Democratic Party Passes Resolution Embracing ‘Religiously Unaffiliated,’ Criticizing Christian Religious Liberty

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has passed a resolution acknowledging and embracing the “religiously unaffiliated” of society, noting that they have “the potential to deliver millions more votes for Democrats in 2020.” Without specifically mentioning Christians but seemingly alluding to them, the resolution also criticizes those who use religious liberty to “threaten the civil rights” of homosexuals, religious minorities and unbelievers.

“[T]he Democratic Party is an inclusive organization that recognizes that morals, values, and patriotism are not unique to any particular religion, and are not necessarily reliant on having a religious worldview at all,” the resolution, which was unanimously passed on Aug. 24 in San Francisco, reads.

It notes that “religiously unaffiliated Americans overwhelmingly share the Democratic Party’s values, with 70% voting for Democrats in 2018, 80% supporting same-sex marriage, and 61% saying immigrants make American society stronger.”

However, the resolution asserts that atheists and agnostics, also known as nones, have been “subjected to unfair bias and exclusion in American society, particularly in the areas of politics and policymaking where assumptions of religiosity have long predominated.”

In particular, the DNC writes that “those most loudly claiming that morals, values, and patriotism must be defined by their particular religious views have used those religious views, with misplaced claims of ‘religious liberty,’ to justify public policy that has threatened the civil rights and liberties of many Americans, including but not limited to the LGBT community, women, and ethnic and religious/nonreligious minorities.”

The party concludes that since the non-religious “have the potential to deliver millions more votes for Democrats in 2020,” and as “a record number” of religiously unaffiliated persons are running for public office, the DNC ought to hear and include them, recognizing the “value, ethical soundness, and importance of the religiously unaffiliated demographic.”

Read the DNC Religiously Unaffiliated resolution in full here.

The Secular Coalition of America applauded the move, remarking in a statement that atheists and agnostics desire to work together with people of all religions, but will also fight to keep any particular religion from being reflected in public policy.

“Nonreligious Americans want to work with people of all faiths to build an effective government that serves and protects all of our rights equally. At the end of the day, it is critical that all political parties embrace and work with the secular community to ensure that policy is driven by science and evidence, not sectarian beliefs. Religiously unaffiliated Americans strongly identify with secularism, and will fight to protect the separation of Church and State,” said Sarah Levin, director of governmental affairs.

As previously reported, in 2012, a number of Democratic delegates voice-voted “no” to restore the mention of God and Jerusalem to the party platform. Some stood to their feet, demonstrably waving their arms against the proposal. Others shook their head as they called out in opposition. The ayes outnumbered the nays, but only after several voice votes to determine who was the loudest.

In 2016, the DNC outlined that its platform “champions Planned Parenthood health centers and commits to push back on all Republican efforts to defund it,” and “vows to oppose, and seek to overturn, all federal and state laws that impede a woman’s access to abortion.”

“Democrats applaud last year’s decision by the Supreme Court that recognized LGBT people — like every other American — have the right to marry the person they love. But there is still much work to be done,” the platform also read.

In remarking on the recent resolution recognizing the “religiously unaffiliated,” Tom Gilson opined for the outlet Stream that the move should show Christians that it is not possible to vote Democrat and still hold to biblical values. However, that does not mean that one must identify as Republican either.

“[F]or all the options seemingly open to Christians, one of them is shut tight, at least for now — by Democrats’ own decision,” he wrote.

Ephesians 6:12 reminds God’s people, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

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