"I don't like atheists!"

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

No, I am not a troll. This is a little anecdote.

The title of this thread was said to me by…one of my teachers. Two days ago.

It was the last day of school before winter vacation, and everyone was saying their special “holiday goodbyes.” Someone asked what should be said to me. “Well, I guess I can celebrate the holiday Dave Barry mentioned a few weeks ago…Atheist Children Get Presents Day!” Friends laugh. Yeah, we read that article. Etc. Teacher: “I don’t like atheists!”
Me: “Uh…hmm.”
Teacher: “I don’t understand why anyone would want to be an atheist. I don’t like atheists.”
Friend to me: “Looks like you’re going to have to give her a talk.”
Teacher: (continues rant)
Me: (walking out of room) “No, what’s the point?”

I wouldn’t be surprised if it were just someone I knew, but my high school teacher? I liked this teacher OK, I thought she was actually pretty fond of me, I get good grades in her class. I guess she doesn’t like me after all.

I am not very happy. If she said “I celebrate Christmas” I would never have told her and the whole room “Well, I hate Christians.” Mainly because, well, I don’t hate Christians. But even if I did, I would keep it to myself, at least out of respect for the beliefs of others. I guess I’m mainly ranting, but has this sort of thing happened to anyone else? Bond with me, here.

Ain’t hate great? Sheesh.

2

One can disagree, even intensely disagree, with a philosophy without holding those who believe it in contempt. In fact, that’s what Christians are obligated to do, as I am sure your teacher is well aware. What could she have been thinking? Consider taking some action about this, since you have witnesses. Such a remark to a student was wildly inappropriate, and your teacher owes you an apology. It’s very unfortunate that a teacher whom you like and who seemed to like you hurt your feelings that way.

Speaking more generally, certain “extreme” positions – atheism, paganism, fundamentalism, even Catholicism – do seem to have a galvanizing effect on some people, and I’m afraid you’ll run into this sort of thing more and more as you get older. I’ve had a number of people insult me to my face about my religion, often citing “reasons” that are based on ignorance or prejudice. Others have asked serious, if not always tactful, questions, which I try to be prepared to answer.

As I’m sure you know, part of having opinions on important subjects is knowing that people will disagree with you, some of them vocally, and some of them in inappropriate ways. Speaking from experience, having a serious answer ready for serious questions (and ignoring those who are just picking fights) will help you feel better when it happens.

3

I agree with Catrandom. I rarely bring up my atheism. It rarely comes up.

Someone: “Hey, nice weather we’re having!”

Me: “Yes, it is a nice day. I don’t believe in God!”

The teacher should’ve kept her personal opinions to herself. Besides, how can she make such a generalization like that? I’m sure she knows some atheists and is unaware of it.

You could talk to her about it, but if I were in that situation, I’d let it slide. But, then again, I’m not into confrontations.

4

Well, my goodness. Would she have stood in front of her students and said “I don’t like Catholics”? I’m assuming not. What, is respect for the private conscious of one’s fellow human beings confined to those who have a respectable religious label to put on it? Feh.

5

I’d issue a complaint. THAT was way out of line.

6

Find out first if your teacher really knows what an atheist is.

With apologies to well-informed high school teachers everywhere, they can carry as much misinformation as the rest of us.

7

Maybe it’s best she doesn’t like Atheists.

I mean, after all, would really want someone as stunned at that for a friend?

(May i suggest a skinned potato in her cars exhaust? Or, if you live someplace with snow, after classes [and hopefully with out being seen] build a good solid snow fort around her car roof and all. Try and get it wet so it freezes. Ahhh… those were the days…)
Upham

8

Just to play Devil’s Advocate (I don’t condone what the teacher said)…

Doesn’t the teacher have a right to dislike a group that she feels is wrong in their opinions? Don’t I have a right to not like racists? Or Yankee fans? Or those who like Pepsi better than Coke? I wouldn’t say that the teacher should treat you any differently because of your belief, but she has the right to feel that way, no?

