Edutheria

The most important lesson for young people shoud be to make their own lessons. The only dogma that should be stomached in education is to question all dogmas. The most tempting dogma a person will face in her life will be that of salvation through religion. Most people are completely unarmed in the face of such a powerful lie, because they are not allowed to much discuss religion in their state-run schools for fear of a political backlash. Contrary to the beliefs of those who think state schooling is the only way to promote and protect secularism, the only way students can get the intellectual training they need to stay intellectually honest in the face of heavenly promises is through private schooling, like that on offer at the budding ‘Sunday schools for atheists’ covered recently by Time Magazine. Here’s a sample of the kind of open, frank discussion of faith and beliefs that you’ll never find in a state-run school:

Down the hall in the kitchen, older kids engaged in a Socratic conversation with class leader Bishop about the role persuasion plays in decision-making. He tried to get them to see that people who are coerced into renouncing their beliefs might not actually change their minds but could be acting out of self-preservation–an important lesson for young atheists who may feel pressure to say they believe in God.

(Cross-posted at The Sword and the Lie.)