Compelling Questions: HOW or WHY Should Atheism Be Taught?

The Atlantic is a well-known, well-read, and respected American magazine. It was founded in 1857 and for over a century and a half has published articles on a varied range of topics, including politics, religion, culture, and life. "Created as a literary and cultural commentary magazine, it has a reputation in the 21st century for a politically moderate viewpoint in its reporting." (The AtlanticMonthly. EncyclopædiaBritannica.) 

This introductory paragraph was written to supply the stage setting and background for the publication wherein a detailed, lengthy article appeared, which asks an interesting question:  How Should Atheism Be Taught?

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This article was published in "The Atlantic", and that means ignore the words at your own peril.  Here are the main points:

1. First Academic Chair for Atheism: The University of Miami received a $2.2 million gift to endow the first-ever faculty chair specifically for the study of atheism and secularism in the U.S., funded by atheist philanthropist Louis J. Appignani. 

2. Appignani’s Goals: Appignani hopes the chair will help “legitimize” atheism in public and academic life and reduce stigma against atheists in society. He views atheists as a minority that still faces bias. 

3. Definition and Debate: There is debate over what “atheism” actually means and whether the term should be central to the position. Part of the agreement defines atheism as an approach that emphasizes science, logic, and reason, while rejecting appeals to supernatural entities. This raises questions about whether atheism is best studied as an academic subject or primarily as a rejection of theism. 

4. Academic vs. Advocacy Concerns: While Appignani’s intent includes advocacy for nonbelief, the university stresses that the chair should remain academically neutral—not intended to convert students, but to study nonbelief, secular ethics, and related questions. 

5. Broader Context: The creation of the chair highlights the complexity of atheism in America—how definitions vary, how nonbelievers are perceived, and how atheism intersects with broader cultural and intellectual trends.

6. Teaching Atheism in Education: The chair will offer courses exploring topics such as secular ethics, philosophy of science, and the historical and cultural role of atheism—not to promote unbelief, but to foster understanding of nonbelief and its implications.

Read article:  Fattal, Isabel. “How Should Atheism Be Taught?” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 31 Jan 2018.

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I find the question intriguing. Do you?

My question would have been: *WHY Should Atheism Be Taught?*

I also found this article disappointing on a number of levels. The arguments presented did not inspire a call to action or demand for change, or offer any suggestions to make the world a better place. It sounded a tad-bit whiny.

Obviously, this is my smug, self-righteous opinion. (LOL. 😄) Someone else might read the same material, grab a picket sign, and head straight to the steps of the US Capitol in Washington, D.C.

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LouisJ. Appignani is a wealthy octogenarian living in Florida, who told the article writer, Isabel Fattal, the story of his conversion to atheism. By his definition or understanding, atheists are people who are secularists, critical thinkers with *humanistic values* who believe in *rational scientific reasoning* and none of that hog-washed faith mumbo jumbo that is *the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen*.

Here is an argument presented / statement by him to prove that atheists are ostracized in America.

• "If [someone said] ‘I’m an atheist, and I’m running for Congress,’ they wouldn’t get elected today."

Appignani indicated that as of 2016, about half the American citizenry said that if a political candidate indicated that he or she was an atheist, they would likely not vote for them to serve in a political office.

👉Hmmm? Well! I guess that's proof of being ostracized.

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Appignani seems to think people just don't understand atheists or atheism, and his remedy or solution to this problem is to "legitimize the word ‘atheism’" in the public sphere. Because people are confused about the definition, and if you're going to level the playing field, the first thing you need to do is establish the foundation you intend to build on and get everybody UNconfused. HOW? (Hence the title of the article: *How Should Atheism Be Taught?*)

• This is HOW. In 2016, Appignani gave a $2.2 million gift to an institution of higher learning, which marked a first time in American history that a faculty position has been endowed specifically for the study of atheism.

👍Hmmm? Well! That should stop the ostracism.

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You don't have to be American to answer.

If your country held elections and one of the candidates declared that he or she was an atheist, would you vote for them?

Think on it.  

Or not.