Advertising Atheism

[rlrose328]

EXCELLENT idea, laetus!  I will do that tomorrow... we can hit up the scrapbook store for sure.  Thanks so much!!!  

[SteveS]

Her response: "Put it in and if there are problems with any of the children, we deal with them and their parents, one by one." Love her. LOL! I said if the web address weren't on there, she might be in the uncomfortable position of explaining what it means and her response was "And I'll tell them what it means... it doesn't scare me at all." Did I mention I love her?

For good reason, it would seem.  She sounds like a truly decent person.

But then I remember a conversation with one of the believers just the other day in which she said her children SHOULD be taught evolution if only so they can see how stupid it is

This works for me.  As long as it is taught properly, I think it is self evident that the theory is anything but stupid.  This is the case where I would say "I have nothing to fear".  

[rlrose328]

The decision has been made for me.

The organizer talked to the principal, just to be sure (she meant no harm, I know that) and he said "nothing having to do with faith, either having it or not having it" is allowed as advertising on the shirt or on school grounds.   lol

Of course, the hubby was not happy, even though he was torn about doing it to begin with.  He said our business is secular and thus, shouldn't be affected by the Separation clause.  

[Whitney]

Of course, the hubby was not happy, even though he was torn about doing it to begin with.  He said our business is secular and thus, shouldn't be affected by the Separation clause.  

I don't think it works that way...separation of church and state is meant to keep the government from having a stance on religion or otherwise pushing a view related to religion on others.  So, it would be just as wrong for them to promote an atheist view as it would for them to promote Christianity or Islam.

[rlrose328]

I don't think it works that way...separation of church and state is meant to keep the government from having a stance on religion or otherwise pushing a view related to religion on others.  So, it would be just as wrong for them to promote an atheist view as it would for them to promote Christianity or Islam.

But why is that?  We do not have religion or a belief in god.  We are promoting freethought and scientific views, not a belief in a deity.  Merely because the name of the site is "atheismquotes.com" and has the A word in it?  We also have "freethinkerquotes.com" going to the same site... would that be more acceptable and not violate the separation clause?

[SteveS]

Tricky argument.  I'm inclined to go with laetusatheos on this one.  To me, atheism is a reactionary position.  Atheist = not-theist.  So, if there were no religions (and therefore no theists) then there would be no atheists, either.  I can't see how to completely decouple atheism from religion (although I agree that it is not, itself, a religion).  Atheism is a position of not-religious.  Promoting atheism, which is akin to promoting "no religion", would seem to me to be making a statement against religion, and the separation clause seems (again, seems to me) to be clear about neither endorsing nor preventing religious belief.  I think one could make the case that promoting/advertising atheism is at odds with the separation clause on the grounds that it is preventing religious belief.  While there can be no freedom of religion if the government sides with a particular faith, there can also be no freedom of religion if the government sides with "no religion".

Even if this isn't really clear (although I sort of think it is) I think you can justify the principal's position as one of caution.  And, I can hardly blame him for that.

[rlrose328]

I concur completely... I adore our principal and he knows me pretty well.  He knows I won't cause a ruckus because I love our school.

I'm okay with all of this... just another little touch of drahhhh-ma in my oh-so-drab life.   :raised: