Religion good, atheism bad

A council in England has banned its staff from looking at atheist websites.

But religious ones are OK.

It's also banned them from looking at websites "that promote witchcraft, the paranormal, sexual deviancy and criminal activity", according to the BBC.

But religious ones are OK.

Now, Britain's National Secular Society is considering legal action, saying Birmingham City Council's policy is discriminatory.

Damn right it is. If you're going to ban staff from looking at any sites that aren't to do with their jobs, that's one thing. But to allow religious ones but not atheist ones is quite another.

Not surprisingly, the council has so far declined to comment. Well, who wouldn't so decline? How do you square that one?

"The authority's Bluecoat Software computer system allows staff to look at websites relating to Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and other religions," says the BBC, "but blocks sites to do with 'witchcraft or Satanism' and 'occult practices, atheistic views, voodoo rituals or any other form of mysticism'."

NSS president Terry Sanderson is quoted as saying, "It is discriminatory not only against atheists but they also are banning access to sites to do with witchcraft. Witchcraft these days is called Wicca, which is an actual legitimate and recognised religion. We feel very strongly that people who don't believe should not be denied the access that people who do believe have got."