RI Gov. Lincoln Chafee has issued a Gubernatorial Proclamation officially designating May 1, 2014 as a "Day of Reason" in Rhode Island, according to a joint statement issued today by the Humanists of Rhode Island and The Secular Coalition for RI.

According to the joint statement, the action by Chafee "helps raise awareness throughout the State of Rhode Island of the importance of Reason as a guiding principle of our secular democracy."

The Humanists of Rhode Island and the Secular Coalition for Rhode Island will honor the National Day of Reason with local action and events. This observance is held in parallel with the National Day of Prayer, on the first Thursday in May each year. The goal of this effort is to celebrate reason — a concept all citizens can support — and to raise public awareness about the persistent threat to religious liberty posed by government intrusion into the private sphere of worship.

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity. Humanists of Rhode Island are dedicated to good works and service projects that will best demonstrate our ideals.

The Secular Coalition for Rhode Island and the Secular Coalition for America share the common mission to increase the visibility of and respect for non-theistic viewpoints in the United States, and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all.

Links:
Humanists of RI
Secular Coalition for RI
Facebook page for Humanists of RI
Facebook page for Secular Coalition for RI
National Day of Reason

Editorial note and disclosure: Written from a press release. I am a member of the Humanists of Rhode Island.