I'm the only atheist in my class, what should i do?

Question

Theres 40 people in my class, and this is a public school and the only atheists are me and our chinese exchance student Mae Ling, the rest are christians. Today we were all having a argument about religion and since Mae Ling just sat there cause she doesnt know much english, i had to do all the talking. What should i do?

Answer 1

Why were you doing all the talking? Why not try listening just a little bit.

Answer 2

What should you do? What would seem right is to feel free to state your view and valid points.

What most us probably would do on the other hand is feel backed into a corner and want to get out of the discussion as quickly as possible. : (

Let me tell you.... I once had a class (American History even) that had the following assignment... A list of 10 things, put them in order from most important to you to the least, give reasons why you put it where you did...THEN the next day get up in front of the glass and recite each and your reasons. RELIGION of course was one of these things. Naturally, for believers, that's no big deal. Even people of beliefs that people don't always look kindly on, it's no big deal because at least they still believe and don't have to say WHAT religion. But for the atheists...you can't hide it, you are totally backed into a corner and forced to reveal who you are, which wasn't right. Luckily not much happened, although I did half-hear one catty remark from some girl.

But that's my story. Note sure if others noticed but I found there was just one other like me in class... My sister had a larger paper one time for her turn at this kind of thing. I don't quite remember what it was, but she totally supported the non believer side and after reading this to the class she told me that the whole class, and the very Christian older lady teacher, were just staring at her...

You are not alone. Just try to get through the best you can. We really are the minority over this..

Answer 3

Tell your teacher that for debate purposes she should allow only one christian against one atheist. Tell her that otherwise, you technically have a large team against a small team and this produces unbalanced synergy. (An example of "synergy" is when 3 people combine their ideas producing a fourth idea that couldn't have been produced by any of the three individuals on their own. This "synergy" is a tool that is commonly used today in big business during brainstorming sessions for problem solving.) Your teacher, if he/she has any integrity whatsoever, should commend you for bringing this excellent point to his/her attention and adjust the debate teams accordingly. Another thing you should suggest is that the christians take the atheist point of view and the atheist take the christian point of view. That is an excellent way to learn debating skills and at the same time should help each side gain insight into the other's way of thinking. I believe this is a normal practice in most debate classes and is a great idea. I am a Christian and would like to see the Christian side win the debate, but not under your unfortunate and unfair conditions. Good luck with this and I hope they do resolve this for you in a fair way. Take care!

Answer 4

Why are you discussing this in class? If it's not a debate class, this needs to stay out of the classroom.

There's no point to debates. They are not meant to change people's opinion, but fuel animosity. I don't know of anyone who has changed their mind from listening or partaking in a debate.

When I was a younger Christian, I would jump at the chance to debate anyone about religion. But it's pointless because it's not witnessing, but arguing. Jesus never debated people. He only told people the truth and let them decide for themselves if they wanted to serve God or not.

You will never convince a true Christian that there is no God because He works in our lives and has proven Himself to us in many ways. He's as real to us as our natural father.

Science is useless in the debate since science cannot disprove the existence of God. Nor can it prove the existence of God. Atheists have absolutely no debating power in this topic because you're dealing with faith based beliefs. How can you convince someone they don't have faith? It's impossible.
And, how can someone possibly win this debate? What could be the deciding factor which names a winner?

I have lost a couple of arguments in this discussion because I didn't have all my facts available. That doesn't mean the atheist was correct. It just means he was more prepared in the discussion. I didn't walk away doubting God, I just went back and did more research for my own personal knowledge.

Next time you get into this discussion, encourage the teacher to keep the class on topic of the lesson. I know you probably want to fight the fight, but leave it alone. Or at least save it for when you're not in school.

Answer 5

WHo is having the arguement, you and them or them and them.

As an atheist you shouldn't be arguing, unless you are trying to CONVERT people to YOUR religion. YOu should just sit back and watch the show!

I mean if the argument is about Predestination Vs Free Will you can say, I'm an atheist i take no stand

Once Saved Always saves vs Born Again and Fall from Grace, you take no stand.

I don't see what the problem is.

Keep your ears peeled and learn who is what.

If someone picks on you and tries to convert you to their way, call JOE over (who's a Pentacostal not a Methodist) and tell him what Charlie said and then let Joe and Charlie slug it out!

If you play it right you'll have factions vie for your soul, as if you were a candidate for office.

Answer 6

Ask them a lot of questions that the bible can't answer, and then answer thought question with sciences and experiments( just look them up) and then prove them wrong.

Good questions would be:
When did God make dinosurs because in the Bible it says he created everything in seven days and dinosurs lived 65 million years before humands and we know this bc of Carbon dating. And then say "but i guess carbons not real"
Also
If you think we go somewhere after we die, then were do we go before we are born? Bc if we were created then how did we get in our mothers and if God put us in there why can't you remember it? and why doen't you mother remember having God put you in there?
And
When the last time you seen snakes and bushes talk, and how can a men live in the a whale and walk on water?

Answer 7

What do you have to do? If the argument was today, isn't it over?

I was the only non-Christian in a lot of my classes in school. Most of the time, this didn't really affect anything. What exactly are you asking us?

Answer 8

If your class is about religion, you stand up like a man and do your best to defend your beliefs. If you don't know, well, admit it. No one is required to know everything.

If your class is not about religion, or, you do not appreciate being the target like this, gently and politely pull the teacher aside and point out that this is inappropriate.

Answer 9

Check out this book on atheism, it's short and has good advice for how to defend atheist beliefs. And it's only $10, or $5 used.

Answer 10

There should be No discussion about religion in public school.
Just sit back and realize you are the smartest one there .
You are free-thinking and more open to the real truth than they are .If you feel ganged up on bring it to the attention of the ACLU .

Answer 11

if you are asking us what to do, then you are not convinced to be an atheist. or your just a lost person who doesnt know much about religions and stuck with being an atheist. if not, then you would have know what to say, what to answer back, your arguments... my advice is take some time and look for yourself, organize your life, religion. i wish you the best. and never be scared to speak your mind, listening is good also.