Illinois Family Institute Attacks "Friendly Atheist"

The Illinois Family Institute, offended by the fact that an atheist is allowed to teach children mathematics, is sending letters to parents urging them to pull their kids from his classes. Why?

Because he teaches them that only people who ignore God can be good mathematicians? Nope.

Because he teaches how to count by having kids list right-wing preachers and politicians who have been busted for steamy man-on-man affairs? Nope.

Because he has an atheist blog? You got it.

Writes IFI’s Laurie Higgins:

District 204 parents really should spend some time perusing Neuqua Valley math teacher, Hemant Mehta’s website to determine whether he is the kind of man with whom they want their children to spend a school year. He absolutely has a First Amendment right to promote any feckless, destructive, offensive, and immoral ideas he wants via his blog, but, as I mentioned in my earlier article, parents have the right not to have him as a teacher and a role model for their children. I want to be very clear about what I’m suggesting: I am suggesting that parents who have serious concerns about Mr. Mehta’s potential influence on their children’s beliefs politely insist that their children be placed in another teacher’s class.

Who the heck is the Illinois Family Institute?

Why, they’re a Christian Reconstruction organization, of course!

The Illinois Family Institute (IFI) is an independent 501c(3) non-profit ministry dedicated to upholding and re-affirming marriage, family, life and liberty in Illinois. Since 1992, IFI has worked to advance public policy initiatives consistent with Judeo-Christian teachings and traditions, educating citizens so that they can better influence their local communities and the state. IFI does not participate in, or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. (See IFI’s Political Campaign Policy.)

IFI works within the state of Illinois to promote and defend Biblical truths to foster an environment where families can thrive and reach their full God-given potential to serve and glorify Him–making the most of the opportunities afforded to each of us by His gift of life and liberty.

To accomplish this goal, IFI works to educate Christians and the general public on matters of moral concern; to initiate, promote, encourage and coordinate activity designed to safeguard and advance public morality consistent with Biblical Christianity. While we are financially independent, our efforts are reinforced by our affiliation with the American Family Association (AFA) and our working relationship with other Christian ministries like the Family Research Council and the Alliance Defense Fund as well as similar nationally and state-based ministries and organizations across the United States.

Their staffers include Laurie Higgins, Director of the Division of School Advocacy, and Dave Smith, Executive Director. You can become a “Ministry Partner” for only $35.

Who is Hemant Mehta?

Hemant Mehta is no Richard Dawkins. He is, in fact, the Friendly Atheist.

Hemant, author of I Sold My Soul on eBay: Viewing Faith through an Atheist’s Eyes, produces the Friendly Atheist blog with help from several contributors. Unlike Dawkins, he’s friendly, and doesn’t spend his time insulting people who disagree with him, or calling them

feckless, destructive, offensive, and immoral -Laurie Higgins

Rather, he tries to engage them in intelligent discussion, and offers a useful secular perspective. Higgins believes that, even though Mehta has never brought his beliefs into the classroom, his lack of religion makes him an inappropriate math teacher.

Personally, I can see her point. Mehta simply cannot bring himself to teach kids that 1+1+1 = 1.

Only Christians can do that kind of math.

Higgins chooses to end her anti-Hemant tirade with this bizarre conclusion:

Some parents may be ideological kindred spirits with Mr. Mehta. Those parents may relish the idea of their children being impressed by Mr. Mehta and influenced by his subversive ideas.

But those parents who are troublied by the ideas Mr. Mehta expresses, posts on his blog, and endorses, and who recognize that their teens may be predisposed to look favorably on his ideas merely because they like him, may want to ensure their teens have another math teacher.

It’s all about diversity and choice.

In what parallel universe does “diversity and choice” actually mean “uniformity and avoidance of anything with which you disagree”?

The Illinois Family Institute may be contacted via their website’s email form, by telephone at 708-781-9238, or by fax at 708-781-9376.

Related articles:

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2. AFA Attacks AAA over Gay-Friendly Policy
3. Evangelical leader joins Religious Institute in supporting family planning, opposing proposed cuts to Planned Parenthood
4. Adoption Option: Illinois agency steps in when Catholic Charities abandons kids
5. FFRF debuts ‘Out of the Closet/Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Atheist/Agnostic’ campaign

Jenny Donati is webmistress and co-editor of Secular News Daily. Jenny is an outspoken secularist who believes firmly in the separation of church and state. She demands evidence to support arguments, and holds herself to the same standard. She doesn't write about herself in the third person . . . but there's a first time for everything.

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