US Democratic Party Acknowledges Nonreligious Americans

[lpetrich]

Nick Fish on Twitter: "This is exceptionally good news. The sooner both political parties recognize that the #AtheistVoter demographic will be an electoral force within this generation, the better. Kudos to @TheDemocrats and major props to @seculardotorg and @SarahMLevin. https://t.co/8fVC3x7hBH" / Twitter
noting
American Atheists on Twitter: "Over the weekend, @TheDemocrats adopted a resolution acknowledging the "value, ethical soundness, and importance" of non-religious Americans and saying that we "should be represented, included, and heard by the Party." https://t.co/2IwJzqt61I" / Twitter

Democrats Pass Resolution Acknowledging “Importance” of Non-Religious Americans | Hemant Mehta | Friendly Atheist | Patheos

Democratic Party embraces nonreligious voters at annual summer meeting - Secular Coalition for America

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) this past Saturday embraced American nonbelievers for the first time, adopting a resolution that recognizes their contributions to society and to the Democratic Party.

This move by the DNC, which was unanimous absent one abstention, demonstrates that they are living up to the big-tent inclusive values they regularly espouse, though it also shows they recognize the value of courting the largest, fastest growing religious demographic in the nation. It was first passed in the DNC’s Resolutions Committee on Thursday.

The full text of the resolution:

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE:
Resolution Regarding the Religiously Unaffiliated Demographic

WHEREAS, the religiously unaffiliated demographic has tripled in the last two decades, now representing 25% of the overall American population and 35% of those under the age of 30; and

WHEREAS, religiously unaffiliated Americans overwhelmingly share the Democratic Party’s values, with 70% voting for Democrats in 2018, 80% supporting same-sex marriage, and 61% saying immigrants make American society stronger; and

WHEREAS, the religiously unaffiliated demographic represents the largest religious group within the Democratic Party, growing from 19% in 2007 to one in three today; and

WHEREAS, the nonreligious have often been subjected to unfair bias and exclusion in American society, particularly in the areas of politics and policymaking where assumptions of religiosity have long predominated; and

WHEREAS, those most loudly claiming that morals, values, and patriotism must be defined by their particular religious views have used those religious views, with misplaced claims of “religious liberty,” to justify public policy that has threatened the civil rights and liberties of many Americans, including but not limited to the LGBT community, women, and ethnic and religious/nonreligious minorities; and

WHEREAS, the Democratic Party is an inclusive organization that recognizes that morals, values, and patriotism are not unique to any particular religion, and are not necessarily reliant on having a religious worldview at all; and

WHEREAS, nonreligious Americans made up 17% of the electorate in 2018 and have the potential to deliver millions more votes for Democrats in 2020 with targeted outreach to further increase turnout of nonreligious voters; and

WHEREAS, a record number of openly nonreligious candidates are running for public office;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE recognizes:

1. The value, ethical soundness, and importance of the religiously unaffiliated demographic, a group of Americans who contribute in innumerable ways to the arts, sciences, medicine, business, law, the military, their communities, the success of the Party and prosperity of the Nation; and

2. That religiously unaffiliated Americans are a group that, as much as any other, advocates for rational public policy based on sound science and universal humanistic values and should be represented, included, and heard by the Party.

Good that they did that. I hope that it sticks.

 

[zorq]

It's weird for any group to feel the need to finally acknowledge that ...1/3... of their supporters aren't horrible people. I mean did the Dems just assume that the Nones had nothing positive to contribute to society until just this year?

 

[fromderinside]

Religion as litmus test by democrats? We're talking personal positions on relevant social issues suitable for dealing with by governments here. Presume nothing beyond the positions a person supports which, like polite conversation, does not include evaluation by religion or politics. Look at the objective merits of the position. All other evaluations are destructive to conversation.