Easy to see why this experience made a permanent impression on our family - especially when it was the public school kids who were calling to check on her, sending cards, stuffed animals, coming by with treats, and helping her with make up work. The kids in her Sunday school class did nothing - she was told she was an unrepentant sinner.
Does this mean I don't think bullying goes on in other places? Of course it does - but this is our experience, others will vary.
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The worst bullying my kids ever saw came from our church youth group. It got so bad at one point, the pastor had to intervene. The leaders of the group? A bunch of prissy, very wealthy, girls who were in a home-school co-op. Every week was a litany of how sinful the other kids were because they were in a public school. The Sunday school teachers did nothing to stop it, even when the girls set up a seating assignment so as to not be contaminated with sin from the public school kids. It came to a head when my daughter was stricken with cancer at 12 and the girls insisted on holding prayer groups to get her to turn away from her sinful nature as God was punishing her with cancer for her sins.
Easy to see why this experience made a permanent impression on our family - especially when it was the public school kids who were calling to check on her, sending cards, stuffed animals, coming by with treats, and helping her with make up work. The kids in her Sunday school class did nothing - she was told she was an unrepentant sinner.
Does this mean I don’t think bullying goes on in other places? Of course it does - but this is our experience, others will vary.
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How true!!!
Unfortunately, it is possible for some people to become so religious, they lose their humanity. They become so sanctimonious, they lose the ability for compassion. I believe some of the religious right actually drive people away, with their sanctimious ranting.
There are three rules, which are very important for civil conduct of society. The rules are:
1. “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” This is a valid principle of social interaction, just the same as “For every reaction, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” is a valid rule for physical phenomena.
2. “Love one another...” That means caring about the welfare of others, unconditionally.
3. “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” That means being accepting of other people’s difference.
Where did those rules come from? Item 1 of course, comes from the Old Testament and also every other major religion. That means those who are sanctimonious in their dealings with others, will meet with hostility, just like those santimonious, prissy girls you mentioned.
Items 2 and 3, of course come from the New Testament. I do believe some individuals fail miserably in following those commandments. Some of the posts in this thread are examples of people failing to follow those commandments.
You made an excellent post.
Sound like a bunch of young Pharisees-in-training. And perhaps a sermon on how Jesus felt about the sanctimonious Pharisees would have been appropriate
Of course, that's just my experience.
But the stories I hear from my wife's co-workers, a former teacher at one of GA's public "schools of excellence" are jaw-dropping.