Atheists gather for a holiday they can believe in: Independence Day

[HarveyDarkey]

By Monica Hesse
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, July 5, 2010

This story is part of an occasional series in which Post writers take you on a tour of original places and happenings around the region.


The trouble with most major holidays in the United States, if you're an atheist, is that it's difficult to ignore the "holy day" etymology, what with Christmas (obvious), Easter (obvious) and Thanksgiving (whom do you think most people are giving thanks to?). But not the Fourth of July. The Fourth is a little deity-free celebration stationed in the middle of summer for believers and nonbelievers alike.

"Especially now, when atheists are vilified for not being patriotic enough," Maggie Ardiente says, balancing her paper plate of cookout food, "this is a really important holiday."

So here we are in Lorton, at the year's largest social assembly of Washington area atheist groups, the fourth annual Independence Day Celebration -- or, as the e-mailed news release read, "Ungodly Leaders to Gather at Potomac Picnic."

Surrounding the flagstone patio, there is a food table, a drink table and a literature table, on which have been placed pamphlets about organizations like the atheist nonprofit Center for Inquiry or Camp Quest, a secular summer camp "for children of freethinking parents."

On the food table, there is a get-well card for "God Is Not Great" author Christopher Hitchens -- who recently learned he has cancer -- which the picnickers are encouraged to sign.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/04/AR2010070404268.html

[Deep13]

1. The establishment of the USA without an ecclesiastical branch of govt. ...

...is worth commemorating.

[Soylent Brice]

2. +1

:toast:

[ZombieHorde]

3. True. nt

[qnr]

4. You'd hardly know it around here, with all the church signs blasting slogans

about "God and Country"