American Atheists President Ellen Johnson announced this month that the theme of the organization's October 2-4, 1997 action in Washington, D.C. will be "Defending the Wall... No Submission!" That theme was selected to be the title of panels and workshops focusing on the future of secularism and state-church separation, since the Promise Keepers movement will be descending on the nation's capital on October 4 for its "Sacred Assembly."

The PK gathering is expected to draw as many as one million men. Randy Phillips, President of Promise Keepers, says that "we are humbling ourselves before God and pleading for His mercy... we are not going to demonstrate our power in the country, or make a political statement. We are going to demonstrate our spiritual poverty as a Church before a holy God."

But in a statement released to the press and the American Atheists Newsletter for members, Johnson said that "The venue of Washington, D.C. is no accident; nor is it a coincidence that Promise Keepers, a burgeoning movements which calls upon its members to 'become godly men' by 'taking back' leadership in families and government, has become the latest vehicle for religious fundamentalist interests who intend to reconstruct secular, American society along 'Biblical law" guidelines." Johnson also noted the hostility of the Promise Keepers to women, gays and other groups, and said that this is fueled "by individuals identified with other religious activist causes, including James Dobson of Focus on the Family and Christian Coalition President Pat Robertson."

"Defending the Wall refers to the other wall, the Wall of Separation devised by Thomas Jefferson which is inherent in our First Amendment separation of state and church..."

The "Sacred Assembly" is based upon the words found in Ezekiel 22:30 which reads: "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none..." Johnson said that "Defending the Wall" refers to "the other wall, the Wall of Separation devised by Thomas Jefferson which is inherent in our First Amendment

separation of state and church." She added that "Defending the Wall... No Submission!" is slated as a two-day program featuring a Symposium (The Future of Secularism and State-Church Separation), lectures, workshops and social events for American Atheists members, along with a demonstration on Saturday, October 4 on the Capitol Mall.

[text only]