Messiah Richard Dawkins launches children's summer camp for atheists

[anonymaus]

Will you be sending them off with their consent?

I've never been able to believe in the supernatural and concretely lacked belief in any religion by the age of 7. I consented to attend an evangelical bible camp at age 10; the camp was terrific! We learned the ins and outs of both Western and Equestrian riding, archery, swimming etc. There were usually three prayer sessions per day plus a bible studies class once per day.

I learned a lot more than how to do the Dolphin Crawl and have nothing but fond memories of the experience. It made absolutely no difference in my capacity to accept the insane idea of enslavement to the unseen.

Your juvenile histrionics don't match up with what one expects from a person of faith. Rather you behave like the Wizard of Oz, with every advancement of the mind and in human knowledge a new Toto threatening to pull back the curtain on your fraudulent charade.

[Beorn]

Your juvenile histrionics don't match up with what one expects from a person of faith.

Excuse me?! What have I done to warrant you coming to that conclusion?

In response to the quote you highlighted, I thought it pertinent to ask an atheist who has often attacked religions for doing amongst other things, sending children to camps to be surrounded by strong indoctrination (and let's not beat around the bush here. This is indoctrination) all dressed up in the form of fun filled activities.

The fact he didn't answer the question should tell me that perhaps his children may not have the added bonus of being able to 'opt out' of attending these camps.

[Poltergeist]

Thanks guys, now I understand much better. I was ignorant, sorry.

I now I know Atheism is a religion and I am religious, I subscribe to ritualized Atheism, my messiah is Richard Dawkins, I will celebrate Richard Dawkins Day sometime in the future, I will call Richard Dawkins "my great hero", I have a dedicated and unquestioned allegience to Atheism and I am a new Atheist.

Thanks, I was once lost but now I am found...

Whatever floats your boat...

[Thorum]

The fact he didn't answer the question should tell me that perhaps his children may not have the added bonus of being able to 'opt out' of attending these camps.

Actually, your comment was so utterly ridiculous, it warranted no response.

[Beorn]

Actually, your comment was so utterly ridiculous, it warranted no response.

Why was it ridiculous? You have in the past baulked at other parents sending their children to camps such as these, so thought it interesting to ask whether you would send your children even if they refused to go.

[Thorum]

It was ridiculous because obviously the answer is no. I don't need to ask them permission to send them to summer camp. I can however ask their opinion about it. When my children turn 18, they then can do what they want.

I simply want them to be brought up with an open mind, the ability to think for themselves, to question everything and especially to question 1st century Iron Age myths taught as truth.

[Beorn]

I don't need to ask them permission to send them to summer camp.

Why not? The camp is an obvious place for people to send their children to receive the parentally accepted indoctrination.

Surely a child should have a say.

You mentioned that you would listen to their opinions on the camp. What if they say they don't wish to go to the camp?

[Thorum]

Boring. You win.

Did you have your children baptised?

My first post in this thread I believe was all that I really wanted to say. Feel free to let your children do whatever they want.

Carry on......later.

[Freomæg]

I'm torn. My 16-year-old self wants to jump with joy at the prospect of camps spreading non or even anti-religious sentiment. But my 25-year-old self is wondering whether this any longer sits well with my worldview. I'm thinking it doesn't. Here's why:

Regardless of the fact that I'm not an atheist, I still oppose the Abrahamic religions (particularly in their most Abrahamic forms). Yet, this brainwashing of children is precisely what I was always opposed to in religion. I daresay it is what most Dawkins-fans are opposed to in religion, so it becomes a case of "do as we say, not as we do", much like the political phenomenon of leftists side-stepping democratic process in dealing with an opponent they deem to be undemocratic.

More and more, I can't help thinking that Dawkins is the major player in a covert programme to eradicate religion in the name of a post-traditional society.

[Beorn]

Boring. You win.

It's always "boring" when you know you are wrong, Thorum.

Did you have your children baptised?

No. I want them to make that choice for themselves.