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I don't believe God or lack of God should be taught to anybody, particularly in Public Schools. Religion, in all cases, is personal.
bob, finally we agree whole heartedly about something. I can't believe it. I was going to say that the 1st Amendment really says it all about this question.
Atheism can be seen as the religion of no religion so no it should not be taught.
Religion belongs in the home, church and church funded schools only.
Although I agree with your conclusion, atheism does not meet the parameters necessary to be defined "religion." Namely, to be labelled a "religion," a belief system must include the existence of a supernatural/superhuman being.
That's why the Pastafarians adopted the Flying Spaghetti Monster - doing so allowed them to meet all definitional requirements of being an official religion...
I suppose it would dismantle the superstitions underlying religion by exposing obvious logical fallacies.
In essence, one could argue that teaching critical thinking, logic, and scientific principles come as close to this idea as is possible without actively attacking a particular religion.
However, if one were to specifically teach against religious belief, one could then also argue that teaching religion is an active attack on atheism - or perhaps that it amounts to the endorsement of lying to children in hopes of indoctrination.
That's why it's best to keep religion (or the lack thereof) a private matter.
Ok, that makes sense, but since atheism is not really a belief per se... hmmm... How about teaching it in a class of comparative religion, as the counter to religions? I dunno.
Ok, that makes sense, but since atheism is not really a belief per se... hmmm... How about teaching it in a class of comparative religion, as the counter to religions? I dunno.
Well, yes - I don't see anything wrong with this.
There is a difference between "teaching religion" and "teaching about religion." Just like there is a difference between actively attacking religious belief and teaching critical thinking skills that may result in the questioning and subsequent rejection of religious doctrine.
In our Western World, Christianity is a basis for many of our laws, social habits, values, morals, etc. In non-Western societies, there are often different religious beliefs that function as the basis for their particular laws, etc.
There is nothing wrong with teaching how we got to where we are as a society today. Doing so is not the same as indoctrination. It is part of a well-rounded education.
We are all born atheist, that is our natural state. I mean we don't leave our mothers womb and crawl to the nearest church do we? Parents take their children to church to be indoctrinated into whatever religion they are into. It's called brainwashing.
We are all born atheist, that is our natural state. I mean we don't leave our mothers womb and crawl to the nearest church do we? Parents take their children to church to be indoctrinated into whatever religion they are into. It's called brainwashing.
Sure, but so is teaching them not to spit, bite other kids, or take their toys. Parents teach their kids what they believe is "right." For some, that includes religion.
Either one is the responsibility of the parent - and not that of a public school...
We are all born atheist, that is our natural state. I mean we don't leave our mothers womb and crawl to the nearest church do we? Parents take their children to church to be indoctrinated into whatever religion they are into. It's called brainwashing.
I am not sure that is the case. If it were do, how did humans ever come up with religion in the first place? Of course the religion wouldn't be Christianity or the Bible, but most humans have an innate desire to believe in something higher than themselves. We are taught to supress that desire today.
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