Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Shake · 02-20-2003, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Harumi
I've had that happen to me, at my school.

I was surfing II like I usually did, when several kids came up behind me and asked me what it was all about.

"What's that?"

"Oh, Internet Infidels. It's a site for atheists."

"Cool! You're an atheist? Some am I!"

We're thinking of creating an atheist club at school.

Another cool thing happened at my youth orchestra. I was talking to a guy, who mentioned that he didn't believe in soul mates.

"I do, but not in that kind of way. I define soul mates as couples who fit each other in so many ways, and are perfect for each other."

"Oh. Well, the reason why I don't believe in soul mates is because I don't believe in souls."

He gives me this challenging look, expecting me to go into a religious tirade.

"Cool! I don't believe in souls either! I'm an atheist."

Brightens considerably.

"Really? Oh wow! I thought that I was the only one. That is so awesome!"

I felt so warm and fuzzy afterwards.

Cool! Bring 'em on in! The more the merrier here at II!

... and folks keep complaining about today's youth! These young people sound pretty cool to me! Harumi, share II with them, get the T-shirts, and start your club! And good luck with it all!

Harumi · 02-21-2003, 06:21 AM

There are actually quite a few atheists at our school. Most usually keep to the background, but quite a few are very vocal. The majority of the kids question religion, find it inadequate, and are "spiritual" but don't like "organized religion".

We're going to be studying evolution in bio class soon. We studied it before freshman year. Our teacher made a big speech about it too:

"I know that some of you guys don't believe in evolution. I don't care. You're going to stay in here. You're going to learn the concepts, and you're going to take the t4st afterwards. When after all that, you still don't believe in it, then fine. But I'm teaching it, and you have all better well learn."

It was great. I love my school.

And I think that quite a few of my friends are here, but lurking. I'm trying to get them to register, but our school takes a lot out of our time. The only reason why I'm able to write so much is because I'm a senior, and graduating in two months.

Atheists are everywhere, you just have to ask and find out.

LogicMage · 02-23-2003, 11:42 AM

My school is dominated by mormons, catholics, and babtists. The FCA fills the lectur hall(about 200 people) and there is a second christian group called "Youth alive" both of which advertize over the intercom everyday. I only know 5 atheists(myself included) and 1 agnostic. I so want to start an atheist club but we dont have the member base

James Hamlin · 02-23-2003, 03:42 PM

I just got started on this board after lurking for about a month. I've been an atheist for about a year now and love the clarity of thought it allows; there is no need to reconcile conflicts between supernatural myths and reality. Most of my friends are very open-minded and liberal about religion, but are (unfortunately) still believers, somewhat.

I've done substantial reading on atheism (which my parents were unhappy to discover as I left an anthology of essays entitled Atheism: A Reader on my nightstand, though upside-down), and am considering starting a Freethinkers club at school. Any ideas on finding fellow atheists without inciting a lynch mob? And what would be good actions for a Freethinker's Club? Church/State separation activism? Philosophical/Religious debates? Guest speakers?
My big vision is a (hopefully friendly) debate between a Freethinker's Club leader and a Christian Club (my school's evangelical Christian movement) leader.

Anyway, I too am pleasantly surprised about atheists.

nogods4me · 02-24-2003, 09:13 AM

Depending on the size of your school you could make it a Freethinker's/Skeptic's club. You could then address topics as diverse as C/S issuea and Psychic Hotlines.
As a plus meetings on things like debunking psychics and such might draw in some fence-siiters and liberal theists as well allowing you to plant the seed of freethought.

James Hamlin · 02-24-2003, 11:12 AM

Thanks for the suggestions, nogods. My greatest worry is that the club will have maybe two members. But everyone's testimonies about finding fellow heathens is encouraging.

nogods4me · 02-24-2003, 12:18 PM

well, with a small school base like that the "skeptic's club" might be the way to go. at first you can advertise the group to those interested in investigating the paranormal and such. Of course you will get a number of the gullible believer types to show up, but if you are respectfull and do not denigrate them you can perhaps show them how such cons as "cold reading" are done. Give them something to think about. You can move on to claims of faith healers and visions of saints and such. Perhaps even start out debunking oddball religious groups like the heaven's gate group and the raelians, slowly it will dawn on some (we hope) that the same standards should apply to their own beliefs. then you can go for the biggies, organize a evolution/creation debate with the bible club, that sort of thing.

Shake · 02-24-2003, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James Hamlin
I just got started on this board after lurking for about a month. I've been an atheist for about a year now and love the clarity of thought it allows; there is no need to reconcile conflicts between supernatural myths and reality. Most of my friends are very open-minded and liberal about religion, but are (unfortunately) still believers, somewhat.

I've done substantial reading on atheism (which my parents were unhappy to discover as I left an anthology of essays entitled Atheism: A Reader on my nightstand, though upside-down), and am considering starting a Freethinkers club at school. Any ideas on finding fellow atheists without inciting a lynch mob? And what would be good actions for a Freethinker's Club? Church/State separation activism? Philosophical/Religious debates? Guest speakers?
My big vision is a (hopefully friendly) debate between a Freethinker's Club leader and a Christian Club (my school's evangelical Christian movement) leader.

Anyway, I too am pleasantly surprised about atheists.

