Mike Johnson’s first speech as Speaker of the House featured deeply problematic remarks about the phrase “In God We Trust” and its historical context. Advocates of secularism, as well as those concerned about the separation of church and state, have long criticized the implications of this motto.
Speaker Johnson’s comments completely disregarded the historical backdrop against which “In God We Trust” became the national motto. This phrase emerged during the McCarthy era, a period marked by widespread paranoia about communism and the abuse of governmental powers to suppress individual freedoms. Christian nationalists took advantage of this dark time in our history to advance their historically revisionist agenda, which seeks to convince Americans that our nation was founded to be a Christian nation—and therefore should be governed by their particular brand of Christian biblical principles.
In his speech, Speaker Johnson peddled one of the most common tropes Christian nationalists use to argue for the mixing of religion and state—by claiming that regimes like the Soviet Union were inherently immoral enemies of freedom because they officially endorsed atheism. Christian nationalists often make similar claims about communist China. The truth is, whether it’s Christian nationalism or an atheist authoritarian communist regime, any nation dominated by dogmatic beliefs is not free. Russia’s alignment with the Russian Orthodox Church in recent decades has certainly not made Russia any less authoritarian.
It’s crucial to challenge the narrative put forward by politicians who conflate dictatorships and communist rule with atheism. This narrative serves to present Christian nationalism as the antidote. In reality, secular democracy is the best path to guarantee freedom for all. Implying that atheists are enemies of the United States, stigmatizes and alienates millions of nonbelievers. This kind of rhetoric has been normalized for far too long.
Speaker Johnson’s speech focused on the Declaration of Independence, but he conspicuously omitted any mention of the Constitution. This omission is significant because the Constitution is a secular document. It explicitly calls for the separation of church and state in the First Amendment and prohibits religious tests for office in Article VI. The founding fathers went out of their way to ensure religion was not mixed with the state.
The original motto of the United States was “E Pluribus Unum,” meaning “Out of many, one.” Notably, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries made a nod to our original motto in his first speech upon being elected Minority Leader. This motto reflects the diverse and inclusive nature of our nation. One day, I hope we will return to this motto, which reminds us of the values that unite Americans.
https://www.secularstrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/GettyImages-1745420007.webp6751200Sarah Levinhttps://www.secularstrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/sarah_logo_horz-4-1.svgSarah Levin2023-11-09 22:11:352023-11-13 03:09:44“In God We Trust”: Unpacking the History and Implications
Last week, our own Sarah Levin, founder and director of Secular Strategies and co-chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Interfaith Council, delivered an eye-opening benediction (a closing invocation) at the DNC’s meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. The audience consisted of DNC members from all across the nation, representing every state, Washington, D.C., and the territories.
Sarah was introduced by DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison, who highlighted her work organizing secular Democrats and getting a DNC resolution passed in 2019 that welcomes religiously unaffiliated voters into the Democratic party.
Shared Values Over Shared Beliefs
One of the focal points of Sarah’s speech was the essence of interfaith work. She talked about how it’s not about having the same beliefs, but embracing shared values. Earlier in the week, Sarah had the opportunity to share a stage with Reverend Darryl Gray, a veteran civil rights activist, to emphasize this point. Reverend Gray, like Sarah, champions the cause of religious freedom. His advocacy extends to fighting against Missouri’s abortion ban—he is one of 14 clergy suing the state on the grounds that its abortion ban violates their religious freedom, and the state Constitution’s church-state separation clause.
Democratic Party: The Party of Religious Freedom
In her speech, Sarah argued that Democrats have been the leading force in defending religious freedom, counter to the common perception that Republicans are the protectors of this core American value. As Democrats, it’s time we reclaim this narrative, particularly ahead of the upcoming 2024 elections. Sarah encourages us to voice this stance loudly and proudly: Democrats, not Republicans, are the party of religious freedom.
Beyond Faith: Embracing Diversity
Sarah stressed the importance of embracing our diversity, including those who don’t associate with any religion. “We are the big tent party, big enough to include people of all faiths, of all spiritualities, and nonreligious folks like me,” Sarah stated in her speech. The Democratic party is a big tent party; its strength lies in its diversity.
The Road Ahead
As we inch closer to the 2024 elections, the message that Democrats are the true bearers of the torch of religious freedom needs to be heard far and wide. “We, the Democratic Party, are the party of religious freedom,” Sarah emphasized during her benediction. Sarah’s work, through her consultancy firm Secular Strategies and her involvement with Secular Democrats of America, is in service to restoring religious freedom and democracy for all Americans.
