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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 15251
[Schools/Ed]
Date Posted:
4/4/2006
10:49:01 am EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 8,978
RSS: 18,207
Comments: 22
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Bibles Offered To Public Schools Raise Row
Author: Petti Fong Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Title: BIBLES OFFERED TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS RAISE ROW
Renate Gepraegs thought she had stepped back in time when she opened her son's public-school newsletter and read a notice from the Gideon Society about free Bibles.
Ms. Gepraegs, who said she does not belong to any specific religion, appeared before Richmond school trustees last month to ask them to reconsider their policy of Bible distribution. Other parents and representatives of other religions are also challenging the practice.
For 60 years, the Gideons, a lay association of Christians, have given Bibles to Grade 5 pupils across Canada through public schools.
Mr. Beairsto said some school trustees raised concerns at the meeting Ms. Gepraegs attended about what would happen if a less mainstream religion, such as the Wiccans, also requested that their materials be distributed.
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Community Thoughts: There are 22 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Are You Serious? | Apr 5th. at 7:04:52 pm EDT
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Sickle (Mt. Jackson, Virginia) - Email Me
I read this article and thought, "What's the big deal?"
Looks like I'm kind of alone on that way of thinking.
Everyone wants religious equality. If you get to hand out your Bible, then I should get to hand out my Book of Shadows.
The problem is that we live in a society where Pagans are a distinct MINORITY. Talk about freedom of religion until you're blue in the face, but the fact remains that Christianity is the dominant religion in Western culture, and especially the US (yes, I know the article is from Canada) . What do you expect? People don't trust what they aren't familiar with.
I was given a Bible by the Gideons once. In no way did they come off like they were trying to get me to convert. They simply were offering me religious material, which they ASKED if I wanted.
My point is this: Stop whining. Have some dignity. The way things are looking, ALL religious texts are going to become illegal because they offend SOMEONE. Lots of us who are Pagan were raised in a Xian environment. Since when did our children become so stupid that they can't grow to reach their own conclusions regarding religion, just as we did?
At the rate things are going, when all things are equal for everyone, no one will have anything.
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| Inclusive Proselytizing Impossible | Apr 5th. at 5:53:55 pm EDT
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Terry (Irvington, Virginia) - Email Me
It's impossible to treat all religions equally, and have public schools host recruitment activities of any religion.
It would only level half the playing field were Hindu groups to hand out Baghvad Gitas (Hare Krishna version) and Service of Mankind Church documents (Kali worshipping Femdom BDSM'ers) , alongside whatever materials various religions chose to offer.
The other half the playing field would remain tilted, from a mix of economic factors, and ones where many religions oppose pathetic pandering of pantheisms. That of course includes Christians, which begs the question, whose bibles are being distributed by god salesmen?
Maybe someone would distribute the milk ad parody bumper stickers, "Got Gods?"
That could make for a serious religious Mooo-vement.
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| My Solution.... | Apr 5th. at 5:00:15 pm EDT
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morrighan61 (NYC, California) - Email Me
The Gideon folks distributed NT's when I was a kid in school more than once.
No big deal.
Since I already had one (Courtesy of my semi-Catholic semi-Episcopal Grandma who gave me one along with a set of rosary beads, some medals etc..) I just politely handed them back.
No, I don't think they should be handing them out in schools, but then again I don't get why they seem to think hotel drawers are an appropriate respository for them either.
If anyone wants a Bible and can't afford one all they have to do is walk into any church on the planet and can usually walk out again with one easily enough. Someone will always find you one if you really feel the need to read it endlessly, shrug...
Why the Gideons think that they MUST make sure that everyone on the planet has a bright, shiny new one is beyond me...
Methinks that with as many editions of them printed already that there are always plenty of Bibles to go around for those who need them.
Me, I think Jesus would likely approve of recycling and hey, a trip to a local thrift store will usually turn up at least one or two, and in the case of religious-oriented ones like the Salvation Army at least half a dozen...
Just for the record I'd never use ANY religious book as toilet paper. That's disrespectful IMHO. If I have a religious book I don't want it, there is always someone out there who likely does.
You never know one persons's unwanted pages can be another's treasured friend...
