From: usenet@listmail.good-stuff.co.uk 
  
 On Thu, 7 Aug 2025 12:58:36 -0000 (UTC), Jethro_uk 
  wrote: 
  
 >Apropos of the thread about the equality act and protected beliefs, and a 
 >statement that court rulings have mandated that for a belief to be 
 >protected it must be "worthy of debate in a democratic society", then how 
 >does the matter of people sincerely held belief that the earth is flat 
 >fit in ? 
  
 The ruling is that it must be "worthy of respect", not "worthy of debate". 
 As, indeed, your own quote goes on to say: 
  
 >Under the Equality Act 2010, €religion or belief€ is a protected 
 >characteristic. But not all beliefs qualify for protection. UK courts 
 >apply a legal test known as the Grainger criteria, first set out in 
 >Grainger plc v Nicholson (2010), which states a belief must: 
 > 
 >Be genuinely held. 
 > 
 >Be a belief, not just an opinion or viewpoint based on information. 
 > 
 >Concern a weighty and substantial aspect of human life and behaviour. 
 > 
 >Attain a certain level of cogency, seriousness, cohesion, and importance. 
 > 
 >Be worthy of respect in a democratic society, not incompatible with human 
 >dignity, and not conflict with the fundamental rights of others. 
  
 Flat earthism would probably fail at least two of those tests. But I'm not 
 aware of any flat earthers claiming it to be a religion. Quite the opposite, 
 in fact - they think their views are scientifically provable, and the rest 
 of us are labouring under a false belief. 
  
 Mark 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)