Very cool! Welcome to II! It's nice to see so many new members just jumping right in and posting lately!

What would be good actions? All of your above suggestions sound good to me. If I were a student in your school (which I couldn't be at my age), I'd join! Atheism: A Reader sounds familiar. These aren't your own essays are they?

Anyway, good luck with your club, and again, welcome!

GunnerJ · 02-24-2003, 03:38 PM

I hope you'll forgive me, nogods, if I sya that your plan sounds rather like what the Scientologists do: claiming to be a self-help group through one of their fronts, for example, and then tricking people into a "program" they didn't sign up for. Just an observation.

James Hamlin · 02-24-2003, 09:55 PM

No, Shake, I didn't write the essays. It's a compilation of essays by many writers, such as Hume, Nietzsche, Sagan, and many others, edited by S.T. Joshi. It has some pretty good arguments in it.

The club idea dawned on me a couple of months ago - since I'm a senior, I would really like to help establish this for future classes, since for me it seems a little late. But I'm doing what I can (i.e. trying to find a liberal teacher to sponsor this).

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

02-21-2003, 06:21 AM	#12
Harumi Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 3,184	There are actually quite a few atheists at our school. Most usually keep to the background, but quite a few are very vocal. The majority of the kids question religion, find it inadequate, and are "spiritual" but don't like "organized religion". We're going to be studying evolution in bio class soon. We studied it before freshman year. Our teacher made a big speech about it too: "I know that some of you guys don't believe in evolution. I don't care. You're going to stay in here. You're going to learn the concepts, and you're going to take the t4st afterwards. When after all that, you still don't believe in it, then fine. But I'm teaching it, and you have all better well learn." It was great. I love my school. And I think that quite a few of my friends are here, but lurking. I'm trying to get them to register, but our school takes a lot out of our time. The only reason why I'm able to write so much is because I'm a senior, and graduating in two months. Atheists are everywhere, you just have to ask and find out.

02-23-2003, 11:42 AM	#13
LogicMage Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Deep within the recesses of a twisted mind Posts: 74	My school is dominated by mormons, catholics, and babtists. The FCA fills the lectur hall(about 200 people) and there is a second christian group called "Youth alive" both of which advertize over the intercom everyday. I only know 5 atheists(myself included) and 1 agnostic. I so want to start an atheist club but we dont have the member base

02-23-2003, 03:42 PM	#14
James Hamlin Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 155	I just got started on this board after lurking for about a month. I've been an atheist for about a year now and love the clarity of thought it allows; there is no need to reconcile conflicts between supernatural myths and reality. Most of my friends are very open-minded and liberal about religion, but are (unfortunately) still believers, somewhat. I've done substantial reading on atheism (which my parents were unhappy to discover as I left an anthology of essays entitled Atheism: A Reader on my nightstand, though upside-down), and am considering starting a Freethinkers club at school. Any ideas on finding fellow atheists without inciting a lynch mob? And what would be good actions for a Freethinker's Club? Church/State separation activism? Philosophical/Religious debates? Guest speakers? My big vision is a (hopefully friendly) debate between a Freethinker's Club leader and a Christian Club (my school's evangelical Christian movement) leader. Anyway, I too am pleasantly surprised about atheists.

02-24-2003, 09:13 AM	#15
nogods4me Contributor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 17,432	Depending on the size of your school you could make it a Freethinker's/Skeptic's club. You could then address topics as diverse as C/S issuea and Psychic Hotlines. As a plus meetings on things like debunking psychics and such might draw in some fence-siiters and liberal theists as well allowing you to plant the seed of freethought.

02-24-2003, 11:12 AM	#16
James Hamlin Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 155	Thanks for the suggestions, nogods. My greatest worry is that the club will have maybe two members. But everyone's testimonies about finding fellow heathens is encouraging.

02-24-2003, 12:18 PM	#17
nogods4me Contributor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 17,432	well, with a small school base like that the "skeptic's club" might be the way to go. at first you can advertise the group to those interested in investigating the paranormal and such. Of course you will get a number of the gullible believer types to show up, but if you are respectfull and do not denigrate them you can perhaps show them how such cons as "cold reading" are done. Give them something to think about. You can move on to claims of faith healers and visions of saints and such. Perhaps even start out debunking oddball religious groups like the heaven's gate group and the raelians, slowly it will dawn on some (we hope) that the same standards should apply to their own beliefs. then you can go for the biggies, organize a evolution/creation debate with the bible club, that sort of thing.

02-24-2003, 03:38 PM	#19
GunnerJ Banned Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: a place where i can list whatever location i want Posts: 4,871	I hope you'll forgive me, nogods, if I sya that your plan sounds rather like what the Scientologists do: claiming to be a self-help group through one of their fronts, for example, and then tricking people into a "program" they didn't sign up for. Just an observation.

02-24-2003, 09:55 PM	#20
James Hamlin Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 155	No, Shake, I didn't write the essays. It's a compilation of essays by many writers, such as Hume, Nietzsche, Sagan, and many others, edited by S.T. Joshi. It has some pretty good arguments in it. The club idea dawned on me a couple of months ago - since I'm a senior, I would really like to help establish this for future classes, since for me it seems a little late. But I'm doing what I can (i.e. trying to find a liberal teacher to sponsor this).

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.