Judge: West Virginia can't require incarcerated atheist to participate in religious programming
Judge: West Virginia can't require incarcerated atheist to participate in religious programming
A federal judge in West Virginia has ruled that the state corrections agency can’t force an incarcerated atheist and secular humanist to participate in religiously-affiliated programming to be eligible for parole.
A federal judge in West Virginia has ruled that the state corrections agency can’t force an incarcerated atheist and secular humanist to participate in religiously-affiliated programming to be eligible for parole.
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Meanwhile, getting a DUI in some places still means that you can be forced to attend religious-leaning AA meetings.
Unfortunately, all AA is religious. The 12 step program they use inherently assumes you surrender to a higher power. There has been some push back to make that higher power into something you personally consider higher than yourself, but the intention is 'God'.
That's incorrect. AA is explicitly spiritual, not affiliated with any religion. Everyone gets to choose their own path, there is no endorsed religion.
But it's still magical thinking. You said it yourself, "spiritual".
The government shouldn't be forcing anyone to believe in magic, even if the details of that magic are undefined.
The fact that it can be essentially anything just proves the point that it's meaningless.
If I were ever forced to go to AA my argument would be that the only higher power I recognise is Vince MacMahon.
"Son of a bitch!"
Any dictionary will help you with the difference between the two.
spir·it·u·al /ˈspirəCH(əw)əl/ adjective 1. relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. "I'm responsible for his spiritual welfare" 2. relating to religion or religious belief. "the tribe's spiritual leader"
Has anyone ever tried suing over that?