NDR Media Coverage

Atheists Get Their Turn to Rally

by Tom Joyce, Daily Record Staff

Immediately before members of Steven Neubauer's atheist group held their rally on the steps of the state Capitol in Harrisburg on Thursday, a Christian group held a National Day of Prayer rally at the same spot.

From a purely ideological point of view, Neubauer said, he had no problem with the Christians' rally. If they want to pray, if they want to sing, if they want to preach about a supreme being he doesn't believe in -- hey that's their right.

Neubauer was annoyed because they were supposed to finish by 1 p.m., clear away their equipment, and give the atheists time to set up in time for their rally's scheduled 1:30 commencement.

"They kept singing and preaching up until about 1:20," Neubauer said. "I thought they were very inconsiderate."

In a way, that same sense of irritation served as the catalyst for Thursday's "National Day of Reason Rally."

The 20 or so atheists who gathered for the demonstration said they don't have a problem with Christians -- or members of other religious denomination -- practicing their faith. They just want to make sure that those who don't share those beliefs get equal consideration.

"The millions of atheists and nonbelievers in this country are tired of being marginalized and let down," said Liz Burcin of York, founder of Pennsylvania Nonbelievers.

Neubauer, of Mount Wolf, is president of Pennsylvania Nonbelievers. He said the organization is based in York, but has about 200 members throughout central Pennsylvania. Some of the participants in Thursday's rally were from other atheist organizations in the region, Neubauer said.

The rally Thursday was in response to the National Day of Prayer. Neubauer said religious observances belong in a religious context. For his taste, the fact that the U.S. government declares the National Day of Prayer skirts too close to a melding of church and state.

"If we don't do something, where does it end?" Neubauer said. "Every time the Christian right gets a foothold, they use it to get another foothold and intrude into more people's lives."

Participants in the atheists' rally began with the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag, omitting the words "under God" after "one nation." Several of them made brief speeches, evoking what they see as their embattled rights as atheists.

At the conclusion, they played a song on a portable stereo. Their selection? "Imagine," by John Lennon, with its well-known lyrics: "Imagine there's no heaven. It's easy if you try. No hell below us. Above us, only sky..."

Copyright 2003 York Daily Record

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