Atheists rally on the Washington Mall. We’ll hear out what they believe, and want.

Reason Rally March 26, 2012 in Washington, D.C. (Aldene Gordon/Flickr)

Everybody rallies, at some point, in America.

On Saturday, on the National Mall in Washington, it was American atheists’ turn to rally. They carried banners calling for the total separation of church and state. And they shouted out loud in an atheist chant: “We’re here, we’re godless, get used to it!”

America is a country where belief in God is widespread and believers dominate a lot of political discourse. This past weekend was atheists turn to say, "wait a minute, we’re here too, we’ve got rights, and we’ve got a perspective that the country may need."

This hour, On Point: we hear from atheists in America.

-Tom Ashbrook

Guests

Kimberly Winston, National Reporter for Religion News Service, where she covers non-theism and atheism.

James Randi, prominent atheist, scientific skeptic, and magician known as “The Amazing Randi”.

Hemant Mehta, a blogger for “The Friendly Atheist” and the chair of Foundation Beyond Belief.

From Tom's Reading List

CNN "A coalition of atheist and secular organizations are coming together on Saturday to hold what is being billed at the largest gathering of atheists in history."

Washington Post ""Atheists and nonbelievers gathered on the National Mall Saturday (March 24) in a bid to show politicians, voters and even themselves that they have grown into a force to be recognized and reckoned with."