Atheist organization launches Ireland's first ever school course on atheism

[rug]

Initiative will give primary school children “an alternative view on religion”

By IrishCentral Staff Writers,
Published Sunday, September 22, 2013, 8:06 AM

Atheist Ireland is planning to develop Ireland's first ever school course on atheism.

The initiative, which is designed for grade school children, is being developed in conjunction with Educate Together, which runs non-denominational primary schools around the country. According the Atheist Ireland website, the course "will teach about atheism, not teach atheism."

Michael Nugent, the chair of Atheist Ireland, told BreakingNews.ie that the objective of the program is to educate school children about the basic beliefs of atheism and could be used in religious schools in cases where parents want to give their children an alternative view on religion.

The five-year-old organization announced on its website the launch of the initiative at its AGM, held in the Harbour Hotel in Galway city on Saturday. The group also announced the launch of the Dublin Declaration on Secularism Empowering Women, part of an international policy on secularism.

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Atheist-organization-launches-Irelands-first-ever-school-course-on-atheism-224766642.html

[RoccoR5955]

1. It's about time.

No if only they would do it in the US!

[cbayer]

2. The "basic beliefs of atheism"? What's that?

I could see them incorporating atheism into a curriculum that looked at the world's religions, but what would a whole course on atheism be composed of?

[rug]

3. That struck me as well. But, since it's not in quotes, I assume it's a poor paraphrase.