Freethought Day - A Celebration of Reason, Freethought, and Church-State Separation

Freethought Day in Cesar Chavez Park

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:09:14 -0400

Note: This year's Freethought Day Celebration will be held in:

Cesar Chavez Park
10th Street and J Street
Sacramento

This is a different location than last year and different than previously announced.

Noon to 5 PM

Free admission.

See you there!

Sunday, October 11 is Sacramento Freethought Day 2009

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:32:47 -0400

Sacramento’s 8th Annual Freethought Day Fair is a celebration of reason, freethought and church-state separation, featuring speakers, live music, education expo, and children’s activities. The event is an opportunity for the community to celebrate values and actions we take for granted today which were once seen as radical, and to commemorate the bold and independent thinkers who led our nation to its policy of governmental neutrality toward ultimate beliefs of citizens.

This year Freethought Day is proud to have as its featured speaker Herb Silverman, President of the Secular Coalition for America and panelist for the Washington Post’s “On Faith” online column. As a citizen of South Carolina, Herb once ran for governor as an atheist (the “candidate without a prayer"). When his application for Notary Public was denied when thousands of others were accepted, Herb took the case to court and, after 7 years, became a notary public.

Goals

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 23:55:20 -0500

Education Goals

Promote accurate understanding of the heritage of liberty of conscience
Raise public consciousness regarding secular governance (legal neutrality)
Educate the public regarding the contributions of freethought and freethinkers in advancing human rights and in establishing and preserving a religion/government separation in the United States

Community Goals

Foster participation of organizations with mutual understanding of and support of the mission
Present a positive image to the public

History

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 23:51:46 -0500

Freethought Day commemorates a decision that took place over 300 years ago in Massachusetts. Activists venerating the decision instituted what has evolved into an annual outdoor observance in Sacramento, California.

History of Freethought Day

October 12 — One Step Forward

Over 300 years ago, on October 12, 1692, Governor William Phipps of the Colony of Massachusetts made a decision that brought to an end the horrendous Salem Witch trials.

A Christian, nevertheless he declared that spectral evidence (supernaturalism) would no longer be admissible in court, and so the trials, due to lack of appropriate evidence, came to an end. The governor’s decision was a distinct departure from the general community’s extant thinking and a giant step on the path toward the principle of legal neutrality that would, when the United States incorporated into its brand new Constitution a Bill of Rights, assure each U.S. citizen the freedom to follow his/her conscience regarding matters of ultimate belief.