Earlier this year, she presented to the Nevada Democratic Party’s state central committee about religious freedom messaging, white Christian nationalism, and interfaith work. The presentation emphasizes that protecting religious freedom has an impact on far more issues of concern to Democrats than just “culture war” issues like LGBTQ rights and abortion. Since then, Sarah has been fielding multiple requests to bring the presentation to local Democratic clubs across the state. She will continue to educate Democrats in the coming election year in the hopes of equipping leadership and candidates with the tools they need to reclaim the narrative on religious freedom and build inclusive, winning interfaith coalitions.
To watch the full video of Sarah’s speech, click here. To support this crucial work, consider donating to the Secular Democrats of America. The organization is transitioning from a PAC to a 501(c)(4), and every contribution will make a difference. You can make a pledge to donate here.
https://www.secularstrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ss123.png7201280Secular Strategieshttps://www.secularstrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/sarah_logo_horz-4-1.svgSecular Strategies2023-10-13 14:13:332023-10-16 20:11:29Religious Freedom: A Core Democratic Value
Growing up an Irish Catholic, there was a uniformity in almost every other Catholic home I’d visit. Above every fireplace sat a picture of Pope John Paul prominently displayed next to a collectors plate of John F. Kennedy. As the first Catholic president, the significance of Kennedy’s ascension in American politics cannot be overstated—for many immigrant families it signified the end of over a century of marginalization. It wasn’t until JFK’s inauguration that many Catholics felt they had made it and after so many years were finally seen as Americans themselves.
Kennedy’s candidacy was not met with the same acclaim in some communities, and many felt that by voting in a Catholic president, they would be handing the keys of the White House to the Vatican. The group Citizens for Religious Freedom wrote at the time, “it is inconceivable that a Roman Catholic President would not be under extreme pressure by the hierarchy of his church to accede to its policies with respect to foreign relations…and otherwise breach the wall of separation of church and state.” In Washington, 150 Protestant ministers met to declare that he could not remain independent of the Church and demanded he publicly denounce their teachings.
Kennedy was eager to prove them wrong and many credit his historic win with his incredible ability to win over powerful Protestant strongholds and confronting the issue of religion in politics head-on. “Contrary to common newspaper usage, I am not the Catholic candidate for president,” he said at a Southern Baptist conference in Texas. “I am the Democratic Party’s candidate for president, who happens also to be a Catholic. I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me.”
He was true to his word, and over his tragically short term in office made a point to never let his personal faith drive his agenda, paving the way for other Catholic politicians to win office. While abortion was not a hot-button issue of the time, and Kennedy was personally opposed to abortion, he would appoint Justice Arthur J. Goldberg, the son of Jewish Ukrainian immigrants, to the bench—Goldberg would later be pivotal in invalidating a 1965 state anti-contraceptive law on the grounds it interfered in the right to privacy, a right later used to justify legalizing abortion in Roe vs. Wade.
While many at the time feared JFK would be too beholden to his church, today President Biden faces criticism that he is not beholden enough. The Church’s very public targeting of Biden is a departure from past practice that sets a dangerous tone for any Catholic seeking office—you’re either with us or against us.If we are to be appalled by the influence of money in politics today, the idea of holding an elected official hostage over their personal faith should be reprehensible. Certainly, the Church has every right to determine who receives Communion, but it is completely improper for a group of activist bishops to politicize and weaponize the Eucharist as if it were an article of the Constitution.
Today, I sit under one of the same Kennedy plates I remember seeing in my childhood and admire the precedent he set when he said, “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote.” It was then that he became a president not only for us Catholics, but for everyone. The current debate is a stain on his legacy, threatening the separation of church and state and opening the doors to a new age of division and bigotry.
https://www.secularstrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/D0B39806-25E6-4F33-88C6-22ABED4FF2FC_4_5005_c-copy.jpeg350342Conor Caseyhttps://www.secularstrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/sarah_logo_horz-4-1.svgConor Casey2021-06-21 00:30:472021-11-04 16:32:37Kennedy and Biden: Presidents, not Popes
Last year, I sent my first newsletter as the founder of Secular Strategies. The subject line: “January was a doozy.”
At the time, President Trump had taken the National Prayer Breakfast—an inappropriate, if not unconstitutional gathering between religious and government leaders—and made it a celebration of his impeachment acquittal, along with a speech claiming that everyone in attendance who didn’t support him wasn’t a genuine Christian.
