OHRT: Atheism a creed that needs the same religious protections of Christianity and Islam

[rug]

Tristin Hopper | 13/08/27 7:37 PM ET

Atheism is a creed deserving of the the same religious protections as Christianity, Islam, and other faiths, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal has ruled in a new decision.

“Protection against discrimination because of religion, in my view, must include protection of the applicants’ belief that there is no deity,” wrote David A. Wright, associate chair of the commission, in an August 13 decision.

The ruling was spurred by a complaint from self-described secular humanist Rene Chouinard, who was opposing the District School Board of Niagara’s policy regarding the distribution of Gideon bibles.

Since 1964, as in the rest of Canada, the Gideons had offered free red Bibles to Grade 5 students in the district—provided the students had first obtained parental consent.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/08/27/atheism-a-creed-that-needs-the-same-religious-protections-of-christianity-and-islam-ontario-human-rights-tribunal/

The decision:

http://canlii.ca/en/on/onhrt/doc/2013/2013hrto1382/2013hrto1382.html

[cbayer]

1. Wow, this is moving much faster than I would have anticipated.

Creed is an interesting word, though it still may have too many religious connotations.

I like your idea the other day about issues of conscience.

While a double edged sword, I still think it's an overall positive to afford atheists and atheist organizations similar rights and protections as religion has.

But I also think we are going to have to change our vocabulary as to reflect that inclusion.

[rug]

2. It looks like the courts are simultaneously redifining both religion and atheism.

That's one way to end the bickering.

[cbayer]

3. Lol, I wouldn't be so sure about that.

But I think it might resolve a lot of sticky 1st amendment issues.

I think "religion" had a much narrower definition in the past than it does today, though the risks of losing our secular foundations remain.