It really happened here in Texas. During this last Ramadan, a fundamentalist 5th grade teacher gave a Muslim student a snack during daily snack time, even though his father sent all the teachers and counselors a letter explaining why fasting was sacrosanct to his religious holiday.
Her remark to another teacher was "Fasting is a silly practice."
The student himself told the teacher he didn't want the snack, but the teacher pressed him to eat it anyway, that fasting was silly.
The teacher apologized to the kid's parents because her principal "encouraged" her to, but in private she said that as a Christian, she didn't need to respect other religions' precepts.
I know this because I have a friend who works with her, who was telling me about this last night.
What are your thoughts? Does being a Christian excuse us from being even superficially courteous to other people's beliefs?
2007-12-04 02:15:45 · 53 answers · asked by Acorn 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Those kinda of pseudo Christians do more harm to the reputation of my religion than all the terrorists and abortion doctors on the face of the earth.
2007-12-04 11:41:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Since I really don't believe in religion or god I look at this from a purely logical point of view. Why do people in this country believe we have the right to never be offended? So the parents sent a note to school...so what? Does it make sense that everyone must follow your beliefs if you publicize it well enough? That's why there's the whole separation of church and state thing...so you can practice whatever religion you want in the privacy of you own home without influence of a differing religion from your school. Last I checked, eating a snack isn't part of any Christian doctrine so I really doubt it was a Christian against Islam ploy despite your rhetoric. Once you're outside your door you can't expect everyone else to do things the same way you do...even if you request it.
The bottom line is, if it was really that important to the parents, they should've kept him home, and if it was that important to the kid, he should've refused. In the end, I'm sure Allah will understand.
So the answer to your question is, no one has the right to expect anyone to be even superficially courteous to their religious beliefs...and vice versa.
2007-12-04 03:05:06 · answer #2 · answered by rpaitse 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Part of being a Christian includes being courteous to others, including their beliefs, as long as they do not impose upon our own beliefs. While the teacher may believe that fasting is "silly," she should not have said this to the student, nor should she have pressed the student to eat a snack while he was fasting.
Misguided Christians who are not courteous to people of other beliefs are a major factor in Christianity not being accepted by nonchristians.
2007-12-04 03:54:08 · answer #3 · answered by sdb deacon 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This 'christian' is confused. Wasn't there a 40 days and 40 nights issue in the christian faith?
Never mind religion, the woman had no right forcing food on the child anyway. That's just bad treatment of someone in her care. She should have made sure the child really didn't want the food, and then made a point to inform the parents that no snack was eaten. That way the parents [ who are after all responsible for their own child's well being] could check reasons why and deal with it. Teachers aren't surrogate parents.
2007-12-04 02:23:53 · answer #4 · answered by oisian88 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Of course not... I am a teacher ( and a Christian) and we must respect the beliefs and traditions of families and individuals.
It is very interesting in this case as fasting is an important practice in Christianity as well.
2007-12-04 02:48:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
WOW, that sux! it is another way that peoples pride down plays our belief, AND offends others into not even wanting to consider our faith. Even Paul, Peter and John stated in various places that we are NOT to offend in practice. There is such a lack of knowledge of what the Scriptures really teach.
Here are a few verses for ya-
Mt.18:7, 1 Cor. 10:32, Phil. 1:10
Luke 17:1; James 3:2; Titus 3:8; Hebrews 10:24
In 1 Cor.chapters 8 & 9 there is a flat guideline about how we are to respect others beliefs without losing our place and respect with them. So many just wanna do it their own way. What a shame.
God Bless
2007-12-04 02:31:39 · answer #6 · answered by xgarmstrong 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
im sori if my english is wrong, plz corrected if im wrong...
from my view, dont care watever your religion is, u must always respect others relligion..this is what we call toleration..
im not saying that what the teacher do is a sin...mayb he or she didnt fully understand the muslim tradition of fasting in ramadhan..in muslim we forgive each other even though the person is not muslim..
Every religion teach human to be understanable..so i think being christian does not excuse us from being courteous to others people belief..we must understand each other..
PS : sori 4 the late reply..if some of my suggestion is disturbing your belief, im very sori..
2007-12-04 03:22:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No - being a Christian does NOT excuse one from showing a little respect to the beliefs of others! Neither would being a Buddist, Muslim, Jew, or any other faith.
Trying force your beliefs on other people is what brought about things like the Crusades and the Inquisition. And I think it's disgusting.
2007-12-04 02:56:01 · answer #8 · answered by shayde 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It depends on the age of the child. If the child was too young to understand what was happening, then the child should be fed. If the child did understand, then it should have abstained on its own even though someone urged to eat.
YOU are saying the teacher forced him to eat the snack... That is not in evidence. We only have the statement that the teacher encouraged him to eat, which she should. If they want to fast, they should keep the child from classes of study and at home to concentrate on the reason he is fasting. One of the causes of low grades and low esteem is not having fuel for the brain to work efficiently. Fasting without dwelling on why you are doing it is useless.
To press or encourage, as I see it, is not to force as you are seeing it.
2007-12-04 02:28:33 · answer #9 · answered by mesquiteskeetr 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Just as some Fundamentalists promote the false idea that homophobia is "loving," some also promote disrespect and derision toward other religions. It's very sad, because all these behaviors are immoral and conflict with Christ's commandment to treat others as one wants to be treated.
2007-12-04 12:38:43 · answer #10 · answered by Michael B - Prop. 8 Repealed! 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