A federal judge in Oregon ruled last week that secular humanism is a religion.
Senior District Judge Ancer Haggerty cited the Establishment Clause of the US Constitution in his ruling, which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."
The controversial case was brought by the American Humanist Association and federal prisoner Jason Holden. Holden sought to establish a humanist study group in the correctional facility, but could not because humanism was not a religious affiliation.
"As humanists, we believe in the ability of mankind to transcend their differences and to reach some common ground and make the world a better place," Holden told Uptown Radio in May. "We simply want the same thing other religious groups are provided."
Judge Haggerty sided with the Sheridan, Oregon inmate.
"The court finds that Secular Humanism is a religion for Establishment Clause purposes," Haggerty's decision read. "Allowing followers of other faiths to join religious group meetings while denying Holden the same privilege is discrimination on the basis of religion." The judge also cited a 1961 Supreme Court decision, Torcaso v. Watkins, which referred to secular humanism as a religion.
While some humanists and atheists dispute whether secular humanism is a religion, many agree on a need for constitutional equality regarding philosophical beliefs.
"If secular humanism were a religion, then it wouldn't be secular," agnosticism and atheism expert Austin Cline wrote in a blog post. "The terms 'religion' and 'secular' are opposites. It is possible that a government body might need to treat secular philosophies like secular humanism as if they were religions if not doing so produces unconstitutional results, but otherwise the distinction between Secular Humanism and religion is total."
In April, the US Army added "Humanist" to its list of religious affiliations that soldiers can select. The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF) called the ruling a "big victory."
