From: jstump@auntbea.austin.ibm.com (Jack E. Stump)
Newsgroups: alt.atheism
Subject: Re: "Teaching atheism"
Date: 13 Oct 92 13:19:28 GMT
Organization: IBM AWD Austin, TX

In article <n0bcft@ofa123.fidonet.org> David.Rice@ofa123.fidonet.org writes:
>Tag: amorgan@csd-d-5.Stanford.EDU (Crunchy Frog)
>And: 1992Oct06.232551.2929@pdnfido.fidonet.org (Joe Beiter)
>Sub: "Cults"
> 
>JB> "So since I am a Christian I should resist any atheistic 
>JB> teaching in our schools since it would be brainwashing 
>JB> from my standpoint?"
> 
>The question arises: Can atheism be taught? I contend that it
>cannot. I've asserted before that people are born atheist, and
>are later indoctrinated by people in their early environment.
> 
>[stuff deleted]
> 
>Let's suppose that Mr. Joe Beiter is correct, and that some
>schools do "teach" atheism. What, exactly, could they possibly
>teach? "There are no Gods, and here's why. . . .?" How can one
>disprove a negative, when that negative does not lend itself
>to proof, let alone disproof?
> 
>[stuff deleted]
>
>So what WOULD be an "atheist teaching?" When someone points out
>that "Noah's flood" is impossible, that DOES NOT make that person
>an atheist, nore does it attach religion or the Gods--- it attacks
>bad science and ignorance: things education is designed to do.
>
>--- Maximus 2.00

I feel that children should be introduced to alternative answers to
questions that religion supposedly addresses. A teacher could say:
"Children, you should be aware that the religious schooling you have
been receiving is NOT universally accepted, and there is a school of
thought that believes in no supernatural deity at all. Here are their
views on the matter...." And then let the children make the decisions
for themselves.

At least they will get some exposure to different ideas. I know that as
a typical child in a typical town in a typical state in the US of A, I
was surrounded by Christians, and rarely did I received any outside
influence from any other religions or none.

Which brings up another important source of influence--a child's
family. Unfortunately, introducing a child to non-christian ideas at
any early age may just bring the parent's wrath: "Don't you listen to
that malarky! Let's go to church and clense your soul." Thank god [;-)]
for my atheistic father, who allowed me to choose what I felt was
right, and did not force any particular influence on me.

It is a double-edged sword: You need to implant alternative ideas in a
child before he is completely brainwashed, but friends and family may
not let it happen. (I think many parents control their children's minds
up until high school or sometimes even college. My observation, any way.)

High school or perhaps college is probably the earliest children can get
alternative teachings without parental interference. Unfortunately, this
is probably too late. It is sad that religion is really forced on children.

Any other thoughts?

-- 
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