It is funny even from a Atheists point of view.

I doubt it to be real. I am a Atheist and I dont think it would be in his place to make such a statement infront of a class or any group and he should have known better. Unless the group or class was their for religion reasons and lectures he should get in some kind of trouble with the school he teaches. As for the Marine he should get in just as much trouble as any student striking a teacher for saying something that went against his beliefs.

If this did happen he is like no other Atheist I have met. Most tend to avoid the subject and avoid it to keep out of ridicule and persecution but tell the truth about it when asked. They also tend to know what it is like to be preached to and made fun of so they would not want to do the same back to a group of believers. In other words respect for others beliefs.

Then there are the vast majority of the people I have heard claim to be Atheist that do it for the Shock factor and attention. These people end up mocking there own beliefs and hurting Atheists by calling unwanted attention to them in a negative light. They do this by trying to look rebelious and getting into trouble then people say ooh ya that is a Atheist. These people do not know or understand their own religion good enough and need alot of education in their own back ground. They should under their own rules repent, get saved or whatever their version of it is. They will severly regret it later in life when they "wise up" and try to practice their born/learned religion.