Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by tim on December 9, 2011 at 2:32pm

FOR TEACHERS in the south it can be dicy, to say the least.  My heart goes out to this teacher because I can imagine the fallout.  "Mom, I asked the teacher if he believed in god and he said no/evaded the question/etc." some parents can make it a living nightmare for a teacher in that case.  I have seen my own wife get fired under dubious circumstances from a school.  The nudge-wink-good ol boy connections are stronger than blood.  Sewing circle church ladies are more powerful than politicians in some towns. Hate to be so doom and gloom about it, but there you have it from a sincere person in North Carolina anyway.  Best of luck to everyone in these difficult situations.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Mooney on December 12, 2011 at 4:12am

As a  Brit, I find that completely and utterly staggering. If a teacher here were sacked under those circumstances, it would be a national scandal, and front page news. But actually, it just wouldn't happen.Even the most religious of parents don't expect their kids' teachers to be religious.

I never fail to be surprised how backward 21st century America can be.

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Permalink Reply by William C. Walker on December 12, 2011 at 9:42am

Mike, Religion is mostly a matter of geography.Here in 'the states' & throughout the world.  When someone 'comes on strong' about the late J.C., I might ask him / her wghat do they think they'd believe had they been born in the Middle East to Muslim parents.  Then quietly wait for an answer. The same for India to Hindus, etc.  Slowly but surely, it's changing here in the states.  Even in 'the bible belt' there are many younger apostates.  I was lucky, I read that dumb  book over 66 years ago.  It's the best cure for Xianity.  I will die rather soon - a proud atheist.

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Permalink Reply by Benny W on December 13, 2011 at 2:51am

Anyone who calls a book "dumb" deserves to die proud. This is an unconscionable position to take.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Eckert on January 29, 2012 at 8:43pm

It sounded to me like William was referring to the Bible when he said "that dumb book". How is calling the Bible dumb an "unconscionable position to take"?

un·con·scion·a·ble/ˌənˈkänSH(ə)nəbəl/

Adjective:

Not right or reasonable Unreasonably excessive

It doesn't seem unconscionable by definition to refer to that book of fables as 'dumb".

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Permalink Reply by Dave G on January 30, 2012 at 11:25pm

Why? Some books are most definitely 'dumb'. Here are some examples: The Secret, The Eye of Argon, The Complete Book of Homeopathy, The World Before (a book on Atlantis and the lost continent of Mu), the Malleus Maleficarum, and so forth.

I'd say that your position of uncritical defense is more of a unconscionable position than William's.

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Permalink Reply by Ed on December 22, 2011 at 10:33am

Try living here in the Deep South as an atheist and being force fed Xtian dogma at every turn....

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Permalink Reply by William C. Walker on December 8, 2011 at 9:23am

I would not lie to the child.  I would have answered ; NO, I don't. But a lot of people do. In other parts of the world people believe in different gods or no gods just as we do in America.  It's no big deal.  You decide.

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Permalink Reply by tim on December 8, 2011 at 8:14pm

I think lying to children is terrible.  The prospect of it really accellerated my deconversion.  I was an AWANA leader and lots of kids were asking me doctrinal questions...I was twenty years old. By the time I was 22 I was an atheist. I wrote a book called Preacher Boy which is available on Amazon about how all that went down for those who are interested. 

 

I have seen some amazing comments on this thread. I hope we can keep it up.  I have a four year old son and i know it can be hard sometimes being honest all the time but we have to do it.

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Permalink Reply by mathew gable on December 11, 2011 at 2:30am

I have had this before in my classroom. I'm honest. I say I'm agnostic and I don't know everything. I add that most people need an explanation or folk story to give their life meaning. All cultures have it and it serves an important purpose. You can say that in kid language of course ;)

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Permalink Reply by Jovan Morales on December 11, 2011 at 5:11pm

Tell the truth. You don't have to get into it. I prefer taking the honest aproach with kids then changing the subject.

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Scott Boice on December 11, 2011 at 7:22pm

Well, you have to answer two questions to answer your first. 1. Do you live and work in a place that tolerates free thought? 2nd, is it better for the discussion within your classroom to make that known? I am always an advocate of the truth, it is not always the easiest road to travel but honesty is, for lack of better expression, the best policy. The kids you teach are at a bit of a crossroads, maybe your candid honesty will open some eyes. If you get blow back let it rest where it is. Of course, it is easy for me to sit in relative comfort and say this. Teaching a room full of 12 year olds would terrify me beyond comprehension.  

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