The society has been structured in a way that people are oriented towards faith. However, more than 3 percent of the United States population does not believe in the existence of a supernatural being, which forms the atheist group of people (Lipka, 2016). Atheists in America have received opposition in society. This paper will present the experience of an atheist in an American high school.
The high school violated Nicole's first amendments rights of being a non-believer. First amendment right dictates that every person has a right to practice any religion or not to practice without being compelled. In this case, Nicole has the rights to stay away from any religious practices that are against her believe in atheism. Violation of Nicole first amendment right to be a non-believer becomes evident during the Basketball event where she receives negative feedback on stating that she was a non-believer. Nicole was told that if she could not join the basketball team in Lord’s prayer, she should have gone to the locker room. In this incident, it is evident that the school expected everyone to follow the religious faith without resistance or question, which was a clear violation of Nicole’s First amendments rights of being a non-believer.
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The first amendment right provides the rights of speech either verbally or non-verbally without fear of being punished based on one’s religious faith or atheism. For example, teachers would threaten Nicole by asking her to get out of school and the country because of being an atheist claiming that that country was Christian. When the school teachers state that the country is Christian, it implies that everyone is expected to be a follower of the religious faith. Thus, it was a clear indication of the violation of Nicole first amendments rights of being a non-believer. The teachers of the high school contributed to making the stay of Nicole in school unbearable.
Further, Nicole’s experience was clear discrimination based on the unjust treatment that is received once she made her stand of being a non-believer clear. In the first instance, Nicole relationship with everyone around her changed; she was left alone with no friends because of being an atheist. Everyone around school began to think that Nicole was an evil person and that she does not deserve to receive fair treatments as the rest of the school students. For example, in one of the events one of the students referred to Nicole as a devil worshipper, everyone would stare at her around the school and laugh at her for no reason which is a clear discrimination of a person. When the actions of other people tend to affect the comfort of a person being around people, it is a clear indication of unjust treatment, which is part of the discrimination process.
In conclusion, Nicole rights of being a non-believer were violated by the school. The school has been oriented towards religious practices in routine activities such as the basketball team. It is also evident that Nicole was discriminated due to her stand as an atheist.
References
Lipka, M. (2016). 10 Fact about Atheists. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/06/01/10-facts-about-atheists/
Price of Atheism. (2007). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTRDRP2n4Sk&feature=youtu.be
