Atheism not a religion – but discrimination against Atheism is Religious discrimination
Posted: October 15, 2011 Filed under: Atheism 4 Comments »
Atheists claim that Atheism is not a Religion, but when Richard Dawkins is denied being allowed to give lecture at a private establishment, his organisation claims protection under ‘Religious Discrimination’ laws: “It really violates the basic principles of America, the principals of Jefferson and Madison,” said Sean Faircloth with the Richard Dawkins Foundation. “The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is probably the most revered piece of legislation in the 20th century, and it prohibits discrimination based on race or religious viewpoint. The proprietors of the Wyngate made clear their specific intent to discriminate based on religious viewpoint.”
As Atheists like to say, “If Religion were a hair colour, Atheists would be bald”. I disagree with that (but that is a different discussion); humouring that assertion, how can you have that same ‘bald man’ claiming discrimination due to hair colour?
There is just no scope for Atheists to claim protection against Discrimination between people of different religious beliefs, when they purportedly (and self-confessedly) do not possess such beliefs of which to be discriminated against in the first place.
It’s as absurd as Animal rights activists using the law of Racial discrimination to claim protection for Apes against human discrimination.
To Atheists the message must be clear: you can’t have your cake, and eat it too.
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As an ex-Muslim Athiest, I find this post incredibly offensive. The point that you are making here basically states that Atheists should not be allowed make claims against religious discrimination. Religious discrimination is defined as the negative treatment of a person or a group based on their set of beliefs. For an individual to face unfair treatment simply because he refuses to adopt your personal creed as his own falls precisely under that definition.
I completely agree with Faraz. Atheism is not a religion, but discriminating based on one’s own set of religious beliefs (say, Southern Baptist) is still religious discrimination. I have to deal with this at work pretty frequently, and HR doesn’t seem interested in doing anything about it. Legal council time.
“atheism is not a religion”
If atheism is not a religious belief, then discrimination against atheists doesn’t exist.
The point that he is making is not that atheists should face discrimination. Rather, it is that if atheists claim that they are being discriminated against because they believe there is no God, then doesn’t that make atheism a religious belief, and therefore not a lack of belief?