Posted on 12/06/2001 2:50:38 PM PST by Dr. Octagon
I want totalitarianism out all together.
Local control, not The Federal Office of Fascist Humanistic Drug Your Kids And Lower Standards.
Two stories.
My daughter when in 3rd grade used to bring in a childs bible to read in free reading time. Her teacher told her she wasn't allowed to read it in school.
Another teacher in 4th was having the class read a book about a town that made a patch work quilt. The moral of the story was to emphasise all the different gifts each person had. The teacher got the children excited over a project where they were all going to draw an 8 1/2 by 11 picture and put them all together and display their own patch-work quilt in the hallway. This teacher did this every year. My daughter drew a cross. The teacher changed her mind and only placed a few selected examples instead.
Neither of these stories was lost on my daughter. She understands that she is not expected to bring up her faith in school. She is in highschool now and knows enough not to write about faith type issues for her english class. She believs if she does she would get a lower grade.
False. You have been misled about what the bible says.
108 posted on 12/7/01 12:31 PM Pacific by rugggud
Teachers need to "teach", not preach(atheism).
That is what science is based on and it's quite logical. Of course, the fact that 'scientific' theories and hypothesis change constantly and most of the 'evidence' is usually open to much interpertation is an important part of that argument. One that you seem to gloss over, but never mind.
I would contend (I won't presume to speak for 'all Christians') that belief in God and acceptance of the bible as the Word of God is certainly based on faith, although over the centuries many bibical places and people have been found to have existed or the events told in the bible are bourn out by newly found physical evidence, but that simply underlines faith and isn't necessary to sustain it.
I can agree that in a very general manner, science is the observation of what exists and then explaining it. Often incorrectly - but the point is to discover, observe and explain. This can be very beneficial to mankind.
Religious (here meaning Christian) people acknowledge science and both it's achievments and it's failings and limitations. I don't believe that science and faith are at odds, just residing in different spheres, as it were.
Yes, Christians celebrate the 'unseen', that's why it's called 'faith', but we see God's hand in many manifestations, not simply the tangible or the measurable, as science requires. I suppose the animus between faith and science comes about when schools teach 'science' such as evolution and treat it as solid, unquestioned fact with flimsy evidence to support it, but treat religious faith and creationism with total disdain and even ridicule. It's all in the attitude.
I don't expect creationism to be taught in public schools and I celebrate my faithin God and Christ with no need for a piece of rock to 'prove it' to me, but unfortunately, public schools downplay religious faith to the point that it's no longer simply science over faith but the argument is presented as intelligence over stupidity. That's truly unfortunate.
I'm not saying this is your point of view but it's a common one in atheist circles and one that may justify and enhance some atheists view of themselves but it generates much resentment among religious people, which comprise the majority. Thus we see the 'You're all going to rot in HELL!!!!' religious rants and the equally useless 'Only illiterate fools believe in those fairy tales in that bunch of nonsense called the bible!
Sound familiar?
I respect science and benefit from it every day. I would hope the atheist and generally unconvinced would respect people of faith and not attempt to pigeon-hole them as naive Luddites. We are not.
Unfortunately, in schools and especially universities, the man or woman of faith, especially Christianity (Eastern religions have always been popular on campus) is often ridiculed by the man or woman of science, and when that occurs, nothing is gained. People of real faith will not abandon it for man's praise and most science-oriented people will not trust what they cannot see, measure or observe in some form. So be it.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".
Incidents such as the one you site are a clear violation of the First Amendment. If the teachers want to read a Bible, praise Allah or chant in honor of the Sun God Helios during their free time, it is their Constitutional right to do so.
If every such violation of First Amendment rights were vigorously litigated, such foolishness by Politically Correct school administrators would quickly come to a halt.
117 posted on 12/7/01 1:37 PM Pacific by f.Christian
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