The Vegan Thread

The problem here is an equivocation of the word 'belief'.

In common parlance we would use 'belief system' to point towards religious belief.

So we might agree that atheism is a position on a single issue, but I would still not say atheism itself is bound up in a belief system of any kind, there may be some commonly associated ideas, but these are not necessary for atheism, and certainly not themselves a belief system in an meaning of the term other than simply a set of ideas.

To call atheism a belief system is to call being Lib Dem a belief system or a fan of ice hockey a belief system, it renders the word meaningless as it is universally applicable.

Tynan, I already explained this point. The law protects beliefs systems. It does not say that atheism or veganism is a belief system. But the guidance recognises that atheism may be a key part of a belief system for some atheists. To the extent that a person has such a belief system, the guidance suggests it is protected by the Bill.

It does not in anyway set up rights or benefits for persons on a categorical basis.

So the complaint that atheism is not necessarily a belief system is to miss the point, because the law only kicks in where there is such a belief system.