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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Why can't you be honest?

Yes. I am atheist.

If he asks more questions you should be honest. "Teachers are not allowed to discuss religion to their students."
[/quote]

bingo - otherwise it looks like atheism is something wierd or bad that you should be ashamed of and try to hide.

I'm distressed by the number of posts here mentioning avoiding "discussing" or giving one's "opinion" about atheism, when that was not the issue presented at all - which was answering a direct yes or no question about religious affiliation - "are you an atheist?"  It implies that people perceive the very assertion that a person is an atheist as an opinion not fit for mention in school.  I strongly doubt that would be the expected, acceptable reaction to a student's question about a mainstream religion, e.g., are you Episcopalian; are you greek orthodox.

Atheism, like other issues before it, is going mainstream and deserves to be treated like other issues. Obama has on several occassions, mentioned agnostics, atheists, or nonbelievers as being part of the nation's composition, along with religions.

I think it would be appropriate, if asked "what is atheism" or "Is atheism devil worship?"  (which unfortunately some people believe), to simply explain what  the word means, the way a teacher would define any word that kids don't understand.  It means "without religion" "not having religion."

Of course, this may make the kids more curious, but this is where you cut off conversation - the way  a teacher would cut off conversation on any other topic that is not related to the academic subject being taught.[/quote]

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