⇒ Download The Young Atheist Survival Guide Helping Secular Students Thrive edition by Hemant Mehta Religion Spirituality eBooks

The Young Atheist Survival Guide Helping Secular Students Thrive edition by Hemant Mehta Religion Spirituality eBooks

Download As PDF : The Young Atheist Survival Guide Helping Secular Students Thrive edition by Hemant Mehta Religion Spirituality eBooks

The Young Atheist Survival Guide Helping Secular Students Thrive edition by Hemant Mehta Religion Spirituality eBooks

Author Hemant Mehta explained in the first chapter of this 2012 book about two young female atheists who “stood up for their atheism and dealt with social ostracism and threats as a result. But only one had a positive outcome… The difference was almost entirely due to the rise of a support system for young atheists that has only recently blossomed… This book is about that revolution and what all of us can do to help the cause. As a high school teacher for the past six years, I’ve seen firsthand how tough it can be to be student who dares to be different… Atheists may not always be physically beaten up as many LGBT students have been, but the social pressure to keep their atheism hidden is very real… This book will cover all that. It will also talk about what those of us who graduated from high school a long time ago can do to help students who are just now realizing they don’t believe in a god… The purpose of this book is to discuss the fact that those rights are attacked, period, and explore what we can do about it.” (Pg. 11-13)

He points out, “Survey after survey show a rise in the number of both non-religious and religiously-unaffiliated Americans. Atheists know this. Religious groups know this. Researchers know this. Even if they’re not happy with the results, there’s no disputing the trends.” (Pg. 18)
He argues, “There is no reason that an atheist group can’t exist at just about every public high school in this country. But we need brave students who are willing to take the lead. The law is on their side and good administrators know that. Unfortunately, administrators are only one of the obstacles to beginning atheist groups… forcing many students to restrain their religious identities because they don’t feel comfortable coming clean about their doubts.” (Pg. 34)

He points out, “There’s a very good reason younger generations tend to support same-sex marriage at a rate far higher than the general public: When you know people who are gay, you’re less likely to think there’s something ‘wrong’ with them. Similarly, if young atheists can make themselves known to their classmates, there’s a good chance atheism will become more acceptable… as they all grow older.” (Pg. 42)

He asserts, “If you’re an atheist, the most important thing you can possibly do is come out of the closet and let people know you don’t believe in god… Obviously, if your parents are forcing you to go to church each week or you risk losing your entire social network, I’m not suggesting you need to come out. But for the many young atheists out there who have the ability to do so, it is vital that you let people know you’re an atheist when opportunities present themselves.” (Pg. 81-82)

He suggests, “Journalists love stories… Can’t get a group started?... Let members of your local media know! … I’ve found it to be very accurate (if only anecdotally): when atheists do just about ANYTHING, reporters pay attention. They WANT to write about young atheists. And if there’s an actual conflict at play, it makes for an even better story. Furthermore, the media often has the ability to make things right when everyone else seems powerless against the authorities.” (Pg. 85)

He clarifies, “everything I’m suggesting here is completely legal. I’m not saying teachers should spend class time talking about why God doesn’t exist. I’m also not telling teachers to encourage students to begin an atheist group. (Even if those things were legal, I believe they would be bad ideas.) This is simply about teachers not shielding who that are from their students if they inquire about it. Some of the adults I’ve mentioned in this book… crossed the line between teaching and preaching. Atheist teachers shouldn’t stoop to their level.” (Pg. 109-110)

While young atheists may enjoy this book, it is probably even more of interest to adults with an interest in public schools.


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The Young Atheist Survival Guide Helping Secular Students Thrive edition by Hemant Mehta Religion Spirituality eBooks Reviews

Hemant Mehta, known as the Friendly Atheist via Patheos has always been a role model to me regarding advocacy with the separation of church and state. Especially now in these times where religious groups clamor to influence America's future via legislators and children. His stories and advice are true in fact regarding events and also the law mandated by the Constitution. I hope that The Young Atheist's Survival Guide finds its way to many more whether students, teachers, administrators and parents. This is our next generation and we have a paramount responsibility to ensure they are given education that is true to fact, not dogma. Let there be a day where mankind realizes that every member's blood is the same, and nothing divides us and nothing casts one superior to the other in the universal community.
Our child is now feeling better about the intolerant society at her high school. Life has been hard and books like this about just being different when it comes to religion are few and far between. Whether your child is set in his/her beliefs for life or not, it's important to not only TEACH tolerance to agnostics, secular humanists and atheists but also to teach them that they deserve respect and equality as well. We're hoping a much more balanced sense of life will come from this book, and that our child will not feel so alone in our small community.
As an atheist myself, 32 now, I can honestly say this is a great book for any youth with questions or that's having a hard or confusing time. I became an atheist around 12 and I was public with friends and family, maybe I shouldn't have been. I got teased a lot by the mentally challenged people or people calling me "devil boy". It's hard and having something like this book will let any young person know they are not alone!
I am both an atheist and a regular follower of the author's blog the "Friendly Atheist", so I eagerly purchased this book when I first learnt of its publication, and I was not disappointed.

