A case has been filed in court seeking to make atheism illegal in Kenya. The court has been asked to declare as unconstitutional the Atheists in Kenya Society.
The argument for the ban is flimsy: the Preamble to the 2010 Constitution starts by acknowledging 'the supremacy of the Almighty God of all creation". Therefore atheists who deny God are denying the constitution.
The petition argues that this overrules the constitutional right to freedom of belief, conscience, religion and opinion.
Firstly, if God is all-powerful, surely he has permitted those atheists to exist. Would a court ban go against his will?
Secondly, religions like Buddhism and Taoism do not believe in a God. Would they be the next belief-systems to be banned as unconstitutional?
Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, do these atheists do any harm to anyone? If they break the law and injure their neighbours, let them be punished. But if they live peaceably and are productive members of society, then leave them alone.
This court petition is the first step to bringing the thought police to Kenya to tell us what we are allowed to think. The petition should be thrown out.
Quote of the day: "Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance."
Confucius
The Chinese sage was born on September 27, 551 BC
