The Atheist Mama

My 10 yr old daughter has aspirations of becoming a scientist. She’s back and forth on the specific field of study but her heart has always led her to science. As a parent I feel its my job to provide her every opportunity possible to explore her thirst for knowledge.

We often have discussions pertaining to science and how the world and universe work. Lately, we have been discussing evolution. We have discussed the facts of biological evolution and are starting to get into some of the hypotheses as far as species evolutionary paths and relations. I recently suggested asking her teacher when and if they were going to cover evolution this year. As she came off the school bus yesterday the first thing out of her mouth was, “Mom! My teacher said it was against the law to teach evolution!� To say the least I was floored.

I realize that evolution is consistently under attack from the religious right based on their interpretation of biblical accounts regarding the creation of life. I can fully respect ones right to exercise their religious freedoms. However, I do not believe that the educational system needs to omit scientific reasoning, theory and hypotheses from curriculum in order to placate religious doctrine. The study of scientific evidence, fact, and theory are critical elements to understanding how science can be used to research and understand the world and universe around us. To leave out elements due to religious protest not only skews scientific data and understanding, it crosses the separation of church and state as outlined in our Constitution.

Although, I may not agree with some peoples choice to shelter their children from studying evolution, I support their right to practice their religion. If the studying of scientific data interferes with ones religious beliefs opting out of portions of science class that are thought to be contradictory or sac religious, as many do for sex education, is completely acceptable.

Honestly, I have been very happy with our school so I was shocked to hear that evolution would be a banned topic. I have started researching the issue. Web searches were varied and contradictory, as expected. However the names, numbers and addresses of our county board and state board are easily found on the web. This morning I placed several phone calls to members of both state and county school boards. No one was available at the time, so I left messages stating I was curious about some specific curriculum policies. I have received three varied responses. Oddly enough no one has been able to answer my question; Is there a law or policy prohibiting the teaching of evolution in public school?

One lady I spoke with admitted that she didn’t know much about evolution to begin with. She actually said, “its the idea that apes turned into humans or something like that.� I was a bit speechless over the comment. I mean this woman is one our county school board officials. In fact she is the chairman of the Curriculum advisory committee!

So I sit here this evening in a bit of shock and bewilderment. What started out as a quest to find out if evolution is a banned topic in North Carolina schools has turned up not only conflicting information but seems to have scratched the surface of what could be a grossly incompetent school board.

Cross posted on broadstripes.org

Lynn’s Daughter’s comment about her atheist bumper sticker in the previous post inspired me to ask: What kind of atheist or anti-religious stickers or emblems or what-not do you display on your vehicle(s)? Has anyone ever reacted to or commented about them? And if you don’t have anything like that, would you consider it? Ever?

The picture on the left is the emblem I’d like to put on my car, but I haven’t had the nerve…yet. I am an elementary school teacher in a conservative city in California, and I know many parents and most of the teachers I work with would not appreciate this display one little bit.

–Allen

All right, look around and remember where you were when you heard the news that Representative Pete Stark is openly atheist, the first one in American history!

I highly recommend you send him a positive message before the righteous backlash begins.

Whatever his politics may be, you have to admire his courage.

–Allen

For all the years I have spent on college campuses, I have not been heavily involved with Interfaith Offices, religious services, faith groups, chaplains, etc. Today I walked by the interfaith office of the local college i teach at (part time!) and wondered, “Do they, or does any college interfaith/relgious services office do anything for non-believers; for agnostics, atheists, secular humanists?” I would be fascinated to hear of your experiences in this arena.
Going a step further, here in Central New York we have an Interfaith Religious Council. Does anyone have any experience with such a group including or doing anything for non-believers (yes, I know, non-belief isn’t a faith)?
Finally, our local newspaper carries a daily column titled something like, “Ask Billy Graham,” where he dispenses party line Jesus loves you and the bible will tell you advice to those who write in. Has anyone ever seen a parallel column asking an Imam, Rabbi, secular humanist, atheist, etc?
I’m guessing we get the short end of the stick and most people don’t even notice, no less care.

Jim

I think one of the reasons that atheism is so maligned and misunderstood is because, by definition, atheism is a negative term. By that I mean it describes what we reject or don’t believe, but not what we accept or promote. Many religious people are instantly put on the defensive by the name alone.

Not only that, but most of the atheists they see are the ones they perceive taking away their rights in lawsuits or blaspheming The Holy Spirit on YouTube. Or ridiculing them on blogs like this one.

While defending atheism and criticizing religious beliefs are important and necessary, I think the time has come to include a different approach.

We atheists must begin to explain what we are for, what we value, and what we can offer instead of religion. We must go out into our communities openly and simply do good. No debates, no confrontations; just engage in something positive.

That’s my vision, anyway. I’d really enjoy getting a group of atheists together in my own town to do some volunteer work, and maybe it will inspire other people in other places to do the same. Then perhaps, some time in the future, we will begin to be treated with a little more respect and tolerance.

Is this a good idea? Am I naive? Or am I some kind of traitor to “the cause?�

–Allen

This is going to sound sensational and provocative to our religious audience in particular, but I don’t intend it to be. It is simply a sincere attempt to explain something that may be very difficult for believers to accept.

For much of human history, including our world today, many people have insisted one can’t be moral without a belief in one or more divine beings, usually the one or ones they themselves prefer. I have concluded, however, the opposite is true: one can’t truly be a moral person until one rejects any and all gods.

When I was a believing Catholic, I was often promised the wonders of heaven if I did what the Church taught was good, and the tortures of hell if I didn’t. Over time, however, this struck me as very cynical and insidious, and instead of inspiring me, it actually undermined my ability to make moral decisions. When I did good things, it was because they made me and others feel happy, not because I was hoping for a big payoff in the afterlife. In the same way, I rejected evil because it was wrong, not because I wanted to avoid eternal punishment.

In the end, I wanted to do the right thing for its own sake, not simply because some god or church or so-called sacred text commanded it. At that point, I began to see myself as a fully-realized moral being. Free from divine bribes and threats, I could determine what was good and evil through compassion, understanding, and reason. I could focus on making this, the only life we know of, as loving and fulfilling as possible.

Does this make me a deserving candidate for hell, as the Church and many others believe?

–Allen

I recently came across this image entitled “Forgiven.”

Maybe it’s just me, but…let’s just say there may be some interpretations the artist probably didn’t intend.

Am I wrong?

–Allen