Here’s why the “religious discrimination” defense doesn’t mean anything

Psychics and mediums have long been used by various police forces to try and locate missing victims and the likes, yet thankfully, this practice appears to be waning in modern times as it slowly but surely becomes known how such “clairvoyants” are either delusional or charlatans. There are still those who firmly do believe in their abilities, however, and sadly, many of them are also in law enforcement ranks. Alan Power, a trainer for the Greater Manchester Police, is one of them – well, was one of them, until he got fired recently for his silly beliefs. The problem now, though, is that he’s suing the police force and claiming that he was let go because of … his religious beliefs. Not because of being a deluded dolt who believes in things that aren’t real, of course.

Alan Power, who has been a member of a Spiritualist church for 30 years, argues that his belief in the power of mediums should be placed on a par with more mainstream religious and philosophical convictions.

[…]

At a tribunal in London, Mr Power will claim that Greater Manchester Police broke the law by sacking him for believing that mediums should be consulted in criminal investigations.

And now, we now that Alan Power is an idiot.

It gets much worse, though:

In an initial judgement seen by The Independent, Judge Peter Russell said that the case had merit because his Spiritualist views "have sufficient cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance" to be covered by the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003.

The judge wrote: "I am satisfied that the claimant's beliefs that there is life after death and that the dead can be contacted through mediums are worthy of respect in a democratic society."

“[S]ufficient cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance”? Seriously? We’re talking about a guy who believes in magic, who believes that some people can actually see things happening hundreds of miles away (or more), can see into the future, and can read minds. Such beliefs are especially not worthy of any respect in any society, especially a democratic one where common sense and reason are supposed to be valued over nonsense and silliness.

Here’s my ad hoc ruling: Power should be mocked, and not get a single cent. And, the police should weed out others like him who are stupid and incompetent enough to believe both that psychics are of any help, and who believe that such silliness is tantamount to religion. Seriously.

(via @religionnews)
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