In a fast moving and well written manner the book discusses the problems, and solutions to these problems, encountered by young American atheists in the public school system. These problems centre around discrimination by their religious school mates, and school officials. One telling example from the book was a pastor who asked his students to draw a picture of both a christian and an atheist. The students drew the christian as a happy and good man, while the atheist was depicted as a drinker, a smoker, and a bad person.

In response to this, and more generally, to meet like minded people and to discuss issues, atheist students are now forming atheist clubs across the USA. It would be warming to be able to say that school teachers and administrators unreservedly performed their job and duty and helped and encouraged these students to do so, but this is not the case. Atheist students were confronted with opposition and outright vilification by their teachers and their school bureaucracy. More so, from their fellow students and parents, some students received physical threats. No sign of "love thy neighbour". In response many students successfully called upon the USA constitution, which separates church from state, in a bid for equal recognition and acceptance.

In the USA, it is illegal for public schools to promote religion, and schools must deal equally with students of all and no faiths. More so, atheist clubs are legal entities, and must be granted the same rights and privileges as other student groups. Interestingly, students can legally chose to remain seated and not recite the oath of allegiance, as it refers to god.

The book concentrates on examples from the lives of the students concerned. Interwoven with this is the wider world, parents (there's and others), the media, lawyers, the school, the community, priests and pastors, and how these affected the struggle by the student's to form their own groups and participate in their school life. It is very sad to say that some parents disowned their children when their atheism was revealed. Happily, the book does conclude with a realistic and optimistic view of the future.

The book is both a summary of the situation to date, and a primer on how to form and foster an atheist group at school. It contains examples, contact details, and text that will help any student interested in pursuing this worthy goal.

If you are a student, the parent of a student, either in or not in the USA, or you work or have dealings with a school or students, or if you have an interest in human rights, then read this book.
Author Hemant Mehta explained in the first chapter of this 2012 book about two young female atheists who “stood up for their atheism and dealt with social ostracism and threats as a result. But only one had a positive outcome… The difference was almost entirely due to the rise of a support system for young atheists that has only recently blossomed… This book is about that revolution and what all of us can do to help the cause. As a high school teacher for the past six years, I’ve seen firsthand how tough it can be to be student who dares to be different… Atheists may not always be physically beaten up as many LGBT students have been, but the social pressure to keep their atheism hidden is very real… This book will cover all that. It will also talk about what those of us who graduated from high school a long time ago can do to help students who are just now realizing they don’t believe in a god… The purpose of this book is to discuss the fact that those rights are attacked, period, and explore what we can do about it.” (Pg. 11-13)

He points out, “Survey after survey show a rise in the number of both non-religious and religiously-unaffiliated Americans. Atheists know this. Religious groups know this. Researchers know this. Even if they’re not happy with the results, there’s no disputing the trends.” (Pg. 18)
He argues, “There is no reason that an atheist group can’t exist at just about every public high school in this country. But we need brave students who are willing to take the lead. The law is on their side and good administrators know that. Unfortunately, administrators are only one of the obstacles to beginning atheist groups… forcing many students to restrain their religious identities because they don’t feel comfortable coming clean about their doubts.” (Pg. 34)

He points out, “There’s a very good reason younger generations tend to support same-sex marriage at a rate far higher than the general public When you know people who are gay, you’re less likely to think there’s something ‘wrong’ with them. Similarly, if young atheists can make themselves known to their classmates, there’s a good chance atheism will become more acceptable… as they all grow older.” (Pg. 42)

He asserts, “If you’re an atheist, the most important thing you can possibly do is come out of the closet and let people know you don’t believe in god… Obviously, if your parents are forcing you to go to church each week or you risk losing your entire social network, I’m not suggesting you need to come out. But for the many young atheists out there who have the ability to do so, it is vital that you let people know you’re an atheist when opportunities present themselves.” (Pg. 81-82)

He suggests, “Journalists love stories… Can’t get a group started?... Let members of your local media know! … I’ve found it to be very accurate (if only anecdotally) when atheists do just about ANYTHING, reporters pay attention. They WANT to write about young atheists. And if there’s an actual conflict at play, it makes for an even better story. Furthermore, the media often has the ability to make things right when everyone else seems powerless against the authorities.” (Pg. 85)

He clarifies, “everything I’m suggesting here is completely legal. I’m not saying teachers should spend class time talking about why God doesn’t exist. I’m also not telling teachers to encourage students to begin an atheist group. (Even if those things were legal, I believe they would be bad ideas.) This is simply about teachers not shielding who that are from their students if they inquire about it. Some of the adults I’ve mentioned in this book… crossed the line between teaching and preaching. Atheist teachers shouldn’t stoop to their level.” (Pg. 109-110)

While young atheists may enjoy this book, it is probably even more of interest to adults with an interest in public schools.