Is the Public School System Responsible for the Growing Number of Atheist?

Question

Looking back on my life in public school (I'm now in college) I realize how much opposition there was to being a Christian in the classroom. Students spend on average 7 hours of their waking day in a school system that refuses to present the possibility of a creator and further demonizes the American historically accepted religion (Christianity). Every science classroom in the U.S. refuses to accept the possibility of anything beyound the material universe. In Every literature class I ever took, we were required to read books that was either overwhelmingly critical of the church or written from the position of a complete atheist. In history, I was taught every evil act made by the Catholic Church in the history of the world with a total disregard for the Church's good works.

Today here in the R&S section I see time and time again this shallow linear thinking that was taught to me in school get parroted back to me trying to tear down Christianity.

Are the schools responsible?

Keep in mind I grew up in the Texas Public School system. For those of you who might think that this sort of thing doesn't happen in the south.

"Unbiased" is a myth. There is a bias in EVERY subject. It is not possible to be objective because you are human.

Answer 1

Not for me. I don't remember ANY religious preference in the public schools I attended. I think the growing number of atheists is based on the growing number of Christians that are trying to get everyone to believe as they do.

I do not mean ALL Christians do this. Just those with the extreme view of "Live like I do or go to Hell for eternity."

Answer 2

I have to agree with this assertion to an extent. I did feel threatened in school being a Catholic, because there were so few people that would actually take a stand for the church and so many that just ripped into it on a daily basis. I think though, if anyone is to really blame it is the parents of the children that become aetheists because they are not properly teaching them about religion in the home.
The Public School System should only teach us fact about the subjects assigned to study. The school systems should not be teaching morals or how to make good choices. This goes back to the home where the children grew up in. Why are there so many kids with so much violence? they were never taught choices.
Okay so I kind of went off on a tangent there, but I refuse to believe that the public schools should be held accountable for all that was mentioned. They need to teach children about the different types of religions out there and THE FACTS about them. They better not be spouting propaganda about religions or saying which one is better because that is not right.

Answer 3

I was taught all the same things . Like the theory of evolution, and all those other foolish things made up by scientist. I don't believe any of that stuff. If you don't have anyone at home instilling christian values or any kind of positive input it is left up to the school system . I blame the parents or guardians. You must raise your child to be able to go out into the world and know right from wrong . My father always told me to read the bible and pray . So I have that ingrained in my brain .
The public school system is not going to do anything but get worse. Children are taught just the basics on everything ,so there is no way that the public school system would teach about true christianity . The easy way is to say you are a smart monkey and go out and have fun.
I see children at my sons school telling their parents how they want to beat up another child and the parents give them tips on how to beat them up. The schools can't even control them . They are like animals out of their cage. The only children sitting down and listening are the ones that can't speak english. The teachers call the parents and the parents try to fight the teachers. Bad parents sending bad kids to bad schools is a recipe for disaster. If you don't teach them anything at home then the world will swallow them up. It says it in the bible that the world will continue to get worse so christisn teaching will have to be done at home.

Answer 4

So, in other words, you want the Public Schools to teach YOUR religion. Then, be prepared, cause my religion will be taught in there as well. And then we'll have to allow for Jews and Muslims to teach theirs. You don't get to pick which Religion has the Freedom under the "Freedom of Religion" banner.

Unbiased isn't as much of a myth as you are making it out to be. You are using that to try to squeeze your Religion into the school system. If your religion, which I take to be Christianity by your words, is a "Personal Relationship" why are you trying to get everyone else involved in it as well?

Literature class was critiquing the Church? On what basis? Which forms of lit were you reading? How was it critical of the church itself?

Why should the US accept the possibility of only Your religion though???? And you have to wonder why people criticize Christianity? When you obviously leave out ALL other possibilities in order to keep your religion at the "head of the class". Sorry, our gov't doesn't work that way.

Answer 5

Parents are the reason for the growing number of Atheist.I was many times a stumbling block to my children.I was a hypocrite professing to know God and expecting my children to want what I didn't have myself.To many people today are going to church and then going back home and living like the devil.We as Christians are supposed to be the salt of the earth ; Salt will make a person thirsty for what you have which should be Christ.But when we profess to be Christians and are hypocrites guess who is watching you ? All the soon to be hypocrites and they just might be your own children.I have since repented and God is restoring the damage that I have caused but not without a price.Sometimes the only Bible the world reads is the Christian,are they getting the right interpretation ?And for all you Atheist out there ,guess who you will be spending eternity with least you also repent?

Answer 6

the schools have long been used as a way of spreading propaganda. Patriotism, nationalism, consumerism, and no doubt some atheism. In the 50's we were taught exactly how to identify propaganda and see it anywhere like in the news. They told us we were not like the Russian People cuz they used propaganda to restrict what their peoples news, we were free and had a free press. Now they do not teach our kids about propaganda and instead our corporations use it on us. It was a slow process, but we got here. There is no doubt that Mad Madeline had their effect but the pendulum is swinging the other way now as the field of genetics is proving that vertical evolution never happened on this planet. Nobody who could actually see this world and had a brain ever believed it anyway, but those who lived in the concrete jungles did not see God's work much so teaching that to them was easier.
Make no mistake however the news has always been controlled. When FDR was in office those same elitist snobs who run things today, had a plan to incapacitate him and take over by force but they trysted an x general and he told on them. This never made it to the press, even though there were plenty of record of it in the government. So make no mistake there is plenty of herding going on. We are indeed sheep and if you ever raised them you would appreciate how really insulting that is.

Answer 7

Schools are somewhat responsible,but I think its just the students common sense mixed with educational facts that helps them think more logically.If you take a world history class, you will be able to see how religion plays a role in the destruction of humankind and how it encourages nations to be bias about their views in order to raise their own standard of living. Religion has been justification for many evil reasons.The way its potrayed however,makes it seem like the ultimate good for humanity.Why is christianity favored among all the other religions, I dont know.Yet it does make christians feel superior over others due to superstition.I always wondered why people were so abstract in believing the supernatural but I guess thats the way people are.Also christianity promotes capitalism which is not the best system to represent equality for all(especially the under developed countries we are exploiting).It all adds up to christianity being the cause of many corrupt people and nasty agendas.Also, being neutral is the best way to solve problems like judges.

Answer 8

In short: no. It is not the public school system's job to indoctrinate students with religious beliefs. The schools need to be unbiased in their portrayal of religion--if they must be discussed at all--and my experiences have shown that they are. I sincerely doubt that every piece of literature you were taught in high school was atheist--you did read Shakespeare, I assume?

Science classrooms should teach science. Creationism is not science and has no place there (ID is just bad science).

Education does not "create" atheists, it merely allows people to see past the mythologies with which they were raised as truth. I know many well-educated persons who continue on in their faith. Beyond that--what's the harm, really, in allowing our students to be taught only that which is verifiable--I don't want my children being taught that faeries are real, either.

Answer 9

Why should schools pander to any religion??

Christianity is NOT the government accepted religion, it shouldn't be taught anymore than Islam or Judaism.

I'm so sick of christians acting like they are persecuted here.

The reason for more Atheist is people are actually doing some objective, reasonable, common sense thinking for themselves.

Stop whining

Answer 10

Maybe the religious community should look to themselves if they think there is a "leak of the faithful" away from the Church? Maybe they aren't selling the message correctly? Maybe the message needs to be revamped? Maybe the message doesn't work?

Maybe they shouldn't be looking to blame someone else like the public school system or the politicians or the liberal media or the feminists or TV or Hollywood?

A