Richard Dawkins backs atheist camp to give children 'godless alternative'

If you were Athiest then you don't believe in anything right? Once you're dead that's it. Why would we need something to teach us how to not believe in anything? I believe in afterlife of some sort, but I do not need to be taught this.

CBR600-RR

[QUOTE="-Chimera-"]I kinda wish I could just go to summer camps again instead of having to take summer classes. I always looked forward to going to various Boy Scout camps over the summer, but now that I'm 18, it's not really going to be the same again.pianist

Like the old saying goes, you're only young once. I understand that feeling. But there are a lot of things you can do now that you couldn't or wouldn't have enjoyed as a youngster.

[QUOTE="-Chimera-"]I kinda wish I could just go to summer camps again instead of having to take summer classes. I always looked forward to going to various Boy Scout camps over the summer, but now that I'm 18, it's not really going to be the same again.pianist

Like the old saying goes, you're only young once. I understand that feeling. But there are a lot of things you can do now that you couldn't or wouldn't have enjoyed as a youngster.

I've got mixed feelings about growing older. I miss the simplicity of being younger, and only having to worry about doing fine in school and staying on my parents' good sides, but I definitely enjoy living on my own and having more freedom.

Are there really no other alternatives?

Maybe Space Camp or Cricket camp?

Regular camp already does that. :|

Are there really no other alternatives?guynamedbilly

Dude, that's awesome! We used to have to seek out each kid one-by-one to spread the Gospel, but now they'll all be grouped together! This will make converting them MUCH easier. Thanks, Mr. Dawkins!

All I can say is that Richard Dawkins is exactly the same as everyone he hates. He's an evangelical guru.

a camp of this sort will fare a lot better in the U.K. than in the United States

[QUOTE="Shhadow_Viper"]

Considering every time I went to a summer camp as a kid I had Christianity shoved down my throat, I do not see the problem with providing a comparable experience for those who are not religious. I do not see why either side is so threatened by every move of the other.

I just don't get it. Whatever happened to camp with NO philosophical component? These are KIDS, for Pete's sake. Let them have fun. No need to cram your philosophical beliefs down their throats...

Sort of defeats the purpose of Atheism, but whatever. Send your kids where you will, just don't come running to me when they come back from camp worshipping Dawkins instead of Yaweh.

All I can say is that Richard Dawkins is exactly the same as everyone he hates. He's an evangelical guru.

danwallacefan

Not true at all.

[QUOTE="pianist"]

[QUOTE="-Chimera-"]I kinda wish I could just go to summer camps again instead of having to take summer classes. I always looked forward to going to various Boy Scout camps over the summer, but now that I'm 18, it's not really going to be the same again.-Chimera-

Like the old saying goes, you're only young once. I understand that feeling. But there are a lot of things you can do now that you couldn't or wouldn't have enjoyed as a youngster.

I've got mixed feelings about growing older. I miss the simplicity of being younger, and only having to worry about doing fine in school and staying on my parents' good sides, but I definitely enjoy living on my own and having more freedom.

If you arent good-looking then well prepare to live with a permanent stamp of inferiority, something you had no idea off being young. Man-hood just aint worth it in my opinion if you arent very good looking, it's just a far too big a pain and "shortcoming" that will stay with you pretty much till you are an old wrinkly grandfather.

I don;t understand why people think that Richard Dawkin's is personally involved in this. All the title states is Richard Dawkins 'backs' the camp and in the article all he did was provide a donation. It's someone elses doing entirely that Mr Dawkins is 'backing'.

How about instead of doing the same thing you dislike of CHristians, why don't you have an Agnosticism camp. Just teach all the views themselves and the arguments against those views. Instilling the belief there is no god is downright bad.Vandalvideo

Chimera said,That sounds just as dumb as Jesus Camp. I agree.

[QUOTE="BumFluff122"]

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

I wonder how long before we get "Richard Camp."

-Chimera-

Yes!! Richard Simmons is a flaming goofball and I can't help laughing (in a good way) when I watch him. I have respect for him. He's a funny guy and his fitness programs have done some good for people over the years.

ibet they put their atheistmarshmellows on atheist sticks and roast them over atheist fires so they can make atheist smores.

[QUOTE="danwallacefan"]

All I can say is that Richard Dawkins is exactly the same as everyone he hates. He's an evangelical guru.

