Why isn't atheism taught in schools?

At least as a part of world history, seeing as the other popular religions of the world are addressed. It would be nice to see them all introduced in an unbiased manner so that children can use their own common sense and good judgment rather than being brainwashed by family and surroundings

How do you teach someone a lack of belief?

Because it's a religion. And if we can't teach Christianity, you don't get to teach atheism.

But frankly, I'd be okay with your idea of teaching it as part of history. In fact, I'd like a BIG FOOTNOTE next to the chapters on Stalin, Polpot, and Mao that make mention of the fact that they were devout atheists.

Why are you so uneducated?

Please stop posting. You make a fool of all the atheists on this site and you're embarrassing us.

Exactly the point they want their religion taught to everyone but not Atheism

Public schooling is your source,go there,

Christians pay tax dollars at the same rate as unbelievers......you scream your tax dollars won't fund religious teachings, so you have to abide by the same boundaries.

If you want us to believe you're not a child, maybe think about changing all your pretty little girl pictures in for a name with actual words.

you can't teach someone to have a lack of belief in god, just like you can't teach someone to believe in god...it just doesn't make any sense.

have a nice day.

Only God knows.

Way back when I was in high school and took a World Religion class, we certainly learned that atheists do not believe in deities.

because your not smart.

Christianity only gets one paragraph while Islam gets an entire chapter. I suggest you go to the Texas School Board and file your complaint with them. The person writing the history books is a Muslim who believes in Sharia Law. Do the research you'll find out the truth.

Personally, I feel Christianity needs to return to school. Kids are given options now as to what classes they want to take. Why can't they decide if they want to take a class in Christianity?

Because public schools are required to be completely religion neutral.

Not to mention, this whole atheism being taken seriously thing is kind of a relatively recent phenomena.

Is how to breathe taught in schools?

It's not a religion or even a philosophy, and the only significant influence it has had on world history was in the guise of Communism.

Plus, brainwashing is a fallacy. If people were actually 'brainwashed by family and surroundings' there would never be anyone converting to anything, including atheism. Everyone has a mind and free will, whether or not they chose to use them is another question.

>>>>May the Lord forbid !!<<<<

Atheism isn't taught. It's a LACK of belief.

Atheism is not a religion. The scientific facts of evolution in school today actually supports atheism.

You... can't teach it. You just become it if you are either educated enough in the right field, or have a naturally skeptical nature and question religion. Or both. Of course not every educated person is an atheist, but there is a reason why 90% of scientists are atheists.

No... we can't teach atheism but we can teach secularism that just so happen many atheists also support.

And what would you teach? It would be a very short class and completely unnecessary...

IMHO

How do you teach a non-belief?

Yes, I think it would be better if during history classes that atheism didn't just come up in conjunction with communism. After all, 18% of the world population is secular. However, atheism doesn't have any common beliefs, or philosophies, or anything at all except a lack of belief in any gods. What's there to teach?

CRITICAL THINKING AND LOGIC, on the other hand, should definitely be taught in schools.

How can you teach something which has no supporting evidence?

Because its not a religion?

Atheism isn't a religion. All it is not believing any gods exist. "Some people don't believe any gods exist." That's all the lesson would consist of.
Skepticism, critical thinking, philosophical materialism, scientific naturalism, etc on the other hand should be taught and often are. Your history/social studies classes should at some point cover the Enlightenment and Greek philosophy.

Atheism is a conclusion, and one not worth teaching. Critical thinking, which frequently results in atheism, is. If you 'taught' atheism, but not the critical thinking, you'd end up with dogmatic thinking or a bunch of kids who thought "Zeitgeist" held water.