Well secular humanism which is atheistic and had no god or gods, is legally a religion.
Atheism is not a religion.
Secular Humanism is not atheism, therefore atheism is not now legally a religion.
How about Baseball, then?
Well, this is welcome news. Does this mean Humanism/Atheism can be considered a protected class?
I don’t believe it.
win
Wouldn’t you want Atheism to have equal status with religions in regards to the Establishment Clause? In other words that religions or religious believers have no special privilege that Atheism or Atheists do not?
I can sort of understand why you do not want to call Atheism a religion, but I do not understand why you wouldn’t want it to have equal constitutional status as religions. Is it because you agree with Antonin Scalia on this subject? (I kind of doubt you do)
This argument is always fun. Some atheists get so butthurt over calling their beliefs a religion.
I don’t consider atheism to be a religion, or even secular humanism to be a religion; but for establishment clause purposes (and free exercise clause purposes and no religious tests clause purposes), I certainly want atheism in general and specific atheistic philosophies (like secular humanism) to have the same status as religion. The government (include public school teachers) can’t promote atheism or secular humanism*; but the government also cannot seek to retard atheism or secular humanism, or promote theism at the expense of atheism.
*That does not mean that they can’t teach the actual facts of modern science, including biology. But no telling the class “…which is why the Bible is false, and all that religion your parents have taught you is a pack of lies. Write that down, it will be on the final!”
I can agree that atheism is not a religion in the same way that theism is not a religion. And I can agree that, by some definitions, secular humanism isn’t a religion. But I also think it has the same role as religion, and should treated like a religion legally.
And atheism should be treated like theism.
If I understand the implications correctly, it suggests that, contrary to what some would have us believe, “freedom of religion” actually DOES include “freedom from religion.”
Or more precisely, freedom from *forced *religion.
All things that are the complete opposite of one another should be treated exactly the same.
I don’t see how it has the same role as a religion. I’m an atheist, and I’m not reassured by thinking that I will be reunited with my loved ones in another life. I don’t have an explanation about the meaning of life. I don’t think I might get cured of my ailment if I pronounce the appropriate sentences. I don’t commune with like minded people once a week. I don’t believe I know why there’s something rather than nothing. I don’t think there’s someone watching over me even when I’m alone. I don’t belong to a club for socialization purpose. There’s no supernatural threat that keeps me in line. I don’t have rituals to partake in and make me fit in.
So, really, I can’t see how my atheism fills the same role a religion would.
Sorry - that contradicts the Holy Darwinian teachings - (I don’t hold with these new-fangled ‘Good News Atheists!’).
I say we picket the court until it erodes away to nothing.
It’s not a religion, but it’s a stance on religion, similar to the way in which your birthday suit isn’t a suit, but it is a sartorial declaration. Regardless of which, it ought to be covered, and this is good.
Yet no one wants to drink my cup of antimatter coffee.
Seems to me that Atheism is a “faith”, in that its believers accept its principles without any more empirical evidence than faith in its truth.
However, “religion”, as referenced in the Constitution, is distinct in that a Religion is a systematic body of faith-based tenets, adhered to by a group of people who knowingly share in a common belief. Atheism does not meet this test.
Or, to put it more bluntly, members of a “religion” validate that system of beliefs by gathering together and forming a centripetal body that can speak as one, and it is association with that body that receives constitutional protection.
Atheism has always had some of the same protections as a religion. For example, an employer cannot fire you for being an atheist.