Hi everyone! Thanks for visiting.
Due to Substack’s decision to platform hate speech, Secular AZ has is moving our blogging activity to Beehiiv.
If you’re already a Substack subscriber, THANK YOU. Your subscription should migrate seamlessly to Beehiiv; the only difference
Due to Substack’s decision to platform hateful content, Secular AZ is moving our blogging activity from Substack to Beehiiv. You can find us at https://secularaz.beehiiv.com/
We’re currently in the process of migrating all our subscribers, so expect to see changes coming to your email inbox within the next two weeks.
We’ll still be providing the same insider analysis of Arizona politics and policy, with a focus on local school board activity and legal cases related to church:state separation. However, our posts will now come to you from Beehiiv, rather than Substack.
Thanks for being a supporter, and look for our new Beehiiv blogs coming soon to your inbox!
The Secular AZ Team
P.S. If you have a paid subscription to our Substack, it should transfer to Beehiiv seamlessly with no action needed on your part. If you experience any issues, please let us know at [email protected].
What - and who - is Secular AZ?
If you’re new, welcome! Please read on to learn about Secular AZ: a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization that protects the constitutional separation of church and state and educates lawmakers and the public to ensure freedom of conscience for Arizonans of all faiths and of none.
Secular AZ was formed in 2010 to ensure a secular state government and to educate lawmakers and the public about the importance of secular issues.
We advocate on behalf of all individuals who believe that public policy free of religious preference is the best way to ensure freedom of conscience for Arizonans of all faiths and of none — as is required by both the U.S. Constitution (Bill of Rights, First Amendment) and the Arizona State Constitution (Article II, Section 12).
We also represent the Arizona nontheistic community – a vibrant and growing community of Arizonans who self-identify as atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers, "nones," and other labels of personal choosing. We work to ensure that the law is never biased to the detriment of or against the interests of Arizona's nontheists as required in the Arizona state Constitution.
Secular AZ is operated by a board of directors and executive staff, and receives policy influence and comment from diverse liaised secular groups throughout Arizona. Collectively, these organizations represent thousands of individuals.
Why should you care about church/state separation?
Because it’s required by the U.S. Constitution! The Establishment Clause — part of the 1st Amendment — lays it out: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
In other words, the government can’t:
establish an official religion
take actions that unduly favor one religion over another
prefer religion over non-religion OR non-religion over religion
The Arizona Constitution (Article 2, Section 12) requires separation of church and state, too, stating that: No public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise, or instruction, or to the support of any religious establishment. No religious qualification shall be required for any public office or employment, nor shall any person be incompetent as a witness or juror in consequence of his opinion on matters of religion, nor be questioned touching his religious belief in any court of justice to affect the weight of his testimony.
Fortunately, there’s a way to meet these constitutional requirements: secular government that’s free from religious influence.
Unfortunately, this isn’t what we have in Arizona. Instead, we see elected officials and lawmakers push decisions based in religious beliefs and dogma, rather than facts. We see public policies that privilege one religious perspective, while disenfranchising those of other beliefs and of none.
And we see the harm that the non-separation of church and state causes. It’s manifest through discriminatory policies in areas like education, reproductive rights, equality, healthcare, tax law, and more.
Secular AZ takes a stand against the unconstitutional blending of church and state. We advocate for and educate about secular public policy that does not privilege a certain religious perspective… because public policy free of religious preference is the best way to ensure freedom of conscience for Arizonans of all faiths and of none.
Just as the U.S. and Arizona constitutions require.
Is Secular AZ anti-religious?
No. “Secular” does not mean anti-religious.
Secular AZ advocates for a lack of religious influence in our public policy because secular public policy actually benefits everyone, both those of faith and those who are “nones” (a.k.a. the fastest-growing cohort of young adults in the U.S.)
Let’s look at some demographic data from the Pew Research Center.
As you can see, Arizonans’ religious beliefs are diverse, with 27% identifying as “none” and 6% identifying as members of non-Christian faiths. And while Christian faiths are definitely the majority, that majority contains a number of sub-sects, ranging from LDS/Mormon to Jehovah’s Witness, Catholic to Mainline Protestant, and Historically Black Protestant to Evangelical Protestant.
Given this diversity, it does not make sense that one religious perspective should be given precedence over others. The only solution lies in secularism.
