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The debate on whether atheism is a religion or not seems to have reached an apex in recent years. In 2005, a federal court judge in Wisconsin declared that a prison had violated an inmate's civil rights in denying him the chance to start an atheist study group.

Many atheists resist the title of "religion" simply because of the connotations that it implies; a certain set of written laws, deities, and a hierarchal structure. All of which the very idea of atheism protests. While some atheists may call their certain beliefs their own personal religion, most atheists will just tell a person of their belief system...with no mention of it being a religion.

However, the fact that atheists might not like to be called a "religion" does not mean that atheists are not subject to the protections of religious freedom that we enjoy here in the United States. Some would like to believe that because atheism is a rejection of religion, that it is not covered by our freedom of religion amendment.

So here sits an atheist on the fence, does he call himself "religious" and be privy to all of the protections that that one simple word guarantees? Or, does he reject the idea of religion and have to fight for his civil rights? It's a question that many "New Atheists" have been trying to deal with.

I will keep my atheism free of "religion," and if it means having to try harder to protect my rights, then so be it.

Learn more about this author, Parker Thomas.
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