Interfaith and the Nonreligious

In this article Tom Flynn argues that secularists should not participate in the interfaith and community campus challenge and similar programs because the very name is a form of discrimination against the non-religious.  While I am inclined to see many of his points as overstated, I think his core argument is valid.

What those who are intentionally non-religious see as the important distinction between them and the non-religious is faith.  The religious have it, the non-religious do not.  Those who actually place importance in not being religious often see faith as simply being bad epistemology.

The argument goes that what the organization is really interested in is community action.  If this is there is really no reason to mention faith at all.  People can engage in action that benefits the community regardless of faith or its absence.  One simply has nothing to do with the other.

I believe that it is important to stress, however, that in the case of our current president the discrimination is probably inadvertent.  As the author pointed out, this president has taken steps to include the nonreligious, which is a welcome contrast to some previous administrations.  Hopefully bringing this matter to the president's attention will persuade him to take steps to rectify this oversight.