On 12/20/2011 11:39 PM, Ed Huntress wrote:

"According to the ruling of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, decided
August 19, 2005, atheism is religion under the First Amendment. See
Kaufman v. McCaughtry, Case No. 03-C-027-C. Their ruling states:

"Atheism is, among other things, a school of thought that takes a position
on religion, the existence and importance of a supreme being, and a code
of ethics. As such, we are satisfied that it qualifies as Kaufman's
religion for purposes of the First Amendment claims he is attempting to
raise."

Note that the circuit court does NOT say that it's "faith-based," just
that it "takes a position."


Many, I am sure, would be incensed by this decision, proclaiming atheism
an equal to many religions. But I would agree with the Court that atheism
could be considered a form of religion. My reasoning follows:

Gunner, you really should stay away from making claims based on court
rulings. And pay closer attention to which are Supreme Court
decisions, and which are just appeals court decisions.

The Supreme Court precedent they were working with does NOT require
"faith" to solve the case. It was based on Abe Fortas's famous words
in Epperson v. Arkansas (1968):

“The First Amendment mandates governmental neutrality between religion
and religion, and between religion and nonreligion.”

Atheism is a "nonreligion" under Supreme Court rulings. As the 7th
Circuit Court of Appeals says, nonreligion has to be treated the same
as religion under the meaning of the 1st Amendment.



Hey, Ed, thanks for clearing that up. After hearing that atheism was a
religion, I kept thinking that if it is then where are my churches, my
book that tells me what to believe, my religious leaders, and who was
the founder.

Hawke