing constituencies.
"WHEREAS, the religiously unaffiliated demographic has tripled in the last two decades, now representing 25% of the overall American population and 35% of those under the age of 30," begins the resolution in question, eventually calling for the recognition of those "who contribute in innumerable ways to the arts, sciences, medicine, business, law, the military, their communities, the success of the Party and prosperity of the Nation," and who therefore deserve to "be represented, included, and heard by the Party."
On its surface, this would seem to make perfect sense. As mentioned, 'none' is the belief of choice for over one-third of Millennials. And Gen-Z is on track to be even less religious. So it makes sense for Democrats to court their votes. And it seems to be working. The religiously unaffiliated overwhelmingly share Democratic Party values, with 79% supporting same-sex marriage and 61% insisting immigrants make society stronger.
Political Pariahs
Yet, politicians of all stripes have traditionally distanced themselves from non-believers. Often, they're swayed by Evangelical voters with strong political stances on abortion and religious freedoms. Even today, with 70 percent of secular Americans having voted for their party in 2018, there continues to be plenty of Democratic handwringing over whether presidential candidates are doing enough to win over people of faith. Many 2020 hopefuls have even hired faith outreach directors to court the religious vote.
The fact the DNC has now officially declared "morals, values, and patriotism are not unique to any particular religion" is a rather gutsy call, given the current political climate. It's likely that Republicans and Evangelicals will use the resolution as an easy attack on Democrats. Many Americans still view atheists and other 'nones' with extreme caution.
Non-Religious Americans: "Finally"
The Secular Coalition for America, meanwhile, could not be more thrilled.
"America was founded as a secular government charged with representing and protecting the freedoms of people of all faiths and none I am proud to see the Democratic Party take that to heart by bringing secular Americans into the fold," declared Sarah Levin, Director of Governmental Affairs. "Nonbelievers in America have long been unfairly treated as pariahs in the political arena this first-of-a-kind step was long overdue and deeply merited as the religiously unaffiliated community continues to grow its share of the U.S. electorate."
Freethought Equality Fund PAC coordinator Ron Millar is hopeful more humanists and atheists will be encouraged to run for public office, "so that America's lawmaking bodies more accurately reflect the growing number of nonbelievers in our great country."
In this age of falling church attendance and rising Christian nationalism, is it high time Democratic presidential nominees go out on a political limb and start preaching the importance of church/state separation, science, and reason-based policymaking? Or is this just political pandering that will ultimately fizzle out come election time?
21 comments
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hsw
There shouldn't be a religious test to run for public office, but more and more it's been that way.
This won't change closed minds, but it will go on record as a reminder.,
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ET
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Kirk
Even secular Americans can see that all of the democrat candidates are more nuts than Trump. According to the Constitution and all of its amendments, we are all equal. The democrats’ resolution is just more nutty identity politics.
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ET
A rather broad brush comment and conclusion you have made. You made a verbal attack on a party that has stated something you, the Constitution and all of its amendments apparently agree with.
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Catherine Ohrin-Greipp MSW
What does that mean, "nutty identity politics"? Some of the most talented, ethical, empathic and caring folks are running on the Democratic ticket. Too bad the seriously mentally ill, malignant narcissist and sociopath is in our white house. But he will be getting an eviction notice next year.
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Carrie
E Pluribus Unum...We are a nation of hundreds of faiths and non faiths. We ALL deserve fair and unbiased representation. I don't care what faith you profess, keep it to yourself and do your job for the good of the whole. Many things could be accomplished if they would keep it in their hearts and not let it spew from their mouths. Elected officials would do well to remember that the serve at our sufferance and not to line their pockets!!!!
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ET
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Don
"America's fastest-growing religious group."
What about America's fastest-growing hobby - Not Collecting Stamps? Or America's fastest-growing sport - Not Playing Sports?
Calling nonbelievers a religious group is just ignorant.
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Ed
“America’s fastest-growing religious group.” I’m glad to see what I would expect to be a rather liberal slanting biased site admit that being secular, or other aspects of “non-religious” has, in fact, become religious. The “Freedom from Religion” camp, and those that are “anti-religious,” have become as fanatical as any other religious fanatics, launching their own crusades against the religious, especially those that may have any support for Christians.
“ 61% insisting immigrants make society stronger.” See, that shows their ignorance, unable to distinguish the difference between actual immigrants, who come in to contribute, with the desire to become Americans, against illegals, like this old story of a woman *murdering the mother of a 6 day old baby!” http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/06/06/illegal-immigrant-found-guilty-killing-kansas-mom-kidnapping-her-6-day-old-baby.html Which is the kind that we don’t want!
“Many 2020 hopefuls have even hired faith outreach directors to court the religious vote.” So, not only do they know they don’t know anything about religions, and probably don’t care, they have to deceive voters to get their votes, instead of, say doing their actual job, and try and directly learn about the religious. They can’t even say “I don’t know your religion, because I’m human, and have limits. That said, I’m willing to listen to your respective concerns, and do my best to address them.”
“Or is this just political pandering that will ultimately fizzle out come election time?” That would sum it up. Democrats have shown that they’ll panhandle to anyone whom they think will give them votes, from illegals to anti-gunners, including at insult to those in morning after a shooting: https://defconnews.com/2019/05/09/students-walk-out-when-democrats-push-gun-control-at-school-shooting-vigil/
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Russ Hjelm
This is a concept that I wish more of my Christian brethren understood. Nowhere in the Bible does it state that we are to impose our ethics and morals on those who do not believe. This nation, this government, is for ALL the people, and should reflect ALL the people, not just a certain segment of the population.
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ET
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Don
"Nowhere in the Bible does it state that we are to impose our ethics and morals on those who do not believe."
If by "nowhere" you mean in many places, you would be correct, Here are just two:
Numbers 17:20 But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. Luke 19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Now, you were saying?
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Cyndi McReynolds
We're all Americans. 'Nuf said.
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Lionheart
Well, sadly, not all of us are, but I get your gist.
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JT
This [Democratic National Committee resolution] IS A RELIGIOUS STATEMENT [think it's areligious? unreligious? has nothing to do with religion? - think again; agnosticism and atheism ARE religions; just look at ULC's 'About" statement "We have made it our mission to actualize these tenets in the world by empowering millions of ministers, whether they come to us from a Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Catholic, Shinto, Agnostic, Atheist, Pagan, Wiccan, or Druid tradition, to speak their own truth to power" tenet? tradition? That's religion!!; i.e. religion in its broadest sense] - and is (if ever codified) therefore UNCONSTITUTIONAL. There is absolutely no difference between you sycophants on the left and right. Keep up the insanity - all of you :)
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Don
So using your logic, not collecting stamps is a hobby. Do you have any idea how stupid that is?
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G Dobson
Of course it's pandering. It's also recognizing a large and growing section of the population that's been ignored or demonized for years.
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Secretary3rd
Since the IRS has register more than 7,000 Christian denominations it seems that more people can go to any religious place they want. Attending only when they want. Bernie Sanders is a good example of a religious person who only goes to the Temple around election day. Other times he goes back to a secular being.
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angel
Votes are a bit short for the democrats,huh? Give it up, your not going to get enough people to turn this country socialist.
Though I don't follow the Democrat philosophy, I am supportive of a secular freedom of thought government.
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