Atheists, were you ever ridiculed in your philosophy class?

Question

Okay, first off I want to say I'm not mocking atheists at all. I just have a genuine question for you:

Given that most of you on this site seem to rely heavily on logic and reason to determine what you believe is true, what experience have you had in college-level philosophy classes? I don't mean classes like History of Philosophy, Logic, or Utilitarianism...I mean more contemporary classes such as Postmodernism, Deconstructionism, etc. Philosophy today seems to reject Modernism's reliance on rationality, so I'm just wondering how you faired in such Postmodern classes. Thanks!

Answer 1

I have a Masters degree in Philosophy.

Postmodernism is nonsense, but I see your point. Yes, I did encounter ridicule from postmodernists, though not during my philosophy studies, but when I was working on my Ph.D. in a school of education.

In the philosophy program (for example, in the epistemology courses I took) people made distinctions between truth and falsehood, and though they recognized difficulties in talking about such things, didn't throw them out blindly like the postmodernists tend to.

In the education program, on the other hand, people routinely simply assumed that truth is relative. Their reasoning (if you can call it that...) seemed to be simply that people don't agree on what's true, and therefore there must be no such thing as truth. Apparently they weren't capable of entertaining the possibility that some people were wrong.

Since my dissertation was on science education, the postmodernists couldn't begin to understand what I was studying.
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Hey Mr. Obvious - yes, that's exactly what the postmodernists did ("You're so stupid for trying to be rational"). Unbelievable, hey?

Answer 2

I’m not an atheist but I’m going to answer because I never follow the rules.

I took quite a few philosophy classes in my college days, and no one was ever “ridiculed.” In my postmodernism classes there were a few people who would always go back to logic, and their opinions were more than welcome as part of the discourse. Postmodernism is cool and open like that.

With that said, I really like postmodernism. I think it’s wonderful and the most religion-friendly philosophy to come around in a long time. It's also a great reflection of our cultural unrest. But you’ve heard that rant, Drake, so I’ll spare you. :)

Answer 3

Never took a formal philosophy class.

However, I am curious as to what an atheist could be ridiculed about. I picture the professor going "LOL, u r so stoopid for trying to be rational!" That is not a compelling argument.

The overwhelming majority of atheists don't believe in God(s) because there is insufficient evidence to do so. Just like someone doesn't believe in leprechauns, or unicorns. Claiming with absolute certainty that leprechauns or Gods do not exist is subject to ridicule, but ATHEISTS DON'T DO THAT.

Answer 4

Never took a philosophy class after freshman year, but I'm pretty sure I would have been lousy at it.

The postmodernists' influence on other disciplines has been lamentable, from what I've seen. It seems to have led to sloppy constructs and a subsequent failure to explain any subject adequately.

Answer 5

philosophy: the rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct.

I kind of look forward to the philosophy class I signed up for in August.

Answer 6

I've never taken a philosophy class but I'd really love to.

Answer 7

I started college a a very conservative school and I had an ethics class where it was basically me against the world.

Answer 8

I didn't take [philosophy, I took world religion instead to satisfy that requirement. No, I was not ridiculed.

Answer 9

No. I understand philosophy, I just don't agree with much of it.

Answer 10

I led the debate in PHY,