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| Author: Posted: Nov. 17, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 3,838,154 |
Question of the Week: 3 - 8/20/2000 Church and State, Religion in School... What is YOUR View? Church and State, Religion in School... What is YOUR View? |
| Reponses: There are 122 responses posted to this question. | Reverse Sort |
| Just Recently It Came To My Attention That My School Permitted Christians... | Aug 24th. at 9:09:43 am EDT |
| Zane (Sippy Downs, South Australia AU) | Age: 15 - Email |
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Just recently it came to my attention that my school permitted Christians to wear a crucifix (even though there is a no jewellery policy in our school) when I wore my pentacle I was told to take it to the principles office. I fought and told them that it was religious and its what I believe, my teacher did not give in. I brought it to her attention that if I was made to take it off I could sue for discrimination......Did I do the right thing? Blessed Be |
| In Terms Of Church And State, There Is Not A One Shot... | Aug 24th. at 6:39:07 am EDT |
| Jogagirl (Chickasha, Oklahoma US) | Age: 23 - Email |
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In terms of church and state, there is not a one shot answer that will solve every problem and situation. Prayer is a great source of comfort to many people of all religions and spiritual paths. Prayer is said at athletic events, baccalaureates, graduation cermonies, etc. But to actually bring prayer back into schools as a way to corral behavior and bring about some sort of moral fiber, is a segue into alienation. There are many children who(believe it or not), are not a member of any religion or spiritual path, hence when the time for prayer comes, they may not know or understand what is going on around them. That may also be the case with trying to post the Ten Commandments. Although the Ten Commandments are a good set of rules through which to teach children some forms of basic decency, they come from a religious precept. What is the point of posting such rules if the religious precept is not known, understood, or studied by the intended target population? All the problems of this country are not going to be solved this way. In terms of religion and education, if a teacher wants to teach about a specific religion (Buddihism), he/she should teach about other religion/spiritual paths as well and with the permission of the parents. Religion and education clash in many ways, one of which is on the topic of evolution. To me, if a teacher wants to teach about creationism, then that teacher should teach about other stories of Creation as well. Then the teacher should teach evolution in the frame of science (as it is meant for) with explanation that the fossil record is biased and many of the "catches" that exist in the theory of evolution. As stated before, there is no one shot answer to these (and many other) problems, it will take a collective of ideas and solutions to see us through. |
| Merry Meet All, Does Any One Here Believe That The Goverment Should... | Aug 24th. at 2:50:27 am EDT |
| Alex Brave (Elko, Nevada US) | Age: 18 - Email |
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Merry meet all, Does any one here believe that the goverment should control religion? Does any one here believe that pentacles should be baned from school? If we can't look at this from the prospective of those who DO how can we change this situation? Not every one who wanders is lost, Alantis |
| Well I Feel If This Is A Public School Than Why Not... | Aug 24th. at 1:40:07 am EDT |
| Chris Rowe (Portsmouth, Virginia US) | Age: 14 - Email |
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Well I feel if this is a public school than why not have our public beliefs. I mean if we can't do this than how can we be ourselves. The whole youth follows something and/or someone. The school would like each indivisual to show positive attitudes well how can u if your forced not to be your self. The school is free to express it's (School Spirit), but the student/students can't express there self, there spirit, I think that is a bunch of crock. I feel one should be able to speak and act freely in a PUBLIC school. Religion in school isn't a big crisis I mean when the luch bell rings...HELLOOOO.. that's out time not theres. I feel religion in school should be allowed. |
| I Pulled My Son Out Of Public School To Teach Him At... | Aug 24th. at 12:38:50 am EDT |
| Jess (Wichita, Kansas US) | Age: 26 - Email |
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I pulled my son out of public school to teach him at home for many reasons. Being easier was definately not one of them but religion was among them. We live in a relatively small city and so we are still somewhat in the closet. I don't like having Jesus shoved in my face but as an adult I can walk away. My 9 year old son however would be suspended for walking away because it would be against their "standard conduct". I would like to believe in seperation of church and state (schools) but I don't think I'll see it in my lifetime. If a church oriented school was what I had wanted then I would have sent him to a private school! Besides, I would think it was disrespectful to any other religion to do such a thing. If you're going to teach one then teach them all! |
| We Live In A Small Town,the School That My Children Attend... | Aug 23rd. at 11:05:10 pm EDT |
| Bo'Wind Art Do'bhran (Nappanee, Indiana US) | Age: 36 - Email |
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We live in a small town, the school that my children attend have a bible study, of course being an open minded person that Iam, I let my children go to a christian bible class, I had to let them learn for themselves what path they wanted, the questions my son asked me after the first weeks of the class were scary, The teacher told my son that "he would go to hell if he did not behave" , it took me a while to calm down. My son and daughter were scared they then asked me what I thought about what the teacher said, well, I explained to them what mommy believes and told a few stories, and my son said "Wow, that sounds nice and easier to believe! I wouldnt mind if there is religion in the schools if and only if they allowed all religions. Maybe, someone should start the first Pagan Elementary School. My kids would be the first to enroll. |
| In My Humble Opinion, I Would Regard The Ten Commandments As The... | Aug 23rd. at 9:13:45 pm EDT |
