Student Atheist Leaders Invited to White House Meeting on Interfaith Service Projects

[Political Tiger]

For the first time, leaders of the secular student movement were included in an invitation to the White House to participate in a meeting on interfaith service projects on college campuses. The event, held on Monday June 7th, was sponsored by the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Participating on behalf of nontheistic students were August Brunsman, Executive Director of the Secular Student Alliance, and Greg Epstein, Humanist Chaplain at Harvard and Chair of the SSA Advisory Board.

“Our inclusion in today’s meeting is a welcome acknowledgement that secular students have been working to make a positive difference in the world,” said Brunsman. “As more and more students openly identify as nontheistic, we are taking a greater role in the charitable interfaith community.”

The meeting centered on connecting the higher education sector to broader national service priorities and creating spaces on campus to foster interfaith and community service. One stated goal was to have interfaith service programs at 500 campuses.

“The secular student community is eager to help reach that goal,” said Brunsman. “We are committed to increased cooperation with religious organizations for the betterment of society. But our actions will speak louder than our words.”

http://www.secularstudents.org/node/3153

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

1. It's inevitable. We'll gain acceptance and undermine bigotry, just like other groups did. -nt

[vaberella]

17. I agree...but it took this President to give it to us.

Most other's were happy to drudge along with the status quo with the argument. "If they're not religious" why are they participating in an "interFAITH" discussion. No religion = No Faith. Glad that they're saying the role of some of us.

[xchrom]

2. Recommend

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

11. Oops, had almost forgot to rec. Mine brought it from 21 to... 21.

If this bit of news displeases you, be informed that your displeasure pleases me.

[Junkie Brewster]

19. Well said N/T

[Epiphany4z]

3. good to hear

:-)

[AtomicKitten]

4. That's progress. nt

[movonne]

5. This is change I like....

[Political Tiger]

21. +1

n/t

[dccrossman]

6. K&R

:kick:

[nichomachus]

7. How much do you want to bet

that they still opened the session with a prayer?

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Maybe sometime it will be the secular students' turn to lead and they can do something different? (I

am not sure how that sort of thing works in that group.)

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. Perhaps recite some Robert Frost poetry? nt

[impik]

8. Step by step, one day at the time

[archiemo]

10. Step in the right direction!

[tekisui]

12. Good news.

[jenmito]

13. K&R. I guess Obama's NOT just like Bush! n/t

[vaberella]

16. Give it a week...he'll be back to being Bush III. n/t

[vaberella]

15. Wow. This is amazing and excellent news, which I doubt will get much publicity.

Wow, I'm really excited by this. I hope we get to see this exchange on C-span.

[dorkulon]

20. I'm sure it will get some negative publicity from the Freeptards. /nt

[Greyskye]

18. Good step.

This is heartening for me; I actually wrote Obama during the primaries chastising him for comments he made about the phrase 'Under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance with regards to kids and peer pressure.