For good reason, Rhode Island needs a Day of Reason

Difficult decisions require critical thinking. I’m a chemist so I am trained in the methods of scientific thinking, a complex form of rational thought, to design experiments and evaluate data. Conclusions are based on the evidence of what happened — not emotions, not what we want to happen. Scientific thought is responsible for breakthroughs in medicine, farming, green energy, transportation and biotechnology. The list is long. The best decisions we make as a society involve the use of scientific thinking to create evidence-based solutions.

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One of the best decisions for me was to join Rhode Island Atheists in 2023 because I was looking for a community of like-minded people that supports secular ideals. Rhode Island Atheists is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We now have about 200 members and were recently honored as “Best New Affiliate” by American Atheists, a national group that fights to protect the absolute separation of religion from government. Our organization’s primary function is to provide a safe and friendly atmosphere where people who do not believe in God can exchange ideas and express their thoughts freely and without judgment. Our mission statement emphasizes separation of church and state, and equality and freedom of and from religion. We are active in supporting issues in our community, and advocating for a fairer and just Rhode Island. Our focus is not anti-religious, since we support religious freedom. Rather, we believe it is possible for religion and rational thought to exist in the same mind.

That’s why it was disappointing to learn that Gov. Dan McKee has decided for the second year in a row to deny our request for a proclamation recognizing a Day of Reason on May 1. Nevertheless, we will hold a ceremony at the Rhode Island State House at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, and have invited some elected representatives and officials and representatives from American Atheists and other organizations to speak. A Day of Reason celebrates the importance of rational thought in maintaining a healthy society that welcomes all, regardless of religious or secular beliefs. These are times where opinions and conspiracies are routinely substituted for facts. I believe critical thinking is the only way to sort out fact from fiction. The survival of our democracy depends on this.  

We had hoped the governor would appreciate the use of reason in the form of critical thinking and scientific thinking as the best method for making decisions anywhere, in government, industry and in the personal lives of those who choose to do so. The only time Rhode Island recognized a Day of Reason was in 2014 when then-Gov. Lincoln Chafee issued a state proclamation.

When I reflect on the Day of Reason, I think about forces in America that have hijacked the term freedom and reassigned this value to mean controlling what their neighbors read, who their neighbors love, and how their neighbors live. I cannot sit by and watch as people driven by opinions and religious precepts attempt to erode freedoms, marginalize and disrespect certain segments of our society using the power of government. Most Americans reject the idea that government should interfere with the private lives and decisions of its citizens. Some, like myself, do so by getting involved in writing letters and testifying to encourage our lawmakers to critically examine policies and reject legislation that attempts to deny rights to people, such as the right to a secular education, the right to an abortion, respect for LGBTQ+ people and many other pressing issues. I believe that the future of America depends on the critical thinking skills of our leaders to properly evaluate information and make the best decisions to maintain America’s guarantee of freedom for our diverse population.  

I am thankful for the intelligence and forethought of James Madison who wrote the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights in 1791. The right to religious liberty is an integral part of American history. Madison pointed out that “The separation of church and state is to keep forever from these shores the ceaseless strife that has soaked the soil of Europe with blood for centuries.” He and the other founders knew that for America to be successful and inclusive to all people, our constitution must specify that our government should not federalize any religion. The First Amendment provides that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…”  Thomas Jefferson expressed a similar statement in 1808 when he said, “Erecting the wall of separation between church and state is absolutely essential in a free society.” 

Only by leaving religion out of government and setting aside our differences can America come together and solve the hard problems we face as a country.