There are Christian camps, Jewish camps and now there’s a camp for those who question religion. Local atheists and other non-believers are organizing the first camp of its kind for kids in Texas.
Five year old Joseph Parsons is enjoying some time alone at Cathy’s Critters Farm in Collin County. But in less than two weeks, his mother hopes Joseph will be surrounded by kids just like him.
“It’s an opportunity for kids who otherwise get ostracized at school,” said Amie Parsons.
Amie is organizing Camp Quest Texas. It’s camp for children and their parents who are atheists, agnostics, free-thinkers and other non-religious followers.
“It’s just a camp, for kids, who want to have a camp experience without having the religious dogma placed upon them,” she said.
The one-day event will be held August 30, at Cathy Critters in Princeton. And while it will offer many of the same activities that most camps provide, there will also be a strong focus on science.
I guess this is fair considering how many church camps there are. But this is in TEXAS! The camp will be burned down by right wing bible thumpers in less than 6 months.
In my day we called it Science Camp.
/get off my lawn!
#2 gigawave
“In my day we called it Science Camp.”
It’s a one day event. They must get half a day of science and half a day of atheism. A more useful approach would be to call it Science Camp and teach kids of all faiths science. Too bad the ideology of these atheists has to get in the way of teaching kids science.
Isn’t an atheist camp just called “camp”?
“It’s camp for children and their parents who are atheists, agnostics, free-thinkers and other non-religious followers.”
Are these the type of kids who are ostracized at school? Seriously, do kids who don’t go to church really get picked on by other kids?
This is a great answer to the scumbuckets over at Scouts of America who have long discriminated against those of no faith.
Sorry, I seem to be at risk of offending perfectly decent pond scum once again.
Right you are #4–Chuck. My parents sent me off to camp a few summers. Starting fires, hiking, canoeing, swimming, making beaded necklaces, praying to Indian Spirits.
OMG!!!!!!!!
My parents sent me to HEATHEN CAMP. No wonder I’m the way I am.
[Ok, that explains it. – ed.]
Damn kids have it so easy now days. Back in my day, we just had to fake it. Got me to Eagle Scout. (BFD)
But this is better. Still, I think it’s illegal under the Patriot Act.
#4
Yes. Just camp.
I wish they had these when I was a kid.
@bobbo, of many zingers
I am pretty sure they sent you to Troll camp. You must have earned some merit badges.
The blog entry lists two very different purposes of the camp, one healthy, one potentially dysfunctional.
1. >> There are Christian camps, Jewish camps and now there’s a camp for those who question religion.
2. >> “It’s just a camp, for kids, who want to have a camp experience without having the religious dogma placed upon them,”
# 2 is perfectly healthy. Even though I’m a devout Christian, I wouldn’t send my kid to a camp like that.
It should be pointed out that there is not shortage of secular camps. One has to wonder why the atheists feel a need to form another.
#1 could be bad for your kids. It’s creepy to send your kid to a camp that is organized around NOT being someone or, worse, being AGAINST someone else.
(BTW, to be fair, this is the problem of all supremacist groups — not just atheist supremacists.)
Seems from their website “Religion” will be taught? Hmmmmmmmm??? From the humanist perspective? They could go to the zoo for family time?
“free introduction to Humanism course, as well as courses on science, law and politics, psychology, religion, and ethics from a Humanist perspective.”
lets see..
forcing kids to
sunday school
Church on sunday? Saturday? …Day??
RECITE and memorize the bible
sounds like indoctrination to me..NAZIS”
I do not believe in a child being forced to practice ANYTHING until they can make a personal decision..According to LAW thats 16.
“Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.”
~Albert Einstein
#13–ECA==everything you say is correct, but irrelevant to this thread.
Not force anything huh? I have heard of some kiddies actually wanting to be potty trained—but it still not a trend.
#12 – Higghawker,
Post the link to that. I went to the site and didn’t see what you quote. I searched the site for introduction to Humanism site:campquest.churchoffreethought.org and got nothing. What site did you go to?
The only mention I found of religion on their web page was on the about page. Here is the quote that mentions religion:
““Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.” /// Morality is found throughout the animal kingdom showing it has strong evolutionary roots.
