Federal inmates, who identify as humanists, can finally observe Darwin Day and seek accommodations that are usually offered to those prisoners that believe in a deity. The United States Bureau of Prisons recently agreed, as part of a settlement for a lawsuit, that it would add a section on humanism to its manual on inmates’ religious beliefs and practices. Officials in the prison system would also consider demands from humanist inmates to access study material, observe holy days and seek space and time for religious practices.
Last year, American Humanist Association, representing inmate Jason Michael Holden filed a lawsuit stating how humanist prisoners were wrongfully banned from forming study groups and having like-minded discussions at a federal prison in Oregon.
Humanism is much like atheism, except that it does not completely reject belief in a deity. Instead, humanism advocates rational thinking.
“There's not much to talk about in respect to just atheism,” Holden's attorney, Monica Miller, said by phone from Washington, D.C. “It's really about what you do believe, and what those worldviews are and what those philosophies are.”
While it is not exactly known how many inmates identify as humanists at the moment, offering them the option to associate with humanism would allow the actual number to be calculated, once the figures are added to the federal prison database.
Holden, who was imprisoned for a case of armed robbery in Washington State more than 10 years ago, explained in an interview that all atheists are not necessarily humanists.
“As humanists, we believe in the ability of mankind to transcend their differences and find some common ground, you know, make the world a better place,” he said.
Prison officials in Sheridan allowed Holden to create study group of his own after he filed the lawsuit last year. Under the current settlement, he can maintain the group as long as it constitutes at least two other like-minded people. The settlement also guarantees that the option would be made available to inmates in prisons elsewhere.
This recent settlement came a year after the United States Army added humanism to its list of religious options.
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