I thought we are supposed to have freedom of speech. In schools the teachers are not aloud to talk about God or pray. I dont understand just because someone that does not believe complains that they dont want there child hearing about God they get there way. Those of us that do believe dont have a say in anything anymore.
2006-09-08 15:11:07 · 15 answers · asked by Lucille 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A belief is most important only to the believer. Their perceptions and thoughts form it and it, in turn, creates that person's reality. It's inevitable others won't hold the same beliefs as you; they have different experiences. Since their beliefs are different, they actually live in a different reality (Whoa! Far out, man!).
Sometimes actions taken upon a belief impinge on actions derived from different beliefs. So who's right? In each frame of belief/reality, their own actions are correct. The militant Atheists you might be referring to see no fault in their actions to ban prayer from schools; should we hate them for living according to their beliefs? Accordingly, they might view the Christian action of pushing for prayer in schools as wrong when the Christians are only following their beliefs -- nothing wrong with that, right?
While I don't always agree with people's actions, I greatly respect a person for having the courage to stand up and take the actions they think right according to their beliefs. Some people just stand up a bit stronger (and louder) than others. But while I feel we should all follow our beliefs, we should make every effort to respect those who follow theirs and try to find a compromise situation. For example: Allow prayer in school, just don't make it mandatory or discriminate against those who chose not participate.
For the record, I'm an Atheist myself, but not the militant variety. I'm OK with prayer in school and I feel abortion just ain't right. I'm not so much for the death penalty, either. Live, let live and "Be excellent to each other".
"Can't we all just get along?". Unfortunately, it seems not. But I try to do my part. We all should.
2006-09-08 15:29:45 · answer #1 · answered by Adashi 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You don't have to go to school to learn about god. You will learn about those in church and at home and likely at the types of group things you like to do. School is for learning to think and for learning things like math and science that are much harder to learn elsewhere.
Once you start teaching religion in the schools, public schools that is, which one do you choose? How could you possibly even teach that without offending someone. Even the different christian sects differ enough that arguments would happen.
This has nothing to do with freedom of speech, it's just being practical.
Also, there are lots of schools where religion is part of the curriculum. You always have the choice to go to one of those. I know that in Canada, the Catholic school system and some other schools are funded equally to the public school systems based on number of students.
Simply put, the teachers are being paid to do a job. That job is not to teach religion.
2006-09-08 15:31:06 · answer #2 · answered by icetender 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This isn't a question it's rhetoric. By law religious followers have more rights than non-religious believers. What secularists believe is that people should have a choice and not be sold one way or the other. Is it right for a 4 year old child to be forced to hear biblical stories, or taught to sing hymns when they are genetically predisposed to believe everything an adult tells them as a surival instinct? Surely if God is the truth He won't mind waiting a few years until the child has grown enough to make a rational decision based on fact?
2006-09-08 15:15:15 · answer #3 · answered by Rokkster 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You miss the point of the law.
It isn't a bow to atheism. It's there for two reasons:
1) Not a theocracy. Any religious exercise is tied to one particular brand of one particular religion. By having a particular exercise, it makes it the "state sanctioned" religion.
2) No person should have to be required to listen to or participate in the rites of another's religion.
Think about how these rules work for a mix of people - Baptists, Catholics, Jews, Wiccans, Muslims, Deists, Hindus, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutherans, Scientologists and so on. Which one shall be the state sanctioned religion that everyone has to listen to?
The correct answer is: None of the above.
All may freely practice and live their religion on their own time and in their own spaces.
2006-09-08 15:31:17 · answer #4 · answered by sheeple_rancher 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure, you have a say... just not in school. This doesn't have anything to do with freedom of speech... it has to do with the fact that public schools are an organ of the state, and thus wield the coercive power of the state. If they permit YOUR religious speech, and speech ONLY from your religion in school, they are tacitly promoting your religion... which, in accordance with the Constitution, is not permitted. If they permit EVERYBODY to promote their religion in school, then YOUR parents would get their panties in a bunch because you would be exposed to religious ideas that THEY do not approve of... and school would become a free-for-all.
Once you are off school grounds, you can do all the praying and indulge in all the religious speech you want to. Heck... stand on a soap box on the corner, and shout it to the world. Anybody who doesn't want to listen can just walk away.
In school, they don't have the option of just walking away... therefore, it cannot be permitted.
Quit whining and get used to it.
As they say... if you promise not to preach and pray in my school... I'll promise not to think in your church.
2006-09-08 15:42:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tax dollars from ALL Americans pay for schools, the school space, buildings, teachers, etc. We cannot have Christian, Jewish, Muslim or any other prayers in these buildings or situations, for that is mingling Church and State, prohibited by the Constitution. Whose prayers would you want? Yours? Another Church's? There is the problem..the way it is, no one is included, and no one is left out. Works best this way. Good luck
2006-09-08 15:16:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Would you like it if teachers endorsed atheism and told your impressionable children that god didn't exist? Church should be enough, why force religion on people who don't want it though public schools? I don't have a say in anything. Our president, congressmen, and senators and nearly all theists, and thus unable to legislate laws with regard to my beliefs. How dare you say that you are the one silenced and oppressed?
2006-09-08 15:16:42 · answer #7 · answered by reverenceofme 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's all in the plan. All these things must happen. Have you ever read such a book as the bible that tells you what the future is going to bring, and everything is right on target? Check the history books if you don't believe the bibe.
2006-09-08 15:16:16 · answer #8 · answered by pleasantville982001 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
School is not the place for opinion and that is what your beliefs are. If you want to teach your child about God then Home School them.
How would you like Satanism taught in school? Islam? Hinduism? Buddhism?
Beliefs are for home, they are personal. Evidence of how the world works is for school.
2006-09-08 15:16:11 · answer #9 · answered by thewolfskoll 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You can believe any stupid thing you want, but when you think it is a violation of your rights if you are denied the opportunity to use the coercive power of the state to shove your god down my throat, you are a Bible Nazi.
2006-09-08 16:40:34 · answer #10 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