National Secular Service Day FAQ

Where did the idea for NSSD come from?
In 2008, two members of the Harvard Secular Society attended the annual Humanist conference in Washington, DC.  One of the keynote speakers was asked a question about how atheists could gain greater acceptance in society.  The response was simple – Get out there and work alongside the religious groups that help those in need.  This comment sparked an idea: what if secular groups had a nationwide, publicized day to show their commitment to service?  NSSD has been a work in progress ever since.

 What is the goal of NSSD?
The About section (here) has a more thorough response to that question, but the short answer is this:  There is a prevailing attitude in the US today that a lack of religion means a lack of morality.  NSSD is designed to reverse this harmful and patently false stereotype, by encouraging nonreligious groups to get more involved, and by showing the nation that we are capable of leading ethical lives without religion.

October 18th doesn't work for us.  Should we still have an event?
100% YES!  We chose a specific day to be as coordinated as possible, but NSSD is really about the service, not the date.  Whether you are a day early or a month late, we would love your participation, and your event would be just as much a part of NSSD as anyone else's.  

Why “Secular” Service Day, as opposed to Humanist, freethinker, atheist etc.?
While NSSD fits quite well with the professed values of almost all these groups, we don’t want to limit ourselves to only one.  Names like “Humanism” and “atheism” carry with them specific definitions of what a group does or does not believe.  (To learn more about these distinctions, see the Learn section of this site.)  “Secular,” on the other hand, simply means “not associated with religion,” leaving NSSD open to anyone without religious motives, regardless of their individual philosophies or beliefs.

Are you trying to drive people away from religion?  Or from religious service organizations?
Emphatically, no!  We have no desire to influence anyone’s religious beliefs, one way or another.  We are simply trying to recreate the aspects of organized religion that we admire – namely, a commitment to public service – in the context of a nonreligious community.  Hopefully, NSSD will introduce nonbelievers who may be uncomfortable giving their time or money to religious organizations to alternative service options, through groups they can feel they are a part of.

I am part of an international secular group.  Does “National” Secular Service Day mean I can’t participate?
Of course not!  We call it “National” Secular Service Day because our focus is on the U.S., but we would absolutely love to have international participants.  Please, by all means register your event with us!  And do contact us (secularserviceday@gmail.com) if you are interested in starting a National Secular Service Day in your own country – we’d love to help get you started!

I want to participate in NSSD, but I’m not part of any secular groups.  How can I join in?
Go here to search for groups in your area, and click on “Details” to find contact information.  If that doesn’t work, try hunting around for groups in your area with names like Humanist, freethinker, atheist, or secular, and encourage them to get involved!

My religious group supports your message and wants to hold an event.  Is that allowed?
Yes.  We welcome support from anyone, religious or not.  However, we have two requests before you sign on:  First, that you make your event open and welcome to participants of different beliefs. We don't want any events that are exclusive to one religion or group any more than we want secular events to be exclusively nonbelievers.  Second, that you carefully read our "About" section and mission statement, so that you are sure of what you are signing up for.  By participating, you are sending a message - make sure it is one you want to send.

What should I do if I want to donate, but I don’t want to give to AHA’s service fund?
Well, first of all, we do highly recommend AHA’s fund.  AHA has been absolutely vital to the organization of NSSD, and all the money donated will go towards similar service projects or future NSSDs.  That said, see our Sponsors section for other groups worthy of your help, or contact us at secularserviceday@gmail.com for specific requests.