Ihmhi

I was pondering something. My school has a Bible Club. I'm going to ignore the fact that this goes entirely against the whole Church-State seperation thing (after all, "In God We Trust" ), although is sometimes pisses me off that democracy allows cults to exist. :banghead: 'Clang' "Echo!" 'Clang' "Echo!" 'Clang' "Echo!"

Anyway, rather than complain about the fact that this club exists, I was thinking of trying to get an anti-bible club of sorts created (perhaps I could put a nice spin on it and call it an "Atheism Discussion Club").

I do know that my school has a decent atheist population. (Out of about 2,000, I know about 40 or 50. And those are just ones I know personally. There's probably a lot more.)

Before creating a club, you have to overcome three obstacles.

1. You must find a faculty member who will organize and support your club.

2. You must design an effective proposal that gives a good enough reason for your club to exist. (By the way, I don't think "Because the Bible Club is warping minds and indoctrinating our youth" would be a very diplomatic approach.)

3. You must present this data to an administrator (I think a vice principal or something) and get their approval.


These are the things that stand in my way. I do have some things on my side.

1. The existance of the Bible Club.

2. About two weeks ago, they had a school-wide assembly. (Actually, they had two back to back. Our auditorium can't fit the entire student body in at once.) It was called something like "A Celebration of Inspirational Music". Basically, it was a preaching shouting "Amen!" a lot while the "Gospel Dancers" pranced around holding crosses. We had to endure 10 songs, which took an hour altogther. They're lucky I don't sue.


Oh, and I have one more problem. Three of the singers were of the upper echelon of our school's administration.

That means I have to rationalize an Atheism Club's usefulness, importance, and merit...

to a Theist.


For the love of the God that doesn't exist, I'm implore all of you in II. Please help me so that I can strike a blow for Atheists!

Biff the unclean

You might want to throw the words "minority" and "diversity" into your proposal and always present it as "Positive" Atheism.

Toto

The Secular Student Alliance would probably help you:

http://www.secularstudents.org/highs...hs_update.html

MrDarwin

"Bible clubs" do not violate church/state separation as long as other (i.e., non-religious) groups are given equal opportunity to organize and use school resources and property to meet.

SLD

I know of a High School Freethinker who tried to start one here in Birmingham a few years ago. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes beat him up. His principal tried to have it stopped until he got the ACLU to threaten them; but by that time school was almost out and he was graduating. Another example of true Christian love in action.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

SLD

wade-w

This looks more like a CSS&SA thread to me, so I am going to move it there.

I'd have to agree with MrDarwin that a bible club in and of itself does not violate the principle of church/state seperation. As long as membership is strictly voluntary, anyway. However, the assemblies you describe are very troubling. You imply that attendance was mandatory. Was this during school hours? If so, participation from school officials was highly inappropriate.

DoubleDutchy

Did you ever consider to join the Bible Club yourself and take a couple of friends with you. You might live 'interesting times' and learn quite a lot.
'Who knows himself thouroughly and knows the ennemy thouroughly, he will be invincible'
(Lu Tsu: The art of war)

capsaicin67

My 2.5 cents:

Potential advisors will be leery of whether the purpose of your club is to be deliberately provocative and antagonistic, or whether it 's focus is first and foremost to support and stimulate those on a different path *on that path*. Do what you want, but if you send out vibes that you define your atheism/freethought by being against other peoples' metaphysics----as misguided as you believe it is, and as intolerant and intrusive as it often is----- I think you will make your mission harder. And reason/freethought *is* a positive cause and your club could do some real good. You don't have to convert the xians, if all you do is give a safe roost for the kids that want and need one, that would be tremendous.

It's hard for xians to talk about their gig without defining themeselves as more saved than atheists[and being aggressively and inappropriately intrusive and or hateful]. And atheists have the reverse problem. The 2 ideas are fairly mutually exclusive seems like and both parties vex one another and can't stand the thought that the other is existing and the inverse of their own beliefs. No easy solution. But I think with a little effort you could find many ways your club could stay busy without it turning into a rival gang and focusing on how xians suck.

You could check out the group that Toto mentioned and I think that Campus Freethought Alliance may have some resources as well?

p.s.-I do see that you recognize these issues. I'm just saying that the focus on positivity is not just strategic---it also will probably be better for the health of your club, too. It's challenging, but I think it could be worth it! But not a lot of precedent out there to lead you---you'll have to do a fair bit of trailblazing!

Seeker630

for InmHi:
I'm originally from Michigan, and just a few years ago (maybe 4-5) a young black teenager got an atheist club started in the Muskegon school district, which is on the western shore of the state on Lake Michigan. There was quite a bit of press coverage about it at the time. He met resistance from the principal at 1st but his parents supported him and they basically wound up threatening to bring in the ACLU.

The school he was in already had a bible club, as that is a big-time fundy area of the state. He wound up with a club with regular members and even published a newsletter. The following year I think he graduated and handed the club over to someone else. I don't know if it still exists or not.

Just to let you know there is hope.

Javaman

There's an article about that Michigan club here written by the student that started it. There's not much written about what happened after he left. The article does point out that you don't need a faculty sponsor to start the club.

Edited to add this link and to add that, ifyou want more info, the name "Micah White" is unique enough that you shouldn't have trouble searching for more info.