Plus, your comparison to your saying “I hate Christians” is a bit different. “I don’t like ___” is different from “I hate ___.” (I don’t believe you said she told you she “hated” atheists, did she?)

9

There was one math teacher I had who seemed normal until he mentioned a thing to scan your fingerprint as an ID to cash a check. This, he informed us seriously is the sign of the Devil, and everyone having a unique identifier presaved the end of the world.

Never acted odd again. Straight math from the book.

10

I’m a Christian and I still think that is totally wrong of your teacher. I’m assuming this is a public school where there should be separation of church and state? The teacher is there to teach you what you need to know, not share their personal religious beliefs with the class. And I believe this is where your examples differ from the the situation, nineiron. With separation of church and state, the teacher should not endorse religious viewpoint over another in any way in a public school.

11

As for the separation of church and state argument…
It was the original poster (Gunhilde) who brought up his or her religious beliefs in the first place; the teacher was merely reacting to this. The teacher didn’t ask to know Gunhilde’s beliefs; these were volunteered. If a student may express a belief, a teacher may do the same, or at the very least express a reaction to a belief.

(But like I said before, this was only meant to be a Devil’s Advocate thing…)

12

Please don’t let yourself be hurt by this person.

She may not be aware that you are an atheist - the conversation only implies that to be true, and if someone missed part of it, they might not realize what’s going on.

Had she known you were atheist and directing your remark to you, she would have stared at you malevolently and said, “I don’t like you atheists” Yes, I realize that is a subtle difference, but that kind of difference is why we have English teachers.

Of course, if she did do exactly that, you still shouldn’t be hurt by it - the insult of a bigot or a fool should always be considered a compliment!

My advice to you is when you next get a chance to talk to her, tell her - pleasantly and cheerfully - “I guess you didn’t realize that I’m an Atheist” I will bet that she apologizes profusely. In other words, expect the best from her and give her the chance to live up to your expectations. If she doesn’t, then it’s time to complain to the school administration.

Negative emotions can only be vanquished by spreading positive emotions.

13

That sucks. Stupid moron teacher. Right now all that is in my miund is a sticker that I bought at Hot Topic the other day. “Why do people with closed minds always open their mouths?” And it is too true.

14

That’s lame.

I don’t believe teachers should be allowed to say, “I don’t like atheists” any more than “I don’t like Asians.” They set an example with their opinions, sometimes for the good, sometimes not.

-Whatcha learn in school today, son?
-Um, bigotry and hate.

I’d complain, but only because I’m pugnacious and cantankerous by nature. Actually, she probably doesn’t realize how narrow-minded she’s being; you’d probably be doing her a favor.

Wombat, kiosk, credenza, ballon.

15

I like your approach!

16

When it comes to religion the teacher can not express a belief or a reaction to a belief regardless if a student volunteers his/her beliefs, unless the teacher and student are off school property and are not at a school sponsored function.

Replace atheist with any other religious group, or even a particular denomination of Christianity, and the ACLU would be all over this. Discrimination against atheists doesn’t get as much attention as discrimination against people with a religion because it technically isn’t a religion. But just as you have the right to freedom of religion, you also have the right to freedom FROM religion.

Gundhilde maybe you should have stuck around. I suspect that your teacher may not really know what an atheist is just by what she said. It doesn’t make sense. Next time you see her, ask her to define atheist for you. If she has it wrong, pull out a dictionary and set her straight. If she has it right, gently remind her that as a teacher in a public school she is not allowed to talk about anything that has to do with her personal opinions of religion and even atheists are covered under the separation of church and state.

17

Thank you, everyone.

