High School Atheists Are Organizing -- Why Are Schools Pushing Back?

[magus_69]

High school non-theist groups are getting dedicated support from a national organization but their schools are flipping out. What does this mean for the future of atheism?

February 22, 2011 | High school student Brian Lisco just wanted to form a student club. A senior at Stephen Austin High School in the Houston suburbs, Lisco wanted to meet with

Comments

[mercaque]

Wow, I'm pretty impressed that there are high school secular groups.

What's more, many atheists are actively engaged in countering religion and trying to persuade people out of it. As Eberhard, says, "Some view the conclusions of religion to be maladaptive and seek to generate public dialogue about the failings of faith." They want to change the way people think -- and organizing makes that more effective.

One thing I want to add to this - for me it was not "becoming an atheist" that was traumatic, it was the process of leaving the religion I was raised in, Catholicism. Was I an Angry Atheist (TM)? Hell yeah, after coming to the conclusion that my faith was misogynist, homophobic and covered up for child molesters. Anger is normal in some cases (I don't mean to imply that it must be so for all Catholics or ex-Catholics, just that it's on the spectrum of reactions). Finding atheist groups online, with people outspoken and blunt enough to give voice to a lot of the doubts I had, was hugely therapeutic.

I don't know where the line is between this and badgering someone about their faith. I think that line needs to be respected. But I also think this function of atheist groups should not be underestimated.

[bestdaywelived]

I don't think that atheists actually DO badger people about their faith, though. I have been approached and basically bullied into listening to Jesus talk, but never in my entire life have I been approached by an atheist doing anything remotely similar.

I should also say Christians do badger atheists about our beliefs, regularly.

[muppetfromhell]

my (relative) says a lot of really rude/mean things about religious people, but she never actually says it TO them.

[zoram]

It does happen, even if it isn't as common.

http://community.livejournal.com/sf_drama/3182946.html

[ljs_lj]

That entry appears to be locked, fyi.