Christmas has no requirements regarding fasting, prayer, etc., that would impact the school day, so it's not a parallel situation.
Really? We are not meant to pray before each meal and before the start of the school day?
Sounds like they need a new bible thumping group over there.
Really? We are not meant to pray before each meal and before the start of the school day?
Sounds like they need a new bible thumping group over there.
So separation of church and state doesn't apply if the religion has strict rules of adherence like Islam?
Wait, it is a parallel situation. Most school districts give kids a Christmas vacation as well as Easter Vacation, no?
Perhaps your Santa-Claus/Rudolph/NFL-football Christmas has no special requirements, but my birth-of-Jesus-Christ, the-Savior-Christmas requires a special mass or church service, a feast, and gift giving to the needy, and often an additional evening service.
Sloth wrote:
Christmas has no requirements regarding fasting, prayer, etc., that would impact the school day, so it's not a parallel situation.
........................................................
And it could be said that the public school system makes similar consessions for Christian organizations such as The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Christian Prayer groups. At least in my part of the country. To say that our heritage (that of Christianity) is being taken out of the school system does not necessarily apply to the school district my daughter attends. And I would venture a bet that it is still focused on in many public schools around the country. Let us not overreact at the tolerance shown other beliefs, but I agree with the statement (and I am paraphrasint) that we should not lose our heritage while showing tolerance. This country is and will most likely remain a majority Christian nation. As such there will continuously be attacks upon the faith by unscrupulous individuals and groups. It must be remembered that the majority rules, while not losing focus on every individuals rights. I don't think affording anyone of any religion or belief some comfort in their everyday or seasonal religious activities infringes on others rights. It protects their rights, which is the goal. I think the ACLU and organizations like it have a goal to secularize our society. Even as an agnostic, I can see a great harm in this. There is a widening theocratic gap between generations in this country. It is a direct result of the actions of groups such as the ACLU. Our country's Christian identity cannot and should not be seperated from our society. Just as a Muslim in Saudi Arabia or Pakistan would feel the same way. I think even an agnostic in that cuture would feel as I do. Things such as "The Ten Commandments" and the moral teachings of Jesus Christ should be kept in our public places, monuments, schools and government facilities. This is not a governmental sponsorshop of religion, it is a social one. The majority of our country is Christian, and as such the majority has taken it's system of values and morals from those beliefs. To seperate such an important cultural and social ingredient would cause more harm than good. IMHO.
So in your mind, that's the key issue, huh? Whether it impacts the school day? None o' that Constitution and First Amendment stuff to get in the way for you, right?
We fast during lent. We use to pray in school too. That is no longer permitted.
"Christmas has no requirements regarding fasting, prayer, etc., that would impact the school day, so it's not a parallel situation."
This is true statement above. I see the push for muslim acceptance as a PR issue of us being scared of the terrorists and trying to show moderate muslims "we care". Truth is, the moderate muslims will stay silent and NOT help us against the extremists. We do not need to persecute nor support moderate muslims.
I also feel that our heritage of Judeo-Christian background is being supplanted and it is having very negative effects on our country in myriads of ways, too numerous to get into on one post.
Actually Catholics fast and pray the rosary. right now because of advent I try to do little sacfrices and yes fasting from certain foods.