Do i have a case against a teacher who asked me to go to church with him?

Question

I just recently moved to a Bible belt town and I myself am an agnostic (yeah tell me about it.) I was sitting in class and my science teacher had the nerve to ask me to go to church with him. Is this acceptable? Thanks

I just recently moved to a Bible belt town and I myself am an agnostic (yeah tell me about it.) I was sitting in class and my science teacher had the nerve to ask me to go to church with him. Is this acceptable? Thanks
This was just one incident I was harassed by a student for 3 weeks straight on why I don’t believe the hypocritical views of the Baptist way. I also had a teacher who on repeated accounts said the world was going to end and the reason Katrina happened was because of the sinners in New Orleans. Plus I have a teacher who calls anybody who doesn’t agree with him (he’s a republican am I’m not) that we are communist pinko ******. So now do I have a case?

Answer 1

just say no thank you.
If he persists, call the ACLU and sue his @ss

Answer 2

I live in the Bible Belt also, and also am agnostic, but I got here well after college. Absolutely, asking a student to attend church with him is illegal and a violation of the First Amendment. Teachers are, due to their profession, in a position of power over students. That means that just by asking they put the "non-believer" student in a position where they feel out of place, embarrased, and like they have to obey the "invitation." This was not just a question. Also, its not a state law issue, its a federal law issue - the Constitution.

Although the circumstances around which he asked do matter somewhat (i.e, if he asked in front of other students it would be really bad for him), the fact that he asked at all is a violation of your rights.

What "Believers" in the Bible Belt forget is that agnostics support their right to believe, but we don't want to hear them tell us about it. In effect, we support their First Amendment rights, but they don't support ours. Talk to your parents if you are under 18 and if you are truly offended, speak to someone from the ACLU.

Answer 3

Okay with the laws changing like they are you could possibly have a case. Because there is a line in harassment. If you could find the right attorney then you would probably win the case but you would be hated by all the people that live in that town and you would be harassed even more at school. I understand what you are talking about. I am not agnostic, I do believe in God but I don't believe in going to church but I get tired of people trying to recruit me into their life styles and churches. I think that church is over rated and I don't want to sit with a bunch of hypocrites telling me what I should and should not believe in when it comes to God. He and I have our own relationship. But I feel that it is everybody's choice to believe or not to believe that is between you and Him. But in the case that you are being harassed by these people to join their church and now you are not even allowed to speak of God in school anymore I think that you could have something. Maybe you should start by going to the principal and telling him what is going on and that you would like it to stop because it is becoming a disturbing point in your school work and that you do not appreciate being harassed by the teachers to go to church. It is your right whether or not you believe or want to go. So I think you should start with the principal and then the school board and after that if it keeps on you should start calling some people.

Answer 4

Yeah right, somehow I believe when you didn't get the answers you wanted you chose to add to it a bit, but here goes anyway. As for the first question... No, you don't have a case. This is a free country, and you do have the choice to say you're not interested. The teacher did nothing wrong by asking you to go to church. As for the add on part of your question... No one should ever be harassed for their personal views. I'd say, in the long shot of it being true, that you would have a case, but if I were you, I'd put on my big girl pants, and DEAL WITH IT.

Answer 5

Did the teacher have the intent of "swaying" you from your beliefs? If not, then it appears to be a harmless remark and a very genuine invite that one might make to someone knew in a bible belt community.

Not everyone is going to respect your point of view. That will happen no matter where you live, what you believe, or what political ideals you have. It is part of having the unpopular opinion. I'm not saying what others are doing to you is right, but I don't necessarily know what you want to sue someone for. If someone is harming you physically, then you can press assault charges. But others have the right to say what they want, as you have the right to believe what you want.

Answer 6

Just because you were asked to go to church doesn't mean you automatically have a case. There really are a lot of circumstances. If the teacher was pushing his religion on you and asking you to go to church because you are agnostic you might have something, but how would the teacher know you were agnostic if you didn't discuss it. It's sort of a double-edge sword there.

Answer 7

Why does everything have to end in litigation? You've cited three incidents that are unrelated that made you feel uncomfortable, or where views were expressed that you did not follow. That is not harassment, and it isn't something to sue over. It's a difficult predicament, because revealing you are agnostic may result in their taking you on as a "project", but I refuse to believe that we are truly living in times where we can't see it for what it is and get on with our lives. With time they may determine to let it go.

Answer 8

You have got to be kidding me. You want to sue a teacher because he invited you to church? Why don't you get some coffee from McDonald's instead? There's more money in that type of case.

Would you sue for emotional distress if an ugly person asked you on a date? Give me a break.

Answer 9

what do u expect? If u move to a very religious area, obviously the people are going to want u to join their church. it's not like they are psychic and know ur agnositc. he was probably trying to be friendly since u recently moved there and figured he would try to include u. If he didn't try to include u.. you would probably be mad about that too!! damned if u do.. and damned if u dont.
... and if i tried to sue every person who said something that was off color to me, whether a teacher , a boss, or a total stranger , i would have a lot of lawsuits to be pursuing

Answer 10

As long as you are an "agnostic", which means not knowing, you may as well be a bit circumspect, rather than defensive. Try to develop some self-esteem. Teens who try to destroy adults need self-esteem. (By the way, I am not at all a bible waving conservative. I am on the other side of Christianity.) People who try to destroy others need to find greater self-esteem.

Answer 11

Well, even if he knew you were agnostic, I still won't doubt his good intention given only that he asked you to go to church.

If he persists after you clearly show your refusal to go, then may be you have a point -- not to sue, but to complain to the school.

If he hurts you in any way for not going to church (by treating you unequally, making fun of you, or deducting marks), then you may consider litigation.

SAMer