Rain poured down on the 20,000 people who waved their blurred signs, declaring “I pray to Joe Pesci” and “We are all atheists! I just believe in one less God than most people,” on the National Mall March 24 for the Reason Rally.
The rally brought together atheists and other non-believers to celebrate secular thought and unite them as a major demographic in the upcoming election. It is “the largest gathering of the secular movement in world history,” according to organizers.
At the rally, organizations like the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers and the Secular Student Alliance had booths on display to share their mission with the crowd. Over 20 secular groups sponsored the $300,000 festival, such as the American Humanist Association and the National Atheist Party.
British scientist and author Richard Dawkins united the crowd with his opening speech.
“We are far more numerous than anyone realizes,” he shouted.
About 16 percent of Americans are unaffiliated with any religion, according to the Pew Research Center. However, this demographic only has one representative in Congress. When debating many controversial issues, such as abortion, many politicians base their arguments on their religious beliefs, so one goal of the rally was to gain recognition from politicians.
Other speakers at the rally included actor Eddie Izzard, co-host of “Mythbusters” Adam Savage and musician Tim Minchin. They advocated for the important of reason over religion and the separation of church and state in the government.
A junior boy, who wished to remain anonymous since he publicly identifies with a religion, said he attended the rally to learn from prominent atheists.
“I was interested in hearing what influential atheists had to say about our position in America today and secularism in general,” he said.
Many members of the crowd held up witty signs and slogans preaching the importance of reason and science. One person held up a cross with a Halloween mask on top to poke fun at religion, while others commented on the evolution debate.
But not everyone agreed with the rally. On the outskirts of the mall, religious protestors held their own anti-rally. The outraged shouts of the 30 protestors became murmurs in the overwhelming crowd.
A junior girl, who also wished to remain anonymous, went to the rally to hear what people with similar views had to say about the role of religion in government.
“Right now in American politics, there’s a big discussion about not having the right to intrude in religious affairs, but people seem to forget that also means religious groups shouldn’t have a role in government,” she said.
Barney the Purple Dinosawr • Apr 26, 2012 at 11:02 am
@CAMMY Lay off. Using other students to troll and making fun of them is wrong. To afraid to do it to someone’s face, then don’t do it at all.
@CM Punk Yeah I get your drift. I wish the reason rally however did generate its message toward fighting religous influence in congress. That would be something I would be less annoyed with
CM Punk • Apr 24, 2012 at 8:11 pm
@Cameron I never said that this rally was too much, I was talking about how I understand that there are atheists put there who push their beliefs in people’s faces, much like any other religious group. The idea behind this rally makes sense but the problem is that some people took this as an opportunity to make fun of religious people, something that only makes us look bad.
Cameron Frank • Apr 12, 2012 at 10:42 am
@CAMMY: Wow. I never thought my rage in the previous articles would spawn this much stupid, pointless trolling. This is not me, a poor representation of my opinions, and is just someone who clearly hates me and wishes to make me look stupid. You aren’t fooling anyone, so please leave. Besides, I’ve realized how poorly I expressed my opinions before, and I don’t intend to express them that way again, unless I intentionally troll, which I almost never do.
@CM Punk: As for the actual article, every person has their own religious opinion, and I respect that. I do agree that the actual reason rally seems a bit much, but I cannot argue with the 1st Amendment, so they can do what they like, I know that arguing is just like igniting the flames of hate. I am a relatively proud Christian, but if you have different religious beliefs, cool. I don’t judge people based on their religion, because in all honesty, religion is what you make of it, and it has no effect on you as a person.
Anonymous • Apr 12, 2012 at 10:21 am
Take this protest. There are a lot of great people there that meet out of common interest to have a discussion and meeting on the state of affairs in the country. They unite as athiests, who don’t believe in a god but respectfully realize that others do. Then there are the people who carry in these posters making fun of religion. It crosses the line and is blatantly antagonistic. It doesn’t help anyone. And just as with these athiests, there are a lot of great religious people who accept that they don’t believe in a god. And yet there are still those that are antagonistic towards them.
Both sides have a vocal minority that has a very entitled, elitist view and tries to force their opinion on others. The real problems arise when the general population of these groups takes that minority as the opinion of the entire group, and this leads to pointless arguments bashing each other instead of an intelligent discourse that actually accomplishes something.
