New Member

[Cycel]

Hello All,
I am an atheist, what most would call a strong atheist, and this is my first post.  Put me down as a 7 on Dawkins' scale.  I look forward to a free flow of ideas, something not possible on most Christian sites I have visited.

A little additional info.  I was raised Christian and first experienced doubt around the age of 10 years.  At 16 I became a born again atheist.  I am a father of two sons, both of whom are atheists. I work in education; hence my pseudonym (not all parents would appreciate an atheist educating their children).  I look forward to chatting with many of you.
 
Cycel

[Recusant]

Hello, and welcome to HAF, Cycel.  I agree that it's wise to avoid advertising your atheism, given your profession. There are a few places in the US where it wouldn't be a problem, but the vast majority of the country (as you say) wouldn't appreciate it, to put it mildly.  For that matter, in my opinion, educators should be neutral on the subject of religion whatever their personal beliefs.  A bit of an idealistic position perhaps.

I hope that you enjoy your time reading and posting here.

[The Magic Pudding]

LLAP Cycel

[wildfire_emissary]

Ah! A fellow atheist educator! Welcome to HAF!

[Tank]

Hi Cycel

Welcome to another Star Trek fan by the look of it?

Regards
Chris

[Cycel]

Hello, and welcome to HAF, Cycel.  I agree that it's wise to avoid advertising your atheism, given your profession. There are a few places in the US where it wouldn't be a problem, but the vast majority of the country (as you say) wouldn't appreciate it, to put it mildly.  For that matter, in my opinion, educators should be neutral on the subject of religion whatever their personal beliefs.  A bit of an idealistic position perhaps.

Hi Recusant,
I agree with your thoughts.  Remaining neutral is the safest approach.  I have had students ask me my religious views but I've always told them to come back and talk with me once they've graduated high school.  So far no one has.  A few years ago I had a group of grade 5 boys ask whether I believed in God.  I gave the response above which prompted one of them to quip, "Mr X doesn't believe in God.  If he did he would have said so."  I hadn't expected such astuteness from someone whose grades were so low.  You really can't tell a book by its cover, or a student by his grades.    The boy was right.  Christians, the really devout ones at least, seem quick to acknowledge their faith.

Thanks for the welcome.

[Cycel]

LLAP Cycel

Back at you Magic.

[Cycel]

Ah! A fellow atheist educator! Welcome to HAF!

There's a few of us around.  In my parts, quite a few me thinks.  Thanks for the welcome.

[Cycel]

Hi Cycel

Welcome to another Star Trek fan by the look of it?

Regards
Chris

You are bang on!  When I was in my teens the Spock character was my role model. I could have done worse.

Thanks for the welcome.

[Asmodean]

Is it really that bad in some places that parents object to their children being taught by atheists..?

We do, after all, tend to be better educated than the rest of them, so it seems sort of weird to me...  

[Cycel]

Is it really that bad in some places that parents object to their children being taught by atheists..?

You'd be surprised at what some parents object to: incorporating ghosts, goblins and witches in Halloween art, for example.  I've not actually heard of a parent complaining about their child's teacher being an atheist, but then I have never heard of a teacher broadcasting their atheism to students.  Better just to play it safe.

Thanks for the welcome.

[_7654_]

You are welcome, and congratulations to the 2 atheist kids