What should an atheist do in a required theology class?

Question

Alright, so I'm a 16 year old attending a catholic school. We are required to take theology all four years of high school. However, I am an atheist, and have been for a few years. I managed to get by last year because it was an Old Testament course that, judging by the moral standards of the Old Testament, couldn't really be used to teach much about faith or christianity. However, New Testament this year is much more focused on personal faith experiences.

How should I do this class? I don't want to be hypocritical, but I want to pass. Should I fake faith, or say what I believe (I am currently more inclined to do the latter of the two)

Also, not attempts to convert please.

Answer 1

Think about the class not so much as a test of faith, but an education in interpersonal skills. Jesus was a MASTER ! Or if not in interpersonal skills, fun myth. :D  The book is filled to the brim with beautifully stringed together verses of words. If not an interpersonal lesson, treat it as a lesson in creative literature. The bible is the best selling book of all time.

If i was in that situation, i'd just be honest, but I've never been atheist. Agnostic is more my cup of tea.

Answer 2

why do you HAVE to attend a catholic school?  drop out or create such a stink about being forced to accept conforming to something you don't believe in that you'll be expelled. then find a good non-secular school to get your 'untainted' education at.

by the way -- are you legally and financially independent?

Answer 3

Theology doesn't mean its freaking bible camp or whatever the equivelent of THAT is.

Just because your an athiest doesn't mean you can't learn. like wtf?! do you know everything!?

I don't believe in Jesus but I can still learn from his struggles.I'm not a Buhdist but I follow many of the values they hold.

You can't fake ath. Faith is believeing withOUT proof. People can ONLY have faith i God becuase they know NOT if He exists.

Answer 4

You are not there to 'believe'.  You are there to learn.  And learn you shall.  You need to understand what the bible is about, and yes, you can still deny it.  There are non believers who study books such as the Koran and the Book of Mormon.  It is readying and understanding what people think, not taking on their beliefs.  

Having said all this blah, blah, blah...Understand that you are answering questions, and you should not lie.  But also understand that you cannot possibly pass a class if you answer every question with "Does not apply, as I'm not a believer."  Pretty soon you will fail.  

When the question states "How has your faith in Jesus changed.....blank....?  Simply state, I struggle with this all the time as my faith in Jesus is lacking.  

Answer 5

Sure. Fake it .  What have you got to loose?

Answer 6

Why don't you try to just learn what it is teaching and take the moral lessons at face value.  That way you could actually get something out of the class without compromising your belief system.  I know that you understand that there will be some parts of the class that you will just have to grin and bare but even atheists can be good moral people and you can simply view this as an exercise in getting along.  

Answer 7

Can't you talk to someone in the school about that? Or you could take the class(es), you don't have to fake anything, just keep an open mind. You could try to be honest, but not disrespectful. Maybe you can treat it like math -- you know how people always say you won't use half the stuff they teach you in math, but you take the classes anyway?