to ask if anyone has or would send their child to an atheist camp?

[Ihavewelliesbuttheyrenotgreen]

I am a Christian and have attended/volunteered on lots of Christian summner camps over the years. Mumsnet has opened my eyes a bit more to atheism and the choices that people face about religion etc when bringing up kids. Would anyone send their kids on one of these atheist camps and what would be your reasons?

I have many religious scientific colleagues. The way I see it being compatible with religion is the science is there to explain how the world (that 'god' created) works. Science may explain rules to lower and lower levels but it still doesn't answer the basic why/how it all got there in the first place.

Anyway I agree with others that a camp should be a camp. If either secular or religion are mentioned I would be

The camp isn't about atheism though. It is about Science, Philosophy and outdoor activities.

I don't think you could make a week long camp about atheism. The whole topic could be covered in about 20 mins.

'Coming out' as an atheist here in rural NI has been quite an eye-opener for me - people react very strongly to it. NI is a lot more religious than the rest of the UK though. Of all the people I know, there is only one other person who is an "out" atheist.

This causes problems for my kids at school (because they are taught Christianity as truth, not a church school, the curriculum here demands 2.5 hours per week of christian religious instruction.) It worries DD, who is 7 and very into believing things - if she asks, I tell her what I believe, but make sure she understands she can believe whatever she likes. But she is worried that I am hell-bound!

Secular activities are a Good Thing, IMO. I would send the kids, if they wanted to go, and I would not send them to a religious camp. Religion permeates every aspect of life here, and it is insidious and damaging. Atheism is not a belief system, not a religion, and IMO is a useful starting point for thinking.

I do not have a problem specifically with Christianity, I have the same feelings of revulsion for all religion and most woo - but Christianity is the thing that invades our lives every day, so my focus is brought to that most often.

LolaRennt, I don't 'believe in' racism either, but I'm opposed to it.

I just did some googling and for "christian camp" uk I got 1,950,000 results.

Just a few examples.
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Pioneer Christian Camp has been running since 1952. It began with the aim of giving children a holiday in the country and teaching them about the Christian faith.
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Yorkshire Christian Camp

Our Mission Statement

To clearly present the Good News of Jesus Christ to people of all ages and backgrounds and to enable them to come to a saving knowledge of God while also providing an environment that gives fellowship, support and encouragement for Christians and non-Christians as they spend time together.
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WEC CAMPS - A First Class Camping Holiday With Bible and Missions Teaching for Young Christians. Our camps are for young people from all backgrounds and have a strong basis of Christian and Mission teaching. At camp we emphasize the central aspects of the Christian fait
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" I also wish people would accept that religious belief and rational, scientific thought are compatible and that religious people aren't brainless morons who can't accept science."

Historically i think the various religeons have kind of proved they divert from scientific thought / theory / fact.

Gallilaio for example, creatism, virgin birth, resurection, the earth being the center of the universe, the earth being flat, humans ( Noah ) living to 500 years old etc etc etc.

Miracles.

People should be free to believe what they want of course. But religeon and science aren't bed fellows in my book.

So Universities didn't come out of Islam then?

and

The Vatican doesn't have it's own scientific research activities going on?

organised religion that refuses to accept changes in knowledge and more personal adaptive beliefs are very different though.

Vatican Scientists

I thought most people agreed that the bible (especially the translated versions) when taken literally is foolish and was used more as a form of population control.

besides most scientists don't go around claiming they are rational. It's just portayed that way in shows, like labour is always shown differently to what it actually is.

People who follow an organised religion are still entitled to have their own beliefs within that belief system though.

anyway I am derailing the thread so shall butt out now, sorry OP

Noncuro, I'd say that someone who has chosen a religion has probably been atheist, and did study different options and come to an informed decision.They have tried both ways. some atheists have only ever believed in atheism.!!!!

People who follow an organised religion are still entitled to have their own beliefs within that belief system though.

Not sure where you are going with that, but if their personal beliefs contradict the organised religion they supposedly belong to then they are being dishonest aren't they.

Nac. Of course atheism is a belief system, it is what you believe!!!!

Well then, they wouldn't be following that religion in the first place then would they? If their beliefs contradicted their religion that much they would give it up as a bad job.

Being dishonest is something that people pray about as part of having a personal relationship with God. People struggle with it every day and that's part of being human.

cjel you need to look into it more because you have the wrong end of the stick.

I am not a person who believes in atheism. I am a person who doesn't believe in god. Just like you don't believe in pink unicorns with flying saucers making crop circles.

It doesn't require any special effort.

No. An absence of belief is not a belief system, there is no hierarchy or holy book, there is no right or wrong way to be atheist.

And there is no dogma. I am not perfectly sure there is no god, because absolutes are a mug's game. Given evidence, irrefutable proof, then I would of course have to change my stance. Religion requires faith, and faith requires unchanging stance even in the face of evidence to the contrary.

I go to Catholic church and there's a whole host of things that they teach that I struggle with. I'm also married and sometimes I struggle with things that my dh does, but that's no reason to get divorced. You work through it and it needs patience and time.

hiddenhome, but surely it simplifies things that you know the church is right and you are wrong. Because it's god's church and she can't be wrong can she.

Of course She can be wrong. It's run by people who quite often get things wrong. We do our best. Hopefully, the people that administer the Churches do their best. They often don't though, as well we all know. If they honestly seek forgiveness

If they honestly seek forgiveness and seek God's will, then they are more likely to be right next time.

Atheism and science aint something that can be taught, thats why its different , and thats why its so good for kids.

A scientist will tell you, 'this is the way I think it works, and here are ten ways for you to prove that I am wrong'

If you cant prove the science wrong - it becomes a fact.

Religion says 'this is the way it works, either accept it or burn in hell'

I know which camp I would send my kids to

onagar LolaRennt, I don't 'believe in' racism either, but I'm opposed to it.

I belive racisim exists, so I worry about it.

I don't believe god does, so I don't worry about it.

I will also teach my children to think for themselves and not to let them be told one way or another what to believe in. If I managed to find atheism in the bible belt, I have to respect that they won't be led one way or another.

As an atheist I am uncomfortable with the religious element of Scouts and Guides, although I certainly wouldn't stop my children joining up if they wanted to, fortunately they haven't expressed an interest.

Consequently if they wanted to do the whole camping thing I'd be more than happy to send them to this one.