> Then I mentioned that I have NEVER used the term to describe > someone's beliefs as " You must be rebelling against your > parents", as I believe early conditioning has MUCH more of an > effect on one's adult beliefs than the brief "rebelling" phase. > > This is a concept I'd like to follow. Could Atheism be just as > much a "taught" belief in childhood as religion? > > Imagine a world where "religions" ( yes, in plural) was a class > taught in grade school...and Atheism was taught along with it. A > completely academic study of the belief systems. Try a Sunday School program in the Unitarian Church. Live it, learn it, love it! David (Ok, it's not exactly completely academic, but it is focused on teaching the skills to the students to determine what *they* want to believe... And Atheism is a valid choice.)