Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Court rules atheism a religion
WorldNetDaily ^

Posted on 08/20/2005 12:11:11 AM PDT by Lexinom

A federal court of appeals ruled yesterday Wisconsin prison officials violated an inmate's rights because they did not treat atheism as a religion.

"Atheism is [the inmate's] religion, and the group that he wanted to start was religious in nature even though it expressly rejects a belief in a supreme being," the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said.

(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: 7thcircuit; atheism; isthistheonion; religion; religionofatheism; ruling; truth; worldview
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 261-263 next last
To: peyton randolph
"...unconstitutional endorsement by the State of athiesm as a religion."

Yes, and using the same logic, environmentalism is also a religion, the endorsement of which is also unconstitutional.

21 posted on 08/20/2005 1:28:09 AM PDT by nightdriver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc
"doctrine" of separation of church and state.

Very nice catch; I missed that. See, they acknowledge truth and logic, neither of which are subject to emperical observation but rather antecedent. That alone disqualifies atheism, as they can offer no answer to these transcendental arguments other than to say "they just are". The Creator is the great "I AM". See it?

22 posted on 08/20/2005 1:30:50 AM PDT by Lexinom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: nightdriver

Right! Earth-worship, Gaia-worship, etc.


23 posted on 08/20/2005 1:31:24 AM PDT by Lexinom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Nevernow; CourtneyLeigh; hiredhand; cpforlife.org
A great big PING!
24 posted on 08/20/2005 1:33:46 AM PDT by Lexinom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ThinkDifferent
That's a difficult question, since a (without) gnostic (knowlege) means "don't know". Intuitively I've have to trace it to the praxis of the individual who embraces that. Do they live as though God exists, apart from the obvious use of the laws of logic and reliance on an orderly universe? The only acknowledged agnostic I knew had a very weak faith, and occasionally prayed the Lord's prayer having been raised Lutheran...

If they are teaching positive doctrine (part of a system of thought), rather than naysaying both theistic (God-centered) and humanistic (man-centered) religion, it would seem so. But to do that would undermine their whole premise.

25 posted on 08/20/2005 1:40:56 AM PDT by Lexinom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Lexinom
Secular Humanism even has its own creeds

From the article:

The Supreme Court has said a religion need not be based on a belief in the existence of a supreme being. In the 1961 case of Torcaso v. Watkins, the court described "secular humanism" as a religion


26 posted on 08/20/2005 1:43:18 AM PDT by Racehorse (Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: LegendHasIt

Atheism is a belief, not an act. It is a faith of things unprovable. Ergo ; it is a faith, a religious view.


27 posted on 08/20/2005 1:44:51 AM PDT by Loud Mime (War is Mankind's way of ridding the world of the tyranny caused by liberalism)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: timydnuc

I have long held that any belief concerning the after-life is a religious belief.

The First Amendment is clear on this issue. Now the courts have paved the way for some sanity in these separation of church and state suits.


28 posted on 08/20/2005 1:46:51 AM PDT by Loud Mime (War is Mankind's way of ridding the world of the tyranny caused by liberalism)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Loud Mime

Hmmm...I wonder what these slimy jackaassses
would say if someone said their religion was
called Judgehangery?

:o)


29 posted on 08/20/2005 1:51:10 AM PDT by NickatNite2003
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Racehorse
Yeah I read that. So it would seem that hope for change would be ill-placed, as that case has had little impact.

You know, probably, that the whole concept of separation has been perverted from its original intent, in which the state could not impose a state religion, like Anglicanism or Catholicism, nor forbid its free exercise. Nowhere did the founders give any indication that mere theism consitituted a religion.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . . "

This has been bludgeoned into an unofficial state endorsement of secular humanism, a distinct worldview with man as the highest power. You and I are forced to fund the wide dissemination of its presuppositions whether we agree with them or not because, Toracaso v Watkins notwithstanding, it has managed to sneak under the "religion" radar. The current case is still cause for some optimism though.

30 posted on 08/20/2005 1:54:02 AM PDT by Lexinom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Lexinom
If the courts start treating atheism and secular humanism as a religion, its going to be interesting to watch the ACLU switch grounds in arguing liberal philosophies need a place in the public square.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
31 posted on 08/20/2005 1:58:12 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RightWingAtheist

Thought this might interest you.


32 posted on 08/20/2005 1:59:29 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Lexinom

so if you worship nothing, no one, you have your own religion?


33 posted on 08/20/2005 1:59:50 AM PDT by Cougar66 (The only liberal movement is what's in their diapers. .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Lexinom
This has been bludgeoned into an unofficial state endorsement of secular humanism, a distinct worldview with man as the highest power.

Sad to say, I'm one of those who gave silent endorsement to the ascendancy of secular humanism.  Years ago I scoffed at what I believed were the semi-paranoid rants of some of my more zealously religious friends.  Sure looks like they were right.

My skepticism was based on the belief history, tradition and good sense would keep secular humanism checked at the level of tolerance and fairness.  Turns out, all those things were and are used against us.

I'm hopeful the tide has crested and is now receding.

34 posted on 08/20/2005 2:02:40 AM PDT by Racehorse (Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Loud Mime
There is no separation of the church in THIS state. It was founded under the belief in God. The irony is that the communists and leftists want so badly to bring this county down that they just shoot the wrong bird. They (leftists) are really not as formatable as we feared. They are idiots, pure and simple. Let them froth at the mouth and bite at the air, I could care less. They just lost this battle, beer for everyone!
35 posted on 08/20/2005 2:04:45 AM PDT by timydnuc (I'll die on my feet before I'll live on my knees.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: peyton randolph

I think so. That is the religion they are trying to promote.


36 posted on 08/20/2005 2:10:38 AM PDT by mlc9852
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Lexinom

If atheism is a religion, then bald is a hair color.


37 posted on 08/20/2005 2:11:21 AM PDT by TypeZoNegative (Future Minnesota Refugee)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lexinom; Dawsonville_Doc; dyed_in_the_wool

About damned time.

While I have a great deal of sympathy for those who are quietly, personally atheistic (who say, simply, "I believe in no gods")... I have a great deal of antipathy for those who are loudly, abrasively, stridently, militantly Atheistic (who go well beyond reason to assert "There ARE no gods, and if you believe otherwise you are an idiot undeserving of a public voice").

These latter have made a mill of using the "I'm offended" card, churning out ludicrous suits and court rulings attacking the Christian foundation of this Republic, and in effect instituting the establishment of a State religion of Atheistic Secularism.

This new ruling may prove of use in ending these shenanigans.

About DAMNED time, too.


38 posted on 08/20/2005 2:12:41 AM PDT by King Prout (and the Clinton Legacy continues: like Herpes, it is a gift that keeps on giving.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: King Prout
Interesting! Next is discovery of the discipline of the atheist.

I must admit I am surprised to see your title behind this declaration.
39 posted on 08/20/2005 2:17:06 AM PDT by Just mythoughts
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: TypeZoNegative

small-a "atheism" is no religion, being a personal statement of belief.

big-A "Atheism" - the declaration as fact that there are no gods - is well beyond what any rational or evidentiary/empirical process can support. In this wise, it passes from personal belief into the realm of DOGMATIC FAITH. That makes it a religion.


40 posted on 08/20/2005 2:17:11 AM PDT by King Prout (and the Clinton Legacy continues: like Herpes, it is a gift that keeps on giving.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 261-263 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson