# Well, Thank Goodness There Are No ATHEISTS in Kansas! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 15, 2001, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580 "2001-02-15T14:02:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/1 "2001-02-15T14:02:26Z")
As you may have read, Kansas finally joined the 20th century by once again agreeing to teach evolution in schools. It seems they have no intention of ever joining the 21st century, however: “In addressing Mr. Abrams’s concerns today, another board member, Janet Waugh, said: ‘We are not atheists on this board. I believe the board members are all Christians, and we have no problem with Christianity or any other religion being taught, but it cannot be taught in a science class.’” Oh, bite me, Janet—and she’s supposed to be on OUR side! It seems like it’s still open season on atheists, and with Reverend Chuckles in the White House, THAT’S not likely to change anytime soon. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/2 "2001-02-15T14:18:29Z")
> [@](#): > > …and with Reverend Chuckles in the White House, THAT’S not likely to change anytime soon. Too funny, sad, and true! ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/3 "2001-02-15T14:24:14Z")
Great, he’s so good at giving others nicknames. But surely you can do better than _that_ one. I fondly remember the May Kansas become a Sinkhole thread. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/4 "2001-02-15T14:41:46Z")
There used to be an atheist in Kansas, but I moved away 8 years ago, and have never been back! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/5 "2001-02-15T14:47:41Z")
Gee, I dunno, Vanilla, I thought “Reverend Chuckles” was pretty good . . . ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/6 "2001-02-15T15:04:46Z")
Hmmm. Maybe we should try thinking of a good (not that yours wasn’t) nickname for him. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/7 "2001-02-15T15:25:45Z")
**vanilla** …I read a fabulous nickname for him this morning…“Reverend Chuckles!” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ptahlis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@Ptahlis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ptahlis)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/8 "2001-02-15T16:16:25Z")
I dunno-- I’m too busy feeling the warm glow of victory in the Kansas matter to work up outrage over the implied insult. We atheists have to have thick skins. (It helps compensate for certain Christians’ thick skulls.) ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/9 "2001-02-15T16:28:02Z")
Personally, I’m referring to the 41st president as **President Bush _père_** , and the current one as **President Bush _fils_**. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/10 "2001-02-15T16:50:50Z")
I disagree with the OP. The conflict in Kansas was not that of religion versus atheism - it was between ignorance and reason. Waugh was merely reaffirming that fact. (And BTW, I prefer “Ibn Bush” for Junior and “Abu Dubeeya” for Senior). ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/11 "2001-02-15T16:53:38Z")
It’s not like you to miss the chance to make a pithy and satirical comment. You should have titled this thread “Well, Thank **God** There Are No ATHEISTS in Kansas!” See? Upon further review, it ain’t that funny. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/12 "2001-02-15T17:04:33Z")
“The conflict in Kansas was not that of religion versus atheism - it was between ignorance and reason.” . . . And the difference is? (sorry—just couldn’t resist!) ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/13 "2001-02-15T17:15:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*As you may have read, Kansas finally joined the 20th century by once again agreeing to teach evolution in schools. \*\* It’s my understanding that Kansas never _stopped_ teaching evolution in schools. “In August 1999, the board, with conservative Republicans in the majority, voted 6 to 4 to eliminate evolution. \*\*The decision did not prohibit the teaching of evolution, but left the option to local school districts.\*\*It did, however, remove evolution as the sole explanation for the origin of man, including some references to evolution, the Big Bang theory and the earth’s age.” ---
**Author:** ![Phobos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Phobos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phobos)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/14 "2001-02-15T17:25:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rachelle \* > It’s my understanding that Kansas never _stopped_ teaching evolution in schools. They removed Evolution & Big Bang (not just the Theories, but the scientific facts too) from the state’s standardized tests and no longer required it to be taught. It’s also interesting that they lumped Big Bang Theory along with the Theory of Evolution, even though they are unrelated topics. Silly Creationists. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/15 "2001-02-15T17:26:17Z")
Rachelle—That’s not depressing ENOUGH? ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/16 "2001-02-15T17:28:15Z")
“In August 1999, the board, with conservative Republicans in the majority, voted 6 to 4 to eliminate germs. **The decision did not prohibit the teaching of germs, but left the option to local school districts.** It did, however, remove germs as the sole explanation for the origin of the common cold, including some references to germs, the atomic theory of matter, and the actual size of things which students see through their microscopes.” ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/17 "2001-02-15T18:19:16Z")
I’m currently working for a publishing company. We’re doing a middle-school science textbook. We have to be VERY careful to do it chapter-by-chapter, meaning there are often multiple chapters on the same subject that vary only slightly in content. Why is this, you ask? Well, one reason is that there are certain states (Texas is one of the ones I know for certain that does this) that do not want any mention of evolution in their science textbooks. When compiling their textbooks, we either omit that chapter completely, or put in a VERY watered-down version. And people wonder why American kids are consistently beaten by children from other countries in standardized testing… ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/18 "2001-02-15T19:20:45Z")
Sigh…if only we could go back to the time when you remembered us for the Wizard of Oz. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/19 "2001-02-15T19:45:53Z")
Well, I’m still ticked off about that woman “on our side,” who is in favor of teaching evolution and defends herself by saying, “Well, at least we’re not atheists—we’re still good Christians!” With friends like her . . . ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580/20 "2001-02-15T19:57:55Z")
It _is_ very irritating the way politicians (and most Americans, for that matter) react to any possible “accusation” of atheism as if someone had implied they were baby-eaters or puppy-stompers or goat-felchers or something. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-thank-goodness-there-are-no-atheists-in-kansas/54580.md?page=2)