4 ms·

I went to a Christian highschool, and they accidently hired an atheist science teacher. It was from before my time there, but according to another teacher, app

I went to a Christian highschool, and they accidently hired an atheist science teacher. It was from before my time there, but according to another teacher, apparently no one noticed for a while, the science teacher would just have students lead the prayers when appropriate. As long as the person is respectful and open-minded, I don't think it's a problem. What difference is it to a Hindu if the Chaplain was Christian or an atheist; the Hindu wouldn't share beliefs with either?

vimy 5y ago
What happened when they found out?
- meowster 5y ago
  He finished the semester and left.
thaumasiotes 5y ago
> What difference is it to a Hindu if the Chaplain was Christian or an atheist None, but is the Chaplain there for the benefit of the Hindu students? Also, while there's not so much difference to a Hindu between a Christian and an atheist, the Hindu might well be more comfortable with a Chaplain who did not deny the existence of Hindu gods.
- JoeAltmaier 5y ago
  Ha! I laughed out loud at that one. So, the Christian Chaplain would accept the existance of Hindu gods? Gotto go get a drink of water.
  - thaumasiotes 5y ago
    Did you somehow read the second half of my second sentence without reading the 1.5 sentences in front of it?
    - JoeAltmaier 5y ago
      Did you not read that last part, where it argued you could distinguish Chaplains based on their definitional similarities?
- orwin 5y ago
  Sorry, i don't understand your last point. Wouldn't a christian (Chaplain or not) deny the existence of hindu gods? I mean, when i was a christian kid, i did not believe at all in 99.99% of all gods and thought people of other religions (and especially polytheists) were dumb not to believe like me. I decided later to round it up and that believing in something is OK and not a intelligence marker, just a cultural one. [edit] Btw i agree with you, the chaplain (if i translate this word correctly) should be christian and shouldn't take care of non-christian people (unless chaplain in the US is a non-religious role, in this case i stand corrected).
  - thaumasiotes 5y ago
    > Sorry, i don't understand your last point. Wouldn't a christian (Chaplain or not) deny the existence of hindu gods? Yes, that is my last point. If you're worried about whether the Chaplain offends the Hindu students, a Christian and an atheist are both bad choices. From a world perspective, Christians are militant atheists. The Hindus would be less offended by e.g. a Wiccan.
jollybean 5y ago
That's a different scenario. Most 'Christian' schools hire teachers, often it doesn't matter what religion they are. It's even possible to have people of different faiths (or none) teach religion class. But it's altogether another thing to hire someone who, in some circumstances would be 'leading people in prayer' who is not a Minister type thing. So this posting at Harvard is a little bit of an odd one out.

vimy 5y ago

What happened when they found out?

meowster 5y ago
He finished the semester and left.

thaumasiotes 5y ago

> What difference is it to a Hindu if the Chaplain was Christian or an atheist None, but is the Chaplain there for the benefit of the Hindu students? Also, while there's not so much difference to a Hindu between a Christian and an atheist, the Hindu might well be more comfortable with a Chaplain who did not deny the existence of Hindu gods.

JoeAltmaier 5y ago
Ha! I laughed out loud at that one. So, the Christian Chaplain would accept the existance of Hindu gods? Gotto go get a drink of water.
- thaumasiotes 5y ago
  Did you somehow read the second half of my second sentence without reading the 1.5 sentences in front of it?
  - JoeAltmaier 5y ago
    Did you not read that last part, where it argued you could distinguish Chaplains based on their definitional similarities?
orwin 5y ago
Sorry, i don't understand your last point. Wouldn't a christian (Chaplain or not) deny the existence of hindu gods? I mean, when i was a christian kid, i did not believe at all in 99.99% of all gods and thought people of other religions (and especially polytheists) were dumb not to believe like me. I decided later to round it up and that believing in something is OK and not a intelligence marker, just a cultural one. [edit] Btw i agree with you, the chaplain (if i translate this word correctly) should be christian and shouldn't take care of non-christian people (unless chaplain in the US is a non-religious role, in this case i stand corrected).
- thaumasiotes 5y ago
  > Sorry, i don't understand your last point. Wouldn't a christian (Chaplain or not) deny the existence of hindu gods? Yes, that is my last point. If you're worried about whether the Chaplain offends the Hindu students, a Christian and an atheist are both bad choices. From a world perspective, Christians are militant atheists. The Hindus would be less offended by e.g. a Wiccan.

jollybean 5y ago

That's a different scenario. Most 'Christian' schools hire teachers, often it doesn't matter what religion they are. It's even possible to have people of different faiths (or none) teach religion class. But it's altogether another thing to hire someone who, in some circumstances would be 'leading people in prayer' who is not a Minister type thing. So this posting at Harvard is a little bit of an odd one out.