Secular activism: stop trying to get religion out of pub schools, instead

[NAO]

...let's get Freethought materials INTO public schools.

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I would like to suggest a possible line of activism that would run counter to the entire tradition of secular activism, but might possibly be much more effective. Current activism focuses on "getting/keeping religion OUT of the schools". This has been the traditional approach, pursued through lawsuits, and decided by the courts for over 50 years. The backlash or reaction to this style of activism has caused religionists to focus on controlling the courts, to use resentment as a motivation (e.g. the "war on Christmas), and use the same tactics (lawsuits) to get religion INTO the schools.

Consider a possible world where Freethought activists were 100% effective in banning religion in the schools. Children would still be exposed to many powerful religions proselytizing efforts. However, under this "best-case" scenario, they might NEVER encounter Freethought literature or concepts. The odds would be that they would grow up to be religious adults. This would partly be because their (fragile, irrational) religions beliefs had never been seriously challenged by Freethought literature.

I would suggest that another scenario would likely be MUCH more effective. Instead of fighting to keep religion OUT of the schools, why not fight to get Freethought INTO the schools. Consider this scenario: we permit ID or "creation science" to be taught in public schools PROVIDED that Robert Ingersoll's "Some Mistakes of Moses" is part of the OFFICIAL CURRICULUM as "balance material". Just to give children "both sides" so they can "make up their own minds".

Christians might be gleeful at the prospect of having "creation science" taught in public schools, but I suspect their glee would turn to abject horror as soon as they glanced at "Some Mistakes". Not only does “Mistakes” debunk the creation story, it makes a serious challenge to inerrancy and even the coherency of the Bible.

The Christians would try to ban, and hence draw great attention to "Mistakes". As the massive Christian political machine kicked into gear, "the great infidel, Robert Ingersoll" would be the in the daily conversation of millions of Christians. Their fierce attempts to ban the book or other Freethought materials would serve to catapult those materials into the public spotlight. Many people maintain their religious beliefs because those beliefs have never been challenged. The open, aggressive challenge of religious beliefs would likely be much very widely received today, and we might see a substantial number of de-conversions and a trend toward widespread secularism.

This same scenario could be used in other areas. For example, the "Selected Christian Writings of the American Founding Fathers" (there are a few) could be allowed into the public school curriculum, provided Thomas Paine's "The Age of Reason" was included for balance.

Or, the Resurrection story could be taught at Easter, if "Dan Barker's Easter Challenge" were the companion piece!

The way I see it, children are going to be exposed to religion even if we are 100% successful in banning it from the public sector. However, they are very unlikely to encounter Freethought literature - it is EXTREMELY obscure and highly repressed. This means they are likely to grow up and be believers (of one sort or another) by default. The tables could be turned, in a dramatic and possibly historically momentous way, by going with, rather than against, the Christian desire to get their dogma into the schools. All children could be exposed to otherwise obscure historical and contemporary Freethought literature. The cost would be allowing them to be exposed to Christian ideas, which they already are! We would be losing nothing and gaining everything.

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Some Mistakes Of Moses by Robert Ingersoll
http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/robert_ingersoll/some_mistakes_of_moses.html

Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason - Online
http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/thomas_paine/age_of_reason/index.shtml

Dan Barker’s Easter Challenge for Christians
http://www.ffrf.org/books/lfif/?t=stone

[NMMNG]

1. Good idea

The extremists are so fond of claiming that their efforts to get ID into the schools are merely an attempt to "balance" the curriculum. Let them get it in there, then begin having kittens as they discover the floodgates they've opened up. They want "balance"? We'll give them "balance". :evilgrin:

[NAO]

2. Exactly. Take a move from their playbook, bring their worst nightmare

to them - thousands or hundreds of thousands exposed to biblical criticism. The widespread notion of "inerrancy" would collapse.

Ingersoll has a way of saying it so that it is very easy to understand, very fun to read, and just he just slams fundies so hard with a "reality check"...

Yes, use their notion of "balance" or "getting both sides in" to get highly articulate, extremely challenging critiques of the concepts of revealed religion into the schools.

They will find that if "both" sides are given consideration, their side will look ridiculous to most people. They will have an apologetic crisis of apocalyptic proportions on their hands very quickly.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. The public schools would have to allow freethought or ban ALL clubs

according to the federal Equal Access Act. Can't pick and choose, like religion (good) and freethought (bad).