notMichaelJackson

Last year in my senior Geography course we had to do presentations of the more minor world religions (Shintoism, Jainism, ect...) and although I am not an atheist, I wanted to do mine on atheism/agnosticism. My teacher would not let me, however, saying that atheist is not an organized religion. I agree that it is not a religion but I thought it was a concept worthy of a presentation.

Any thoughts?

seebs

I think your teacher was quite right; it's *not* a "belief system" in and of itself. You might have been able to, say, do something on "positive atheism". Not organized? Sure, but lots of religions aren't organized.

Mageth

Your teacher was right in that atheism is not a religion, and is definitely not "organized" (although there are atheist organizations). In essence, atheism is an expression of one's stance on god-belief: as an atheist, I lack belief in god(s). Better topics to propose may have been Secular Humanism or Metaphysical Naturalism (not technially religions, but they may have qualified under your teacher's criteria).

Apparently your teacher wanted a presentation on a "real" religion. It's his/her call on what would meet the requirements for the presentation.

[ December 24, 2002: Message edited by: Mageth ]</p>

WWSD

Oh yeah, I got lots of those. Most are pretty useless though.

Atheism/agnoticism, IMO, should be a valid topic for discussion. It may not be an organized religion, or really a religion at all, but it does relate to religion.

Maybe discussion of such unholy things frightens people...

Monkeybot

I'm going to move this up to General Religious Discussions.

Dr Rick

A full and complete summary of atheism would entail all of one sentence:

"Atheism is a lack of belief in gods."

Your teacher was right to ask you to present something else, imo.

Rick

Rusting Car Bumper

it's probably too late but here is what I would have said if you asked this a the time he/she refused.

Press your case.

Present these facts to your teacher.
Agree that atheism is not a religion. (As others have said it is not.) However, the fact that it is not is unknown to many kids and in fact many are taguht it *is* a religion. Suggest bringing this point forward would help the other kids realize that its not. Also, point out that although its not a religion there are many things that many atheists have in common and many misconceptions that people have about atheists. Those points alone should make it worthy of discussion.

I frankly think its sad that some atheists would side with your teacher and not see this as an opportunity to outreach to those you have misconceptions and prejudices about atheists.

DC

[ December 24, 2002: Message edited by: DigitalChicken ]</p>

Dr Rick

DC, nMJ is doing a school report, not pr work for atheism.

The assignment called for a report on "minor world religions (Shintoism, Jainism, ect...)," a group to which atheism does not belong. It makes no sense to suggest that a report on atheism meets the requirements specified, because atheism is not a religion, not even a minor one.

Rick

Waning Moon Conrad

Here here!

Rusting Car Bumper

First, he/she said it was a "presentation" and not a report.

Education is supposed to be about removing ignorance. So why not do a report about a thing which some kids have misconceptions about? You seemed to gloss over the fact, which was mentioned, that many kids are taught it *is* a religion. This alone is justification for its presentation in my mind. That is, it is a theological viewpoint that has a specific relation to the others and even though its not a religion in the technical sense, atheists can be religious.

Again I think opposition to it is backasswards as they say. It's self defeating and its hiding in the closet. The project is essentially a study in comparitive religions and the hair splitting attitude that "atheism is not a religion" merely stands to say that atheists have no seat at the table or even valid opinions when it comes to religious questions.

sad...

DC

[ December 24, 2002: Message edited by: DigitalChicken ]</p>