Atheist clubs are springing up in American high schools

[charlou]

Oh, this is good :twisted: ...

Atheist clubs are springing up in American high schools, warns head of US Catholic bishops

A “triumphalistic, self-righteous atheism” inspired by the work of Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris is winning a following among American young people, leading to “atheist clubs” in high schools, according to Cardinal Francis George of Chicago.

The cardinal, who is President of the US Catholic Bishops’ Conference, says that unbelief among young people is more than a question of stopping going to church: it is part of a fashionable “new atheism” which is every bit as intolerant as Christian fundamentalism. He told John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter:

“In Chicago, we now have atheist clubs in high schools. We didn’t have those five years ago. Kids I would have confirmed in the eighth grade, by the time they’re sophomores in high school say they’re atheists. They don’t just stop going to church, they make a statement. I think that’s new. That’s perhaps a bit more like Europe.”

The Cardinal agreed with Allen’s suggestion that that the atheism of Dawkins and Harris was “highly evangelical”:

“Yes it is, sure. Everybody has said that, and it’s true. It’s the mirror image of a kind of fundamentalism, because it’s very restrictive in its use of reason. It’s also very triumphalistic and self-righteous.”

The Cardinal’s comments will be hard to dismiss as scaremongering. YouTube is crawling with videos by articulate, friendly American teenagers and university students proclaiming their uncompromising atheism; indeed, atheism is one of the fastest-growing movements in the 18-25 age group, casting doubt on old assumptions that the religious impulse is somehow hard-wired into the American psyche.

Yet, as Cardinal George says, there is something strongly akin to religious fundamentalism in the evangelical commitment it arouses in its adherents. He, and the whole of the American Church, must be praying that the certainty of unbelief wears off as the “new atheists” have children and face the prospect of mortality. But, as statistics from Europe indicate, this not a foregone conclusion: atheism, like any other belief system, can be passed from one generation to the next.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Once the kids find out the Church doesn't approve of them they'll spread like crazy.

[FBM]

It’s the mirror image of a kind of fundamentalism, because it’s very restrictive in its use of reason. It’s also very triumphalistic and self-righteous.”

I disagree with all of this except the 'self-righteous' part. That does seem to apply to some of us more enthusiastic atheists, and it's one reason I'm not too comfy over at RDF. "...restrictive in its use of reason." is bullshit, unless you consider demanding that it be used correctly as 'restrictive'.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It’s the mirror image of a kind of fundamentalism, because it’s very restrictive in its use of reason. It’s also very triumphalistic and self-righteous.”

I disagree with all of this except the 'self-righteous' part. That does seem to apply to some of us more enthusiastic atheists, and it's one reason I'm not too comfy over at RDF. "...restrictive in its use of reason." is bullshit, unless you consider demanding that it be used correctly as 'restrictive'.

That's just "deflection by reflection". They put all their bad habits on us to drag us down to their level, where they're more comfortable. They do that over at ATS all the time.

[angrychimp]

He, and the whole of the American Church, must be praying that the certainty of unbelief wears off as the “new atheists” have children and face the prospect of mortality

That sentence right there confirms religion is fear based 'lies for comfort'. John Allen just buried his own story. What a tard.

[FBM]

He, and the whole of the American Church, must be praying that the certainty of unbelief wears off as the “new atheists” have children and face the prospect of mortality

That sentence right there confirms religion is fear based 'lies for comfort'. John Allen just buried his own story. What a tard.

I noticed that too. Just another version of the 'no atheists in foxholes' "argument".

[charlou]

He, and the whole of the American Church, must be praying that the certainty of unbelief wears off as the “new atheists” have children and face the prospect of mortality

That sentence right there confirms religion is fear based 'lies for comfort'. John Allen just buried his own story. What a tard.

The really great thing is that all these ridiculous arguments have been and are being dealt with so intelligently in blogs, forums, articles, books, interviews, etc, that people have a vast and growing resource of rational ideas at their disposal to refer to whenever religious apologetics intrudes. Theists are going to find it increasingly difficult to convince anyone that their superstitious version of Truth is plausible, necessary or desirable. They're looking more and more ludicrous and desperate, and the irony of all this is just delicious.

[Hermit]

...warns head of US Catholic bishops

The Cardinal’s comments will be hard to dismiss as scaremongering.

The diatribe pretending to be reportage with a singular lack of success and published by the Telegraph was written by Damian Thompson, who is also editor-in-chief of the Catholic Herald and Scottish Catholic Observer.



'Nough said.

[Ian]

I have a lot of faith (no pun intended) in a much more secular future for the US, thanks in no small part to the younger generations today.

[Faithfree]

Oh, this is good :twisted: ...

Atheist clubs are springing up in American high schools, warns head of US Catholic bishops

Some good news from America at last!

[maiforpeace]

There is great hope. I met a couple of young men at the AAI convention who started a Secular Student Alliance at the Presbyterian University they attend.

The religious community is extremely concerned about the huge numbers of young people that are rejecting religion and embracing atheism. I live next to a Christian Conference center and over the past couple of years when they have pastor and youth pastor retreats the schedule of events have included numerous lectures and workshops about bringing young people back into the fold. They would prefer it if those young people just went secular instead of atheist, because there is more hope that they will eventually turn back to religion when they have families.

This makes a great case for organizing, so even if you don't like the idea of participating yourself in organized events, support your local atheist, humanist and ethical culture groups. *shameless plug*

[Deep Sea Isopod]

They'll never allow Atheist clubs in the UK. The Yoghurt Knitters will claim it offends someone or other.

[Trolldor]

I don't see why this is a cause for celebration. As far as I'm concerned it's just something that's come to pass. Show me a correlation between the rise of atheist clubs in high school and a decrease in teen pregnancies, or violence, or drug abuse, and then I'll celebrate it.

[Pappa]

I don't see why this is a cause for celebration. As far as I'm concerned it's just something that's come to pass. Show me a correlation between the rise of atheist clubs in high school and a decrease in teen pregnancies, or violence, or drug abuse, and then I'll celebrate it.

Surely just having kids that aren't brainwashed by nonsense is something positive in itself?

[Trolldor]

I don't see why this is a cause for celebration. As far as I'm concerned it's just something that's come to pass. Show me a correlation between the rise of atheist clubs in high school and a decrease in teen pregnancies, or violence, or drug abuse, and then I'll celebrate it.

Surely just having kids that aren't brainwashed by nonsense is something positive in itself?

Not really. It makes no difference as to whether they're religious or atheist if nothing actually changes. They've just replaced one label with another, but their attitude will be the same.