If You're Teaching People There Is No God... You Are Preaching!
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
May 20, 2009 8:42am CST
For some reason, a lot of Atheists and Agnostics have decided that it's wrong for religious or spiritual people to preach our "gospel" to others, but they feel completely free to preach their lack of gospel anywhere they want.
School teachers are banned from preaching to their students... unless they are atheists or agnostics... then it's ok.
Why should teachers who don't believe in God have more rights than anyone else?
5 people like this
16 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
20 May 09
I don't believe that teachers should give their personal opinions about anything...religion...politics...social issues. That is not their job. Their job is to give students information, to explain that information and to give students the tools necessary to understand and use the information. Back when I was in school I never knew the religious or political views of my teachers.
1 person likes this
@Adoniah (7513)
• United States
21 May 09
Look at what the big "O" is doing. He is taking as many young people as he can and getting them to "Volunteer for the "good of the country" for 3 years. During that time they may not get involved in any religious activities at all. The cannot teach at sunday school or participate in church youth groups or any church outings or proslytize. Kind of sounds like it fits right in with the teachers doesn't it. Make them all atheists.
They chant how great the big "O" is just like the brown shirts did with Hitler and they have all kinds of slogans just like with Hitler. It is brainwashing 101. I would worry more about this than the teachers. At least with the teachers the kids come home everyday and you can undo the damage and you can take them to church and sunday school. This volunteer thing is like Hitler boot camp for 3 years. And if you kids took out school loans its not volunteer, its mandatory.
Shalom~Adoniah
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
22 May 09
Adoniah, it's a bit off topic, but a great discussion! It deserves to be posted as a discussion on it's own.
@lilnono (228)
• United States
21 May 09
You seem to be a little off subject but I'm fascinated by what you're saying. Are you sure you know what you're talking about? It sound a little far fetched to me. Why would the presidnt bar anyone from teaching sunday school?
I agree with the sentiment of what is being said in the original post . Trying to convince people that there is no God is actually worse than trying to convice people that one religion is better than another. As far as i know teachers are not supposed to discuss their personal religious beliefs in public school whether they believe in God or not. There are some teachers who are slick and can get some of their religious or anti religious beliefs across without being explicit about it. What it all comes down to is whether or not the parents complain. I've had a deeply religious teachers who devoted a certain amount of class time everyday to teaching us about "obeying the good voice". No one ever complained so she never got in trouble. If you're having problems with some teacher at your childs school telling children that God doesn't exist you should make it clear to the principal and the PTA how you feel about it.
@4ftfingers (1310)
•
20 May 09
I have thought about this too. I'm pretty apathetic towards religion, but some athiests seem to have the attitude that if you believe in a religion you must be stupid because to them science = fact.
This is very narrow minded, just as it would be for a Christian to assume that you can scare an athiest into believing in God by telling them all about how terrible hell is etc.
In both situations, the person is assuming that the person they are preaching to thinks in the same way as them. But some people tend to trust their intuition more which is an internal feeling in them, whereas others might be more inclined to be trusting of facts and hard evidence, that are pieces of information from external sources.
@4ftfingers (1310)
•
22 May 09
This is very true!
I try to be objective when I'm debating with someone and I try to see the other person's side of the arguement too. But this is something very hard to do and in doing so you risk losing integrity for your own beliefs.
As you say, what makes us think a cerain way is down to many things, our up-bringing, our life experiences etc, which is all nature and nurture.
Often we find it hard to understand why people would think a differen way, and this is when debates get heated, when the other person seems ignorant to things that you feel are important to you. It's not that they are ignorant, just they have different priorities to ones that are important to you.
Everyone needs to respect that to a religious person, it is most important to have a belief, one that has been passed down through generations and this is what they trust to be true. Whereas, to an athiest or non-religious person, it is more important to them to rely on what they see as the facts of science.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
23 May 09
"Why should teachers who don't believe in God have more rights than anyone else?"
They shouldn't, pure and simple. However, I'd say it depends on just what you mean by teaching or preaching; if someone simply states that they do - or do not - believe in religion or a particular religion that's not really "preaching" unless they're trying to sway others' opinions. A public school teacher shouldn't try to influence or indoctrinate students either way regarding religion.
