An Atheist Summer Camp For Kids

At the end of his atheist summer camp welcome, the camp director admonishes the kids to keep their cabins tidy and clean, closing with, "Remember, cleanliness is next to godlessness." Cleverness exemplified. The camp, a few miles outside Cincinnati, Ohio, of course says it's all about tolerance of all beliefs, religious as well as non-religious, so even believers can go. A little bit odd, since this is a camp where atheists send their kids to learn how to insult people of faith, while denying they are insulting people of faith. Very doubtful if religious people will send their kids.

The number one rule for "Camp Quest" is "Remember that everybody is here to have a good time. Respect all people, whatever their beliefs, which you encounter while you are here." Of course that doesn't happen. Some of their games include the "Flaming Messiahs" and "Dinosaur Jesus Riders". Running around the camp are two invisible unicorns, and campers are asked if any can prove they don't exist. This sets up a intellectual and philosophical fallacy. One can't prove or disprove the existence of God. If you don't experience God, then say you don't believe. If you experience God, then you know He exists. The burden of proof doesn't rely on anyone.

There are several of these camps in seven states, and may be going international.

Camps are good, and any tolerant, non-violent theme is good. Kids get outside, hang with friends, have a shared experience. I don't have a problem with this theme. I do have a problem with children being taught bigotry and intolerance, at the same time teaching that this behavior is tolerant open-minded and accepting of various beliefs. Atheists constantly charge believers, especially Christians, of hypocrisy whenever they fall short of standards of behavior they set for themselves. Then the "new" atheists incorporate attacking and insulting people that are believers, saying they are being tolerant. I have a major disconnect with this.

I've been to a lot of religious summer camps. Kids do summer camp stuff, worship, sing, and share their experiences of church, God, beliefs, and religion. The subject of atheists or any other group that believes differently doesn't come up. It's all about the shared experience, what we have in common.

A little honesty from the atheists. They should just say this camp is about being disrespectful of people that have a different belief system, and indoctrinating children to be intolerant bigots.

Full article here.