Federal Prisons Agree to Recognize Humanism as Religion

[trotsky]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/federal-prisons-agree-recognize-humanism-religion-32721138

The federal Bureau of Prisons agreed in the settlement of a lawsuit to add a section on humanism to its manual on inmate beliefs and practices. Officials in the prison system will also consider requests from humanist inmates for access to study materials, observance of holy days, and time and space for religious activities.

Inmate Jason Michael Holden and the American Humanist Association filed the lawsuit last year, saying Holden and other humanist prisoners were prohibited from forming a study group at a federal prison in Sheridan, Oregon. The settlement was reached earlier this month, and the association announced the settlement in a news release issued on Monday.

...

The settlement comes a little more than a year after the U.S. Army added humanist to its list of religious preferences.

It is unknown how many inmates identify as humanist. But giving them the ability to choose that preference, and to have it entered in the federal prison database, will allow the number to be calculated.

[mr blur]

1. But it's NOT a religion - that's the whole point!

[Major Nikon]

2. Neither is Scientology, but that didn't stop them from getting federally recognized as a religion

[Humanist_Activist]

3. True, its a philosophy, however, for legal purposes it should be categorized and protected...

like a religion, so the religion category is useful in this regard.

[mr blur]

4. Well, if they're going to give us Humanists tax-free status. . .

I could bite my tongue, I guess.