Should Atheism be taught in schools?

Answer 1

What is there to teach?
It is not a Religion, Not anything.
It is all for self
You get that when you go into the business world

Answer 2

It should be taught in private school just like the religious ones if you want to. I don't really like this idea of Atheism becoming a some sort of teaching. All you have to do is deny the existence of god and that's it, you're an Atheist. It's just a belief, don't make a religion.
I seriously don't want another brain washing organization.
All you do is keep repeating that there's no god, just like the Christians repeating that there is god. That's one of the technique used in the FBI. Well, more like one of the steps to fully brain wash someone.

Some of the Christians converts to Atheism because they cannot take some of those crap. Get a different belief. If you seriously can't help but wants to force Atheism to others or make it into a religion or something, just get a different belief. You're going to make Atheism look bad. I'm 100% sure that there's going to be people that's going to force Atheism to their kids just like Christianity if it becomes like that.

Answer 3

Well, let's see...

If atheism is not a religion--if it is indeed simply a lack of a belief in a deity or a religion--then what exactly would be taught?

I asked my Mom what an atheist was when I was little. She told me quite simply, and with no malice or any projection of any other negative emotion, "It's someone who doesn't believe in God."

Seems quite simple really. I see no need to waste any tax dollars on teaching atheism, when the concept is so brief and elementary that a small preschooler can understand it...

Religion shouldn't be taught in public schools period. There are parochial schools for that. There is also home schooling, which is often more educational and certainly safer than public school these days.

Namaste.

Answer 4

Well would you be willing to allow other religions to be taught in schools along side of Atheism?

If so then i'm fine with it. If not then no. Why should your beliefs be taught in a school ( public ) and yet the beliefs of my self, my husband and our children not be taught in school. Mind you my family is made up of Pagans, Catholics, Baptist, and Mormons.

So if you would be allowing for my beliefs of my family to be taught, then sure we can teach Atheism.

I think the teaching of religion in general is a good thing as people are so ignorant when it comes to beliefs of other faiths which then causes issues with in it self. But also the teaching of the thaugh that " Our God" is the only right one...and everyone else is wrong........

Answer 5

Oddly enough, this might just violate the constitutional separation of church and state? I was in a long and heated discussion on this topic in an ethics class while in grad school in NC. People take their religion seriously in that state. But to discuss atheism would also require a discussion of religion and that is a big no no in public schools. Now if you are in a religious based school like a Catholic school, it could be taught but you can guess the angle they would take on it in a religious based school. At the college level you often find comparative theology classes and they normally cover atheism and at that level people are old enough, and with any luck mature enough to discuss, not shout about, religion and atheism.

Answer 6

If atheism is the intuitively obvious course of reason, then it should be apparent without having to be indoctrinated. I stand against any religion being "taught" in schools (obviously excepting being taught /about/--you can't study history or literature without an understanding of the religions, plural, that shaped it) and atheism really falls under the same set of beliefs.

Answer 7

I can not imagine how atheism could be taught in schools; in what sort of course would the concept that god is not existent be a natural aspect of its curriculum? Science courses should be mandatory in public schools in the elementary grades and offered in high school as has been the situation for many years. Theological studies given under whatever guise should not be among the public schools' electives. Those students who are likely to become nontheists will be able to draw their conclusions from their scientific educations as well as from their religious exposures in churches.

Answer 8

I was astounded to learn that my niece who is 13 is getting taught about Muslims (so they respect other religions) the irony of this stupid land we live on (England) at a Christian school - they don't have any assemblies or Christian teaching - but then teach them about Muslims?

I think its political correctness gone MAD!

I think Atheism is something people decide on naturally.
Whilst I'm not really religious - I think if kids were given the commandments to live by it would be a better world.

Answer 9

If atheism was a class, then would it be a class about nothing. Would kids just sit there and do nothing. Atheism is already being taught in the schools through evolution.

Answer 10

Atheism shouldn't be taught at school. Those teachings would offend others of religious background and be based strictaly on that teachers (or schools) opinion.

Answer 11

No. Although not a religion, it shouldn't be taught because it relates to religion. Plus, how can it be taught when it's an absence of religion? I think the best you could do is say "there are people who don't believe in any god. They are called atheists."

But since religion doesn't belong in schools, even that would be inappropriate.