I do not understand former atheist's

[Max_Kolbe]

I wasn't trotting out a "no true scotsman." When I said that most theists are either confused or lying when they say they were an atheist, that was based on personal experience. Most of the stories I've heard go something like, "I used to be an atheist, and I hated god..."

The same approach is used by Christians when they consider ex-Christians.

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I was thrilled. I like it when my students stand up for themselves and I really like it when they offer counter points of view. I want my students to critically think and come to their own conclusions.

I often annoy my students when they show me their work and ask, "is this good." I say to them, "You tell me. You know if something is good or not good. When you're at a restaurant do you ask other people to taste your food and tell you if it's good? Show some confidence."

Then most of them say, "I just want to know if I'll get a good grade." Oh how we've brain washed them.

Don't get me started.

I'm not a teacher, but this makes no sense to me. They are asking you if it is good because you are supposed to be a teacher, someone knowledgeable in the subject matter, a person with more personal experience.

Can you let me know where you teach? Want to make sure my son doesn't go to your school.

No, what they are asking is, "what grade will this get me." The focus is too much on grades. We do not teach our students to think for themselves. We teach them to value an arbitrary letter in the alphabet that has no value. Knowledge and skill, that's valuable. The way public schools are set up however, we teach kids to value what other people tell them is valuable. I ask that question because I want my students to begin thinking about these things. I do not want them to go along with the crowd. Even if that means that they come to conclusions that are opposite of mine. I want my students to be critical thinkers in a society that does not value critical thinking.