Atheists head for high schools with new clubs for Godless teens

[ZombieHorde]

By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY

If Glee shows singing geeks as high school pariahs, imagine being an atheist on campus.

Now. the Secular Student Alliance, which promotes atheism and humanism with chapters at more than 200 colleges, is sending in reinforcements for teen free-thinkers -- a push to launch 50 new high school clubs. (sic)

Godless teens want the same social benefits that evangelical teens find at the annual "See you at the pole" flagpole prayer events at thousands of schools every September, and the court-sanctioned after school Bible clubs, and Christian, Jewish and Muslim student groups.

J.T. Eberhard, of the Columbus, Ohio-based Alliance, says.
High school is hard for anybody and we are among the most reviled groups in America. These clubs give kids a chance to socialize with like-minded people. There's nothing in our mission statement about tearing down religion.

The rest of this article is at this link: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2011/02/atheists-group-takes-on-high-school-/1

[Tikki]

1. I think I would have braved the waters and joined a SSA ..

HS Club back when...I know I would join today.


Tikki

[darkstar3]

2. As much as I would like to see this happen, I see two big problems that will need to be overcome.

1. Every school club needs a faculty sponsor/adviser before it can legitimately form. Finding one will be difficult at best, not to mention impossible in the bible-belt.
2. Glee club, chess club, drama club, math club, whatever...these "out of the main" clubs often serve to paint giant targets on the backs of their members. And those are just clubs for people who are mildly different. Imagine how big a target you would paint on yourself for joining a club of people who are absolutely reviled.

Atheist teens, especially atheist teens in the bible-belt, need to understand that they are not alone, that they are not freaks, and that they deserve just as much First Amendment exercise rights as everybody else. I just wonder if this method, which I know in my old high school would have said to everyone else "here we are, beat us senseless," is the best way to do all of that...

[salvorhardin]

3. Eberhard is the last person I'd want working with high school students

The guy is a bigot, plain and simple.

[LAGC]

4. Why is he a bigot?

Because he advocates something contrary to religious non-sense?

[trotsky]

5. I'm curious too, sal.

I hadn't heard anything about him being bigoted.

[provis99]

6. I've never understood atheist clubs.

What the heck goes on? They sit around and talk about things they don't believe in?