Summary (tl;dr)

Congressman Jared Huffman and the Congressional Freethought Caucus are trending as the caucus, dedicated to secular governance and science-based policy, sees significant growth in membership and actively pushes back against religious influence in politics, underscored by a new book from Huffman.

Essential Background

The United States was founded on the principle of religious freedom and a "wall of separation" between church and state, intended to prevent the government from establishing or favoring any religion. Despite these foundational principles, non-religious Americans, who now constitute over a quarter of the population, have historically been underrepresented in government and have faced stigmatization. In 2017, Representative Jared Huffman became one of the few members of Congress to openly identify as a "nonbeliever" or humanist. In response to what he and others saw as an inappropriate influence of religion, particularly from the Christian right, in public policymaking, Huffman co-founded the Congressional Freethought Caucus in April 2018 with Representatives Jamie Raskin, Jerry McNerney, and Dan Kildee.

The Full Story

The keywords "Jared Huffman secularism freethought caucus" are trending due to the growing prominence and recent activities of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, which Congressman Jared Huffman co-chairs. Since its inception in 2018, the caucus, which aims to promote public policy based on reason, evidence, and science, and to defend the secular nature of government, has significantly expanded its membership to 37 lawmakers. This growth means the Freethought Caucus now has more members than some other prominent caucuses, including the Freedom Caucus and the Congressional Prayer Caucus. The increased attention is further amplified by the recent release of a new book by Representative Huffman, which discusses the rising impact of secularism in the U.S. Huffman has emerged as a key national voice advocating for secular government and challenging Christian nationalism. The caucus continues to actively engage in legislative efforts and initiatives that uphold the separation of church and state.

Why It Matters

The increasing visibility and membership of the Congressional Freethought Caucus highlight a significant demographic shift in the United States, where non-religious individuals represent a substantial and growing segment of the population. The caucus's mission to base public policy on reason, evidence, and science, while protecting the constitutional separation of church and state, is seen as crucial for addressing a range of contemporary issues, from climate change to gun violence, where members believe religious influence can impede effective governance. The caucus's expansion signals a more organized and robust effort within Congress to advocate for the rights and representation of non-religious Americans and to counteract the perceived encroachment of Christian nationalism into policymaking.

Geographic Location

• U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States (operations and legislative activities of the Congressional Freethought Caucus)
• Washington, D.C., District of Columbia, United States (location of the caucus's unveiling and various events)
• San Rafael, Marin County, California, United States (Jared Huffman's primary district office, representing California's 2nd Congressional District)