FamiBox

Not true at all.

ibet they put their atheistmarshmellows on atheist sticks and roast them over atheist fires so they can make atheist smores.

LoG-Sacrament

Sounds Tasty.

[QUOTE="FamiBox"]

[QUOTE="danwallacefan"]

All I can say is that Richard Dawkins is exactly the same as everyone he hates. He's an evangelical guru.

danwallacefan

Not true at all.

I hope you're joking :| :|

[QUOTE="FamiBox"]

[QUOTE="danwallacefan"] I hope you're joking :|

danwallacefan

I hope you're joking :| :|

it seems that there's no limit to the childishness of the new atheists.

:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|

Meh, the most annoying atheists aren't (imo) nearly as annoying as fundamentalist, young earth creationism Christians. And pretty much nothing is more annoying than WBC.

[QUOTE="FamiBox"]

[QUOTE="danwallacefan"] I hope you're joking :|

danwallacefan

I hope you're joking :| :|

it seems that there's no limit to the childishness of the new atheists.

[QUOTE="FamiBox"]

[QUOTE="danwallacefan"] I hope you're joking :|

danwallacefan

I hope you're joking :| :|

it seems that there's no limit to the childishness of the new atheists.

More childish than using seven smileys?

And I'm not a "New atheist."

I find your post nothing but insulting.

When Ragnarok comes, Odin will not protect Dawkins from the Fire Giant. What a crazy man.

[QUOTE="FamiBox"]

[QUOTE="danwallacefan"] I hope you're joking :|

danwallacefan

I hope you're joking :| :|

it seems that there's no limit to the childishness of the new atheists.

[QUOTE="danwallacefan"]

[QUOTE="FamiBox"]

I hope you're joking :| :|

chessmaster1989

it seems that there's no limit to the childishness of the new atheists.

:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|:|

Meh, the most annoying atheists aren't (imo) nearly as annoying as fundamentalist, young earth creationism Christians. And pretty much nothing is more annoying than WBC.

I hope you are joking or god's wrath shall be on you.:x

j/k ofcourse.:P

When Ragnarok comes, Odin will not protect Dawkins from the Fire Giant. What a crazy man.

sonicare

QFT

Thor also gets to go out in an extremely epic manner:

"According to the Prose Edda, Thor was to meet his death during Ragnarök at the hands of Jörmungandr. The two mortal enemies were locked in combat and though Thor did defeat the great serpent, he was only able to take nine steps before falling dead from the venom."

I'm an atheist, and I don't get it. I also don't get an atheist "church". Like WTF? Is there a doctrine or creed to being an atheist? No. There is no unified belief or philosophy. A lack of belief in God is just a belief in itself, and it gets on my nerves when atheists try to make it to be something dogmatic

I wouldn't support it, but big deal. I'm not surprised that atheists might feel envious of religious camps, so they decide to make their own alternative. A secular camp would do.

EDIT: The more that I think about this, the more of a big deal it seems. It's a stupid idea to be honest, because they're doing it in the name of atheism, which is nameless in principle.

:| Why not just encourage parents to keep kids at home and foster friendships with people they may actually see for more than a couple of weeks over the summer rather then shell out hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for ridiculous summer camps, whether religious or not?

Godless camp? Seems like a bad idea based on a pop culture fad to me. Instead of jesus camp or godless camp, let's just not have camp. Seriously. Camp sucks.

I'm wondering if anyone actually read the article:

"The five-day retreat near Bath is already fully booked. On top of cooking, hiking and canoeing, activities for campers include a competition to disprove the existence of the mythical unicorn - with the winner receiving a £10 note on which Dawkins, the author of The God Delusion, has signed his name.

"The organiser, Samantha Stein, said the camp was not only for the offspring of atheists or 'irreligious' parents. 'It is a secular alternative open to children of parents of all faiths and none,' she said.

"'It is not about changing what they think, but the way that they think. There is very little that attacks religion; we are not a rival to religious camps.'

"The £275 all-inclusive adventure break is supported, Stein says, by a one-off donation from the Richard Dawkins Foundation, but he is not personally involved.

"Camp Quest UK's website says its counsellors and volunteers will lead activities teaching eight to 17-year-olds 'about science, free thought and humanist principles. Activities cover critical thinking, science, history, human rights and ethics'."

To be honest, if it's as advertised, I might even be interested in it if I were a little younger.

Don't care.