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| And? | Apr 5th. at 9:37:01 am EDT
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Vetch (Tunbridge Wells, England) - Email Me
I think teenagers and young children shouldn't be presented with Bibles - we should be given a simple leaflet on each of the major world religions - like Christianity, Islam, Paganism (and major groups like Wiccans and Druids perhaps) , Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, as well as what an atheist is. Then they will be well-informed of the truths, major tenets, and what misconceptions people have of each.
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| Here In Brunswick Co. | Apr 5th. at 9:22:27 am EDT
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Erihu (Sunset Beach, North Carolina) - Email Me
North Carolina, I just heard on the radio this morning that 'the school board voted to allow the passing out of bibles, and other religious materials' here too, apparently in response to a request from the Gideons. First I'd heard of it in relation to our school system. It was not a unanamous decision, apparently. They said that it would be only one day a year, and in designated areas. No mention of polling the kids to find out how many wanted the bibles, and ordering only that many. The news story also mentioned that 'this opens the door for other faiths, such a Buddhism, Islam, Wicca and others to solicit children in the schools'. Please note that when they talk about the Bible, they simply say 'passing out', but when talking about other faiths they say 'solicit'. As though the Gideons are not doing exactly the same thing. Well, all I can say is that they've been doing this forever. I remember getting these small bibles when I was little. My children will simply say no thank you. But my more evil side wants to go over to the school on this day with copies of the FAQ on Witchvox, lol.
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| Free Kindling? | Apr 5th. at 12:16:54 am EDT
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Winddragon (anderson, South Carolina) - Email Me
I tried using the little Gideon's book for smudging but it didn't work well. Stick with sage. Folded pages make great whistles and just one book will last years as emergency toilet paper. Works for small origami also. Glue the pages and you've got an economical door stop!
The Gideons went to my daughters' school, on the property, and fed these to the kids. Kids don't know they can refuse them. I called the school and the unfriendly beeyatch answering the phone said they were not on school property and they have the right to stay on the sidewalks and distribute. Surrounded by fundies. I said my friend is a pastor of the Church of Satan and they've got books to distribute also. I called the district office and apparantly they had many calls before mine. I don't mind the free utility book being that it's oh, so handy and very versatile. School is a strategic point for propaganda. Say nay.
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| A Bible Is Not A Proper Thing For Public School. | Apr 4th. at 10:45:12 pm EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
I feel that the only place for a bible- or the koran- is in a Sunday school. A public school is not the place for them. And I would be upset if my kid came home with one without my knowledge or permission.
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| Grade5 And Bibles | Apr 4th. at 5:05:44 pm EDT
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Jill Medicine Heart (Blue Creek, Ohio) - Email Me
Well, my daughter and I live in Adams County in Ohio. Home of the Ten Commandments monuments fight..
Back when she was in 5th grade the Gideon's stood next to the open bus doors and gave each child a little bible. The bibles were handed to them.. they were never asked if they wanted one. The Gideons stood on school property to distribute them.
Many people complained but nothing was done. This still goes on and I am sure in May it will occur again.
Jill Medicine Heart
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| What Would You Distribute? | Apr 4th. at 4:37:26 pm EDT
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Sphinxring (Olympia, Washington) - Email Me
Let's carry this thought experiment to the next step. What would you distribute to the schools? Do you really have a text in mind?
As far as I know there is no universally accepted text that every pagan would agree upon.
Am I wrong?
So our religions take their texhing from life and wisdom, not some aging book. That's not a bad thing necessarily. But it does leave a hole in the equal time theory.
I think it's best if nobody gets to propogandize in the schools, even us.
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| Respose To Shadow. | Apr 4th. at 2:32:05 pm EDT
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Eran Rathan (Old Town, Maine) - Email Me
If global warming continues unabated, it won't be very cold there at all...
Besides, their clime is much like Maine, and it isn't that bad up here (0 deg C, sleet, hail, freezing rain)
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| So Abrahamaic Religions Are Ok But... | Apr 4th. at 11:54:55 am EDT
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Opus the Poet (Garland, Texas) - Email Me
If someone "weird" like Wiccans or Zorastroans (sp?) tried to distribute their literature, they have to quit? I don't know which to be offended most by, the concept that we are weird, or the concept that as long as only one was doing it it was OK, but if others try then they can't have competition and everybody has to quit. Either one annoys me, but the concept that if we as Pagans try to compete with our Ideas, then they (Christians) will just cancel the game and not let anybody play really chaps my ass.
Opus
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