And while some argue that a secular approach is anti-religious, that’s simply not true. to illustrate, here’s a thought experiment.
Consider the following options, all taking place in a tax-payer funded, public school classroom:
A teacher opens each class by reading a scripture from the Bible, and hangs a poster on the wall that says “He is risen.”
A teacher opens each class by praying the Rosary, and hangs a picture of the Pope on the wall.
A teacher opens each class by reading from the Book of Mormon, and hangs a picture of an LDS temple on the wall.
A teacher opens each class by reading a selection from the Koran, and hangs a poster on the wall of the five pillars of Islam.
A teacher opens each class by saying “there is no god” and hangs a poster on the wall that says “good without god.”
A teacher opens each class by saying “good morning, students” and hangs a poster of the alphabet on the wall.
The first five options all privilege a certain religious perspective, and thus marginalize anyone who doesn’t share that perspective. This is unconstitutional. The final option does not privilege any religious perspective (or lack thereof).
It is neutral. It is secular.
It is the only constitutional option.
What are the Benefits of Secularism?
Though it may seem counter-intuitive, religious freedom is actually a major benefit of secular public policy. that’s because secularism guarantees the right of people to practice their religion freely, without government interference.
Secularism promotes equality, helps to prevent discrimination, and creates a more just society. Unfortunately, some religious beliefs tend to target and attack marginalized groups. This manifests in prejudicial, hateful and bigoted public policies that harm already-marginalized groups, such as transgender people.
Public policy decisions based in religious dogma also leads to harmful inequities in healthcare, strips bodily autonomy from those seeking reproductive care, and allows tax-payer funded schools to discriminate with impunity.
In a nutshell, basing public policy decisions in religious beliefs takes away rights from some and gives more rights to others.
Fortunately, secularism offers a solution… as well as benefits in areas such as:
Education
Public policy should ensure fact-based science and comprehensive sex education.
Public funds should not be diverted into private religious schools.
Healthcare
Accurate, factual scientific information — not religious dogma or theology — should form the basis for determining the validity and efficacy of public health policy and legislative measures pertaining to medical care.
Healthcare policy must not be based on religious assumptions about human sexuality or human development.
Refusal of service on religious grounds is unacceptable; patients should never be kept from making informed healthcare decisions nor be treated with discrimination based on the religious doctrines of healthcare facility owners or medical providers.
Government should not endorse or legitimize “religious” medical practice, including faith-based healing, religious vaccination exemptions, and ungrounded New Age medicine.
End-of-life choices, including death with dignity and medical aid in dying, must be safeguarded from religious intrusion or theological definitions of “life” or “personhood.”
Religious belief is not a valid rationale for denying insurance coverage, medical care, or accurate medical information.
Everyone has a right to autonomy in healthcare decision-making, free from religiously motivated restrictions on choice and safe from manipulation based on theological assumptions about human development or the value of genetic material.
Reproductive Rights
All humans have the right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, including the right to have a child, the right to not have a child, and the right to parent a child or children in safe and healthy environments; this right cannot be denied due to religious belief.
Individuals' rights to access reproductive health services — including contraception and safe, legal abortion — cannot be denied due to religious belief.
Equality
LGBTQIA+ people have equal rights.
Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity should be illegal
Religious privilege should not influence who may legally perform marriages or in qualifications to provide any state-required marriage/premarital/divorce counseling.
Taxpayer-funded state and federal military must serve the beliefs of all service members without privileging one belief over another or discriminating against nontheistic beliefs.
Secular AZ’s commitment to equality includes transgender and non-conforming people.
Religious Expression
Personal religious expression is protected speech under the First Amendment.
Government-endorsed religious expression (including any state-sponsored "Day of Prayer," oaths of office, pledge of allegiance, prayers to open or adjourn any government meetings, religiously based policy, etc.) is a violation of the constitutionally established wall of protection between church and state.
Tax Law
Special property tax exemptions for churches should be eliminated, along with other tax privileges not available to secular charities and civic or social organizations.
Religious organizations should meet the same tax criteria any secular organization must meet.
How Can I Stand Up for Separation of Church and State?
Raise your voice for separation of church and state! Sign up for our action alerts; we make it easy to let your lawmakers and elected officials know your stance.
You can also become a member of Secular AZ and join a growing, vibrant community of those who care about church:state separation.
And you can attend our events and learn more about these important issues! We offer virtual and in-person events year-round.