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."

The court's position is immaterial to whether or not a religious belief
is faith-based.

In fact, "strong" atheism is entirely faith-based.

On Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:02:38 -0800, George Plimpton
wrote:

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."

The court's position is immaterial to whether or not a religious belief
is faith-based.

I don't disagree, but that was the claim I was addressing, made by
Gunner and a couple of others. And their claim is wrong on the facts.


In fact, "strong" atheism is entirely faith-based.

Sure, and many people here have agreed that's the case. But "strong"
atheism is not all of atheism. In fact, just based on social contacts,
my experience is that it consists of a distinct minority of atheists.

Most atheists are pretty smart people, but there aren't a lot of them
who can make a coherent "strong" atheist argument. Even Dawkins gets
locked into intractable debates.

But many of them can make the "weak" argument, and do so
intelligently.

--
Ed Huntress