Uit een nieuws flash van American Atheists.
WAR OF THE WORDS CONTINUES OVER KAUFMAN v. MCCAUGHTRY
IS ATHEISM A "RELIGION"? IS NON-BELIEF THE
SAME AS BELIEF -- FOR LEGAL PURPOSES?
Debate continues over the meaning and cultural fall-out from the
recent Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals that ruled Atheism to be, "for
legal purposes," a religion.
"For legal purposes" seems to be the operative principle. The
decision has nevertheless divided Atheists, Freethinkers, Secular
Humanists and other "godless" who are sounding off on web sites, news
groups, blogs and other discussion forums.
So, what happened?
James Kaufman, a prison inmate in Wisconsin, attempted to form an
Atheist discussion group, and cited his rights of free exercise of
religion. According to state statutes, forming a "religious" group in
prison is far easier than starting a chess club or other
inmate-society. Kaufman's application was eventually turned down by
prison authorities; now the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled
that the state acted improperly by not considering Mr. Kaufman's
request as one to form a "religious" group. Atheism, said the court
-- for legal purposes -- was a "religion."
The full story about this case lives at
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/court36.htm .
Mensen die sterke overtuigingen hebben zonder dat daar bewijzen voor zijn, horen in de marge van de maatschappij thuis en niet in de paleizen van de macht. (Sam Harris)