BY KATIE THISDELL
Matt Jordan knows his beliefs are different from those of the majority.
A nontheist, Jordan doesn’t believe in any gods.
“When we first moved to the area, I didn’t have anyone to talk to,” said Jordan, who has lived in Thornburg for six years.
But after online searches, he found there are actually plenty of others to identify with in the Fredericksburg area.
Five groups are now coming together as the Fredericksburg Coalition of Reason, which includes non- theists, agnostics and atheists.
Over the next few days the alliance will be quite visible in the area as it launches its name, including participating in Sunday’s religious freedom celebration in Fredericksburg.
Thursday morning, a billboard is being put up along southbound Interstate 95 near the Stafford Regional Airport interchange.
“Don’t believe in God? You are not alone,” the billboard states on a background of blue sky and clouds.
The message, which Jordan said is not meant to be offensive, has been put up around the country over the past two years by a national alliance, the United Coalition of Reason. The coalition was formed in 2009 and is giving $7,200 for the ad.
Jordan, 53, says the billboard targets those people who may be struggling with their beliefs and unsure whether anyone else feels the same way.
“It’s for those that are thinking, ‘I just don’t see things how other people see them,’ whether in church or at work,” Jordan said.
This weekend, the alliance will also join area churches during the annual Religious Freedom Day ceremony.
Organized by the Knights of Columbus since 1974, the ceremony brings together people of various faiths to recognize the anniversary of the drafting of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.
Sunday marks the 235th year since Thomas Jefferson and others drafted the document, which became the basis of the First Amendment.
“The message of the march is tolerance for religious thought, and that includes non-religious thought,” Jordan said.
Rick Reschick, the Religious Freedom Day coordinator, said the alliance asked to participate in the ceremony, but 1st District Rep. Rob Wittman, R–Montross, was already lined up as the keynote speaker.
“It’s not to push anyone’s agenda or anyone’s god or anyone’s religion, but it’s to honor Thomas Jefferson and his writings,” Reschick said.
“In his writing, he specified that the natural right of man was to believe how he wants to, in the aspect of religions, so we can’t turn them away because it’s not really a religion as the norm sees it, but it’s their belief.”
Reschick said any church or similar group is invited to participate in the parade from the Fredericksburg train station to the religious freedom monument on Washington Avenue.
Local churches, the Knights Templar and Boy Scout troops have all indicated they’ll participate, he said.
The Fredericksburg CoR, as the alliance is nicknamed, is still just forming in the area. No other events are planned yet. Participants will meet at the downtown library after the parade and ceremony.
Five groups in the Fredericksburg area offer social and discussion opportunities for secular humanists and skeptics.
Jordan first joined the Fredericksburg group Drinking Skeptically, which has more than 150 members who meet regularly for discussion in a relaxed atmosphere.
“It sounds like a real party group, but we’re usually home by 9 o’clock,” Jordan said with a laugh.
Other area groups in the alliance are the Fredericksburg Secular Humanists, Reading Skeptically, Conservative Skeptics of Virginia and Fredericksburg Parenting Beyond Belief.
An American Religious Identification Survey showed 12 percent of Americans identified themselves as nontheistic, according to the United Coalition of Reason website.
Jordan said the local alliance will focus on community involvement and responsible citizenship.
unitedcor.org/fredericksburg/page/home
Katie Thisdell: 540/735-1975
kthisdell@freelancestar.com
CELEBRATING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
On Sunday, Fredericksburg will recognize the 235th anniversary of the drafting of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.
Since 1974, the Knights of Columbus have held a ceremony for all faiths at the religious freedom monument on Washington Avenue.
Thomas Jefferson and others drafted the statue in the city in 1777. The statute later inspired the First Amendment.
A one-mile parade leaves the Fredericksburg train station at 1:15 p.m. Sunday. The group will walk north on Caroline Street, west on Amelia Street, turn north on Washington Avenue and end at the monument.
A ceremony begins at 2 p.m. The Rev. Don Rooney, pastor of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, will deliver the invocation. Rep. Rob Wittman will speak and the Rev. Larry Haun of Fredericksburg Baptist Church will give the benediction.
