Federal prison system to recognize humanism
July 29, 2015
Following a lawsuit filed by the American Humanist Association, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has agreed to recognize humanism as a belief system comparable to a religion.
"Under the terms of the enforceable settlement, the Federal Bureau of Prisons will acknowledge humanism as a worldview that deserves the same recognition as theistic religious beliefs," according to the association. "The prison will also authorize humanist study groups and permit humanist inmates to annually observe Darwin Day."
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Further information:
- American Humanist Association Secures Equal Rights For Humanist Inmates In Federal Prison (American Humanist Association)
- Federal prisons agree to recognize humanism as religion (AP)
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Posted by: marianjohn7861 -
Jul. 29, 2015 7:05 PM ET USA
quoting from James Hitchcock's book What is Secular Humanism:..1964...1965..where religious liberty is concerned courts have extended their definition as broadly as possible...conscientious objection.....the Supreme Court explicitly listed Secular Humanism as a religion....held that religion merely requires some belief that is the "equivalent" of belief in a Supreme Being, which could include almost anything...government position now favoring unbelief over belief, irreligion over religion