Special Legal Status for "Religion": Fair or Unfair? (America, atheist)

[Mr Spinkles]

In the United States, some would argue, there are a number of laws for which there are special exceptions or accomodations for "religion".

There are many examples. I'm not a legal expert, so if I have this stuff wrong, please correct me. But one of the first examples that comes to mind is the issue of being a "conscientious objector". This essentially means that if there is a military draft, you won't be imprisoned for refusing to serve if military service is against your "religion". But what if a person sincerely believes, not because of his/her "religion" but because of careful thought and a strong feeling of principle, that war/violence is wrong? Shouldn't these people be excused, too? Why is it okay to refuse to serve if that is your religious dogma but not okay if it is a sincere, non-religious belief?

What are some other examples of the special place "religion" holds in American law? What do you think of this?

[doppelgänger]

You can be an atheist and a "conscietntious objector." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Seeger

[Sunstone]

The town I live in restricts alcohol sales on Sundays.

[FatMan]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

The town I live in restricts alcohol sales on Sundays.

That's it?? Heck, the town I live in doesn't sell any alcohol on sunday and you can't buy any non-food items until 1:30PM. It's a little strange. You can buy formula, but not the bottle to serve it in.

[Mr Spinkles]

Thanks for the correction, doppelganger!

[Ciscokid]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

The town I live in restricts alcohol sales on Sundays.

In Colorado?! I think of Colorado of being so progressive and metropolitan. D'oh!