Godsmacked: I’m an atheist at a hardcore Christian academy

[rug]

Friday, Jan 24, 2014 08:00 AM EST
Tyler Stoltzfus, AlterNet

Hello. My name is Tyler. I’m 17 years old, an atheist, and currently in my senior year of high school at a private Christian institution that uses a curriculum known as Accelerated Christian Education.

If you’re unfamiliar with ACE, it’s a school curriculum for children K-12 written by fundamentalist Baptists. As you can imagine, these are probably not the most qualified people to write an educational program. On its website, ACE describes its methods this way: “By integrating character-building principles and Scripture memory into the academics, the program helps children grow to see life from God’s point of view.”

If teaching God’s point of view requires you to teach blatant mistruths, maybe it’s time to rethink God’s point of view.

When conversing about my atheism, I invariably feel like I’m at an AA (Atheists Anonymous) meeting. Not that atheism is a disease to cure. It’s just that when you talk about it to people who believe in God, or God forbid, are religious fundamentalists, behind questions like “Why?” or “For how long?” I get the impression they think there’s a psychological or emotional problem that’s causing my disbelief.

http://www.salon.com/2014/01/24/godsmacked_im_an_atheist_at_a_hardcore_christian_academy_partner/

[amuse bouche]

1. I feel his pain and he will be ok

It is a horrific experience to be put in a 'religious' school by your parents

The brainwashing is never ending.


However, in the end, like me and so many others, he will not only survive, but become more determined to live a life based in reality...not magical thinking

[JNelson6563]

2. Who knows how many more they are inspiring!

These fundies are a blight on humanity but they do serve one useful purpose, they inspire atheism. Yes, stop thumping that bible young students, read it instead. Then you can see what a stinky pantload they are trying to sell you.



Julie

[hrmjustin]

3. he has my sympathies.

[cbayer]

4. Well done and worth the read.

My only objection would be that he has taken his limited experience and expanded it to describe all christians.

I hope he gets the opportunity to go to a college where he can meet a larger variety of people.

[Jim__]

5. I wonder if they will let him graduate.

Apparently he is openly atheist. Does that disqualify him from graduating? Can he pass their tests? Do the tests require that he point out the shortcomings of evolution, discuss the advantages of creationist theory, argue in favor of a young earth? I hope they can accept any rational arguments that he makes against these things on a test and still give him a passing grade.

[cbayer]

6. If they refused to graduate him based on his atheism,

I would wager that a small, liberal arts college might take him anyway.

If his grades have been good, he has good scores on the standardized tests, writes an essay similar to this piece (this might be his essay, as a matter of fact) and does well in the interview, he might not need that silly piece of paper.

However, I would wonder if his parents would be willing to fund an education at such a school.

[Dorian Gray]

12. If his parents sent him there

you never know what they'd expect for college.

Hopefully he'll go somewhere where he can thrive.

[Htom Sirveaux]

7. Even with all he has to put up with,

he can still describe those he disagrees with as "wrong" rather than "delusional" or "mentally ill". That's awesome.

[cbayer]

8. I think he is much more representative of atheists as a whole in this regard,

and particularly of young atheists.

When you read a lot of their writings on the web, they can be very powerful and provocative, but generally not attacking or mocking.

[Fumesucker]

11. Give him time

He's only been dealing with them a few years, he'll come around.

[Jim__]

9. Their educational methods sound terrible.

From the article referenced in the OP:

The real fun begins when you have a look at the method used to teach the material. The children who are subjected to this curriculum sit at an isolated desk by themselves for hours on end, working by themselves, raising a flag when they have questions. It’s basically like a student from any other curriculum doing homework as their regular work—and then for homework, you get more homework.

With the way this curriculum is structured, asking questions is relatively difficult. Most of the time, ACE instructors have only gone through about four days of training for their teaching position.

My experience is that teaching yourself from a book or by watching videos is significantly inferior to having an expert teacher. Another recent news article suggests this type of education may become predominant:

8. Teacher

"We'll see a huge amount of online learning, but also more interactive videoconferences and other innovations," says Way. "Rather than having to ask a professor you could ask anyone in the world."

"Teachers will become more sidelined - they will be more of a helping hand," believes Way. "We'll see more interactive space, rather like the Genius bar in an Apple store."

[rug]

10. Their website is terrible.

http://www.aceministries.com/

[Dorian Gray]

13. The whole thing sounds awful

we are just beginning to look at schools for my daughter, and all I want is a place that will inspire the desire to learn and the love of knowledge. (Not too big a desire????) It's so difficult here. I can't imagine choosing a place that stifles curiosity in such a way.