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.

  • BenVimes@lemmy.ca
    1·
    1 year ago

    In the “Big Book,” the foundational document of these programs, “Chapter 4: We Agnostics” tells atheists and agnostics that they are “doomed to alcoholic death” unless they “seek Him.” The chapter characterizes non-believers as “handicapped by obstinacy, sensitiveness, and unreasoning prejudice.”

    This really jumped out at me. What a horrible thing to say about someone, especially someone looking for help.

    • DarkThoughts@kbin.social
      1·
      1 year ago

      Alcoholic death? That’s weirdly specific. I barely even drink. If I do, then I do it to get drunk, but not to comatose type of levels.

      • Kandorr@lemmy.world
        1·
        1 year ago

        The Big Book being discussed in this comment is one of the foundations of the Alcoholics Anonymous program. Hence this warning about alcoholism. AA features a higher power as part of recovery.