Annie
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
23 May 09
We are not allowed to evangelize or such at all. However, I've noticed quite a few things going on in high schools across America that stem from Christians, not from Pagans, Agnostics, or Atheists. Christians Athletes comes to mind, an organization sanctioned within the school districts for those athletes that are Christians. I've seen teachers with bibles on their desk, who constantly make references to 'What would Jesus do' within the school day. I've personally received more Christian inter-office emails in my teaching career then I ever care to look at. Yet, I've not seen Pagans doing this, Jewish, Buddist, Hindus, etc doing this nor Agnostics or Atheists. It seems to be Christians who do this sort of thing. And this is why I'm all for seperation of church and state. When my children from my first marriage were little I spent a few moments with their teachers telling them not to indoctrinate my children with Christianity.
Namaste-Anora
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
20 May 09
It was my understanding that teachers were not allowed to share any of their religious or lack there of believes to the classroom. To be honest I understand this to a certain extent. you have so many different religions today, from Mormons, Catholics, Seventh Day, Methodist, Baptist, Jewish, Islam etc that if a teacher were to get up and teach or say things in the class room that was aganist my religion I would be upset with the school.
Nothing should be taught in the school by teachers, it is not their responsibility to teach our children all there is to know about life.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
20 May 09
I'm assuming you meant, nothing about a teachers religious beliefs should be taught by teachers. ;~D
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
22 May 09
I wasn't aware that teacher's could do this. Around here, teacher's are not allowed to talk about religion or lack of it at all. As for the preaching thing...I don't have any religion and I have my own little thoughts on things. I don't have anything at all against anyone's beliefs. I don't mind talking to someone about their beliefs...I find other's beliefs fascinating. What I really don't like is someone who knocks on my door to preach their beliefs or who doesn't agree with my lifestyle and just takes it upon themselves to start preaching to me their word. No one should be imposing their beliefs on anyone.
@6precious102 (4043)
• United States
22 May 09
Since we're suppose to have freedom of speech in this country, either should be allowed to voice their opinion. The problem is that nonbelievers seem to think people should have freedom from religion. If they're correct (which they're not) then nonbelievers have the right to silence the believers even if it means denying them their Constitutional right of free speech. It doesn't matter what the Constitution says, what they believe and want trumps all else. The main problem is they seem to be getting away with it and it's time for believers to get some backbone and fight back.
@xtianpalafox (70)
• Philippines
22 May 09
i hope that in every corner of the world the freedom of religion was present, in my point of view we must not restrict anyone who cares to share their beliefs to others.
@MrPKitty (102)
• United States
21 May 09
It is up to the parents to decide what if any religious beliefs they want their child to learn. Unless a child is sent to a religious academy no teacher has the right or the authority to teach or even discuss their religious beliefs in a class room unless of course it is a class on alternative religions.
For the purposes of this discussion only I will state I am an Agnostic with Evolutionary leanings.
I am not at war with Christmas. wanna put a nativity scene in your front yard, that's cool. Big blue cross on your roof? It's your house, go for it. hey, I'm even cool with the singing elves on the front lawn, as long as you turn them off by 10p.m. during the week.
But don't, DO NOT get all snippy with me when I choose to say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas". It's your belief, I am not required to abide by it.
I have beliefs of my own.
@Pitgull (1522)
• United States
20 May 09
I don't believe that any teachers share some sort of extended privilege--if they do not believe in 'God.'
Those that preach a lack of gospel, are not preachers of the typical sense...but there are those that just as strongly preach the nonexistence of 'God.'
There are many different religions, and even the religious do not agree. Students have enough to deal with, than having to be judged on their beliefs.
Communication is necessary, but religion in school? Morality is what matters, and we do not need religion to be moral. But with morality we can still be of our religion, but accepting that not everyone believes alludes to part of why 'God' is not considered an important aspect of school.
You cannot provide scientific evidence, or anything else like you do in school for 'God,' it is a subjective, often faith-based, philosophy.
If philosophy is being taught, 'God' should not be an avoided subject.
However, church is the place for discussing 'God,' not schools. 'God' created believers and nonbelievers, our balance is essential.
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
20 May 09
i totally agree. they should not be so preachy also if they don't want other to be preachy.
