Question: What is Newdow's Religion?

[Patriot]

I've read through the Supreme Court's decision in Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, better known as The Pledge case.

I came across something I've never heard about before and wondered if anyone could elucidate.

On page 4 of The Opinion of the Court it says "Newdow is an atheist who was ordained more that 20 years ago in a ministry that 'espouses the religious philosophy that the true and eternal bonds of righteousness and virtue stem from reason rather than mythology.'"

Newdow, an "ordained...ministry...religious...atheist..." never heard of such a thing.

What organization or religion or whatever "ordains atheist's to a ministry?"

Throughout the decision Newdow's beliefs are defined as "religion" or "religious" or the like; don't think the decision uses philosophy to define Newdow's belief's, rather religion?


see http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/03slipopinion.html Elk Grove Unified School Dist. v. Newdow

[TheGreyGhost]

Universalist?.......

[MikeD4o7]

I've read through the Supreme Court's decision in Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow, better known as The Pledge case.

I came across something I've never heard about before and wondered if anyone could elucidate.

On page 4 of The Opinion of the Court it says "Newdow is an atheist who was ordained more that 20 years ago in a ministry that 'espouses the religious philosophy that the true and eternal bonds of righteousness and virtue stem from reason rather than mythology.'"

Newdow, an "ordained...ministry...religious...atheist..." never heard of such a thing.

What organization or religion or whatever "ordains atheist's to a ministry?"

Throughout the decision Newdow's beliefs are defined as "religion" or "religious" or the like; don't think the decision uses philosophy to define Newdow's belief's, rather religion?


see http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opini...lipopinion.html Elk Grove Unified School Dist. v. Newdow


There are lots of humanist groups that use the same terminology and even ordain "ministers" and what not just like many religions. Personally I have no clue why though... I don't see what interest they have in mimicking church traditions or terminology. It seems odd.

[Duo_Maxwell]

Ghost's got it right.

Unitarian Universalist

www.uua.org

[TomAZ]

The UUA site claims to "worship regularly".... Hardly Atheistic if they pay homage to a deity. Atheism is a total rejection of superstition in all its forms.

[MrAmerica]

ATHEISM IS A RELIGIOUS BELIEF. It is a belief concerning the nature of man and God (or the lack of one). Just because it is not an organized religion, does not make it any less of a religious belief.

Atheists basically worship at the alter of self, with the individual serving as the high priest. He or she can establish or change their beliefs whenever it may be convenient or prudent.

[TomAZ]

ATHEISM IS A RELIGIOUS BELIEF. It is a belief concerning the nature of man and God (or the lack of one). Just because it is not an organized religion, does not make it any less of a religious belief.

Atheists basically worship at the alter of self, with the individual serving as the high priest. He or she can establish or change their beliefs whenever it may be convenient or prudent.


re'lig'ion n. Abbr. rel., relig. 1. a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.



su'per-nat'u-ral adj. 1.Being outside of or exceeeding the laws or forces of nature; 2. Of or pertaining to GHOSTS and SPIRITS; 3.MIRACULOUS; DIVINE.


su'per-sti'tion Any belief accepted without question.


What religionists would like you to believe doesn't make it fact.

[MikeD4o7]

It is a belief concerning the nature of man and God (or the lack of one). Just because it is not an organized religion, does not make it any less of a religious belief.

Atheists basically worship at the alter of self, with the individual serving as the high priest. He or she can establish or change their beliefs whenever it may be convenient or prudent.


Yes... just like bald is a hair color.

[Patriot]

ATHEISM IS A RELIGIOUS BELIEF. It is a belief concerning the nature of man and God (or the lack of one). Just because it is not an organized religion, does not make it any less of a religious belief.


You say "not an organized religion", however, it doesn't sound unorganized when you have Newdow as an atheist who was ordained more that 20 years ago in a ministry that "espouses the religious philosophy that the true and eternal bonds of righteousness and virtue stem from reason rather than mythology."

That smacks of "organized" by any definition of the word.