I am not sure, as of yet, whether I will do anything. Like Mr. Blue Sky, I’m not really into confrontations (that’s why I didn’t stick around, though maybe I ought to have done so).

nineiron does have a point. I did bring this up, and volunteer the information…but I wasn’t talking to the teacher, she just overheard. If I had been, I would have been a bit more prepared for the reaction. I still would have been rather bothered by it, but I could take at least a little of the responsibility. And sorry, nineiron, if that was a bad comparison. I do believe she said “I hate atheists” after the initial phrase, but I have no proof of that and do not remember precisely (except for what was in my short transcript).

She has talked about this sort of thing before, however, not as directly or blatantly – the reason for my shock. A couple of years ago, she said something to the extent of “Atheists don’t have any joy in their lives.” I have a lot of joy in my life, and I let that comment slide for some reason. I guess I figured it was based on a vast ignorance, as may have been this recent comment(s).

Sorry, Upham, no potato in the exhaust, and although the ACLU would probably be all over this if I brought it to them, I am not looking for a lawsuit in the least. I was not permanently damaged by this (well, I guess we’ll see what kind of grades I start getting), just a little hurt.

I guess this incident was just a clear case of something that bothers me about being a religious minority…my friends can mention their religious beliefs to anyone they want, and not worry. But I could never specify mine even if I wanted to…I’ve found that even people who think I’m a fine, upstanding citizen immediately lose respect for me if I do. This case just happened to be different, because it was in my school (Crunchy Frog – yes, it’s public) and quite blatant.

I would just quit the class, since it’s nearing the end of the semester, but I have been taking this particular foreign language for eight years now and am not about to give it up now. Well, one more semester until I graduate, anyway.

18

Sorry to come in so late to the discussion, but please allow me to play advocate of a devil in opposition to the particular devil’s POV currently being advocated by nineiron.
Yes, the teacher, and anyone else has the right to like or dislike anyone they want. Teachers and students often have a great deal of fun disagreeing with each other about sports teams. Heck, we used to bet (a box of chocolate chip cookies vs. a get-out-of-detention free) my HS dean on football games every week. That was fun. But that was sports. A fundamental principal in the enjoyment of sports is the division of fans between teams and the competition.

But, it is not OK for teachers to say they don’t like racists, bigots, sexists, atheists, or even Hitler. It is not the teacher’s job to offer opinions. It is the job of the teacher to provide facts and to encourage the student to make his/her own opinions based on those facts. The teacher should explain how racism is harmful to victims of it, and harmful to society, and even encourage students to think of possible positive effects of racism. These points alone should be able to stand on their own in forming a student’s opinion. The teacher should teach what Hitler did, what he was especially talented at, what his skills were, and what he used these skills for, the incredible harm he preformed on humanity - but never just outright say “I don’t like Hitler”.

IMHO

19

Gunhilde incidentally, I agree with zyada. If I were you I would talk to her about it, in a friendly way, without sounding condescending. Mention that you were thinking about that comment she made about not liking atheists and wondering why.

“Is it all atheists that you don’t like? or just the philosophy of atheism, and thus not the atheists themselves?”

“Why don’t you like atheists?” “Have they ever caused you harm or diminished the quality of your life?”

etc.

20

I would just like to say I most certainly do not regard my atheism as an extreme position.

I don’t think Catrandom means any offence, and none taken in any case. (I can’t be the only one round here who’s a little bored with people deciding they are ‘offended’ by the expression of any opinion they happen to dislike.)

No, I just think it’s an egregious mis-representation of atheism, hence rather unhelpful. I’ve experienced a gamut of faiths and belief systems. If you are asked to take things purely on faith which contradict sense and reason; if you are asked to give control of your money, resources or life to a ‘guru’; if you are asked to swallow medieval nonsense and self-contradictory theology… all of these feel to me like ‘extreme’ positions.

On the other hand, to adopt an outlook which is compatible with every experience I ever have; which is not contradicted by any experience I ever have; which is wholly consistent with everything my mind can reason, my heart can feel, my senses can convey and my love can express, does not seem to be to be an ‘extreme’ position. It feels like common sense. It feels like my mind is no longer infected with a mental virus. It feels like atheism.