| Dolphinwitch (London, England UK) | Age: 31 - Email |
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In my humble opinion, I would regard the Ten Commandments as the Christian moral code - though if I remember correctly they were not the original commandments, as when Moses saw what his people were doing when he first came down the mountain he smashed the tablets of emerald and went back up for a while before coming back with the tablets of stone. Kind of makes you wonder what was on the orignal ones, doesn't it? Anyhow, that's way off topic. Here, in the UK, I know of a primary school where there are Buddhists, Seventh Day Adventists, Plymouth Brethren and Pagans, along with the usual Christian children. At assembly some of the children have to leave at a certain point because their beliefs do not allow them to be told some things, which is slightly concerning, BUT the school allow them to do this without question as that is how their religion works. The headmistress of this school, when asked about Paganism and whether she or the school governors would have any difficulties coping with Pagan children, responded that there were no problems as far as she was concerned, expressed interest in Paganism and how it worked and asked if the children concerned might require any days away from school for religious reasons. |
| This Is Such A Complicated Topic, I Almost Hesitate To Respond. But... | Aug 23rd. at 8:38:36 pm EDT |
| ShaylaB (Phoenix, Arizona US) | Age: 34 - Email |
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This is such a complicated topic, I almost hesitate to respond. But since I'm categorically incapable of not putting my two cents in, I'm going to take the plunge. I feel the biggest problem in this argument is not whether religion belongs in school, but a general lack of respect on both sides of the issue. A lack of respect on the part of the Religious Right for those who wish to practice diverse religions or no religion at all, that is true. But also a lack of respect on the part of those who wish to ban all religion from government and school. As if you could separate the aspects of your life so neatly? The fact is, those who are truly spiritual will practice their faith whereever they go and in whatever they do. They cannot help it. But to institutionalize a certain spiritual philosophy and back that up with government funding...uh, no. There's a big difference, however, between tolerating religion and endorsing it. A school allowing young religious groups to meet privately on its campus is very different from a school allowing groups to actively recruit or hold public prayer meetings. Religious tolerance in my book has to extend to *all* religions. In other words, a Pagan trashing all Christians as being closed minded and inflexible is just as wrong as a Christian trashing all Pagans for being Satanists and animal abusers. Tolerance = Respect, and it should go both ways. |
| Merry Meet ! I Do Not Agree With Religion In School Religion Starts... | Aug 23rd. at 6:59:09 pm EDT |
| Lady Scarlett (Houma, Louisiana US) | Age: 25 - Email |
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Merry Meet ! I do not agree with religion in school religion starts in the home. If they post the Ten Commandments then they will have to let me post the Tent of the Craft. If not I will fight for my rights. If I can't win I will pull my kids out of school and teach them my self. In Love and Light Lady Scarlett |
| In My Opinion I Think That Bring Religion Back Into Schools Is... | Aug 23rd. at 6:44:36 pm EDT |
| palemoonmistres (waldorf, Maryland US) | Age: 21 - Email |
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In my opinion i think that bring religion back into schools is a bad idea. People dont want to accept what other people believe and then that leads to hate crimes. I think the only time when religion can be bought back to schools, is when human nature changes to accept all things. It is in human nature not to accept things that are different. And then u have to look at what religion they bring into schools. I went to a private catholic school, and they force believing it on you. That kind of turned me away from religion. Kids don't what to be forced into believing something. Kids have a choice on their own. Kids have minds and can think for their own. Let them choice what they want to believe in. Schools should not state what the kids should believe. It is, in my opinion, only another way to have control. To me if we let schools bring in religion and they do not tolorate all religions, the we are giving them on more thing. Schools already try to state how kids should think and wear and basically is taking a child's individuality away. When I was in school, i hated it. And know i am free, to think on my own and make my own desicions. If schools bring back religion, then they are taking away the individuality of a person. |
| Religion And Politics In My Humble Opinion, Should Always Remain Seperate! No... | Aug 23rd. at 3:12:30 pm EDT |
| Ravenwing (Lethbridge, Alberta CA) | Age: 21 |
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Religion and politics in my humble opinion, should ALWAYS remain seperate! no one wants someone elses beliefs forced upon them. If they must have religion in schools shouldn't they take into consideration that, christianity( i'm assuming this is the only group lobbying for prayer in school, with the mention of the ten commandments and all) is NOT the only belief system out there! Kids should be able to decide for themselves what spiritual path is best suited for them. I'm from Canada and i'm pretty sure religion is ony a big deal in private/catholic schools, but i can only speak for my town, i'm not sure how it works in th rest of the country:) |
| I Think That Church And State Should Be Completely Separated When It... | Aug 23rd. at 2:17:03 pm EDT |
| AzureMyst Jade (East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania US) | Age: 19 |
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I think that church and state should be completely separated when it comes to schools. If kids want to pray in school, and their parents want that too, they should go to a parochial school. I'm a college student, and pagan. When I have kids, they will be going to public school. My dream is to open a pagan parochial school. But that's a long way off, seeing as how i need to finish school and get my masters in ed. |
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