CM Punk • Apr 11, 2012 at 11:17 pm
@Cammy I do hope you’re trolling….because if not, your comment makes me a sad panda. (Only read this if serious) Doesn’t the Bible, at least the New Testament, tell believers to be kind and understanding to others? To “turn the other cheek”? Why can’t we all just get along, religious or otherwise, and not hate each other. It is people like you who make us look bad to the rest of the world. (End of angry comment if Cammy was serious).
interested party • Apr 11, 2012 at 7:06 am
boo
CAMMY "HARRY MAN" FRANK • Apr 10, 2012 at 12:27 pm
THIS IS INSANE! GOD HATES YOU
CM Punk • Apr 9, 2012 at 8:50 pm
@ A Girl I’m not whining for recognition, I’m trying to say that we need to work towards becoming more a group with influence to make change, much like other religious groups. I’m also saying that other groups(for example Christians) should not get their proverbial panties in a bunch when we poke fun at others. I understand that there are some of us non-religious people who shove it down the throats of others. Also, I’ve never heard of religious groups that deal with stereotypes silently taking them in stride. You might be generaly open about accepting people regardless of faith, or lack thereof,but there are people who do not take the Atheist movement seriously or equally to other groups, so we need to get the message out. I mean, if Christian groups are allowed to go door-to-door and sell you on the Word of God, why can’t we?
Sincerely, A Girl • Apr 7, 2012 at 2:26 pm
In all honesty I think this is more or so like rubbing it in your face “I’m AN ATHEIST, ACKNOWLEDGE ME” when in all honesty you could be Muslim, christian, Buddhist, Scientology, or even a one-eyed-one horned-flying-purple-people-eater, I don’t give a crap, as long as you appeal to me logically, charismatically, I will acknowledge you. I’m truly sorry that congress is so religiously influenced, but with the mission to just come out as an atheist, it just annoys me. If you generated your message to something important like fighting religious influence in congress, I’d feel a heck of a lot more supportive. For real though, yeah people joke about athiesim, but stereotypes are there always deal with it. Muslims, Christians, Scientologists, all have stereotypes. The deal with it silently and don’t just protest against it. It doesn’t go away 😛 Also people of course speak out against atheism, no reason to be afraid. At the least no one attacks verbally or physically like some Muslims. NO one cares if your an atheist, and if you do grow thicker skin. Coming out as an atheist at least for me is not a strong enough cause.
CM Punk • Mar 31, 2012 at 11:44 am
Also, D. Hunter How many members of Congress are “non-religious”? One. I’m sorry we had a day to talk about how important science and reason are but religious adherents get to control the government. Do you honestly think America ,a country created by Deists and currently considered a Christian nation, would elect an Atheist president? No, should I really don’t see what grounds you really have to say that we have hurt your heart with our iron-barbed words. Sorry to everyone else if it seemed like I was being a jerk it’s just that you can’t take the moral high ground if you are part of the group that claims it “created” morals.
CM Punk • Mar 31, 2012 at 11:37 am
This is an example (satirical) of the type of “meme” about atheists: http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQyrFZg9WhCAwR2sFSwgCj4XEcVoT54I_NJmQEbMljQK4YeTrGn
CM Punk • Mar 31, 2012 at 11:35 am
No Hunter, what I am trying to say is that people who are religious need to step off their pedestal and take things like this with a grain of salt. I’m not religious but I understand that people believe in the things talked about in the Bible, Torah, and Quran. Yes, maybe saying that “atheists have never started a war” isn’t the best argument towards anything but I can say that atheists have never gone to over what nostril Darwin breathed his last breath out of. I was hyperbolizing when I said that, but the point still stands that non-religious people get attacked and one of the few times they haven’t been horribly aggressive about their beliefs they still get critiqued by people on the internet.
D.Hunter • Mar 30, 2012 at 1:05 pm
And ‘Big Invisible man in the sky? Seems Legit.’ Isn’t rude or offensive towards those who believe in that sort of thing?
And that ‘Atheism hasn’t started a war’ is a terrible excuse, should I go and make fun of Jews because they participated in the Six day war?
CM Punk • Mar 29, 2012 at 4:09 pm
@D. Hunter The problem is that their has never been a war started because of Atheism, whereas there have been several wars started due to religion. It’s also because whenever “funny” religious posters are made they are rude rather than humorous.
D.Hunter • Mar 29, 2012 at 11:38 am
Any one else realize if anyone brought posters making fun of atheism they would have been called intolerant bigots?
Double Standards are fun right?
anon • Mar 29, 2012 at 10:42 am
*edit: not too many people have heard of /r/…
anon • Mar 29, 2012 at 10:42 am
Doubt it – too many people have heard of /r/…
Finn Todd • Mar 28, 2012 at 10:12 am
Why hello, /r/athiesm.
lam pever • Mar 28, 2012 at 7:28 am
Ha. Ha. Meme.
anon • Mar 28, 2012 at 7:03 am
Love the poster – “Big invisible man in the sky? Seems legit.”
This is great.