Letter: Freedom of religion includes freedom from religion

New laws that purportedly “protect religious freedom” pop up like mushrooms. It is mystifying that elected officials cannot understand the First Amendment’s religious freedom guarantee. One argument (voiced by that dark candle, Antonin Scalia) is that atheism has no rights under the First Amendment. Scalia knows better, as do many people making that argument, but many of their supporters don’t.

It should be clear, first, that “no law” means “no law,” and second, that the argument that atheism has no rights under the First Amendment is specious. Even without considering atheist rights, no religion can substitute dogma for civil policy. Doing so denies the rights of religious people who disagree with that dogma.

However, nonreligious people have rights under the First Amendment. Just as freedom of speech includes the right to remain silent, freedom of religion includes freedom from religion. Everyone has the right to be free from religious imposition. Any dismissal of atheist rights implicitly asserts that atheists have no valid ethical claims. In other words, any ethical concern voiced by atheists, such as the right of same-sex couples to marry, is automatically overslaughed by “deeply held religious belief.” However, atheists’ ethical positions are as valid as any others.

This story was originally published February 6, 2016 at 11:05 PM with the headline "Letter: Freedom of religion includes freedom from religion."