Religion with or without science is blind. aka, religion with science is an oxymoron. Yes, certain churches mouth they accept the earth is round, but if you really ask a few follow up questions, they still believe it is flat. What do you think religion means? Its Faith OVER reason/aka science.
About our partners.
Bobbo, I don’t totally disagree with you on some point on religion, being a bit of an agnostic myself.
But, you seem to want to shove all religion and people of faith into one pigeon whole.
Much of the things you say ring true, when talking about fundamentalist christianity.
People of faith are not all cut from the same cloth. Science and Religion can co-exist and have. History shows that many great Scientist have been men of faith, even Darwin.
Fundamentalism is always the problem, in religion or otherwise.
#4:”Seriously, do kids who don’t go to church really get picked on by other kids?”
Grew up in Texas. The answer is, hell, yes they do. Kids don’t need much of a reason to pick on other kids and this one is perfect.
Worse is the endless concern and prayerful attentions the unbelieving kid will get. It’s annoying at best and harassment at worst. Smart kids learn to keep their mouths shut – which is why a camp like this is needed. Why should non-theists have to keep quiet when the believers down there are so damned loud?!
I suspect there will be dozens, if not hundreds, of protesters at the first camp session.
Atheist Camp?
I always thought they were called gub’mint schools.
I happen to be a preacher. I became one online at the ULC 10 years and two months ago.
Why? Because although I’m agnostic/humanist I believe that people have the right to believe what they want. Flat Earth, God, Liberalism whatever so long as is not harming someone else. Someone can believe in God or not or chose to believe in the flying spaghetti monster for all I care.
I also thought it would be nice to be able to marry people but haven’t done any yet but have done a funeral and a eulogy for another funeral.
Why is it so hard for people to just let their kids go to a camp to swim, fish, cop a feel or just have fun. Why put all the God/NoGod shit on them?
By the way, you or more likely to have the BATFE and FBI burn the camp down as anyone on the right in Texas.
# 13 ECA said, on August 19th, 2009 at 6:17 am
I do not believe in a child being forced to practice ANYTHING until they can make a personal decision..According to LAW thats 16.
No piano lessons
No math problems
No studying for school
No sports teams
All those thing require practice. I am not sure about sports teams and piano lessons, but practicing math problems or practicing other schoolwork school work should not be a personal decision until the child receives a high school diploma, at least.
#23 “Why is it so hard for people to just let their kids go to a camp to swim, fish, cop a feel or just have fun. Why put all the God/NoGod shit on them?”
That would be GREAT! But why we don’t? We need to manufacture Christians? 8 year olds don’t spontaneously find Jesus, Zeus, Thor, Vishnu, Allah, or Santa Claus. Mommy and Daddy HAVE TO instruct them, TELL them that Zeus or Jesus are real. That’s why 99.9% of 8 year children of Christians are Christians. 99.9% of 8 year old children of Jews are Jews. 99.9% of 8 year old children of Hinuds are Hindu. Huh. If we don’t instruct the kids in educational camps, bible schools or whatnot, we can’t manufacture a new generation of profit…I mean members.
Speaking for the disadvantaged kids or maybe those families of the unemployed, any kind of summer camp is better than having none. The briefest of times, away from home in an outdoors environment among new friends, changes lives.
#18 – Higghawker,
I thought you were talking about something offered at the camp. That is not.
#23 – Mr. Diesel,
Why is it so hard for people to just let their kids go to a camp to swim, fish, cop a feel or just have fun. Why put all the God/NoGod shit on them?
I don’t have kids, so have not done this research. Do such camps exist? The camp I went to as a child definitely had a god component including services, which, though optional were promoted reasonably well attended.
#24 – Benjamin,
The things you cite require skill not dogma/indoctrination. They are activities not beliefs. Are you so religious that you can not see a distinction?
Call me a crazy liberal self-determinist, but shouldn’t every child, when coming of the age of conscious thought (12-14) make their own decision regarding such an important topic such as religion or lack thereof, rather than go to indoctrination through a Bible or Athiest camp?
I’ve always loved how Athiests are so sure of the lack of God. Heck, I can’t even be sure I turned off the kitchen light in the morning! I have every respect in the agnostic the isn’t sure about the existence of God, and a lack therein in anyone that is sure she doesn’t exist. It’s a fool’s arguement. You only find out when you die, and you can’t brag about if you’re right.