Fred Edwords and the United Coalition of Reason

Fred Edwords is the Executive Director of a national non-profit organization which inspires me greatly. He is a past president of the American Humanist Association (from 1984 - 1999) and wrote one of the phenomenal documents about Humanism I mentioned in my last post. He was also an editor of Greg Epstein's recent New York Times best-seller, "Good Without God - What a Billion Non-Religious People Do Believe."

The United Coalition of Reason is the name of this non-profit which so inspires my life. This group has coordinated with groups around the nation to put up billboards which I would be surprised if you haven't seen on the news. They say, "Are You Good Without God? Millions Are." or "Good Without God? You Are Not Alone." or "Don't Believe in God? Join the Club." and they give the websites of local Coalitions of Reason, such as the Utah Coalition of Reason which is recently blossoming into one amazing community resource.

Because many people who are not affiliated with an organized religion do not consider themselves "joiners," it can be difficult to perceive that you are alone in your non-belief. It can be frustrating to see your children pressured into participating in religious activities with friends, or having the impression that if one is not religious, one is automatically seen as "bad" or "a bad influence." These billboards are in no way proselytizing, or trying to "recruit" people of faith to stop believing. They are reaching out to those in closets in our communities, to say, "Come out!" Stand up, be proud of your beliefs, even when they do not in any way come close to those of the mainstream. Be proud of what you do stand for as a non-religious person! There are many of us, and it is time for the stereotypes to end that say we are not, or can not be, good, contributing, strong human beings.

Fred Edwords is coming here, to speak with the Members, the rank-and-file, of all the non-theist groups in Utah. As a Coalition we have been trying our best to get the word out to all the members of these groups. Please, if you are Good Without God in Utah, and/or know anyone who is, send them to meet Fred Edwords this Sunday, May 15 at 1:00 p.m. at the University of Utah. Find the Event Page online here, and please share the great news with all your friends, that these billboards will be coming here!