Posted on 07/25/2005 12:39:57 PM PDT by kerryusama04
July 24, 2005 — Nicole Ward grew tired of having to pray during the hot activity-filled days of her summer camp experience; especially since she comes from a family that doesn't believe in God.
"I really didn't enjoy having to say a million prayers a day at other camps," said Ward.
Subindex: Faiths and Beliefs
Lance Armstrong: Man, Myth, Legend Police Hold Three in Failed London Attack Ever Use the Internet for a One-Night Stand? Thanks to Camp Quest, she no longer has to.
Camp Quest is a secular camp operated in Butler County, Ohio, by a group incorporated in Kentucky. It is for kids who come from families who are atheist or agnostic. For these kids, Camp Quest provides a refuge from a society where God feels omnipresent.
"I sometimes get pressured at my school, like why do I not believe in God?" said Molly Silverman, a camper. "But here, they never pressure me or anything
Instead, Silverman is accepted without criticism for not bowing her head before each meal.
A Godless Curriculum
Lawyer and author Edwin Kagin, an atheist, founded the camp 10 years ago, and chooses to focus on subjects that steer clear of religion.
"We also have critical thinking," said Kagin. "We teach science. We teach evolution. We have a strong emphasis on scientific method."
Kagin also refers back to American history to nurture his Godless environment.
Each camper is given a Godless one-dollar bill, without the phrase "In God We Trust" printed on the back, because the "God" one-dollar bills didn't emerge until the 1950s.
American Atheists and Agnostics
An estimated 6 million Americans are atheists or agnostics who either do not believe in God or question the existence of God.
Hostility toward atheists and agnostics in the United States prompts some non-religious people to refer to their admission of Godlessness as "coming out of the closet." Polls have shown Americans would choose a president who is gay, female or Muslim over a non-God-fearing person.
"Americans tend to view religious faith as the basis for morality, so when someone says they don't have a religious faith or they're an atheist, to many people that's admitting they don't have a moral values," said John Green of The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
Kagin's Camp Quest is a response to the current debate over the role of religion in public life.
Subindex: Faiths and Beliefs
Lance Armstrong: Man, Myth, Legend Police Hold Three in Failed London Attack Ever Use the Internet for a One-Night Stand?
Phil Burress of the Citizens for Community Values said Kagin's camp sends the wrong message.
"What offends me more about this camp is the fact that they're teaching the myth of separation between church and state," said Burress.
Kagin says his campers are perfectly normal, that instead the problem lies with other peoples' religious tunnel vision.
"There's nothing wrong with the children of Camp Quest, the problem is the bigotry of people who do not understand or are afraid that they threaten them because of their very existence," said Kagin.
I'm confused.
Oh crap, I acccidentally pasted in some of their links. My apologies.
That's how some FR legends have been made. :)
Oh, for Heaven's sake. (Well, you know what I mean.) Like a secular summer camp is a new concept!
Oh, I see. It's not just "nonreligious" camp ... it's "anti-religious" camp. What a total drag.
bingo - they have become so anti-religion that they actually avoid religion religiously. The government is the god for the left. Heck, it's even a Trinity!
If this is the same girl who was on Michael Medveds show last week, she also attends a Lutheran church. That causes me to wonder exactly what her goals are.
So her parents are atheists, but so stingy that they're sending their daughter to church camp because it's cheaper than an ordinary recreation program. No wonder she's a goof.
Nicole Ward grew tired of having to pray during the hot activity-filled days of her summer camp experience; especially since she comes from a family that doesn't believe in God.
"I really didn't enjoy having to say a million prayers a day at other camps," said Ward.
"I sometimes get pressured at my school, like why do I not believe in God?" said Molly Silverman, a camper. "But here, they never pressure me or anything "
Oh bull. Yeah, all the ministers force each child's head down on their clasped hands and yell "PRAY OR ELSE". Then the beatings begin. Whips ... chains.... guns...
Come on..... Seems to me old Nicole and Molly need SOMETHING since the truth seems to escape them. A week with Christians might prove helpful.
All we ever got at Boy Scout camp was fun stuff. We got robbed! We could have been studying all summer long!
Don't you have to go out of your way to find a religious camp? My denomination has denomination specific camps, but logic would dictate that people running a for-profit camp wouldn't want to risk missing out on revenue by limiting the attendees to Christians or others.
Phil Burress of the Citizens for Community Values said Kagin's camp sends the wrong message.
I'd say.
You'd have to sign up for a camp run by a church or denomination, or by a religious group. When we were looking at programs for our kids this summer, there were a couple of options for "Bible Camp." YMCA camps, at least around here, have a daily prayer, but hardly "praying all the time." Girl Scout camp says grace before meals, and might have a (self-selected) group meet for devotions during free time, if that's what the girls want.
This Nicole sounds like a fake, to me.
Well, at least you can credit them with doing something about what they want and don't want. I would like to see homosexuals and the ACLU adopt the same idea instead of trying to have the Boy Scouts (and other organizations) demonized. Go and build you own camp, and stop complaining is my comment. They can have their camp, I don't have to care, or attend.
Exactly, they don't need a kid thinking too much about right and wrong. Just do what FEELS right to YOU and nobody will get on your case.
There's nothing more wrong and boring like praying to, and learning about the God of the universe who sustains life and who's ways no one can dispute as incorrect. < /sarc >
I agree with that. I was just thinking that it hardly sounds like fun! On the other hand, my sons are going to "Civil War Boot Camp" next week :-).
I went to day camp at NYC Public schools for years. Obviously there was no praying, no religion, but neither were we indoctoctrinated into atheism.
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