Few knew, of course, that January was only the start of a draining, destructive, and terrifying year for our country and every nation across the globe. Yet despite the pandemic, wall-to-wall election coverage, and the actions of our former president and his cadre of political appointees, we have a lot to be proud of.
In working with our clients throughout 2020, Secular Strategies built new connections, collaborated with organizations, advocates, and elected officials, and fought hard for the secular community at the local, state, and federal level.
Together, we’re riding a groundswell of momentum as the new administration, Congress, and state and local governments begin to craft and implement policy.
Protecting our communities online and in the real world
Throughout the year, our national discussion around social media content and how to moderate it safely has grown in intensity and urgency.
Ex-Muslims of North America (EXMNA) made progress on that front, working with Members of Congress and Facebook to address the silencing of ex-Muslims and other atheist groups on the platform.
Effective engagement with social media companies around protections for secular communities at home and abroad will only become more high stakes moving forward, especially in nations with extreme blasphemy laws. To that end, EXMNA worked with the American Humanist Association to support anti-blasphemy resolutions that passed in both the House and the Senate.
EXMNA also worked with Mashal Naseem—daughter of Tahir Naseem, who was murdered in Pakistan while on trial for blasphemy—to get her Illinois representatives, Rep. Casten and Sens. Duckworth and Durbin, to send a letter to the State Department urging justice for Tahir.
Coupled with additional advocacy, messaging, and fundraising efforts for EXMNA, Center for Freethought Equality, SMART Recovery, and Jews for a Secular Democracy, Secular Strategies has been building and strengthening political infrastructure for key nonreligious organizations across the country.
Electoral Influence
We also know that the majority of the secular community votes for Democrats. To develop that unity into political power, we’ve been working diligently to ensure the Democratic Party understands how critical secular voters will be to their future.
Building off a DNC resolution recognizing the values and importance of the religiously unaffiliated and electing an atheist to the DNC Interfaith Council, Secular Democrats of America made substantial progress in growing their electoral influence.
That work included:
Gaining recognition by the DNC as a partner organization and holding an event in conjunction with the DNC convention;
Ensuring that humanists were prominently featured on the DNC Interfaith Council’s programming, which tens of thousands of Americans tuned into;
Launching Humanists for Biden, building secular support for the President’s successful campaign;
Continuing to facilitate state-level political organizing, including helping to establish a new Secular Democrats of Florida;
Successfully pushing for an acknowledgment in the DNC Platform of the nonreligious and the “paramount importance of maintaining the separation between church and state”;
Hosting more than a dozen phonebanks for Sens. Ossoff and Warnock during the Georgia runoff; and
Raising thousands from the secular community for Stacey Abrams’ organization, Fair Fight PAC.
Future-oriented
Our work with Secular Democrats of America also included spearheading production of their blueprint for the future, “Restoring Constitutional Secularism and Patriotic Pluralism in the White House,” which was developed in collaboration with Representatives Jared Huffman and Jamie Raskin, co-chairs of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, caucus member Rep. Jerry McNerney, and a number of leaders in the secular movement.
The report calls out President Trump for advancing a right-wing Christian nationalist agenda and offers a path for the Biden-Harris administration to restore the secular government envisioned by our nation’s founders.
The document has drawn the ire of Glenn Beck, the Family Research Council, and others across the Religious Right—for good reason. It is a detailed, research-driven guide that we hope will drive the religious freedom policies of both the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress throughout the next four years.
We’ve already see the document pay dividends. The President’s statement on Religious Freedom Day mirrored calls in the document for the inclusion of nonreligious Americans, as did his reversal of the Muslim Ban, which stated that the ban was “inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.”
I’ll be sharing more details about the report moving forward as we work to advocate for adoption of its policies throughout the year.
Well-wishes
As the pandemic continues to impact every aspect of our lives, I hope this message finds you, your families, and your friends safe and healthy.
Thank you for your support of Secular Strategies and your advocacy on behalf of the secular community at home and abroad.
While 2020 as a whole was indeed a doozy, it was also deeply successful—the groundwork we laid is a strong foundation for our efforts to make real change through the new administration.
I look forward to connecting with you throughout the year as we continue that challenging, rewarding work. Together, we can fight to establish a government that truly reflects the secular vision established in our nation’s Constitution.
https://www.secularstrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/sarah_favion-e1611805702372.png250250Sarah Levinhttps://www.secularstrategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/sarah_logo_horz-4-1.svgSarah Levin2021-01-28 03:29:382021-02-03 10:10:28Set up For Success in 2021
