Richard Dawkins and the atheist school

[Prolescum]

Full article

So, Richard Dawkins has promised, no, that's too strong, intimated that he might set up an atheist school, as he would presumably have the right to under new government "free school" plans. During a chat on mumsnet he responded to a few suggestions that he start "an atheist free school" by saying he liked the idea very much.

 

[Case]

A school for atheists or a school that teaches... hmmm... I can't quite figure out how that would make for a special curriculum.
Having read the article.. duh. That's not an atheist school, it would do exactly what schools are supposed to do.

Dawkins didn't claim "atheist schols" anything. He clearly said it wouldn't be an atheist school but a school that promotes critical thinking.
That said, the author of that piece seems to be an idiot. Gah. "Neutrality is not an option.", come on. The prisoner religion example he pulled out of his ass shows just how ridiculous the whole idea of freedom of religion is (in a sense that it doesn't matter what your religion is, certain elements of what you claim to be necessary for your practice of that religion will never be permitted), not how ridiculous critical thinking is. "Without bias" in this sense just means to treat all religions as equally nonsensical, and I think that's a fair treatment they deserve. A religion doesn't become more valid the more people subscribe to it.

"...dragging atheist presuppositions from the skirts of secular neutrality and exposing them to a little more public scrutiny".
Seriously, this boy doesn't have a clue.

 

[ExplorerAtHeart]

Why not a university of reality. (Based on real evidence from reality)

 

[ImprobableJoe]

Why not a university of reality. (Based on real evidence from reality)

That's closer to what it is. The "school of atheism" thing is yet another in the LONG series of lies from theists.

 

[Case]

Let's call it 'School of Thought'.

 

[ImprobableJoe]

Here's the offending piece of smearing fake journalism, and what Dawkins has to say:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/jun/25/dawkins-atheist-school

Dawkins, however, is scornful of postmodernism. "I would never want to indoctrinate children in atheism", he told Mumsnet. "Instead, children should be taught to ask for evidence, to be sceptical, critical, open-minded. If children understand that beliefs should be substantiated with evidence, as opposed to tradition, authority, revelation or faith, they will automatically work out for themselves that they are atheists."

 

[joshurtree]

They will just be star cults.

 

[nasher168]

They will just be star cults.

:lol:
Oh, very good.

 

[FaithlessThinker]

One way to fight stupidity in the name of religion is to study religion itself with critical thinking. Usually schools with religious classes only have them to promote the founder's religion. However, if the government mandates all schools to remove religious classes from their timetables and have "study of religion" classes instead, with the teacher guiding the students to criticize and analyse religious texts the same way they would analyse any other text, this would ensure the bright future of mankind by eradicating disturbing beliefs and creating a generation of knowledge-based critical thinkers.

 

[MRaverz]

Not sure this is a good idea, a 'secular school' would be great but an 'atheist school' is fuel for the fire.

 

[Case]

Not sure this is a good idea, a 'secular school' would be great but an 'atheist school' is fuel for the fire.

Did you actually read the articles/posts?

 

[Master_Ghost_Knight]

Suprises me how nobody hasn't yet commented that the special curricula included:
1. How to coock your baby in gastronomy class.
2. 100 ways to redicule a christian.
3. How to conduct a Gay orgy between humans and pupys in honor of satan.
4. <Insert smut stereotipical fundi view of an atheist + a spin here>

It is so asking for it.

 

[Prolescum]

Suprises me how nobody hasn't yet commented that the special curricula included:
1. How to cook your baby in gastronomy class.
2. 100 ways to ridicule a christian.
3. How to conduct a Gay orgy between humans and puppies in honor of satan.
4. ???
5. Profit!

It is so asking for it.

Fixed.

Oh Joe, the link was in the OP