About National Secular Service Day

Mission: To unite secular groups across the country in the interest of public service, and to demonstrate our commitment to leading full and ethical lives.

Who?  You
What?  Community service
When?  The first Sunday in October
Where?  In your neighborhood, city, or community.

Why?

1. “To unite secular groups across the country…”
   Whether you call yourself atheist, agnostic, Humanist, Freethinker, Bright, or even spiritual, NSSD has something to offer.  We hope to expand our network, introducing groups all over America to supporters, likeminded thinkers, supporters, and even rivals.  If we can all mobilize under one banner, focusing on our common goals instead of our differing backgrounds and philosophies, we can achieve a lot more.


2. “… in the interest of public service…”
   By opting out of organized religion, we often lose, as a consequence, the structure and community that come with attending a church or temple.  In particular, secularists often miss out on the type of group community service projects for which religious groups are known.* We hope NSSD can take the first steps towards filling that void. As nonreligious organizations, it is our job to embrace and emulate the aspects of religion that appeal to us, even if we disagree with the beliefs behind them. Groups like ours exist because our members are looking for something more than an absence of religion - they are looking for a feeling of togetherness and community.  We need to offer our members the opportunity to serve within a community of their own, rather than turning to religious or even nondenominational institutions.  NSSD can help nonreligious groups make the first contact with groups that need their help and begin making public service a part our own secular tradition.
   *It is worth noting, though, that nonbelievers have been quite active in the realm of individual charities – see this article


3. “… and to demonstrate our commitment to leading full and ethical lives.”
   Nonbelievers living in America today are often treated as second class citizens.  (Or sometimes not even citizens at all. For more information about anti-atheist sentiment click here [learn section].)  The source of this prejudice is, as in so many cases throughout history, ignorance.  There is a widely held belief in our country that it is impossible to be moral without religion.  Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, nonbelievers are considered unethical by definition, and are mistrusted in everything from politics to personal life.  Fortunately, there are also plenty of people - believers and skeptics alike - who know the truth, and this is our chance to speak up.   NSSD aims to show those who hold this unfortunate prejudice that they are wrong:  we secularists do have a moral code, and we are dedicated to the wellbeing of the community, both as any citizens of the United States and as citizens of the world.